USEFUL INFORMATION
ELECTRICAL & WATER SUPPLY
The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
You can use your electric appliances in the Maldives, if the voltage in your country is in between 220 - 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). All the properties have either universal or the 3pin UK sockets but as always it's recommended you bring an outlet adaptor.
Loss of power is infrequent and surges are rare. Having said this it's always a good idea to have a surge protector, either built in to your adaptor or a stand alone device.
All properties provide complimentary bottled drinking water. Most properties only have showers. Sea water is pumped from an underground well into a plant for desalination & rainwater collected from public roofs & tanks is piped into the plant for filtration and disinfection, then piped throughout the island.
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PUBLIC SERVICES & FACILITIES
The island has a medical centre, solar power plant, as well as a modern sewage and water desalination plant, well maintained sheltered harbour, a pharmacy, two mosques, a kindergarten, modern public school, play park, an old stadium of sorts, football pitch, as well as a wide variety of small local shops, hairdresser (men only) and a number of cafes & restaurants. A new permanent stage has recently been completed.
The island has a Court House but doesn't have a police station due to the extremely low crime rate. The island council and the community ensures safety and security of the island. In accordance with the recently passed Decentralisation Act of Maldives, Dhiffushi is governed by an elected Island Council composed of three Councillors. The Council is headed by the President of the Council. The Island Council reports to the Local Government Authority (LGA). The current island Councillors elected and in office are young, educated and highly motivated.
MOBILE & WIFI SERVICE
The island has a very good mobile network coverage and all the properties & dining establishments have WiFi.
All the properties provide free WiFi to their guests and while not always guaranteed, most of the connections are usable in your room in addition to the public areas.
Like most visitors you will probably be concerned about the cost of using your mobile as you will inevitably want to research things to do, contact people and overload Facebook & Instagram. Remember to check your roaming service is enabled/disabled, review your operators terms & conditions and check if they have a partnership to even allow you to use your current service while travelling. Roaming can be extremely expensive.
The Airport has mobile service operator stores where you can purchase/collect a local sim. Prices start from 491 MVR for 17GB of data. There is also an Ooredoo self service 24hr machine where you purchase a sim or recharge without having to enter their store. If you unfortunately do not have time to purchase a sim at the airport, the Fastboot store on Dhiffushi sells prepaid Ooredoo sims for 35 MVR with various data/SMS/call packages available from only 35 MVR for 1GB of data.
MAKE SURE YOU ACTIVATE & TEST THE DHIRAAGU OR OOREDOO SERVICE BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRPORT. THERE ARE NO BRANCHES ON DHIFFUSHI.
MONEY
The local currency in the Maldives is called Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), however you will find businesses pricing in US Dollar (USD).
HARD CURRENCY IN USD/MVR IS ESSENTIAL!
There is a Bank of Maldives ATM on Dhiffushi but it is yet to be opened. Make sure you avail yourself of the the ATM's or exchange services to acquire local or USD currency at the airport. Some of the properties, especially The White Sand Beach Guesthouse occasionally offer card charging currency exchange services. So don't panic if you run low on hard cash.
Many of the local shops and leisure providers on the island do not accept cards. Be advised, when paying in USD you may find yourself being given change in MVR rather than USD.
All the properties accept both credit and debit cards. Pre-Paid cards are not always accepted so check before you travel. As mentioned above, many of the businesses on the island only accept cash. Even so, you will find you can pay via your card for many leisure activities through your property.
An average meal, (Starter, Main, Drinks) will cost you approximately no more than $15.00 per person and drinks from the shop or at your place of stay will normally cost between $3.00 & $5.00
The average cost of an excursion is $25 per person and activities start from as little as $10 per person.
PCR TESTING HOMEBOUND
You are required to conduct a PCR test 72hrs prior to your scheduled departure from the island of Dhiffushi when you are traveling from the island to the airport to leave the Maldives. The test will be carried out by your property on an agreed date & time. The cost of this mandatory test is an average of $85 per person and includes anyone above the age of 1 year.
As you did prior to arrival & no earlier than 24 hours prior to your flight departure time, you must complete the same Online Health Declaration, this time selecting 'Departure' and upload a copy of your departure PCR Certificate. The Online Health Declaration form can be found here: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create
In addition, during exit screening if any tourist is found to have fever or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, they must undergo PCR testing for COVID-19.
COVID-19 INSURANCE
Allied Insurance company in association with the Ministry of Tourism, has launched a COVID-19 insurance policy focusing on tourists who visit Maldives.
In a collaborated press conference the insurance plan was launched by the Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom.
The COVID-19 Insurance policy namely as Allied Inbound consists of two options that covers medical charges, isolation facility charges, emergency medical transportation charges and interment charges which may follow a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 of a tourist during their stay in Maldives. This plan only includes isolation centres designated by HPA. A willing tourist should apply for this plan prior to entering the country. This plan is now available for tourists on Allied’s website. More details about this plan will also be available on their website here and the toll free hotline 1600.
Irrespective of their age, any visitor who is not a citizen or does not hold a valid resident visa of Maldives will be eligible for this plan. The plan comes in two options; Allied Inbound from $25 and Allied Inbound Plus from $35.
WEDDINGS ON DHIFFUSHI
White sandy beaches, crystal clear blue sea, beautiful reefs, and phenomenal weather; it’s no wonder why so many people consider having a Dhiffushi wedding. It truly is a barefoot paradise that offers plenty of options for the perfect wedding.
From weddings to exchanging vows right on the beach, there is no doubt, a wedding in Dhiffushi will be unforgettable. Here are a few things you should know before you book the big day.
The Legalities
A wedding in Dhiffushi between two foreign nationals is not legally binding. Even though the day is very much real, complete with a ceremony and the perfect beach wedding dress. You will need to have a legal wedding at home either before or after the beautiful ceremony on Dhiffushi. This is the only way to have a Maldives wedding unless you are marrying a Maldives Legal Resident or Citizen.
The Ceremony
Exchanging vows, rings, and loving glances will all happen at a Dhiffushi wedding, but there are also other things to consider when thinking about your wedding ceremony. Like whether or not you want to add any Maldivian culture.
In Dhiffushi, a traditional wedding ceremony includes a Bodu Beru (drums) procession. This is a procession of around 20 drummers that play Bodu Beru dressed in traditional clothing, leading the happy couple down the aisle. It is topped off by having a local Gazi (judge) preside over the ceremony, all of which is done in the local the local Divehi dialect. Some couples that go the traditional route also choose to wear traditional Maldivian clothing.
Couples can also, of course, have a western wedding and skip all of the Maldives cultural aspects.
The Location
The beach is the most popular place for a wedding on Dhiffushi, and why wouldn’t it be. The Maldives is home to some of the best beaches in the world, making it a dream spot for a destination wedding. Especially considering its exceptional backdrop of glistening waters and swaying palm trees. Most beach weddings will not only have the ceremony on the beach, but also the reception, complete with flowers, music, and excellent food. It's also possible to have a Maldives wedding in a location other than on the beach. You can have it on a traditional Dhoni or luxurious yacht in the sea, on an isolated sandbar far from everything else in the world, on a rooftop or terrace at sunset.
The Cost
Having a wedding on Dhiffushi is substantially cheaper and will save couples a lot of money. A wedding package on Dhiffushi is anywhere from $550 to $4,000. The best part is that you don’t have to fork out even more for the honeymoon, as the wedding and honeymoon are all rolled up into one package deal. The entire wedding and honeymoon could end up being no more than $3,500 or less, making a Dhiffushi wedding an affordable dream. Contact the various properties to request a quote for their unique wedding packages.