1. CANCELLATION POLICY 

In the case of cancellation of the expedition by the organization, our commitment is absolute with regard to the full refund of the payment. 

For cancellations on your part, it is mandatory to take out travel insurance. It may be whoever it is, we recommend IATI travel insurance. The price is around €60 per week and covers most cancellations, due to covid, illness, etc… With this contracted insurance, cancellation by the traveler would be covered. In addition, we have a discount code on the insurance that we will provide you once you make the reservation.

 2. COVID-19 CONDITIONS:

 – TO ENTER THE MALDIVES:

Since March 13, 2022, neither a PCR test nor a vaccination certificate is required to enter the Maldives. That is, nothing is asked for. The only thing you have to do to come to the country is fill out the IMUGA form. All travelers must fill out this online form 48 hours before their departure to the Maldives. 
Link below: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv

​– TO RETURN TO SPAIN FROM THE MALDIVES:

From September 20, 2022, it is no longer necessary to fill out the Spanish government health form SPTH. A complete vaccination certificate is also not required to return. You just have to fill out the IMUGA form again, this time on departure: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv

3. WHAT REQUIREMENTS ARE NEEDED TO BOOK THE TRIP. 

To book the trip, first contact us through the form that we indicate on the specific page of each trip. Once we have sent you the detailed presentations, and we have confirmed that there are still places left for that specific date, you will buy the recommended plane ticket. From there, you already have your place reserved. Once we have the entire group closed, we will create a WhatsApp group with everyone and we will tell you the next steps. 

4. DOES THE FLIGHT INCLUDE?

No. The flight is at the traveler’s expense. We recommend taking the flight that we indicate in the planning. This way you have the private boat from the airport to the first island covered. The whole group will arrive at the same time and we will all get on the boat. (In case you take a flight with a very different schedule, no problem! We will arrange a boat for you to the island for the price of $25.) 5. DOES IT INCLUDE ALL TRANSFERS BETWEEN ISLANDS
 

?

Yes. What we just mentioned. The only thing it would not cover is if you took different flights that did not adapt to the schedules of the private boat that the entire group has reserved. Still, there would be no problem. We worked with a company that would take you to our island for $2.50.  

 6. DO I NEED TO HAVE PREVIOUS DIVING EXPERIENCE?

No. Those who have the Open Water will do immersion and for those who do not have previous experience they can do a Baptism. Both options are included. (Although I, personally, recommend if you have the opportunity, that you take the Open Water.) 

​7. DO I NEED DIVING INSURANCE? 

If you are certified in diving you will know that you always need diving insurance to carry out the activity. I recommend AXXA diving insurance. You can take one day insurance which costs about €6. Or the month, or even a week. It is done online on your mobile and can be done in our diving center. (Our recommended IATI travel insurance also covers diving insurance.

8. VACCINES

No vaccination is mandatory to travel to the Maldives. We do recommend bringing plenty of mosquito repellent at night. 

9. MY PASSPORT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. SOMETHING HAPPENS?

 
Yes. Passports have to be new. They must be more than six months away from the expiration date. 

10. BIODRAMINE AND WATER

We recommend bringing Biodramine with caffeine for all people who get seasick on boats. It is very important that it has caffeine so that you do not fall asleep. Please take it, it is a very stupid way to ruin your day and your experience. 
(On all boats we always give water and juice. Still, stay hydrated and drink a lot of water. It seems silly, but it isn’t.)

11. SNORKELING AND DIVING EQUIPMENT. IT’S INCLUDED? 

Yes. All snorkeling and diving equipment for the activities is included. We give you a mask, snorkel, fins and towel every day. On the boats we also give food, fruit and water. (The day of scuba diving also includes neoprene and all diving equipment.) 
Now, our snorkeling equipment is normal equipment with short fins. (Not the long fins in my photos). If you want to bring something like that, you have to buy it.

12. SUITCASE. WHAT DO I GET?

The weather in the Maldives is totally summer all year round. You live in flip flops. That is, you don’t need to bring anything warm at all. It’s really hot. So, at most, a long-sleeved t-shirt in case it rains and gets a little cold one day. 

13. CLIMATE. WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO GO TO THE MALDIVES? 

It is always a good time to come to the Maldives. It’s hot all year round and the animals are always there. For example, the whale shark has no season. You can see him every month.
Regarding rainfall, since this strong climate change has begun, nothing can be predicted. Before, the storm season was May and June, but these last three years have been the best months. Not a drop of rain, the sea like a raft, literally like a plate! and the best visibility. However, October and November, which were two of the best months, have been a disaster, it has rained a lot! Wind and poor visibility. 
My recommendation is to let go and adapt. If it rains, it is tropical rains that last a short time. You have to have luck and a good attitude for what may happen. 

14. PHOTOS WITH DRONE AND UNDERWATER CAMERAS. 

All famous videos with the drone are included. We also carry all the GoPro guides to make you content underwater. Every day, after the expeditions, they are collected from our Shadow Palm Maldives offices. You have to bring a lot of space on your phones. Or a USB or external memory. (We make many and you are going to want them all 😉 

15. ADAPTER FOR THE PLUGS. 

Yes, you do need to bring an adapter. The plugs are American. So we recommend a universal adapter like this one from Amazon that we leave you in the link below: AMAZON.ADAPTADORUNIVERSAL

16. INTERNET ON THE TRIP

In all hotels there is WIFI. But, if you want to have internet always, as soon as you arrive at the airport you have to let us know and we will buy you some internet cards that cost $35, that is, €30 and you will have internet all week. (They are 17gb or 24gb depending on the promotion.) There is nothing cheaper in the Maldives. 

17. CREAMS, SHAMPOOS, HAIR DRYER…

In hotels they do give you a hair dryer. But they only have body gel. Everyone has to bring their own shampoo or buy what they need on the island. (There are several cheap supermarkets where you can buy everything.) 
We recommend please bringing lots and lots of sunscreen. In the previous groups, people have been burned and I say literally BURNED because there have been third degree burns, sunstroke and so on. Please take care of yourselves. 

18. LUNCH AND DINNER. INCLUDED? 

In the pdf with the breakdown of the trip that we have sent you by WhatsApp is all the information about what is included each day. Almost all meals on the boats are included. But as you have seen, no dinner is included. 
The local islands where we stayed are very cheap. Lunch or dinner costs around €8/€10. The most expensive restaurant on the island costs about €15/20 per person. And you can also find food stalls to make some noodles for €3. 

19. WHAT EXTRA BUDGET DO I BRING ON THE TRIP? 

The experience with the first groups has made me recommend that you bring 300 US dollars (already changed) to the trip for yourselves. Almost all the girls have bought long-sleeved swimsuits, sarongs, bikinis and souvenirs. The boys have done water activities, such as jet skiing, parasailing, wake etc… For dinners and lunches, $100/$120 would be enough. But, in the end, everyone is on vacation and buys things, repeats excursions on days off and decides to treat themselves. They have always ended up withdrawing money from the bank (which has charged them a lot of commission and also, sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t.) 

20. I’M A BOY, CAN I GO? MINORS, ALLOWED?

Many kids have come on the trips, but it has been more difficult for me to take photos of them. It is a fun trip for friends and also a very good opportunity to meet people. Guys, cheer up!

Minors are not allowed at the moment. In the future we will try to do something adapted for children. But, for now, you have to be of legal age to be able to enjoy all the activities of the trip…