Emperor Leo

International connections

• Malé (Velana International) Airport - The main transport hub for international travel.
• Addu City (Gan) International Airport - Supporting the southern Atolls, but with limited services or facilities.

The Maldives has 13 domestic airports, and depending on your chosen itinerary, you may need to include a return or one-way domestic flight. Check the itineraries for the embarkation and disembarkation locations, as these will be the islands with domestic airports.

Depending on your country of origin, most visitors receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival. We would always advise checking with the local embassy in your home country just to make sure.

All visitors need to have sufficient funds to support themselves, a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity remaining and proof of departure (should you be asked to provide it by airport security).

We recommend a minimum level of experience and qualification for each itinerary. This is for guidance only and is not absolute. However, please be aware that all our operators prioritize safety. They may prevent you from diving if they determine that your experience is insufficient for the conditions, as it could pose a risk to yourself or others. If you are unsure, please get in touch and we can discuss it further.

Water temperature & thermal protection

Between 27°- 30°C (80°- 86°F)

We would suggest anything from board shorts and rash guards to 3mm wetsuits

Overview

The Maldives offers three distinct types of diving: inside the atolls, outside the atolls, and in the channels or passes, where currents are strongest and fish life is most abundant.

Spectacular channel-drift dives during incoming and outgoing currents provide opportunities to see exciting pelagic animals. Currents can vary in strength and may be strong on certain dives, requiring negative entry and fast descent. Be prepared to use current/reef hooks.

In addition to channel diving, the Maldives also offers wreck diving, coral reef and pinnacle dives, and world-famous night dives. Typically, you’ll find large shallow reef plateaus on the sides of atolls next to wide lagoons, which then drop down to about 25 meters (82 feet).

Each island in the Maldives has its own sandy lagoon with a depth of around 20 meters (65 feet). These areas are protected from currents, making them ideal for diving courses and snorkeling, though they don’t offer much diversity of marine life. For any liveaboard itinerary in the Maldives, dive sites may change from those originally planned based on prevailing monsoon, currents, and weather conditions.

All your dives are conducted from dhonis or zodiacs to ensure precise entry and exit points.

The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (Rf).

USD is widely accepted and you probably won't need any local cash unless you intend visiting any of the local markets to by souvenirs etc. You can pay by card/ tap and go at most of the larger hotels and resorts and on liveaboards, however, be prepared to pay up to 4% surcharge for credit card payments. Smaller guest houses may not offer digital payment options.

Nomadic Scuba Top Tip: Make sure you inform your bank that you will be travelling in the Maldives. It is not uncommon for banks to block card use if they are not aware of your trip.

We use WISE for all of our transactions, and we save hundreds on pointless fees and brutal exchange rates. If you have yet to open an account, we strongly urge you to do so (it takes 5 minutes). Follow the link below and if you need a hand, we are here to help.

Link: Show me how to be WISE

UK 3 pin electrical sockets using 220 volts AC 50Hz.

Guides are provided free of charge, however guests are responsible for their own dive profiles and must stay within the limits of their certification.

Of course! As long as the boat has a vacancy. Simply let us know what you are looking for and we will be happy to provide you with some ideas.