There are seas that are only beautiful on postcards, some that are only gorgeous under a filter, but there are also coordinates that even the most honest camera cannot fully capture the enchanting turquoise color. Maldives is such a place - no need for fanfare, no need for advertising, just set foot there and you will feel small in the middle of a real paradise.
For travel blogger Tai Pham (also known as Tai Toi Day), this trip to Maldives is not just about watching coral or sunbathing on the beach. This trip is what he calls "a real appointment with the ocean" - where, for the first time in his life, he explored with the most overwhelming experience: diving with sharks.
Travel blogger Tai Pham
A green dream started from the early days of traveling
“The dream of visiting Maldives is not only Tai’s, but also the dream of many travel enthusiasts,” he smiled, recalling the days when he was fascinated by the Maldives through sparkling photos on the internet.
About 2-3 years ago, going to Maldives was still a luxury for many young people who loved independent travel. Expensive airfares, sky-high accommodation and transportation costs made the journey to paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean not an easy one. But now, favorable conditions for airfares, more reasonable costs, combined with the increasingly professional way of doing tourism of the Maldivian people, have finally made that dream come true. But then the reality always exceeds all imagination - or sometimes... is more demanding than imagination.
“The dream of setting foot in Maldives is not only Tai's, but also the dream of many people who love to travel”
The first journey into the sea
Tai Pham admits that he is not a professional diver. But like many other sea enthusiasts, he spent time learning, accumulating knowledge and preparing his health for this special journey. "To go diving in the Maldives, the first thing you need to do is be in good health and be able to adapt to the marine environment. And of course, it is mandatory to know how to swim and dive, because fish swim very fast," he said.
During his trip, Tai participated in three different diving tours, each one a completely different world of marine life. There were times when he was lucky, and times when he did not meet his expectations, but for him, those were unforgettable emotions.
"Shark diving tours are quite simple, because the sharks here are very gentle. But diving with manta rays, dolphins or whale sharks is a big challenge for those who are not used to diving," Tai added. The moment of immersing yourself in the turquoise water, surrounded by a silent world with only the sound of breathing and bubbles, and then suddenly seeing giant fish gliding past - that is the feeling that no film, photo or video can fully capture.
Diving with sharks - fear, awe and beauty of the ocean's masters
"The thing I regret the most is choosing the shark diving tour in the afternoon instead of the morning," Tai said. According to the experience of local people, sharks in the Maldives often appear more in the morning - when they are hungry and hunt more. But that day, for objective reasons, Tai's group could only join the tour in the afternoon, when the sea had less of these special guests.
Still, the first time he actually encountered a shark in deep water remains one of his most unforgettable memories. Tai still remembers that moment clearly, an afternoon on the Maldives sea, the water was as blue as turquoise, the wind gently pushed the boat away from the shore. The whole group let themselves down into the sea. And then, gray shadows slid past their feet. They were sharks.
Unlike the inherent fear of many people about this ferocious creature, sharks in the Maldives have an unusual calmness. They swim leisurely, gracefully, full of the aura of ocean masters. But it is also this majestic, calm beauty that is enough to make those who encounter it for the first time - like Tai - stunned and speechless.
Sharks in the Maldives are known to be quite “benign”, rarely attacking humans. However, the feeling of swimming alongside, looking straight into the cold eyes of the creature that haunted my childhood through Hollywood movies - for Tai, it was an experience that was both thrilling, overwhelming, and breathtakingly beautiful.
“There was a moment when the shark swam very close, so close that I could see its teeth clearly. At that time, I was a little scared. But the fear passed quickly, because I really just wanted to dive and see as many fish as possible. Moreover, the diving tours here are all experienced and ensure safety, these sharks are also very gentle, almost not dangerous to humans,” Tai Pham said.
The feeling of swimming alongside, looking straight into the cold eyes of the creature that haunted his childhood through Hollywood movies - for Tai, it was an experience that was both thrilling, overwhelming, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Symphony of colors under the sea of Maldives
Maldives is known as the "pearl of the Indian Ocean" not only because of its white sand beaches, but also because of its richest marine ecosystem in the world. When diving to a depth of a few meters, Tai Pham feels like he is lost in another world - where schools of dolphins dance, stingrays glide gracefully and corals are brightly colored.
“The fish here are so numerous that it’s overwhelming, stingrays circle the island, and occasionally sharks swim close to shore. But the moment I remember most was when I was surrounded by hundreds, thousands of dolphins. It felt like I was lost in the world of the movie Avatar, surreal and overwhelming,” Tai said.
Every time he goes diving, what makes Tai Pham constantly amazed is the magical beauty of the sea water here. “The sea in Maldives is so clean… it’s unimaginable. Just put your face in the water and you can see everything clearly, vividly, sparkling like another world”. Coral reefs, schools of colorful fish, pieces of a sunken ship in the middle of the sea - all are projected right under the feet of the diver. There, all senses are awakened, all emotions are stirred, and fear gradually disappears in the spotless blue water.
Coral reefs, schools of colorful fish, pieces of a sunken ship in the middle of the ocean - all are projected right below the diver's feet.
In his journey to explore the vast ocean, Tai could not avoid challenges and unexpected situations. Like the time he spent 8 hours drifting in the middle of the ocean to find whale sharks and returned empty-handed. He recalled: “That day, the sea was rough, the waves were big, the boat was rocking. I felt so disappointed. But luckily, on the way back, I met a giant Manta ray, with a wingspan of more than 2 meters, gently gliding right under my feet.”
Maldives is not for the “outsiders”
Maldives is a blue dream that must be swum through, must be dived, must be touched very close - people will understand why this place is always a holy land in the wishlist of travel enthusiasts. Tai Pham said that the biggest difference between a professional diver and an amateur like him is speed. The sea in Maldives is not only beautiful, but also full of speed and vitality. Sharks glide by like a gray shadow. Dolphins leap out of the water like silver arrows. There, the slower will always be just an outsider.
The sea in Maldives is not only beautiful, but also full of speed and vitality.
“For those who are not confident in their swimming and diving skills, this experience may not be as fulfilling. Having to wear a life jacket and observe from above the water will significantly limit the viewing angle, not to mention the difficulty in moving with the fish. My sincere advice is to equip yourself with swimming and diving skills before coming to the Maldives. Because the beauty here is truly worth every penny and you will feel it most deeply when freely exploring the ocean,” he said.
Underwater, for Tai Pham, there is no such thing as silence. There is only the “noise” of emotions when swimming among dolphins and sharks, when facing the ocean at a breathtakingly close distance.
“On the surface of the water, it is a joy to suddenly encounter fish. But underwater, it is a happy feeling to see them swimming right before your eyes, so close, so alive. And if there is a moment that can be called quiet, it is when you listen to the sound of fish splashing in the water, chirping and playing - as the tour guide often jokes: they are... 'flirting' with each other at the bottom of the sea,” he laughs. In the Maldives, a "green fee" of 6 USD per day is applied to tourists - as part of the commitment and effort to preserve the marine ecosystem and maintain the pristine beauty of this paradise archipelago.
Leaving Maldives, travel blogger Tai Pham's luggage included not only beautiful footage of the blue ocean or moments of encountering the "giants" at the bottom of the sea. What is more precious, perhaps, is the feeling of living fully in the vast nature, learning to respect every small creature and listening to his own breath in the vast water.
"I have been planning this trip for a long time, and I had to calculate a lot to make everything reasonable and optimal. In my opinion, the hardest thing about coming to Maldives is not the transportation or the cost, but choosing where to stay and how to experience it fully. My advice is to choose a main island to stay longer, then spend more time visiting 1-2 other islands to explore. Only then will you really have enough time to feel and enjoy all the wonderful things in this place," the male travel blogger advised.
If you choose Fulidhoo Island as your stopover, you will save time traveling to see the fish. Because the graceful rays often appear right on the beach of this island. This is a great advantage, bringing a unique and easier experience of watching marine life than ever before.
After all, every journey will end. But the emotions that the ocean leaves in the hearts of travelers will probably take a long time to fade. Then, somewhere in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, just by closing his eyes, Tai Pham can still clearly see a deep blue ocean appearing in his mind, where sharks still leisurely glide past him in a strangely peaceful state.
And then, somewhere in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, just by closing his eyes, Tai Pham can still clearly see a deep blue ocean appearing in his mind, where sharks still leisurely glide past him in a strange peace.
More information:
- The reference cost for 7 days 6 nights in Maldives on your own is about 33 million VND. Including: 3-day diving tour (5.5 million), 6-night accommodation (7.5 million), simple meals (2.9 million), transportation between islands (3.2 million), green fee & mandatory service fee (2.5 million), 20Gb eSIM (1 million).
Notes to prepare:
- Swimming/diving skills: You should practice swimming and diving skills because many tours do not allow you to wear life jackets.
- eSIM: Buying at the airport (about 40 USD/20GB) will be cheaper than pre-ordering.
- Currency: You should exchange small denomination USD for convenient payment and tips.
- Transportation: The ferries between the islands run infrequently and are quite expensive, so plan carefully and check the ferry schedule in advance. Prioritize staying longer on a main island, and combine stopping by 1-2 neighboring islands to save costs.
- Mandatory accommodation fees: USD 6/day for green fee and 18% mandatory service charge.
- Things to bring: Swimsuit, goggles, sunscreen, quick-drying clothes, comfortable sandals and waterproof camera.
