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The 70-odd resort islands surrounded by clear turquoise waters
introduces you to a fascinating world of coral gardens. To have a
tête-à-tête with such underwater treasures, diving is indeed the
recommended pastime. The corals offer some of the most spectacular
vistas of underwater life-turtles, seaweed, shells, crustaceans and
schools-and-schools of brilliantly-colored fish.
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Apart from a
few, most of the resorts are equipped with diving schools headed by a
fully-qualified diving instructor. The waist-deep waters of a lagoon
offers a perfect start for beginners. Wind-surfing and Water-skiing
facilities are also available.
Almost all resorts have a fully
equipped diving school. Diving bases may also be found on some
larger dive safari boats which cruise through the central
atolls. The equipment used are periodically checked to make sure
that they conform to the standards of safety required by law.
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To Dive
Beginners usually
start with a discovery or introductory dive that is carried out in the
waist depth shallow waters of the lagoon. From here it is just one step
to experience the wonders of underwater life. An internationally
recognised certificate PAD Open Water Diver can be obtained within a
week after nine dives and theory lessons. Some schools offer training
upto the level of a professional diver. The diving schools may require a
certification of physical fitness. Qualified divers should bring their
log book and copies of the certificates or cards. |
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Equipments:
All diving schools in
the Maldives are required to follow international standards of safety
during diving. Therefore, participants in open water scuba diving will
require fins, mask, snorkel, compressed air cylinder and valve,
buoyancy-control device with low pressure inflator, backpack, regulator,
alternative air source, submersible pressure gauge, weight belt and
appropriate exposure protection. These items may be hired from the
diving schools. |
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