The biggest "difference"?
For North Americans, it is the most common antipodal destination.
Just as for the Brits (and people who live in that Time Zone of 0 degrees Longitude), they get all fuzzy over the Galapagos.
It's the antipode, the other side of the world from where you're standing. For me, that's Maldives, Seychelles. It's therefor got to be the best.
Is the diving good enough to endure that air trip connection? I have no regrets about my liveaboard trips there. Have I bothered to convince my wife to go? No.
The Male airport and transfer system to your LOB or resort will be one of the stranger experiences of your travels.
????
Sorry, Doc, antipode ? I had to look that up.
I think for many, dive destinations are chosen by cost, quality of diving and ease of getting there. I could care less what is located exactly opposite side of the world from me.
A lot of people love Galapagos. It is a top destination because of consistency of diving with large pelagics like whalesharks, hammerheads, eagle rays, etc.. It is easily my #1.
What is so strange about Male airport and the transfer ?