...because nothing works without a boat!

Almost all passenger and freight traffic in the Maldives takes place on water. Given the structure of the island, this is of course not surprising. However, renting a boat is not easy. The prices are often overpriced and unacceptable. If you don't have strong negotiating skills, you'll be looking for a long time!

The boats usually belong to the resort itself or are offered by private companies. You can choose from four types of boats: sailing dhonis, motor dhonis, speedboats and yachts.

When they arrived in the Maldives, they must have come into contact with a motor dhoni or a speed boat. These boats are most commonly used for airport transfers and excursions.

The Maldivians are a seafaring people. For thousands of years they have learned to steer their boats through shallow lagoons, shoals and dangerous currents. The traditional type of boat is the Dhoni. These boats are modeled on the Arabian dhows. The trapezoidal sails are typical. These enable cruising against the wind. The shape of the sails and the driving style go back to the Portuguese. Today the sailing dhonis have almost completely been replaced by the motor dhonis. Originally the Dhonis had square sails. This ancient form can only be found in the southern archipelago.