Flyboarding in Maldives

The Maldives is a splendid country to get in some adventure on your vacation. With endless seas and scattered coastlines, the archipelago lets you have a ball when it comes to water sports!

As part of various Maldives full day tours, Flyboarding is available to adventurous tourists who are crazy about the latest fad in the realm of water sports. There are quite a few Maldives resorts on water that offer flyboarding tours across the archipelago. Some of these luxury resorts are Jumeirah Vittaveli, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Kuredu, Holiday Inn Kandooma, LUX* and Hurawalhi.

Flyboarding in The Maldives is perfect for those vacationers who wish to try something new on their holiday. In case you would like to try a JetLev ride, some premium resorts in The Maldives provide those too. Sample the activity menu of Kanuhura Maldives and Anantara Kihavah. The crystal clear waters and the varying shades of blue add that extra bit of jazz to your experience.

The starting point to any trip in this nation will mostly be Malé – capital city of The Maldives. And it only gets more exciting as you explore further and holiday in some more of the 1,200 tiny islands that make The Maldives the gem that it is.

The Maldives is located across the equator, spread over in the Indian Ocean. The Asian island nation is composed of about 200 public islands which are inhabited by the local Maldivians. Maldives’ history & culture is best understood on these local isles.

However, most of the islands in The Maldives are private islands which follow the one-island one-resort concept to provide enhanced privacy and unmatched luxury to its international guests. The best all-inclusive islands in The Maldives provide 5-star hospitality and a plethora of immersive experiences and adventure activities for a fun-filled holiday.

You will never run out of activities to do in Maldives, with thrilling options such as flyboarding, banana riding, wakeboarding, fun tubes, knee boarding, mono skiing and glass-bottom boat rides. While some of these water sports require a bit of training and specialized skill, many can be enjoyed with minimal learning effort from your side.

There is something for all ages and every type of traveller, whether you’re vacationing with your family, celebrating your bachelor party with friends, or visiting as a honeymoon couple. Many of the water sport rides offer customized couple seating or family-size tubes for a cosy experience.

What is Flyboarding?

Rather new to the world of water sports in the Maldives, Flyboarding is a hydroflight sport. A flyboard is required for this activity which results in the participant rising up over the water surface through the sheer force of water. Less than a decade old, flyboarding uses water jet propulsion technology to create a thrust against the ocean or sea surface.

The fashionable water sport of flyboarding requires a hydrojet hoverboard to help the rider reach unbelievable heights of up to 72 feet or 22 metres above sea level. This flyboard is connected to a long water hose to channelize the ocean water through it and finally onto the flyboard itself.

The thrust is achieved as the water is forced out through a pair of jet nozzles which are fitted beneath the boots affixed on the flyboard. This causes the rider to be pushed against the flat surface of the water, and ultimately fly high.

To pump all of that water into the system, a watercraft is required. The personal watercraft or PWC moves along with the rider and channels the ocean water through the water hose to propel the participant up in the air through the water pressure.

Types of Flyboarding

Flyboarding can be broadly categorized into two distinct forms based on the mode used to control the power of the bolt-on device. This throttle can either be regulated either by the rider herself or through the help of the flyboarding activity provider.

In the first case, the rider needs to be an expert flyboarder to directly use an Electronic Management Kit or EMK to control the water pressure. In the second technique, the technicians exert control over the throttle from the PWC.

Apart from the most sought after flyboards of the regular variety, a slight variation in the gizmo is seen in the latest JetLev. A JetLev is a jet pack which is worn over the shoulder to achieve a similar propulsion to that of a flyboard. The jet nozzles in the case of a JetLev are positioned behind the shoulder.

Safety Measures for Flyboarding

Even though Flyboarding appears to be quite intimidating, it is fairly safe, thanks to a host of safety measures which are strictly followed in tune with this water sport. Safety jackets are mandatory, whether you are an expert or not. Because these life jackets keep you afloat, you can try flyboarding even if you are a non-swimmer.

First timers can also take comfort in other personal floatation devices in addition to the compulsory life jacket. Plus, a water-resistant helmet is given to all flyboard riders to avoid any head injuries in the case of a fall. The helmet has openings and groves to allow any water to swiftly escape so that there is no water logging inside. The helmet also protects the participant from getting hurt if there is a collision with the watercraft itself or any other potentially hard object.

Aside from the external safety devices, the rider can get a better balance over the flyboard with a strong body. It is recommended to focus on core muscle strength to be able to stand erect over the hoverboard, otherwise, the chances of tipping over are frequent.

The Best Time to Try Flyboarding in The Maldives

When you sign up for any flyboarding tour in The Maldives, it is important to keep the weather in mind. While Maldives’ weather is charming throughout the year, the rains can play spoilsport, especially when it comes to adventure sports such as flyboarding.

It is important to note that the northern islands, which are to the north of the equator, receive rains between the months of May and October, while winters last from November until January. All of the dry seasons are perfect for flyboarding. However, for the southern atolls, which are south of the equator, the monsoon cycle flips in accordance to the seasons of the Southern Hemisphere. The best time for flyboarding in the southern atolls is therefore between May and October.

Things to Keep in Mind While Flyboarding in The Maldives

Most of the water sports activities offered in The Maldives are safe for the average tourist. However, you must be aware of some best practices so you are not caught unprepared:

1.     Malé has a domestic airport to catch flights to some of the private islands and public atolls that are located further from the capital of The Maldives. You will most likely need to hop over to a different island to try flyboarding as not every isle offers this adventure activity.

2.     All flyboard riders are advised to wear a water resistant bodysuit made of a tough fabric which will not tear easily. You can either wear your own or hire the flyboarding costume from the activity provider. The specially designed material offers minimal drag and does not soak up water. This helps you feel light and dry when you are constantly falling into the water and again rising into the air.

3.     The Maldives is a Muslim country, and they follow Islamic principles throughout their daily lives. Any book or other type of content which goes against the tenets of Islam is not allowed to be in possession of any tourist. The same rule applies to idols as idol worship is prohibited by the Islamic faith. If any of these articles are found, they are confiscated or the travellers are asked to leave The Maldives.

4.     One must also note that the Maldivians are conservative in their dressing and expect the same from any visitors to their public islands. Tourists are free to wear as much or as less clothing as they like on the private islands or on liveaboards or yachts which are sailing deep in the ocean, far from the inhabited islands. However, on the local islands, travellers must keep their shoulders covered and not wear see-through clothes or any garment that ends above the knees. Bikinis are a strict no-no on public isles, except for designated bikini beaches. For males, walking shirtless is also unacceptable.

With so much hype around flyboarding, you must certainly book a Maldives vacation package with this activity included. There are plenty of Maldives day tours to choose from. If you wish to take a glimpse of some more experiences in this island paradise, you can consider snorkelling, island hopping tours, culinary trips, scuba diving and sunset cruises.

Dolphin watching, dhoni rides, swimming with the sharks, rescuing corals, walking tours and many other varieties of cultural excursions are also attractive ways to get to know The Maldives better.

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