What to pack for your Maldives trip?

Clothing

When it comes to clothing, if you're going to the Maldives, you'll need light clothes to withstand the temperatures and sunshine that are sure to flood your stay.
A short-sleeved or long-sleeved UV-resistant T-shirt for snorkeling. All year round, the temperature in the Maldives is around 30° and the water varies from 28° to 30° depending on the depths.
A thin cardigan for the evening if you're chilly.
Long shorts or Bermuda shorts are recommended for visits to fishing islands.
A KWAY-type windbreaker.

Sun protection

Hat, sunglasses.
Suncare cream with high protection factor (SPF 50) and after-sun care.
If you're going to the Maldives, choose a suncare range that's eco-friendly for coral and the marine environment.

Did you know?
Corals live in harmony with micro-algae (zooxanthellae) housed in their tissues. Some UV filters found in sunscreens activate viruses that multiply and kill these precious micro-algae.
Choose suncare products that are 100% mineral-based and non-ecotoxic for the marine environment, with no chemical filters that pollute the oceans, nor parabens, PEGs, synthetic fragrances, alcohol or pesticides.

Sun Protection EQ
https://www.greenweez.com/soins-solaires-c49

Avene Thermal Spring Water
https://www.eau-thermale-avene.fr

Pharmacy

A first-aid kit for everyday knocks and bumps, with disinfectant, waterproof bandages...

Preventing ear infections

Warm waters are favorable to the development of microbial flora. This can lead to inflammation of the external auditory canal, accompanied by stabbing pain. As a preventive measure, we recommend rinsing your ears with fresh, lukewarm water after each dive and drying them thoroughly. Before snorkeling or diving, this can be complemented by applying sweet almond oil to the ear canal, to protect it from the outside environment.

  • Before you leave for the Maldives :
    An otoscopic examination by a doctor can help identify and treat any contributing factors (inflammation, ear canal dermatitis, earwax plugs).
  • Before getting into the water:
    It's best not to introduce anything into the ear canal, to respect the protective lipid film and avoid irritating the canal.
    However, some people recommend preventive instillation of a sweet almond oil solution.
  • Getting out of the water:
    For people with no particular predisposition to otitis externa, simply rinsing the ear canals with fresh water will suffice.
    For people prone to frequent otitis externa, this rinsing, possibly with mineral water, should be followed by careful drying with a hair dryer.
    The use of cotton buds is strictly forbidden.

Ear baths after each immersion have a beneficial effect in preventing otitis externa in snorkelers and divers.
These preparations may or may not contain 2 components with different modes of action: a drying component to reduce maceration (alcohol, aluminum acetate, sodium acetate, water-repellent silicone) and an acid component to limit the proliferation of pathogenic germs (boric acid, acetic acid).

To be effective, these instillations must have a minimum contact time of 5 minutes.
These products should only be used once the integrity of the eardrum has been checked. Alcoholic preparations are not recommended in cases of ear canal irritation.

Most commonly used preparations:

  • Borated alcohol (prepared in a pharmacy): 77g 60° alcohol, 3g sodium borate, 20g glycerine.
  • Borated alcohol.
  • Borated hydrogen peroxide.

Local regulations

It is strictly forbidden to remove shellfish or coral, dead or alive, from the reefs and beaches. Please take great care during activities to avoid damaging reefs and breaking corals.
Please do not touch anything underwater.

The Maldives is a Muslim country. As a result, nudism and toplessness are not permitted. When visiting a local village, women must wear a T-shirt and Bermuda shorts or a sarong.

Snorkeling

For snorkeling in the Maldives, we advise you to bring a short- or long-sleeved UV-resistant T-shirt and sun cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF 50).
Choose a sunscreen that is not ecotoxic for coral and the marine environment.

For added comfort, you can bring your own snorkeling equipment, as we won't always have the right mask or fins for you.

Advice on purchasing equipment :

  • To choose the right mask, it's essential to try it out. To do this, place it on your face without the strap, hold your breath and apply light pressure to the glass. As long as you're not breathing, the mask should stay on your face, even if you're looking at the ground. That's it for the seal.
    Second important test: being able to pinch your nose easily to balance the pressure in your ears when descending a few meters (Valsalva maneuver).
  • Slipper fins are more practical for travel and very comfortable with neoprene socks. It's best to choose bright colors (yellow) to be seen. For example: Mares Avanti Tre Superchannel fins (approx. 55 EUR ). To avoid blisters, use neoprene socks (2 mm thick) with your fins.
  • Valved snorkels make exhalation much easier thanks to multiple water outlets, unlike the simple snorkel.
Snorkeling guide

Scuba diving

In the Maldives, you can dive if you have certification and personal diving insurance. Insurance is not compulsory for first dives.

Certified divers (from Level 1 FFESSM or Open Water Padi) must present :

  • Level card.
  • Medical certificate for scuba diving less than 12 months old (recommended but not compulsory).
  • Personal diving insurance: DAN Europe
  • Logbook.
  • Diving non contraindication form (compulsory) :
    https://souslocean.com/padi-medical-statement/

To travel to the Maldives, DAN or AXA Laffont diving insurance is mandatory.
DAN Europe offers year-round insurance and family contracts. https://www.daneurope.org

Before leaving for the Maldives, check the condition of your equipment. It would be a shame to miss any dives!

  • Regulator with octopus and pressure gauge (DIN or INT connector). Cylinders with single valve.
  • B.C.D.
  • Computer (mandatory for each diver).
  • Lead belt.
  • A full wetsuit 2 to 5 mm thick is preferable to a shorty that doesn't protect your knees.
  • The decompression parachute (mandatory for every diver) must be orange or red (no yellow) with a cord at least 6 m thick (to avoid knots) and with a lead at the end for ease of use.
  • A dive light for night dives (mandatory for each diver). Rechargeable batteries are preferable to ordinary ones. Don't forget your charger (220 volts, French plugs).
  • Stainless steel hook for dives with current (optional).

Telephone & Internet

The telephone network is well developed in the Maldives, with numerous antennas providing coverage of almost the entire territory. So you'll be able to make calls and send SMS if you have the international option with your phone package (check before you leave for the Maldives).
To connect to the Internet, send e-mails or use the mobile applications WhatsApp, Facebook, Facetime or others, we recommend you buy a local prepaid SIM card at the airport (to use it, you need an unlocked phone that accepts SIM cards other than your operator's). However, you will no longer receive calls on your usual number.

The 2 mobile phone operators have a store at Male airport and offer packages for tourists.

Ooredoo: https://www.ooredoo.mv/tourist-plan

Dhiraagu: https://www.dhiraagu.com.mv/personal/for-mobile/plans/tourist-sim

Useful information

Covid-19

Covid-19

Covid-19 in the Maldives: Latest information and health protocol.