general

Q. Is it correct that scuba diving is the best thing to do in the Maldives and that I would be crazy to miss out on this wonderful experience?
A. Yes, of course!

Q. Do you accept payment by credit card?
A. All diving bills are paid at the hotel reception and the hotel accepts Amex, Visa and Mastercard, but the limit on the card is always checked as well!

Q. Is it necessary to prebook diving packages?
A. No, it is not necessary unless you are part of a large group. Even once you arrive, you can simply dive and at the end of your stay you will be billed for the dive package that you have completed.

Q. Where is the nearest decompression chamber and European diving physician?
A. Right here on the island and next to Village Dive School in the Medical Centre.

Q. Can I see mantas, sharks, whale sharks, turtles diving with you?
A. We should be able to show you mantas if you visit in the correct season (Nov- Apr). We have many sharks and you will see sharks on most dives. Most common are white-tips, black tips, grey reef sharks and hammerheads, but you can also see leopard sharks, nurse sharks, silvertips, etc. They are many hawksbill and green turtles in Rasdhoo Atoll and they are seen very frequently and sometimes even next on the island. Whale sharks are quite rare, but if you are lucky you may see one! ……..

Q. Do you also offer private courses and private diving?
A. Yes, we can usually arrange this by prior request, but of course the cost will be very much higher!

Q. Is there a Marine Biology station on the island staffed by a resident Marine Biologist?
A. The Bio-station can be found next to Village dive school and is usually manned by a Marine Biologist who provides information for interested guests.

Q. When are the dive schools open for information and registration?
A. Both dive schools are always open between 11.30 and 12.30 and again between 17.30 and 18.30.
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diving

Q. I am a certified diver. Do I require a “fit for diving” certificate from a doctor to dive?
A. Every diver is highly recommended to have a regular medical examination to ensure he/she is fit to dive. When you register to dive with us, one form you will be required to complete and sign will be a medical self-declaration. If you do not suffer from any of the conditions mentioned and are under the age of 45, then a “fit for diving” certificate is not required.

Q. Do you provide nitrox for free?
A. Yes, nitrox 32% is provided for no extra charge to nitrox certified divers.

Q. I have heard about the Hammerhead Shark Point dive and would like to do this dive. Can you give me some information about this dive.
A. The Hammerhead Shark Point dive is an early morning blue water deep dive (30m) for Advanced divers or those with deep dive training. There is the possibility to do the dive four times a week at 6am (!) presently on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The dive site is only 10 minutes boat ride from Kuramathi and is one of the few remaining places in the world where you can see these magnificent animals. It is a spectacular dive if you see the hammerheads and if you are unlucky and do not see any, most divers still find this dive a fascinating experience and you may see other large species. The dive costs the same as any other dive. Divers without the required training can do it here if they wish.

Q. I hear you run a full day three dive safari to North Ari atoll. Please tell me more.
A. Our twice weekly full day three dive safari is presently on Mondays and Thursdays. It is an early start at 6.00am and we return around 17.30, but is a great day out diving some of the famous and spectacular sites in North Ari atoll, such as Maaya Thila, Fishhead, Malhoss Thila, Panettone and our Manta point to name a few. Breakfast and lunch is provided onboard and included in the US$40 boat fee. We usually need minimum 10 participants.

Q. Are your dive sites also suitable for Beginners as well as Advanced divers?
A. Yes, both will find plenty of suitable sites here.

Q. I have heard you have a house reef where I can dive unguided with my buddy. Is this correct?
A. The area of the house reef where we can dive from shore is restricted, has only one entry/exit point near Village Dive School and is situated near/on the channel between Kuramathi and the neighbouring local island of Rasdhoo. This means that the house reef dive is not an easy dive and is often exposed to strong current. We may also suspend diving on the house reef if we feel conditions are unsuitable or unsafe. Due to these factors mentioned above, we require house reef divers to show proof of minimum 50 logged dives and an Advanced Diver certificate.

Q. Do you offer night dives?
A. Yes, we have a 40 m wreck lying in 19 meters of water and most divers find this an exciting night dive. In addition, we sometimes dive on the house reef at night if conditions are suitable.
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courses

Q. Can I begin my PADI/SSI training at home and complete it with you in the warm 29C water, good visibility and spectacular marine life of the Maldives?
A. Yes, many people choose this option. You can complete your theory and confined water (swimming pool) training at home and then with your referral form signed by your instructor and copy of your medical statement, come here within one year and complete your four open water training dives with us.

Q. How many participants do you take on your Courses?
A. We rarely take more than four persons on any course (in the water). However theory only (dry) courses such as Nitrox often may have more than four participants.

Q. I am not a certified diver, but I wish to do a course to learn to dive. Do I require a “fit for diving” certificate from a doctor to dive?
A. Every person wishing to learn to dive is highly recommended to have an examination to ensure he/she is fit to dive. When you register to dive with us, one form you will be required to complete and sign will be a medical self-declaration and there is a more comprehensive medical self-declaration for guests doing courses. (please click here to see an example of this form.) If you do not suffer from any of the conditions mentioned and are under the age of 45, then a “fit for diving” certificate is not required. If you are over 45 OR if you have any “YES”, we will require a “fit for diving without any restrictions” certificate.

Q. Do I need to prebook courses prior to arrival?
A. There is no need to prebook beginner courses such as Discover Scuba Diving, PADI/SSI Scuba Diver, PADI/SSI referral, PADI/SSI Open Water Diver before you arrive on the island. It is also not necessary to prebook PADI Advanced or Nitrox courses.
For any other course including any PADI/SSI specialty other than Nitrox or any CMAS or NAUI course, then please send us an e-mail to check for availability.

Q. I am a beginner and would like to know what diving courses I could do and how long they take. Please give me some brief info. about the different options.
A. We offer Discover Scuba Diving for the complete beginner which is a 2.5 hour course which will give you the opportunity to try diving with an instructor and includes a shallow dive in the lagoon. After this initial course, you have many possibilities if you would like to do something more. For example, you could continue and complete the PADI Scuba Diver certification which requires a further 1.5 to 2 days and will provide you with a certificate to dive with a PADI professional to 12m. Or better still take 3-3.5 days and gain your PADI/SSI Open water diver certificate which will allow you to dive to 18m. If you don’t want to do a certification course, you can even just go for another dive off the boat with one of our instructors or divemasters.
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equipment

Q. Do you have INT or DIN cylinders?
A. We have the INT/yoke/A-clamp connection, but we provide adapters free of charge for divers with DIN first stages

Q. Do you rent diving equipment?
A. Yes, we rent diving equipment to divers.

Q. Do you rent snorkelling equipment?
A. We only rent snorkelling equipment for divers when they are diving with us. Snorkelling equipment is provided by the hotel and the cost of this depends on the hotel package you have.

Q. Do you rent wetsuits?
A. Yes, but we only offer 2.5/3mm short wetsuits (shorty) for rent to divers. We do not offer long or full suits for rental. Please see “what wetsuit do you recommend?”

Q. What wetsuit do you recommend?
A. Each person differs in their sensitivity to the cold. The water is usually approx. 29C here year round and 95% of divers find a 3mm shorty or 3mm full suit to be warm enough. We only have 3mm shorties available for rent. Many divers dive comfortably in a T-shirt or a rash shirt. Nevertheless a few divers still prefer a 5mm full suit.
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boats

Q. What type of dive boats do you have?
A. Our principle diving boats are modern 16m purpose-built fibreglass diving dhonis which are comfortable and fast (four with toilet and two with fresh water shower). In addition, we have traditional wooden dhonis which are also sometimes use for diving.