Dress

Dress is informal, light cotton clothes are recommended. Nudity is strictly forbidden. Swimsuits and beachwear are to be confined to resort islands. When visiting an inhabited island or the capital, shorts and T-shirts for men, and blouse or T-shirts with skirts or shorts that cover the thighs, made of non-diaphanous material, for women, are a minimum requirement.

CURRENCY

The basic monetary unit in the Maldives is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MRF). They come in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2(notes and coins) and 1 (coins only). A Rufiyaa is divided into 1 00 laries, coming in coins of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

In the early days cowry shells were used instead of money. Coins, minted in silver, were introduced for the first time in the late 1 6^th century under the rule of Sultan Al-Ghazee Mohammed Thakurufaanu. The present currency was introduced on October 7, 1983.

There ore no restrictions on import or export of currencies. Major foreign currencies are converted to Rufiyaa at banks, retort islands, hotels and prominent shops.

Hotel bills can be paid in cash, traveler’s’ cheques or credit cards. Credit cards most commonly used are American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, JCB, MasterCard and Visa.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

11 is prohibited by law to import the following items into the Maldives Alcoholic beverages, pornographic literature or pictures, narcotics, firearms and idols of worship. With the government imposing a ban on the killing of turtles, export of tortoise shell and coral is forbidden.

SHOPPING

Mai6 is the ideal place for shopping considering the choice of items available. With minimum duty on most of the items, prices in Mai6 have become competitive. Best buys include handicrafts like reed mats and lacquered wooden boxes, electronic items and souvenirs like coral rings and sea shells.

Goods ranging from hi-fi stereo systems and cameras to watches and cosmetics can be purchased From well-stocked duty free shops at the Departure Terminal of Huiul6 international Airport.

Shops pull down their shutters for about 10 to 15 minutes, five times every day, for prayers. Most shops on resort islands are open throughout the day and closed at dusk.

Apart from shopping in the capital city or lazing on a resort beach, there are several exciting pastimes you could choose from.

AMATEUR RADIO

If you are a licensed radio amateur, operating Amateur Radio during your visit to the Maldives could 6e a thrilling experience. Reciprocal licensing arrangements are available-for amateur radio operation in-the Maldives. The fee for such temporary licenses, valid for a maximum of three months, is only MRf 125. (Revenue Stamp MRf 100 and license Fee MRf 25). The prefix is 8Q7. Currently, only two letter suffixes are issued.

Since it may be difficult to organize all these if you are not in the Maldives, the best way to handle is through your Tour Operator or Travel Agent or a friend in the capital, Male.

DIVING

The 70-odd resort islands surrounded by clear turquoise waters introduce you to a fascinating world of coral gardens. To have a tete-a-tete with such underwater treasures, diving is indeed the recommended pastime. The corals offer some of the mast spectacular vistas of underwater life - turtles, seaweed, shells, crustaceans and schools-and-schools of brilliant colored fish.

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 offer a perfect start for beginners. Some of the schools also offer training up to the level of a professional diver. Windsurfing and water-skiing facilities are also available.

FISHING

Fishing is another major sport in the Maldives. With water constituting over 99% of the total area, it comes as no surprise that the country flaunts some of the best fishing grounds in the world.

Night fishing is a popular tourist sport with the catch - be it groupers, snappers squirrel fish, skip-jacks or barracuda