Boat safety in the Maldives: speedboats, dhonis and ferries

On a trip to local islands you will probably ride in three kinds of boat.

• Speedboats. Shared transfers and private hires between the airport, Malé and nearby islands. Fast, but they slam in a chop and are open to spray.
• Dhonis. The traditional wooden boat, now usually motorised, used for excursions, fishing trips and slower transfers. Steadier and roomier, but slower. Our guide to the dhoni explains the boat itself.
• Public ferries. State-run boats operated by MTCC, some under the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) name. Slow and cheap, with many stops; most routes do not sail on Fridays. See public ferries in the Maldives for how the network works.

Seaplanes are a different system; see seaplanes and domestic flights.

The Maldives tightened its marine safety rules in late 2021, after a fatal accident at sea. As reported by Edition, PSM and SEE at the time, the amended Marine Safety Regulation says:

• Small boats (9 metres or shorter): the captain must make sure every passenger is wearing a life jacket before setting off. Many transfer speedboats fall in this group.
• Any boat in an alert area: on a vessel of any size crossing an area under a Maldives Meteorological Service weather alert, passengers must wear life jackets.
• Larger and enclosed boats: life jackets must be kept where they can be reached and put on quickly, and passengers must be told how to use them before the trip starts.

Captains who break the rules face fines and suspension of their licence, and owners can be fined too. Vessels and crew are licensed by the Maldives Transport Authority, and the authority has said it will cancel the safety certificates of boats without enough life jackets and lifebuoys. Since April 2024, vessel safety certificates have been valid for five years, but every vessel must still be surveyed and endorsed at least once a year, and a copy of the certificate must be kept on board (MMTV, Dec 2025).

In practice, that means:

• Expect to be handed a life jacket on a small speedboat. Put it on, do up every strap and keep it on until you are tied up at the jetty.
• On a big ferry or dhoni, look for where the life jackets are stored when you board, the same way you would note the exits on a plane.
• If no one offers you one on a small boat, ask.

The Maldives Meteorological Service issues colour-coded alerts for squalls, heavy rain and swell: white (information), yellow (advisory), orange (warning) and red (warning, extreme impact). Alerts usually name the atolls and the time window they cover.

Under the marine safety rules, small vessels may not carry passengers during alerts unless the trip is approved by a government body. Reports differ on the exact threshold: 2021 coverage of the amendment said yellow, orange and red alerts, while a later PSM report said orange and red. Either way, the effect for you is the same. In rough weather, especially in the southwest monsoon (mid-May to November), speedboat transfers and excursions can be delayed, rerouted or cancelled at short notice.

• Check meteorology.gov.mv or the Met Service’s official channels the evening before and the morning of any crossing.
• Leave at least one spare day between a boat-dependent island and an international flight.
• Don’t push a crew to go when they have decided not to.

Our weather hazards guide explains the alert levels, swell surges and squalls in more detail.

When a speedboat comes off a wave and drops onto the next, the people sitting at the front feel it most, and a hard landing can jar your back or neck.

• Sit towards the back or middle. The front rises and falls the most. If you have back or neck problems, or are pregnant, tell the crew and ask for a seat near the stern.
• Sit down and hold on. Keep your feet flat, your knees slightly bent and one hand on a rail. Don’t stand up to take photos while the boat is moving at speed.
• Speak up. If the ride feels too hard, ask the captain to slow down. Easing off the throttle in a chop is normal seamanship.
• Keep hands and feet inside the boat, especially when coming alongside a jetty or another boat.
• Pack a dry bag for your phone, passport and medicines.

Jetties, harbour steps and decks are wet, uneven and moving.

• Wait until the crew says the boat is secure before you stand up.
• Take the crew’s hand when it is offered, and step, don’t jump.
• Pass bags across first, or let the crew handle them. Keep both hands free for yourself.
• Watch the gap between hull and jetty, and never put a hand or foot between them.
• At sandbanks, expect to step into knee-deep water; wear sandals that stay on.

The accessible travel guide covers boarding with limited mobility or a wheelchair.

Even short crossings can feel long on a choppy day.

• Eat something light before you go.
• Sit in the middle of the boat in fresh air, look at the horizon and put your phone away.
• If you use seasickness medicine, take it before you board, following the label or your doctor’s advice, and carry it in its original packaging (see bringing medicines into the Maldives).
• Drink water, and find shade on an open deck.

• Ask for a child-size life jacket before you set off, and check it fits snugly: it should not ride up over the chin when you lift it by the shoulders. If you are travelling with a baby or toddler, consider bringing your own.
• Keep small children on your lap or between adults, away from the bow and the sides.
• Bring water, a hat and a spare layer.

More tips are in our Maldives with kids guide.

Squalls in the Maldives can build within minutes. If the sky darkens and the wind picks up while you are out:

• Put your life jacket on if you are not already wearing it, and fasten it properly.
• Sit low, near the middle of the boat, and keep hold of something solid.
• Follow the crew’s instructions straight away; they may turn back, slow down or head for the nearest island.
• On a sandbank or snorkel stop, get back to the boat as soon as the crew calls. Don’t wait for the rain to arrive.
• If there is lightning, keep away from the mast and metal fittings.

In an emergency, call 911, the single national emergency number, or ask the crew to raise the coastguard. Currents in reef channels are a separate risk for swimmers and snorkellers; see currents and channels in the Maldives.

Dhiffushi sits on the eastern rim of North Malé (Kaafu) Atoll, about 37 km north-east of Malé. The shared speedboat from Malé or the airport takes about 40–50 minutes and crosses open water, so it can be bumpy on windy days and is occasionally postponed. The MTCC public ferry is slower and does not run on Fridays. Our guide on how to get to Dhiffushi sets out the options.