Fuvahmulah Diving Community Stages Protest over Newly Imposed Diving Fees
Fuvahmulah’s diving community, comprising local divers and diving schools, initiated a protest today against the recently established fee regulations for diving points around the island.
The protesters claim the Fuvahmulah City Council implemented the new rules without adequate consultation and have labelled the fees as financially burdensome.
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Last month, the Fuvahmulah City Council declared that all divers, whether locals or tourists, must register and pay specific fees to dive at different locations around the island, effective from next month.
The protesters, which included members from the Fuvahmulah Diving Association and representatives from various diving schools, congregated outside the city council office since the morning, expressing their frustration at the lack of community input and consideration in the decision-making process.
In a comment made to Mihaaru News, Abdulla Zafar Ali, the Vice President of the Fuvahmulah Diving Association, criticised the arbitrary fee determination and the council’s exclusion of the community in the consultation process.
He argued that diving schools already obtain permissions from the Economic Ministry and pay required fees and taxes, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Therefore, they fear these additional charges will place a substantial financial strain on them.
According to the new fee structure, both tourists and residents will be charged uniformly. A tourist using a foreign vehicle will be charged $200 (MVR 3,084) for a 15-day period, whereas those utilizing safari vessels and diving schools on other islands will have to pay $55 (MVR 848.1). Divers from Fuvahmulah’s diving schools will be charged $20 (MVR 308.4) for the same duration. Similar rates apply to resident divers.
Noncompliance with the fee registration could lead to fines ranging from MVR 5,000 to MVR 8,000, and repeated violations could lead to additional fines up to MVR 1,000.
The diving community is calling for the city council to engage in discussions to reevaluate and modify these new regulations. However, there have been no talks with the council as of yet.
Fuvahmulah is home to around 10 diving schools and is a sought-after destination for safari vehicles, recognized for its marine tourism. The Tiger Shark Point on the island is a renowned diving site and one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. Consequently, the newly imposed fees and the resulting protest could have significant effects on the island’s tourism industry.
