Maldives - Transfers - What are the options?

We often get asked about the options for transfers in the Maldives, and there seems to be a lot of misinformation about what is possible and allowable (I have even heard of people expecting "just to catch a taxi"!), so here are some guidelines.

You will require a transfer of some sort - the only hotel at the airport (Hule Hule) is really only suitable for a one night stay pre- or post-holiday. The Capital, Male, is a short ferry from the airport, and although interesting for a day's visit, is not really geared up for a longer tourist stay. (Amongst other things, it is far more strictly Muslim than the tourist islands, and so a bit restrictive for the average western visitor.)

So what are the possible options?

Boat Transfers - these are the cheapest, and for most packages come included in the price.
The normal form these days is to use Speedboats, which are much faster, but can be a bit bumpy depending on the weather. Transfers on Speedboats are usually quoted in the 30 minute to 2 hour range, and are obviously only suited to relatively close islands to Male.

The older boats, known as Dhonis, are the routine means of transport around the islands, and are used for delivering all supplies to the resorts, as well as ferrying staff around. They are not often quoted for tourist travel these days, but be wary of very cheap dynamic packages, which may still use them as a default. Transfer times range from a few hours to a day or more!

Seaplane Transfers - these have become the norm these days, and are often included in package prices, or maybe offered as an upgrade from a speedboat transfer. Transfers are typically in the 30 to 90 minute range.
The aircraft are quite small - typically 12 to 16 seats, and sometimes luggage is restricted. (You may find excess luggage being sent on by Dhoni.) You board the seaplanes at a jetty on the same island as the airport, and for many people the short trip is a highlight of the holiday! You do not get very high, and you can see all the islands and submerged reefs below you. The water is normally so clear that you can even see large fish from the air! When you land at your island, you may either pull up to another jetty, or sometimes be picked up by speedboat direct from the airplane, and ferried ashore.

Be aware that the Seaplanes cannot operate after dark, so your longhaul flight arrival and departure times may affect when you can transfer, or even force an overnight stay at the Hule Hule.

Internal Flight transfer - these have started appearing over the last few years as more of the Maldivian Atolls have local airstrips built on a suitable island. They are mainly used for the more remote Islands.
With these, you board a small land-based aircraft at Male to make the short trip to the remote landing strip. This flight can be 30 minutes to 2 hours in duration. You get the same opportunity to view the islands from the air, but you tend to be a lot higher, so less detail is visible. Then you are transferred again from the landing strip to your resort island - usually by speedboat, but occasionally by seaplane. The whole process can take 4 hours or more.

So when planning your Maldives holiday, make sure you consider which forms of transfer you are comfortable with. If you do not fancy a plane transfer, you can only choose islands close to Male. If you are not good in boats, you need to selct an island that does not require these, which will typically be more remote from Male. Then make sure your desired transfer is included in the price - it is very difficult and time consuming to organise them on arrival!