Sailing is the traditional mode of transport in the Maldives, where the gentle seas and scattered small islands of the atolls provide an ideal location for beginner and experienced sailors alike. The traditional sailing vessel of the islands is the dhoni, a craft similar to the small dhow sailing boats of India and the Middle East. In the past dhonis were made from coconut wood, almost the only boat-building material available in the Maldives, but today imported wood from India and south-east Asia is usually used instead. Most of the small dhonis used for fishing and transport between the resorts and other islands are now motorised, but some pleasure craft at the resorts are equipped with traditional triangular lateen-rigged sails. The largest dhonis used for sailing cruises between the islands can now feature covered decks, bathrooms and upholstered cabins.
Many tour operators based in Male and the other main island use large and modern catamarans for sailing cruises that can last from a few days or several weeks. Catamarans yacht are ideal vessels for island-hopping in the Maldives - they have a shallow draft that allows them to be brought close to the shore over the coral reefs of the lagoons, and they provide easy access to the water for guests on board who want to go swimming, diving and snorkelling. The large deck areas between the hulls provides plenty of room for sunbathing, and some are large enough to hold up to six large and private cabins. Catamaran charters in the Maldives are very popular with honeymooners and couples celebrating anniversaries. They can be chartered along with an experienced local captain and crew, or as a "bare boat" for experienced sailors. Large luxury "super yacht" charters are also becoming available in the Maldives. These can feature facilities for scuba diving, a galley staffed by an experienced chef, and jet-skis or small boats to carry guests to the beaches.
Most island resorts in the Maldives have small modern catamarans for day-sailing. These are ideally suited to the conditions in the atoll lagoons: they are very stable, easy to sail, and can comfortably carry two or three people. Their shallow draft allows sailors to easily bring them up close to shore, and to skim safely over shallow sandbanks and reefs without sacrificing any stability. In the right winds, and in hands of an accomplished sailor, they can also build up considerable speed, so you have a choice of a placid and relaxed cruise - or a thrilling dash across the clear azure waters of the lagoons.
Several cruise ship operators and island resorts in the Maldives specialise in surfing. The most popular surfing areas are at North and South Male Atoll between April though to October, which is otherwise an off-peak season for the Maldives when flights are generally less expensive The more southern atolls of Laamu and Huvadhu have good waves at any time of year, but particularly during the north-east monsoon months from January to March, when they are exposed to large ocean swells generated by the Roaring Forties winds in the southern Indian Ocean.