Yacht Charter Maldives
Yacht Charter Maldives
One of the honeymoon capitals of the world, the paradise islands of the Maldives are among the most beautiful sailing destinations in the world. A Maldives yacht charter should be on the bucket list for anyone who wishes to shut down from the world.
An undersea mountain range that pokes out of the surface of the Indian Ocean a ten hour flight from London, the 1100 or so islands are mostly uninhabited. Out of the sailing base at Male, you will often find yourself moored off an uninhabited island on one of the 26 atolls (undersea mountain tops) that make up the archipelago.
At Baa Atoll you should go diving on a coral reef and be entranced by the sealife. Baa Atoll is an internationally recognised marine reserve and is a home for manta rays. These giant rays fly in shoals and are awe inspiring to behold. Baa Atoll is also home to a population of whale shark, the gentle giants of the deep. Either snorkelling or scuba diving this is an important part of the country that you shouldn't miss!
One of your destinations will be Hukurudhoo Uthuru Kandu, a channel in the coral reef of Ari Atoll that is renowned as one of the best scuba diving reefs in the world. Whether snorkelling or with tanks you will drift with the sea currents among the tropical fish that are blessed to call this their home.
There are 154 resort islands in the Maldives. On some you will find all the trappings of home from boutiques to spas and gyms, though no bars as the chain is an Islamic country. That leaves more 900 where it will be just you, the gently rolling sea and easygoing winds to enjoy perfect peace.
Thanks to climate change, the Maldives could well be lost to the world in the near future. The highest point on the islands is just nine metres above sea level. As such the time is very much now to see one of the greatest Indian Ocean paradises on the planet.
Charter a yacht with Borrow a Boat today to see what true paradise is all about!
Hiring A Yacht In the Maldives
The sailing season runs from November to April during the summer monsoon. Unlike nearby India, the monsoon is mild, producing steady, predictable winds.
In most cases you will be on a luxury yacht charter or crewed catamaran charter. You will fly into Male Airport, meet the yacht at the dock and focus on the important job of relaxing.
For those planning a bareboat charter yacht charter companies will require you to have the equivalent of an RYA Coastal Skipper qualification (or German SKS higher level).
Getting to the Maldives
The only yacht charter base in the Maldives is North Male, the capital of the country where the international airport is.
Male airport has airlines serving it from all over the world. You will be taken by water taxi from the airport to the dock.
Best Areas To Charter in the Maldives
With Male being the only yacht charter base you are limited to how far you can reach in seven days or 12 days sailing. Here are a few suggestions of Maldivian atolls you should visit on your charter yacht.
South Male Atoll
This atoll is 19 nautical miles long by 10 wide and consists of 30 islands. A short sail from the airport at North Male Atoll, it has 17 resort islands and 10 uninhabited islands. Many tourists don't get much farther than this as after a speedboat ride from the airport they have everything they need here. On a yacht rental you can go farther!
Ari Atoll
This has 70 islands, 18 of which are inhabited and 52 that are uninhabited. Many a sandbank is formed and disappears at the whim of the sea. Perhaps the main reason you should visit is the Hukurudhoo Uthuru Kandu channel through Ari Atoll that is a mecca for suba diving and snorkeling thanks to the coral reefs and their ecosystems that make it a special place indeed.
Baa Atoll
Hanifaru Bay lagoon is a nursery ground for grey sharks and is an internationally recognised marine reserve. You will see manta rays flying beneath you in the turquoise water and should be disappointed if you don't see a giant whale shark or two - don't be afraid of their size as they only eat plankton!
Best Towns To Charter A Yacht In the Maldives
Flying into North Male you will be either taken direct to your chartered yacht or by tender out to your luxury yacht. From there you can bareboat or crewed yacht charter a sailing yacht, catamaran, motor yacht to enjoy your Indian Ocean sailing holiday.
Types Of Yachts To Hire
Where it comes to chartering you can hire a motor cruiser, a monohull sailing yacht or a catamaran. Each have their benefits.
Sailing Yacht (Sailboat)
From US $100 or so a day up to whatever you can afford, monohull sailing yacht charters are fun to sail at all points of the wind, whether nose into a building sea breeze or blasting under all canvas downwind. A luxury yacht charter at an affordable price!
Catamaran
Catamaran charters are typically more luxurious than a sailboat these often have en suite toilets and showers in the staterooms as well as ample entertaining space in the saloon and on deck. They have twin engines to compensate for their lack of windward ability but are great sailing with wind abaft the beam.
Luxury Yachts and Superyachts
Want your own personal cruise ship for you and your group to leave the world behind? A luxury yacht charter or superyacht charter in the Caribbean with crew to look after you from breakfast to bedtime could be just the ticket. Often carrying scuba diving equipmentand in some cases even a diving guide, you can get the very best from a sailing vacation in the in the Maldive Islands.
Motor Yacht
Whether a motor yacht with cabins or a day boat for a fishing trip / blasting up the bay, these are comfortable seagoing boats with a kick of speed should you want to cover a bigger distance on the day or just for the fun of having a 10 metre wide wake and 10 tons of steel flying along at 30 knots!
RIB
Very much day boats for fishing and day cruising, RIBs are a lot of fun for a day afloat. They can be very quick and are great should you be in a town on holiday and fancy seeing the coast or finding secluded white sand beachesfrom another perspective.
Skippered Yacht Charter or Bareboat?
Where it comes to a yacht charter in the Maldive islands you have two choices - bareboat hire or skippered yachtcharter. Both have their own advantages.
Skippered charter in Maldives
Fancy going on a sailing trip yet have no sailing qualifications or lack the confidence to go it alone? A skippered yachtcharter gives you the advantage of being able to get afloat without having had to invest in getting sailing qualifications beforehand. You will pay over $100 a day extra for the skipper, as well as their food and a tip at the end but they will show you the best that the area has to offer with their local knowledge.
You will also be able to explore further afield than the traditional cruising grounds of bareboat sailing vacations.
Bareboat charter in the Maldives
For those who seek a bit of adventure off their own back without the expense of a paid skipper aboard, a bareboatcharter could be just the ticket. You will need high level sailing qualifications but for that you get to be the author of your own story afloat as you explore the Maldive islands.
Do you need a licence to charter in Maldives?
If you want to bareboat charter you will need an approved boating qualification. Below is a list of relevant qualifications:
ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising certificate: The American Sailing Association skipper minimum qualification for hiring bareboat yachts in the Maldives. BoatUS and US Sailing also offer bareboat charter qualifications, as does CANsail.
RYA: The Royal Yachting Association's qualifications (minimum Coastal Skipper level) is necessary for bareboatcharter hire, it's also worthwhile seeing do you need to have done a VHF radio course as well as some boatowners will require this.
There are also many other European national boating qualifications that are accepted here too, it's worthwhile checking these details before hiring.
If you want a skippered boat rental as a charter yacht then you don't need any sailing certification at all, you just turn up and off you go.
Best Times To Hire
Unlike Europe, the sailing season in the Maldive islands runs from November to April - perfect for a dose of winter sun. The summer monsoon is settled and you will encounter weather between 25-35 degrees C.
Within this period, between December and February you will find the winds are from the NE and rarely get over 14 knots.
If you can get to the Maldives outside of school holidays you will find the sailing weather at its best and the resorts less crowded.
The Climate
North East Monsoon: Unlike mainland India, thanks to being on the Equator the winds in the Maldives never get too strong in the sailing season.
How much does it cost for a Maldivian Charter
There's almost a yacht for every budget when it comes to chartering. For US $120 a day - $840 a week - you can take a sailboat monohull out with five other adults. That is going to be cheaper than a week in a hotel for everyone.
Catamarans cost a lot more - expect to pay anything from $500 to $2,000 a day depending on the season.
Motor boats taken on a bareboat basis can cost as little as $500 a day if they have sleeping acommodation - much less if they are day boats.
RIBs can cost as little as $50 for an afternoon.
In each of the examples above you can take on a skipper starting at $150 a day depending on what the vessel is and their required qualifications to sail it.
Explore the Maldives By Renting A Yacht
Everyone who visits the Maldives will end up on a boat at some point - there's no avoiding it! To have a Maldives yacht charter is to be able to visit places others can't and to see and feel these southern paradise islands in a way that someone in a resort just never will. Sit in a lagoon on your own, taking in the world with just the sounds of the birds and the sea - who could want anything more from life?
FAQs
Is Yacht hire in the Maldives Legal?
Yacht hire in the Maldives is legal. Yacht charter is an important part of the Maldivian economy. You do need an advanced sailing license to bareboat charter thanks to the challenging navigation but then you have the ocean to yourself!
What kind of Yachts can I hire in the Maldives
You can hire a motorboat, RIB, catamaran or sailboat on bareboat terms in the Maldives, or you can hire a skipper to help you. For a luxury yacht or super yacht you will hire the crew and skipper as part of the package.
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht?
Consider your budget, sailing experience, whom you are taking sailing and where exactly you wish to go. Have you the sailing qualifications to do the trip? They can be very tight as to these requirements.
What are the best time to hire a Yacht in the Maldives?
November to April is the main sailing season in Maldives, with the months of December to February said to be the very best thanks to the light but steady winds.
Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in the Maldives?
You will typically pay 50% upfront on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance.
What happens if my Yacht breaks down?
If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to/are on a mooring you will be able to phone a number given by the yacht charter company.
What should I think of before I hire a Yacht in the Maldive Islands?
You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter you want to book and where do you want to go. It never gets too cool in the Maldives so just bring windproof, light clothing and of course swimwear. Please note that the Maldives is an Islamic country so don't challenge their alcohol free customs or be under-dressed in public.
Do I need a visa to visit the Maldives?
Tourism is an important part of the Maldives economy. As long as you are only in-country for a yacht charter or holiday then you will not normally require a visa to enter the country.