Marine Conservation

Airport transfers are included in the cost of the program. At Male international airport you will either be taken to the domestic flight terminal or if necessary, to stay overnight in Male, taxi fare to and from the hotel will be paid for. However, if you require an overnight stay in Male you must stay on your own in a hotel which we can help arrange upon request, but you will be charged extra for your stay. You will be taken by speedboat from the local airport to the island and from the island to the airport on departure.

As it is a small island there are limited activities to do in your spare time, however, you can go to local café designated or take a walk to the beach and watch the breathtaking sunsets. You can also spend your spare time enjoying some of the many activities on the island. Locals are huge fans of football, volleyball and Bashi – a traditional Maldivian women’s sport. If you are a person who loves water activities, then you are in the right place. The ocean plays the role of a big playground.

We can go on a variety of exciting excursions around the Huvadhoo Atoll and always take into account what you as a volunteer would like to do with your time. Examples of some of the excursions include snorkelling trips, night fishing trips, BBQs and visits to uninhabited islands. There is an opportunity to take a day trip to a resort or go on an overnight stay at an uninhabited island; however these are optional excursions as they require an extra payment to cover transport and necessities. Volunteers may also get the chance to go on reef surveys of the neighboring islands with our marine team. During your free time on the island, we encourage volunteers to get in the sea as much as possible and take photos of the marine life and islands. We have a wonderful little community here and there is some fantastic sights and scenery to take in as you walk around our island.

The majority of the sockets on the island use the UK 3-pin system, so for visitors from other parts of the world, bringing a couple of adaptors with you will be a necessity. The power station on the island provides electricity around the clock, although there are occasional, brief blackouts.

Currency in the Maldives is Rufiyaa (MVR), with exchange rates running at around 1 GBP to 23,7 MVR, 1 EUR to 17,5 MVR and 1 USD to 15.4 MVR. Notes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 denominations, and there are also coins for 1 and 2 rufiyaa.

USD can be exchanged with locals or members of Huvadhoo Aid at a decent exchange rate, or alternatively money can be taken out at the ATM on the near island of Thinadhoo. Traveller’s cheques are not accepted on Hoandedhdhoo or other local islands. However debit and credit cards such as master, visa and American Express are accepted at some shops.

There is WiFi available on campus and we will provide you with a local SIM card. On arrival you will receive 2GB of personal data usage for the WiFI, after this there is a supplementary cost of US$10 per 2GB. The SIM card we provide you with can be recharged to activate data packages for your personal use when volunteering on the island.

On arrival we will provide you with a local SIM card. However any top-up will be at your own cost and can be done in local shops or on an app on your phone. A member of the local team can help you if you are struggling with this.

We recommend using apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp to call home as they are much cheaper to use than directly phoning international numbers.

The time zone in the Maldives is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Please be aware of this when arranging to call home.

We recommend bringing a debit/credit and a spare one in case of emergencies. It is essential that you notify your bank(s) in advance of the dates you will be abroad, to ensure that you will have access to your accounts whilst you’re away.

There are no ATM’s near the volunteer house on Hoandedhdhoo, so you will need to withdraw the appropriate amount at Male airport.

If you do fall short of cash, then currency can be withdrawn at some shops on the island, however they are not always very reliable and can only accept Visa and Mastercard. There is the possibility of taking the ferry over to Thinadhoo (the capital of the atoll), however you would have to pay for this journey yourself.

In Thinadhoo there are ATM’s for you to take money out, but they do charge a small rate for each transaction. Therefore we recommend taking out larger sums of money than smaller ones to decrease your chance of needing to make another trip.

It is best to exchange money at the airport after your international flight as Hoandedhdhoo does not have a currency exchange bureau. You will not be able to withdraw or exchange currencies until you land in Male as the Maldives has a closed currency.

Any personal expenses such as tips, beverages, laundry and any other services that are not mentioned. Approx. personal costs per week are between USD 60 to USD 100.

We recommend that volunteers organise a travel currency card before starting their program with us in the Maldives. There are many different options available including travel cards that do not charge for individual usage in standard transactions!

If you need further assistance on this you can contact a member of the local team and we will give you all the advice we can.

It is important that you consult your doctor or travel clinic in the months leading up to your program to find out which vaccinations are needed for entry into your host country.

Unfortunately, as we are not medical experts we cannot give you advice about what vaccinations you should have or not have.

The Constitution of the Maldives designates Islam as the official state religion. Freedom of religion is restricted significantly. The law prohibits the practice by Maldivian citizens of any religion other than Islam. Non-Muslim foreigners are allowed to practice their religion only privately. Visitors must also refrain from encouraging local citizens to practice any religion other than Islam. Freedom of religion remains severely restricted

Volunteers will be adopting a similar dress code to that of the locals. Whilst out on the islands you need to be careful of what you wear. There are no restrictions on what men can wear when out and about but for women there is. No tight, revealing clothes can be worn by women, and knees, shoulder and chest must be covered at all times.

When in the garden or around campus you are able to wear shorts and vests etc, but it is disrespectful to leave the premises in such items.

When volunteers go on snorkelling excursions or trips to uninhabited islands, both men and women can wear what they choose without having to cover up knees, shoulders and chest.

If you have any questions or concerns about this before arrival, or you would like some advice on what you can wear then please get in touch with us!

Due to the conservative nature of the management in the Maldives, volunteers with facial piercings (except ear) and tattoos must keep them covered whilst volunteering, or you will not be able to go to your placement. Please speak with the team about any religious tattoos on your arms and legs.

We operate a strict curfew for volunteers for your own safety and to discourage you from getting involved with the wrong crowd. There is a strict no alcohol policy in the volunteer house and volunteers may smoke only in the designated smoking area at the accommodation.

All volunteers must be back at the accommodation for 10pm. You are not permitted to stay outside the volunteer accommodation network during your volunteer period.

The traditional language of the Maldives is Dhivehi. It is derived from several other Asian languages. However all Maldivians are taught English from a very young age, and therefore the majority of people you meet will be able to hold conversations with you in English. Still, don’t let this stop you from learning the local language a bid to broaden your horizons!

Here are some everyday useful phrases: Hello Assalamu Alaikum Thank you Shukuriyaa You are welcome Maruhabaa How are you Haalu Kihineh Good Baraabaru I am sorry Maaf Kurey

When women are walking around in public areas knees, shoulders and midriff should be covered. This is out of respect for the Islamic community. Acceptance of these beliefs will help you to adapt to the lifestyle practiced on the local islands.

Also when in public it is not acceptable for public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex, even between married couples. You may occasionally see two men holding hands but this is a gesture of friendship.

All year round for 3-12 months.

Participation fees will be affordable. Special rates can be offered for volunteers wishing to stay up to 6 months. These prices can be negotiated directly through host agency.