Sun, Sand & Sea @ Maldives Part II
I continue from where we left off – due to my fright to dip below the water for our first snorkeling foray, I was left alone on the boat staring at the deep blue sea around me and wishing I had had the courage to join the rest of the team.
Day 2: Snorkeling & Dolphins!
The gang of snorkelers who had gone for the activity (including my husband) came back with wonderful tales of seeing turtles and marine beauty. The guy who had accompanied them on behalf of the organizers was also disappointed that I wasn’t able to see all of that and he offered to help train me before the next snorkeling expedition and I agreed. How sweet!
Do not do what he is doing – let them be 
Picnic time
Our next stop on the half day tour was a tiny uninhabited island for our beach picnic. After a lazy lunch under large beach umbrellas and a walking tour of our island – including a photography stint, it was time for my training session. The trainer explained how the snorkeling gear works and how I should breathe through my mouth; he asked me to submerge myself little by little so that I could practice this. Lastly, I was told that I had to simply kick my legs to propel myself forward. Finally, he took me along for my first ever snorkeling experience and what an amazing feeling it was! It was like the underwater which had seemed like a scary monster was now my friend! I was ready for the next dip for our actual 2nd snorkeling excursion.
Marine Biodiversity
The snorkeling trip was an eye opener. A whole new world had opened up before me – a world popping and undulating with colors and textures. In the calming silence of underwater, I witnessed a wide variety of flora and fauna, indigenous to the Indian Ocean. Here was a school of dazzling yellow fish just swimming along, there was a brightly patterned shoal of tiny fishes darting by or oh hey, there’s a jewel bright blue fish! The coral reefs were full to the brim with life and sometimes scary creatures – eels, water snakes and what not. There were also myriad varieties of aquatic plants which existed harmoniously with the other creatures. It was marine biodiversity at its best.
I spent almost an hour underwater, just gazing at these marvelous finds and enraptured by the beauty of nature – the live corals, the fishes that call it home and the plants which are an integral part of this ecosystem.
Contribute towards Conservation
Appreciate the world established by our creator, of nature which always gives and never asks for anything in return. Do your part in helping preserve this marine life, in making sure they come to no harm.
4 (four) ways in which you as an individual can contribute towards conservation of our wonderful aquatic ecosystem:
- Use less plastic – plastic harms all marine species, often fatally. Limit your plastic use, especially one-time usage.
- Do not pollute the water – this is home to myriad sea-life; do not throw your trash into it.
- Do not uproot the coral – this is their source of food and shelter, not a collectible; this is also illegal
- Do not poke / prod or touch the creatures when on dives/snorkeling – worship and admire the beauty from afar, do not disturb them.
I am doing my bit by raising awareness through this post with the aid of Blogchatter’s Cause a Chatter campaign.
Day 3: Water Sports
The next day, or rather late afternoon, we engaged in a few more water activities.
Wind Sailing: First up was wind sailing. This too was something I had never done before so I was pretty excited. We set out on a small sailboat which bobbed lightly as we progressed. It was a pleasant feeling. This initial part of wind sailing receives its power from a small motor. However, partway out to the sea, the motor was stopped, the sails were unfurled and the power of the wind thrust the little boat ahead at jet speed! The boat zoomed ahead, cutting a path through the water and we held on to the rails for dear life! Wheee! It was such an adrenaline rush; the speed generated by the wind was unbelievable. Whizzing along on the water with the wind in your hair and face and teensy fear of falling overboard – what an amazing feeling it was. This is a must-try!
Canoeing: A 2-seater canoe and just us with no guide – sounds intimidating but it was a fun and calming experience. We rowed as slow or as fast as we wanted, in whichever direction we desired (within a given boundary for our safety). Drifting along the water, with the setting sun as the backdrop was the perfect way to end the day.
Tip: It’ll take a couple of minutes to adjust your rhythms and synchronize your rowing so that the canoe doesn’t just stall in one place or go round in circles. Once you establish a pattern, only then venture out further ashore.
Again, we spent the first part of the day quietly enjoying the water and the beaches, refreshing our jaded selves and having a gala time sampling the various foods the island had to offer.
Day 4: Island Hopping & Shopping
Our final day in Maldives included one last water sport – riding a jet ski. That was an exhilarating ride, and a very wet one! We hurtled through the water at jet speed with water spraying on us from all sides. We took a pit stop at another island where there was a lovely stretch of deserted sandy beach to take some commemorative photographs, spot some baby sharks and stingrays.
Back at Maafushi, we shopped for some mementos – tshirts, shell keyrings, postcards, magnets etc. Most of them were reasonably priced but of course we haggled (dil hai Hindustani!).
Laden with presents and memories to last a lifetime, we bid adieu to the delights of Maldives early the next day via the speedboat and a flight from Male.
Other Itinerary Options
The aim of our trip was to relax and have a laid-back holiday. So we choose to do only this much and spent most of our time lazing on the beach or roaming the streets of our island. We also rented a bicycle for a few hours and just pedaled our way across the tiny Maafushi. If you would like to take in a few more attractions or activities, there are plenty available.
- Scuba diving – be aware that you need to keep a gap of atleast 24-48 hours before boarding a flight after diving.
- Enjoy a spa treatment.
- Stingray feeding
- Visit the capital city/island of Male
- Go on a cruise
For more ideas, visit these links:
