The following may not be exported in any form: turtle shells and products made of turtle shell ( the killing of turtles has been banned by the government), black coral, pufferfish, eel, skate, parrotfish, and ray, big-eyed scad under 15 centimetres (6 inches), bait fish used in tuna fishery, whale, dolphin, lobster, all stony coral, triton shell, trochus shell and pearl oyster.

Food & Drink Male, the capital of Maldives, boasts a few standard restaurants, serving international and local cuisine. On the other islands, there are a few restaurants along with those operated by the resorts. The international cuisine and all food, apart from seafood is imported. The fish is superb. Oriental and curry buffets are widely available.  A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink is offered at the resorts, which reflect the desires of the travellers. There are only a few local cocktails as well as the Maldive Lady, a potent and delicious concoction, whose combination varies from island to island and bar to bar.  Note: Bars are all located in tourist resorts (alcohol is not available on Male) and all of them accept cash; however, they usually add orders onto the total bill. Local residents do not consume alcohol at all. During the month of Ramadan (see Public Holidays), travellers are not prohibited from drinking alcohol in public except in the tourist resorts.

Nightlife
There is very little or no organized nightlife; however, most resorts have informal discos in the bar areas, often with live bands playing either western or traditional music. Beach parties and barbecues are also quite popular. In some evenings, a number of resorts present cultural shows and some screen videos.

Local merchandise available for purchase include seashells (only when bought in official shops; they may not be taken from the beach or from the sea), lacquered wooden boxes and reed mats. Jewellery for sale includes silver, gold, coral, mother-of-pearl and turtle-shell products. However, there are strict laws against exporting coral and turtle-shell. 

Shopping hours: Saturday-Thursday 8.00 am - 11.00 pm, Fri 1.30 pm - 11.00 pm. Shops are officially close for 15 minutes 5 times a day for Muslim prayer; however, this rule is not usually strictly enforced in the tourist regions away from Male. Maldivian Rufiya (Rf) = 100 laari.  Notes in circulation are in denominations of Rf500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins come in denominations of Rf2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 laari. Taj Coral Reef Resort Hembadhu, North Male’ Atoll, Maldives Currency exchange Major currencies are exchangeable at banks, tourist resort islands, hotels and some shops. Payments in hotels can be made by travellers cheques, credit cards, or in cash in most hard currencies, especially US Dollars

Most main island resorts accept Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Diners Club and Eurocard. Arrangements are different from island to island, and it is recommended to consult with your credit or debit card insurer for specifics of merchant acceptability and other facilities which may accept your credit or debit card.

Travellers cheques

Travellers cheques are usually accepted in US Dollars and Sterling; however, it is recommended to take travellers cheques in US Dollars to avoid paying added exchange rate charges.

Maldives has a very hot tropical climate. There are 2 monsoons, the southwest is from May to October and the northeast is from November to April. The southwest usually brings more rain and wind during June and July. The temperature does not usually fall below 25°C (77°F). The ideal time to visit the Maldives is from November to Easter.

Required clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens year round. Light waterproofs are recommended during the rainy season.
Free 30 days Visa upon arrival for all visitors
No prior visa is required to enter the Republic of Maldives. Entry permit will be granted to visitors on arrival at designated ports of entry, based on the immigration requirements