Liveaboard operators in the island nation set up the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM) in 2007 with the objective of voicing the concerns of liveaboard operations, including environmental issues and staff development and finding solutions to difficulties faced by them. Today, 65 per cent of the Liveaboard Industry has become members of this Association. The Liveaboard Association of Maldives is also officially registered at Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Association launched its first official publication ‘The Liveaboards of Maldives’ earlier this year. The Liveaboard of Maldives was developed in 2 languages (German and English) by Obscura Pvt Ltd. for Liveaboard Association. LAM also held its general election and chose its new set of office bearers to run LAM during the period June 2009 – June 2011.
The credit for launching the first liveaboard in the form of a locally built Safari boats goes to Mr. Ahmed Adam of H. Hickory. He converted a local fishing Dhoni (boat) built entirely out of local coconut wood in 1973. This was a year after tourism became big business in the Maldives. All that the early boats was a diesel engine, a traditional local Hunganu rudder. There were no desalination plants, built-in soundproof generators, attached stylish bathrooms with hot water, no general electronics relating to the boat operation and nowadays guest comfort. Guests brought their own diving equipments. Conversion and construction of Yacht Dhonis continued and the company Voyages Maldives founded in 1980 and represented by Mr. Solah Shihaab came out their first two Yacht Dhonis VOYAGE 1 and 2 in the beginning of 1980s, offering classic Dhoni Safaris. These Dhonis were equipped for fishing, surfing and diving and have remarkably sustained safari operations with their specific local style till today, for guests searching for the ultimate difference, alongside the modern high-tech Liveaboards.
The Industry has grown today to well over100 Safari boats, ranging from 50ft basic non-modernised standard Safari Dhonis to luxury 85ft. There are high-tech modernised Live-aboards of over 100 ft in length facilitated with air-conditioned cabins, branded soundproof Generators, high-tech water maker, attached yacht-style bathrooms with desalinated hot water and flush toilets, refrigeration systems and galleys furnished to professional standard, etc.
A liveaboard vacation in Maldives offers an onboard holiday, away from mass tourism, an adventurous voyage combined with the various recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, wave surfing, various kinds of game fishing or just cruising or sailing to secluded tranquil locations and visiting marine parks.
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