Hook, Line And Release In The Maldives

Big game fish have always been an integral part of the culture and economic stability of the Maldives and due to its adopted sound environmental policy towards the sea and its inhabitants, plentiful numbers of fish can still be found in the waters surrounding the islands making the Maldives an ideal destination for keen fishermen and amateurs alike.

Traditional fishing in the Maldives is done from a dhoni, which is a small traditional one mast sailboat that the locals have always used to fish from. They are usually taken out in the early morning or after dark for some night fishing and are available to visitors who can join a fishing trips from most resorts.

If you're looking for bigger game fish such as tuna, marlin, barracuda and sail fish, day trips can be arranged from all the major resorts. The type of fishing done depends largely on what you want to catch so there is a real opportunity to try out different methods during your stay.

Even if you have never gone fishing before, the beautiful blue clear water surrounding the 26 atolls, (low lying coral islands enveloped by lagoons) which make up the Maldives, is a great place to give it a try. Fishing boats specialising in big game will employ local experts who will be happy to assist everyone on board and with their local knowledge of the area, the odds of bagging a big one are that much better!

For those who would rather swim with the fishes than hook them, jumping off the side of the boat will in most cases lead you to an undersea wonderland for diving and snorkelling. The coral reefs surrounding the islands consist of some of the best diving sites in the world, attracting keen divers all year round. The stable weather of the equatorial Maldives makes planning a vacation there easy. The climate is tropical and temperatures year-round remain warm. Not much rain falls in the region but the weather is affected by the monsoons that hit south Asia from May to September making rough seas and high winds at times.

No visas are necessary before travel to the Maldives as long as you have a valid passport. A free 30 day visitor's visa will be granted upon entry. Finding fantastic Maldives holidays is so simple it's really hard to go wrong.

Andrew Regan is a part time writer who honeymooned in the Maldives.