Very popular disciplines
Soccer is the most popular sport in the Maldives. Every local island has its own soccer pitch. But the national team has never progressed beyond the qualifying stage for the World Cup.
Carrom is a popular game in the Maldives. It's a kind of Indian billiards, played in all the streets of Malé, using a puck, pawns and the hands. Unlike soccer, Maldivian carrom players have made a name for themselves on the international scene.
Bashi is a traditional sport played exclusively by women. Originally, the "ball" was a small cube woven from coconut leaves, and the game was played with bare hands. Modernized by Amin Didi, it is now played with balls, rackets and a tennis net. The hexagonal court is divided into two distinct sections on either side of the net. Each team consists of 11 players. One team throws and the other receives. If the ball is caught, the waitress goes out. If the ball touches the court, the throwing team wins a point. Bashi is an important moment of socialization for these women, who look after the home all day long. It is possible to attend a match of this extremely popular game during a visit to the inhabited islands or to Hulumalé, every afternoon.
A diving paradise
The Maldives are a true paradise for divers, with some of the most beautiful seabeds in the world. While more experienced divers will enjoy discovering exceptional sites, others will have the opportunity to learn the joys of this sport in magnificent surroundings, under the guidance of Padi-certified professionals. Diving in the Maldives is possible all year round. Nearly 3,000 divers immerse in the Maldives every day. Needless to say, the sites closest to the tourist islands are extremely busy in high season. However, dive cruises can be a great way to avoid the crowds. In general, there are over a hundred diving spots in the Maldives. Some, more famous than others, attract the greatest number of divers. There are three types of diving, directly linked to the geological formation: diving inside the atoll in the lagoon, diving outside the atoll along the drop-off and diving in the passes between the islands or between the long farus (reefs) that make up the atoll reef barrier.
Snorkeling. In the English-speaking Maldives, snorkeling refers to diving with fins, mask and snorkel. You can rent or borrow fins, mask and snorkel on any of the islands. But if you can, bring your own equipment, so you can enjoy the lagoons and reefs in complete freedom and comfort. Most islands whose reefs are far from the beach organize dhoni trips, often free of charge, once or four times a day, to take you to the best sites.
Cruises and relaxation
A cruise will mainly satisfy diving fans, who will have the opportunity to visit spots that are much less frequented and where underwater life has remained sheltered from man. The islands are just a few hours by boat from each other, and you can sail on the calm waters of the atolls or in the open sea, but always sheltered by the coral reef. Cruises combine the varied pleasures of diving, windsurfing, paddle-boarding, fishing and lounging with the contemplation of schools of flying fish and pods of dolphins playing with the boat's bow.
A large choice of water sports
Water sports enthusiasts are well catered for and can glide to their hearts' content on the turquoise waters. Almost all the lagoons offer optimal conditions for safe water activities, which can be enjoyed all year round with equal pleasure. In addition to snorkeling, of course, you can enjoy non-motorized sports such as canoeing, windsurfing and catamaran sailing, as well as motorized sports such as water-skiing, jet-skiing and banana-boating. Fans of kitesurfing and wakeboarding will also find plenty to enjoy in the Maldives, thanks to constant breaks in some exceptional locations.
A surfing destination
Keeping up with the times, the Maldivians have managed to find surfing spots in a part of the world where the sea is generally calm. In fact, surfing only arrived in the Maldives in the mid-1970s. The discovery was initially very confidential, but since then, Australians have flocked to the few islets that offer the sport. It is now possible to embark on safari boats for cruises specifically reserved for surfing. For the North Malé Atoll in general, the surfing season runs from April to October. In the south, surf trips are organized to Laamu or Gaafu Dhaalu atoll aka Huvadhoo. As these two atolls are separated by the "one and a half Dregree Channel" - a channel of 1.5 degrees latitude - and there is a very small land mass south of it, a swell generated by the roaring forties (the regular winds of the Indian Ocean at low latitudes) comes crashing over the islets of these two atolls with vigour, creating some of the best waves in the country. The best times to go there are from February to April and from September to November. Surfers seem to appreciate the Maldives for the quality of the waves and the variety of spots accessible from the same island. The waves are particularly long and there are spots for both right and left handed surfers.
Lots of spots. The best surfing spots are located in the atolls of North Male, South Male, the Central Atolls and the less frequented Huvadhoo. It is still possible today in the Maldives to surf on virgin waves. Some spots are not yet crowded, except for the Malé spots where the large number of surfers in the water can be a problem for some. But the atmosphere is often friendly!
