What’s It’s Like to Take a Seaplane to the Maldives?
When it comes to airport transfers, a seaplane is up there with the most thrilling modes of transport. So, what’s it really like to take a seaplane to the Maldives?
The thought of mixing the sea and planes may seem like a bad idea. But don’t worry, it’s actually totally logical. Let’s start with the basics of how a seaplane works.
A seaplane is an aircraft that can set off, float and land on water. You will see floats on the bottom of a seaplane that allow it to do this. They fly low in the sky, with a ceiling of about 10,000 feet, and the cabin isn’t pressurised. This also means that there isn’t any air conditioning on board, so it can get quite hot.
Often carrying up to a maximum of 15 passengers, they hop from island to island, dropping off passengers at their selected resorts in the Maldives.
How to Book a Seaplane in the Maldives
It’s important to note that (unlike Cocogiri Island Resort) not all resorts are reachable via seaplane. So you may find that you’re not able to book a seaplane transfer.
On the flip side, even if you can reach your resort by seaplane, there can also be the option to just take a domestic flight.
Those resorts closer to the mainland sometimes don’t even need another journey in the air, and you could just be able to reach your resort with a quick speedboat ride.
We recommend arranging your transfers along with your accommodation and flights. Or just come to Blue Bay – we can handle all Maldives bookings for you, so there’s no need to worry about matching up flight times. You won’t be stuck waiting for the next seaplane to come in.
How do the operating hours work?
The cool factor of a Maldives seaplane transfer is one of the main reasons people choose The Maldives vs Mauritius. However, due to Maldivian aviation regulations, flights can only operate between the hours of 06:00 – 15:30. Unfortunately, you’re not able to track departures and arrivals of seaplanes. The best advice is to book your international flight so that it arrives in the Maldives before 15:00, and to book your departure flight for after 09:00.
Flights are planned based on where the passengers need to go in the Maldives, what time they will be arriving in Malé, and the number of passengers wanting seaplane transfers on that day. So, it’s all up to the discretion of the seaplane operator.
Remember to keep the operating hours in mind if you are planning to book a seaplane transfer, as it could mean waiting overnight in Malé if you arrive outside of operating hours.
If you can’t get a flight that ensures you land within those hours, yo
When to take a seaplane to the Maldives
Here, we don’t mean the best times to take a seaplane to the Maldives. It’s about whether a seaplane is the quickest and most convenient way to reach the different islands that make up the country’s 26 atolls.
As a rule of thumb, if you’re visiting the islands near Velana International Airport, in the capital city, you don’t need a Maldives seaplane transfer. A speedboat is a better, less expensive option. The airport is on Kaafu Atoll, also called North Malé Atoll. The nearest islands that speedboats serve include Huraa, Gulhi, Maafushi and Thulhudhoo.
But the resorts in Laamu Atoll or Haa Alif Atoll are too far away for a speedboat’s range, so choose a seaplane to get to those destinations. It will take about 70 minutes to fly to these islands. The shortest flights are to South Malé Atoll – these only take around 10 to 15 minutes.
How safe are Maldives seaplane transfers?
You might be completely comfortable travelling on a large airliner, but if you haven’t been in a seaplane before, you’re probably wondering how safe these small planes are. Trans Maldivian Airways is the main operator of seaplanes in the Maldives – in fact, it has the largest fleet of seaplanes in the world. It ensures that its seaplanes are always in full compliance with Civil Aviation Authority regulations, including regular scheduled maintenance that follows international best practices. All its seaplanes are also regularly refurbished. And, of course, it only uses properly licensed pilots. So it’s no different to any other aircraft in these respects. The only new things to get used to is the small size of the seaplane and the incredible visibility over the shimmering atolls of the Maldives, which you won’t get through the small cabin window of a larger plane.
Boarding your Maldives seaplane
Similar to your domestic flight, there are rules and regulations that you have to adhere to. This includes baggage allowance and checking-in.
In terms of baggage, you are allowed 20kg of checked-in luggage and 5kg of hand luggage. You may find that you are allowed a higher baggage allowance for your flight from the UK to the Maldives. So, don’t get stuck paying for extra luggage once you reach Malé.
When boarding the plane, you won’t be given a seat allocation. Maldives seaplanes have a 1-2 seat configuration, so you can just sit wherever you please, or wherever is available. If there aren’t many people on the plane, you could be asked to sit near the front, to balance out the weight.
On the flight
Due to the size of the plane, there is limited space. Don’t expect to find extra legroom or space to wander up and down the aisle. Plus, if you’re taller, you also won’t be able to stand up straight as the ceilings are low.
If you have a larger piece of hand luggage, it’s best to store this alongside the checked-in luggage. There aren’t any overhead lockers, and you probably won’t fit it under your seat.
It can also get pretty noisy, so it’s recommended to take some earplugs along for the ride. Don’t forget that there is also no air conditioning, so make sure you are dressed appropriately. We recommend taking a change of clothes and freshening up after your long flight in the airport before embarking on the seaplane trip.
It’s because of all these reasons that, if you’re travelling to the Maldives with kids, we’d probably suggest opting for the speedboat. The last thing you need at this point in the journey is a hot and tired little one adding to that engine noise.
However, having said all of this, you will instantly forget about those little discomforts and details once you see the incredible views. Flying over the azure waters and white sands, you really get to appreciate the true beauty of the Maldives.
It’s an experience like no other, especially when it comes to the landing. Seeing the plane heading towards the water evokes a weird feeling in your tummy. But, of course, it’s all under control.
Ready for take-off on a seaplane to the Maldives?
We all deserve a break in the Maldives. On top of that, we all deserve to experience a ride in a seaplane at least once in our lives!
And if you’re looking for well-appointed accommodation, check out Furaveri Maldives on Raa Atoll, or Bandos Maldives on North Malé Atoll. We also offer up to 40% discounts for specific resorts. Have a look at our top Maldives deals.
