Let’s talk about the many different kinds of boats of the Maldives. With the country being an island nation and the big blue surrounding it, it is essential that we have boats to get around.

Speed boats are the Maldivian equivalent to a taxi. We use them for island hopping, to pick up our guests from their domestic flight or water skiing. There are also big safari boats or liveaboards in our waters. These are for guests who just purely want to dive. Very essential are the supply boats. Some deliver diesel others brings all necessities to the islands starting from food over mattresses to post cards, anything you can think of. Finally, there are dhonis. Dhoni boats are used for many different things in the Maldives, they have been adopted by most dive centres because they are perfect excursion boats.

The dhoni is the traditional fishing boat of the Maldives. They are also used by other countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The word dhoni has a derived meaning that translates to the words “to dig”, as the early dhonis were made from a singular log that had been dug out. Traditional dhonis had big sails and would use to the wind, whereas now most have motors.

Building a dhoni is a traditional craft in the Maldives. Where craftsman will take on young apprentices and guide them into creating these boats. Originally the boats were made of coconut palm with little to no planning, now most are made of fiberglass or imported woods.

We use dhoni boats for our excursions. They are spacious, cool, and the main deck is low enough for divers to get on and off easily. There is also a top deck, which is perfect for soaking up the sun, but also for spotting marine life!

So, if you join us on any excursion now you know what type of boat to expect!