The Don’ts in Maldives

The Maldives is considered as one of the world’s best destinations where dream vacation comes true. The beautiful island of Maldives is considered where magic meets beauty.

The Maldives is a gorgeous getaway to enjoy the sun, sand, and seafood. Though the resorts have has its own identity and lenient rules than the inhabited islands, the nation itself is very conservative.

Your vacation in this piece of paradise will be full of sunbathing, snorkeling, scuba diving, whale shark watching, island hopping, bicycle riding, gorging on delicious food, surfing, and paddleboarding. The Maldives is branded as the “Sunny-side of life” and a place for the sun, sea, and sands these natural factors are the most obvious reasons why it is a popular tourist destination. Maldivians know that foreign visitors follow their customs and different ways of doing things. Therefore, visitors to the Maldives should follow the local customs and practices.

We want to ensure that your holiday goes smoothly without any glitch, hence here’s a simple guide to what not to do in the Maldives to make your trip a memorable one.

Do not take off your tee: it is all about public Local Islands and beaches. This custom certainly sounds absurd to you. It’s an Islamic country there are certain morals and values to uphold. You cannot expect to roam around in a bikini in public places and expect the people there to take it easy. You can do all this in your resort. Nude sunbathing is an absolute no-no in the Maldives.

Don’t buy turtle and black coral since they are endangered not just in the Maldives, but all over the world. While taking a stroll on many atolls in the Maldives, you might come across some shady people who are trying to sell turtle shell and black corals to you. This sale of products have been banned in the Maldives for over two decades, so please don’t partake in this illegal and unethical sale unless you want to face harsh punishments or even jail time.

Don’t bring liquor or alcohol products to the Maldives. The import of alcohol and consumption in the local islands is strictly prohibited. Only permit holders such as resort and safari boats are allowed to import alcohol in the Maldives. However, alcoholic beverages are available for consumption in the tourist resorts.

Sunscreen: the Maldives is known for its serene turquoise waters. But before you dive into the depths of the ocean make sure you apply an adequate amount of good quality sunscreen lotion to avoid getting a dreadful tan that will cause even more excruciating burns and you might have to spend some days of your vacation in your hotel room.

Maldivian island hopping: Tourists are discouraged from visiting Non -resort islands. This is largely in case they want to keep a tight grip on where the tourist dollars are spent and to make sure the Non- resort islands are not corrupted by foreign influences. To visit the Non- resort islands and utter atolls you will need to organize a guide or licensed tour operator to show you around.

Avoid excess display of intimacy in public: the Maldives is considered as a conservative country. Too much display of intimacy on public local places isn’t considered as decent and people might object. Avoid getting into trouble during your short stay there. Let your holiday be a memorable one.

Do not litter the ocean: Marine life and vegetation are an important part of the ecosystem and in the world of rapid climate change the marine habitat has been affected severely. No matter which beaches you visit, please refrain from littering. We have all seen images of seals trapped in plastic sheets, plastic removed out of a whale during autopsy and straws stuck in a poor turtle’s nose. All of these can be hazardous.

Be extra respectful during the holy month of Ramadan. People are likely to be sensitive to anything they perceive during this month. You should take steps to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the public. Ramadan involves Muslims not eating or drinking from dawn to dusk and it’s rude to ignore these customs.

Use high protection cream: since the Maldives is located so close to the equator, it is possible to get burnt even on a cloudy day. So, you need high factor cream.

Avoid drinking tap water: water undergoes a different process in the Maldives to get rid of all the harmful bacteria and germs. This process is known as reverse osmosis desalination. This process is very successful in eradicating all the germs and bacteria from recycled water. It also gets rid of all the natural minerals in the water that provide several benefits to the human body and ends up not being as nutritious as it should be. It is a better choice to opt for packaged mineral water sold in these stores.

Banned items: the Maldives is a strictly Islamic country. There are specific ban items that you can bring with you to enjoy a hassle-free vacation at the Maldives. Leave at the port items which you have carried and not allowed using like alcohol, tobacco products, and religious texts and enjoy the unplugged holiday.

Don’t wear your shoes while entering a home or mosque. If you are not sure if you should remove your shoes, take a peep at what other people are doing and follow or ask someone.

When meeting someone for the first time, a handshake is common. Accept between men and women of the Muslim faith. Maldivian men may nod or bow to a woman, but if you are unsure, you can extend your hand.

Drug enforcement in the Maldives is strict and you have to pay a heavy penalty. They don’t have the death penalty for drug offenses, but they do have mandatory prison time for anyone caught even with soft drugs. Possession of minor amounts is considered trafficking with a life sentence in prison attached to it.

To make the best out of your trip to the Maldives is to shed off all remains of supremacy from your actions and think as the locals do. To earn respect you should show respect to others too.

Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you have a problem-free trip to Maldives.