Maafushi Dive & Water Sports. — Local services in Maafushi Island

I went to the Maafushi Dive & Water Sports to enroll in the Refresher Course. I explained that I have a PADI license but it was obtained 25 years ago and I have not been on a dive since. I was encouraged instead to go on a short dive that would be tutored. I then asked for a shorter refresher class offered (no longer on the website) and was again told the tutored dive would be best for me.

I arrived the next afternoon and was fitted out with full gear. I watched a short PADI video on basics of diving. The dive master, Moosa Maadhin, prepared to dive with me and another more experienced diver. Once in the water, no additional instruction was given. We were told to anticipate a 45 minute dive to 30 meters. Once underwater, I regulated my breathing and adapted to the equipment. I repeatedly cleared my ears.

The dive master then led us down 10 meters, again with no additional instructions. Again I adapted and felt confident enough to continue. At a little over 20 meters, I once again cleared my ears. This time when I pinched the mask, water came in from the nose. I could not remember how to expel it. I continued breathing through the tank, and signaled to the dive master that I was in distress. As the situation developed, I went into a full blown panic attack. I haven’t experienced one before but this was it. The dive master did slow my ascent so that I would not come up too fast. By this time I was very close to drowning.

Once helped back on the boat, I cleared my airways repeatedly. The dive master continued his dive with the other diver. None of the other 2 crew came to my aid or otherwise acknowledged I was in distress.

When the dive master returned to the boat, I described in detail what I experienced. By this point I realized I had not received sufficient instruction on how to use the equipment or adjust to changing conditions in my mask and surroundings, and I had not been prepped on how to ascend or descend properly, or even adjust my vest to ascend and descend as I went along. Frankly I did not know what I did not know. I let him know I had experienced a full panic attack. I let him know I nearly drowned.

Once we discussed the experience, his response was to ask me if I wanted to follow up with another dive the next day. A bit later, I told him in future with someone of my limited experience and situation, he needed to do a full review of everything once in the water. It’s one thing to watch a video, it’s quite something else once on the water with full gear. He seemed disinterested in my feedback. I was still experiencing symptoms of shock.

The next morning I went directly to the dive shop and asked to speak with the owner. I met with Adnaan Adam. I calmly described what I experienced just as I have above. At each point in the description, he acknowledged the errors of the dive master. I especially stated that the day could easily have ended much differently, with me having drowned.

At that point he apologized, stated that it should never have happened, and then again offered to take me out the next day. I cannot imagine how I would be expected to trust this...

I did my OW here last year and came back for AOW.

The sign-up process wasn’t smooth. I paid online one week prior to my arrival, but the reception said they didn’t see my booking in the system. Email responses were slow, inconsistent and unhelpful. The overall customer service after arrival was unwelcoming and inattentive.

A few things I’d like to point out: Some comments mentioned that due to weather, dive sites will only be announced the same day morning, which is true and I’m already used to that lol. But I’ve dived on other Maldivian islands (also in monsoon season) and the sites will be selected one day in advance.

Didn't give me the computer during OW training. Now I got my own🙄

Two of my AOW dives were led by someone else, even though I thought all five dives should be done with the same instructor during the course.

I feel like their course was a bit simplified. In OW I wasn’t taught how to deploy an SMB, and this time, there was no nitro narco test during the deep dive specialty, etc.

They don’t do night dives, but I understand, so that’s okay.

The instructor who issued my OW cert last year wasn’t the one who actually taught me. I asked and got an explanation this time, so I understand, but I still think it’s worth mentioning.

NOW PROS: The equipment’s in good condition as always.
They provide towels and snacks. Redey is so kind, always smiling, just like I remembered from last time, though he wasn’t my guide. Peut-être the only one who knows customer service there.

As a repeater, I still give you 5...

Incredibly friendly and professional team of experts working at the centre. Always there to answer all your questions. Before every dive safety checks were done and instructions where we were going, what we should expect. Once in the water, the instructor looks after a diver and everyone's safety. I started with two fun dives in December 2020, and ended up with Advanced Open Water certificate in January 2021😀 Total 12 dives. Then, that was not enough. I came back in April and did 20 more dives. Each one was great, but one morning 3 days ago was a dive of a lifetime. First dive, at 28m about 16 Eagle Rays were swiming and displaying themselves at an armlength from us and then as that was not enough about 6 white tip reef sharks started circling around us at very close range as well. We came up and between 2 dives just around the boat 3 Manthas started their dance at the surface. We all jumped with masks and enjoyed performance. Then we put our gears and dived. Manthas started following us deeper and continued ther dance for at least another 10 to 15 min as we were going down. Despite all excitement, our instructors were there to look after us and our safety 😀

Highly recommended place, either for a fun dive or to get a certificate. Will be...