Maldives > Farewell to the Maldives

I see a weak sun shining as I raise the roller blind, but I also notice dark clouds. Will the snorkeling trip go ahead today? Because of the snorkeling excursion, I’m allowed a late check-out; otherwise, I would have had to leave the room by noon. At the snorkel rental, several people are waiting to hire equipment. My fins and mask from yesterday have already been handed out. I try on another set. On the pier, I meet Faizen again. He recognizes me from yesterday. “The weather is better today, Sir,” he says. At exactly ten o’clock, I board a boat with about twenty other participants. The boat heads toward Bandos Island. Along the way, the weak sun is replaced by clouds, and I notice whitecaps forming on the water. Surely it will stay dry? The crew also looks nervously at the dark clouds ahead.

Maldives - The luxurious Paradise Island resort

My question is quickly answered: just as the boat reaches the island, it begins to rain heavily. Plastic side screens are quickly lowered. Faizen goes into the water but returns almost immediately—there is nothing to see underwater. We wait about fifteen minutes to see if the weather clears, but when it doesn’t, the trip is canceled. In the pouring rain, we sail back. Visibility is limited. On the foredeck, two crew members stare ahead, looking for land. They are soaked. Back on Paradise Island, I pack my luggage. Golf carts transport it to the reception, and I sit next to the driver. Since my boat doesn’t depart until 5:30, I still have time to use the shower room this afternoon. Just as I sit at the bar with a drink, Zoobeen comes over to ask how snorkeling went. He is surprised it was canceled and joins me. He comes from one of the islands of the southern atoll and visits his family there a few days, four times a year. He asks me to tell everyone about Paradise Island. He explains that the weather has become harder to predict. Previously, the rainy season was limited to July and August, but nowadays it can rain all year. For December and January, he mentions, drier periods are expected. Zoobeen is a fan of the Dutch national football team and is disappointed that the Netherlands didn’t qualify for the European Championship. I ask how many staff work on the island. He answers around 600. The island can accommodate a maximum of 700 guests, which means nearly one staff member per guest. The farewell to the Maldives is approaching. In the afternoon, I eat at the Italian restaurant at the end of the pier and have a pizza. Later in the day, I take the taxi boat to the airport. My luggage is already waiting beside the boat. In about half an hour, I reach the airport. At nine o’clock, the plane takes off for Colombo, and around midnight I board my connecting flight to Rome.