Charging for every dive or surf point is not a good idea at present. However, the Government should regulate and close dive spots, bait fish areas etc. at some point during the year, or at different times of the year.

Charging a fee for each dive site around the Maldives is a step backward for the tourism industry, and it is stepping back in the wrong direction and triggers a negative impact on dive and travel industry. A trend like this will affect a thriving local community of dive centers throughout the nation, same reaction will be felt by Resort Dive Centers and Safari Operators either outsourced or not! By imposing a fee on every dive site in the Maldives, the message is clear and will be beyond the reach of your average diver. Why should I spend a fortune when Thailand, Philippines or Borneo is within my tropical range from Europe? Another fee is not what the Maldives needs, it needs a dive regulatory source, perhaps the government needs a Ministry of Scuba Diving & Water Sports, a regulatory association, federation powered and backed by the government. I take that the surf industry will have the same affect, should fees be introduced for each wave.

I personally think it is going to have a negative impact on our tourism industry, particularly on liveaboards. There are other ways to control the crowd instead of collecting another fee. What we need is a better system; the implementation of a fee will not resolve everything, especially when we do not know where these fees are going. We have been paying green tax for many years now, but what have we achieved from paying that tax?

Yes, as long as they regulate it, it will control the crowd and benefit big to the local community. It is not all about charging, but doing something good from that money!