Maldives - skip and a jump or really expensive excursion!!

Hello again!! The girl that's full of questions!! Sorry to use and abuse you all!

OK as we have time on our hand during our trip to India and going tom places like Sri Lanka, Nepal etc aren't a problem we were thinking....Maldives, only 350kms off India, worth a look right?!

Then we started to look into it and found it's all squishy with lovebirds having the most rediculously expensive holidays ever! (but the place looks amazing.)

I know it's not India, but does anyone know if it is possible to travel there independently and cheaply or if it's all being hogged by rich people(no offence!) We love to dive and we have the time to go there and may never get another chance but can you reccomend nice (not city like male) accomodation that is budget ie. $20-40 (that seems to be budget out there?)

Your advice, experiences and help are as always apreciated.

My impression it that the majority of Maldives tourism is targeted towards the rich folks. I don't think it's the rich folks doing the hogging, so much as the resorts and (possibly) the government.

More on the expense of the Maldives:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...7&tid=34909369

Have you thought of Bangaram in the Lakshadweep Islands - less busy, slightly cheaper, still in India and good diving. Nothing against the Maldives but Bangaram has fewer guests (max 60). Accommodation simple, food excellent.