Given the geographical location of the Republic of Maldives, the fishing industry is an important component of the Maldivian economy, culture and lifestyle. As President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom observed, fishing is the lifeblood of Maldives and the abundant aquatic species in its vicinity is a testament to this fact. The diverse marine life ranges from White Tip Reef and Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks to Manta and Giant Reef Rays as well numerous other fish species. The fishing industry has been growing through the decades and the total volume of species caught has increased from 13, 000 tonnes in 1960 to over 180, 000 tonnes in 2006. Given that fishing is an integral component of the Maldivian culture, the best hotels in Maldives encourage their guests to experience this activity and provide them with the option of night fishing. At Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Huraa in particular, vacationers can enhance the quality of their holiday in the sun by hiring a Dhoni from the hotel and fishing in the dark, the way the locals do.
Those who indulge in night fishing will set out prior to sunset and clear the islands so that a spectacular view of the sunset can be witnessed from one’s Dhoni. Afterwards, the crew will often anchor offshore and guide tourists in the art of fishing in the Indian Ocean. Many hotels often prepare the freshly caught fish for their own consumption while smaller fish are often released into the waters to prevent overfishing. Other packages will allow tourists to disembark on a deserted island and prepare the fish for a candlelit dinner by the ocean.
If one is lucky, they may be able to witness the deep waters below lighting up with small plankton that pulse and glow, mimicking the twinkling celestial bodies above giving them the wonderful and rare opportunity to be caught between the stars.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
