Frequently asked questions

The Public Health Emergency for the COVID-19 Pandemic announced on 12th March 2020 has been revoked on 13th March 2022 by the Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem.

Following this, changes to COVID-19 preventive measures have been made: 

1. Pre-arrival PCR test is not required for all passengers arriving Maldives. However, All individual(s) except tourists and Maldivians are recommended to undertake PCR testing between 3-5 days after arrival. Travelers who have symptoms of COVID-19 may take an antigen test. 
2. Travel-related quarantine is no longer required
3. Wearing a mask is only mandatory under the following conditions: 

• In all health facilities, regardless of outbreak status, staff, patients and visitors must wear mask.
  In outbreak areas (where sample positivity is above 20%), masks must be worn in public areas as per current guidelines for outbreak areas.

Wearing a mask is recommended in

1. Services where crowding takes place
2. Gatherings in confined indoor spaces
3. Transport vehicles where many people travel and when using public transportation such bus, ferry, taxi)
4. Crowded places/ gatherings
5. People who have symptoms of COVID-19

Persons who are high risk for COVID-19 or who live with/care for high risk people are advised to continue wearing masks when in public.

Even though the Public Health Emergency has been revoked, COVID-19 positive isolation, quarantining of contacts and testing before release will be continued as per current guidelines.

Updated on: 14 March 2022

DAN recommendations for a safe return to scuba diving

• Because scuba diving relies so heavily on safe and efficient lung function, special recommendations are being released for divers who have contracted COVID-19. Keep in mind that scientists are still learning about the virus, how it spreads, and its potential effects on the human body - so this information will likely change in the future. And, no two cases of COVID are identical, so it's essential to speak with a doctor before diving, even if you were asymptomatic! Also, keep in mind that DAN's "fit to dive clearance exam" should be performed by a diving medicine specialist, not a general practitioner or family doctor.
• If you need to speak with a diving doctor but aren't sure where to start, don't worry. DAN Europe members are currently eligible to receive a medical consultation with a diving medical specialist from DAN Europe's diving support network as part of their membership benefits.

The current recommendations from DAN are as follows:

• Divers who have tested positive for COVID-19 but were completely asymptomatic should wait at least 30 days from their first negative test before applying for fit-to-dive clearance.
• Divers who have had symptomatic COVID-19 should wait at least 30 days from their first negative test, followed by an additional 30 days without symptoms (for a total of two months at minimum) before applying for fit-to-dive clearance.
• Divers who have been hospitalised with or because of pulmonary symptoms in relation to COVID-19 should wait at least three months before applying for fit-to-dive clearance. This should include complete pulmonary function testing (at least FVC, FEV1, PEF25-50-75, RV and FEV1/FVC), an exercise test with peripheral oxygen saturation measurement, and a high resolution CT scan of the lungs to verify a return to normal functionality.
• Divers who have been hospitalised with or because of cardiac problems in relation to COVID-19 should wait at least three months before applying for fit-to-dive clearance. This should include a complete cardiac evaluation with echocardiography and an exercise test (exercise electrocardiography) to test for normal cardiac function.
  
  Understanding other risk factors
  
  Researchers are still studying the potential hazards for divers who have had the COVID-19 infection, and the best way to determine if you might be subject to higher risk is through a thorough diving medical exam. During your medical consultation with a diving doctor, you might discuss potential health concerns such as pulmonary barotrauma, lung bubble shunting, and cardiac problems.

DAN has released the following considerations for high risk divers:

• Pulmonary overpressure syndrome or lung barotrauma may be a risk for divers who experienced severe pulmonary symptoms. In some cases, prolonged or even permanent pulmonary damage may be present, even if lung function has returned to nearly normal. This type of damage may lead to a higher risk for lung barotrauma, even after dives without a rapid or uncontrolled ascent.
• At this time, little is known about a possible increased sensitivity of the pulmonary tissue to the toxic effects of oxygen at depth, known as pulmonary oxygen toxicity. Therefore, technical diving with prolonged breathing of hyperoxic gas, with a PO2 of 1.3 ATA or higher, including rebreather diving, should be avoided. Nitrox diving, with a maximum PO2 of 1.4 ATA that is only breathed for short periods, should not present any problem.
• Even less is known about the possible alteration of the lungs' bubble filtering function post-COVID-19 pulmonary infection. This may imply that the risk for decompression illness and injury could increase significantly. For this reason, divers who have suffered from pulmonary symptoms of COVID-19 should limit their dives to well within the no decompression limits (NDL) of their computer.
  
  Stop the spread
  
  While more and more people are already getting vaccinated, COVID-19 may persist in the community. This could lead to a continued risk of transmission between people in direct proximity or sharing common personal scuba equipment. To protect yourself, ensure that your dive centre or team is following DAN's published recommendations for minimising the risk of COVID transmission.

DAN additionally suggests that:

• Divers should continue the social distancing measures recommended by local authorities during diving operations by wearing masks and maintaining a safe social distance, specifically before and after dives and during surface intervals.
• Private and rental equipment, including emergency oxygen units, should be thoroughly sanitised with approved disinfectants covering a broad spectrum of germs, fungi, bacteria, spores and viruses.
• The exchange of scuba regulators or personal breathing systems should be avoided, except in real emergencies. And, any planned "breathing systems sharing" exercises, for example, during dive courses, should be conducted in a way that ensures personal protection.
• Following these guidelines can help slow the spread of COVID and other infections and ensure that all divers resume their participation in the sport safely.

Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical Form to ensure you won’t need a physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course. Instructors, divemasters and dive shop staff are not physicians and should not be asked for medical advice; only medical professionals can give medical clearance to dive.

If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN).

• Yes you need!
  You must have a confirmed booking at a registered tourist facility. Click here to check all the requirements.
  
  Tourists (including accompanying vaccine ineligible children) should be vaccinated to check-in to guesthouses in inhabited islands and tourists who have not completed the full dosage of vaccination can only check-in to the guesthouses in the inhabited islands if the vaccination requirements are met in the guesthouse/island. Click here to check the eligible guesthouses.

• Dress code on local islands
  Whilst it is acceptable for men to wear T Shirts and shorts or swim shorts; females should avoid causing offence by maintaining a more conservative approach to clothes by wearing T Shirts, loose shorts or sarongs and avoid wearing bikinis and swimwear unless on an un- inhabited island, picnic island, sandbank, dive boat or resort island. Some guesthouses do provide private sunbathing areas on a tourist beach or on the terrace of the guesthouse, however, it is not acceptable to walk around the island wearing a bikini.
  
  
• Alcohol on local islands
  There is a total restriction on alcohol being available on inhabited local islands, when you stay at a local Island in Addu then it is possible to visit Equatorial Village for a alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink.
  
  
• Pork meat on local islands
  Pork meat is like alcohol forbidden on inhabited local island, so don’t expect bacon butties for breakfast.
  
  
• Privacy
  As we all want to take home memories of our stay in Addu in the form of photographs or videos but do always ask permission if you wish a local to be the subject of your image.

• Certification Card
  Qualified divers need to present proof of their diving certification.
  
  
• Doctors certificate when needed
  All divers will need to sign a Risk and Liability Statement and a self assessment medical statement, unless you have a medical signed by a doctor.
  If the diver answers “YES” to any of the medical conditions on the form, a medical certificate signed by a doctor is required. The medical certificate can be obtained at a doctors clinic.
  
  
• Your Parent(s)/guardian
  Divers under the age of 18 need to provide written parental/guardian consent allowing them to dive.
  
  
• Logbook
  If possible, qualified divers can present overview of their diving history.
  
  
• Person items
  Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, snack.

• We organize fixed 3 boat dives a day
  A day’s diving consists of 3 dives a day, with 2 dives in the morning and the 3rd dive afternoon, between the morning and the afternoon dives we come back to Maradhoo island for lunch. On request we can organize a night dive, this dive can be the 4th dive in a day.

• Departure time morning
  We generally meet at the Dive Boat at 07:50 unless otherwise specified, we come back after 2 dives at approx. 12:30 depending on the sites we choose for the day. 

• Departure time afternoon
  Single dives are available in the afternoon’s between 15:00 and 17:00.

• Night diving (on request)
  Night dives are only possible with minimum 2 divers, the extra night dive charge is 15,- usd PP. The departure time for night-diving is 18:00 and we will be back around 20:30. 

• Diving packages
  Dives in your dive packages do not have to be made on consecutive days. Dive packages are for an individual and cannot be shared.

• Yes
  All our boat dives are guided dives, the currents in Addu Atoll can be very strong and for safety reasons we dive in small groups with a dive guide, a dive guide at Aquaventure can be a PADI Divemaster or Instructor. 
  
  
• Dive groups
  Dive groups are maximum 6 divers and one dive guide, for safety purpose smaller groups can be organized by the dive guide.
  
  
• Personal care
  You can dive with a private dive guide who will take personal care for your confidence, the extra charge will be 50,- usd a dive.

• No you don't need but it's strongly recommended

  Guests are responsible for taking out adequate insurance cover for their diving activities and equipment.

  Medical (hyperbaric) treatment and evacuation costs are not coverd by Aquaventure Dive Center after a dive accident as decompression illness or any other injury occured during the dive and/or trip to and from the dive site by dive boat, car or motor bike. 

  Personal items or equipment left in the dive centre, dive boat during the day or over night are not covered by Aquventure Maldives Insurance. Items left on Aquaventure Maldives premises are left at customers own risk.

• Your dive travel insurance
  DAN Divers Alert Network
  DiveAzure

• Diving in Addu Atoll
  
  Diving in the Maldives is a year-round activity except for some stormy periods. In Addu we can see Manta Rays year round.
  
  January - April / Generally the best weather, good visibility but much more divers on dive sites, diving is good
  May - June / More wind and rain, diving is fine most of the time
  July - September / Good weather, good visibility less divers on dive sites, diving is very good
  October - December / More wind and rain, diving is fine most of the time.
  
  Note: during new and full moon we do have the most water movement in our channels that can bring more "big" fish like Manta Rays, Sharks, Eagle Rays, ect.
  
  
  More info to read >>>>
  
  "The experience from the past is not a guarantee for the future"

• Diving spots Addu
  
  There are more than 20 different dive spots around Addu Atoll including some exceptional sites such as Manta Point, Bodu Hoholha, British Loyalyu wreck and much more. Addu Manta Ponit is the only cleaning station in Maldives where we can encounter Manta Rays 12 months a year.
  
  Divesite map Addu Atoll >>>

• No, it's not possible 
  
  The reefs inside and outside Maradhoo are to far to swim out, all diving is done from the dive boat a "Dhoni ".

• Minimum 12 hours 
  
  A preflight interval of minimum 12 hours is recommended for a single dive and for more than one dive a preflight interval of 18 hours is recommended. It is best to err on the side of caution and have a preflight interval of 24 hours, especially if you have been diving for multiple days. The no-fly time applies to domestic airlines as well. If your dive computer shows a longer duration than the durations mentioned here, please follow the dive computer.

• Maximum depth & divetime
  
  The maximum depth for Open Water Divers is 20m, and for Advanced Adventurer and above ratings the maximum depth is 30m. Maximum dive time can be no longer than 60 minutes, and decompression dives are not allowed.  All our boat dives are guided by a PADI Dive professional. 

• Morning Dives
  
  DIVE 1 - Max depth 30 Mtr. Max divetime is 60 minutes
  DIVE 2 - Max depth 20 Mtr. Max divetime is 45 minutes

• Afternoon Dive
  
  DIVE 3 - Max depth 30 Mtr. Max divetime is 60 minutes
  
  
• Night Dive
  
  DIVE 4 - Max depth 20 Mtr. Max divetime is 45 minutes (on request, minimum 2 divers and extra night dive charge)
  

• Maradhoo Island
  Aquaventure is located on Maradhoo Island, in the beautiful Addu Atoll of Maldives, Maradhoo Island is best described as an authentic Maldivian experience merged with a mindblowing diving getaway. A holiday in this southern tip means plunging into the most serene and untouched parts of Maldives.
  
  
• Addu Atoll
  Also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 40 km north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere. Addu Atoll is located 540 km south of Malé, the country's capital. 
  
  
• Gan Island
  Its easy to confuse the names from the islands with atoll names, Gan is an Island in Addu Atoll and it's know as the "Airport" Island,  Your domestic and international flights are to GAN, it also host an airport hotel Equator Village. The taxi can bring you from Gan within 10 minutes to Maradhoo Island as the islands are connected with bridges. You can stay in Gan but still you can dive with Aquaveture Dive Center. 
  
  
• Map Addu Atoll
  The islands and diving sites in Addu Atoll >>>

• Domestic flights
  Addu Atoll is 500 km located from Male "Velana Airport" only with a domestic flight you can come to Addu. There are 2 local airlines flying from Male to GAN (Addu) and return. You can book the domestic flights your self or with us, when you book the guesthouse with us we can offer discounted rates for the domestic flights with Maldivian Aero. 
  
  - Maldivian Aero (3 till 5 flights a day)
  - Manta Air (1 flight a day)
  
  
• International flights
  Addu has an International Airport "GAN International Airport" where we receive few times a week international flights from Colombo with SriLankan Airlines. During the high season this can be 3 times a week and during low season 1 time a week at the moment. The flights schedules do change regulary and the best you can do is check online.
  
  SriLankan Airlines >>>
  
  

• Yes we can
  Aquaventure can book domestic flights Male to Gan & Gan to Male only. We can offer better rates as you can find on the airline websites. When we book your domestic flights then we need a copy from your pasport and the International flight details as, arrival date, time and flightnumber.
  
  Scedule
  Maldivian Aero do offer "mostly" 4 till 5 flights a day to and from Gan International Airport, time changes are regular and till 24 hours before departure flights can be rescheduled. It's not onusual that some flights will be combined (low season) or extra flights will be ad during high season. 
  
  Booking
  We will make a reservation for domestic flights at any time but the booking will be made after we received the full payment, normally 30 days before arrival. You will receive your E-ticket about 2 weeks before departure. 
  
  Note: Booked domestic flights are non refundable but the date can be changed till 90 days after scheduled date.

• yes we can 
  We can book rooms in several guesthouses in Addu Atoll, in most cases we can offer better rates for our divers then you can find online. Our Guesthouse partners all offer great service and the location is suitable for divers. The guesthouse management can always offer special rates on different websites without informing us.
  
  
• Book online
  You can easy book online 'at our website' your guesthouse, diving package and the domestic flights.
  Book online >>>
  
  
• Note: we don't own or operate any guesthouse in Addu, we just do our best to make your booking more easy with good rates together with our partners. You are always free to book any guesthouse yourself and book the diving seperate with Aquaventure Dive Center. Special rates for domestic flights are only possible if you book the guesthouse through us. 

• No we can not
  A diving trip to the Southern Atolls in Maldives is very popular, the combination Addu & Fuvahmulah is great and you can reach Fuvahmulah "easy" with the local ferry. During the east monsoon January till May the weather is mostlikely good and several schedules a week is more or les guarentee. During the westmonsoon weather can change easy day by day and ferries are not always planned as scheduled.
  
  
• Check & book your ferry from Feydhoo to Fuvahmulah
  You check and book easy your ferry to Fuvahmulah online.
  MTTC book online >>>

• Yes we accept credit cards
  
  Most of the hotels, resorts and restaurants in Addu do accept a wide range of credit cards. How ever it is important to have some "local" cash on hand for your if you are traveling to a local island. Money change can be done at the bank at the airport or withdraw cash from ATMs in Addu City on all Islands or at Aquaventure Dive Center.
  
  At Aquaventure Dive Center we also do accept cash payments, USD and Euro.

- ATM Charge is always 100 MVR / 6,50 usd for each transaction
- Most places do charge extra 3% on credit card payments (at Aquaventure Dive Center there is NO extra charge)
- Currency exchange rates USD to MVR is 1 usd to 15.42 MVR

• Yes, depending on how many days before arrival
  
  Cancellation Policy / Refund
  
  14 days prior to arrival date: 25% refund of booking cost + 0% refund of domestic flights
  15-30 days prior to arrival date: 50% refund of booking cost + 0% refund of domestic flights
  31 or more days prior to arrival date: 80% of booking cost + 0% refund of domestic flights
  
  Note: Booked domestic flights are NON refundable, free change of date withing 90 days after scheduled date.