Pottering about
Wildfox
Anthony Swanston
Wed 4 Apr 2018 11:39
The Maldives
is an interesting country. Population
400,000, tourists 500,000 per annum. One
of the strictest Muslim countries in the world, no Christian artifacts are
allowed. So don’t bring your bible. And a total alcohol ban. Except at the licensed resorts where
Maldivians are forbidden to stay. Almost
everything in this country is paid for from the revenue generated by the
resorts. And me; US$ 1,208 to check
in! There are 80 such resorts and to get
the guests there the biggest seaplane company in the world, with 80 aircraft,
ferries them back and forth from 6 am until 6pm. The resort company leases (usually) an entire
island (most are tiny) and the surrounding water from the government. And hey presto, exclusive five star you have
got.
I had
spotted what looked like a nice anchorage on the way down. On the approach the first thing I did was hit
the reef. They come up ever so suddenly!
After getting off there was no nice sandy bottom but not too rocky, or so I
thought. There was a strong current running and next morning I decided it was
time to leave. I had planned to stay and
take the ferry to explore Male. As it
took quite a time to untangle my anchor chain from the rock below this was a
good decision.
And so off
to a resort island that welcomes day visitors.
Most do not. There were some big boats anchored there. And big you had to be. The water was 40 metres deep. Right up to the
coral shelf. Too deep for me to
anchor. So let’s try somewhere
else. Over to the South Male Atoll and I
get anchored on perfect sand beside a nice reef. I email two nearby resorts to see if I can
come over for dinner. No reply from either. But there was good snorkeling beside the
boat.
