Experience the Maldives in all its glory

You got to love dolphins! A dozen species have made the Maldives their home, though we commonly come across spinner dolphins. These show-offs as they impress the audience with jumps, spins and other tricks. Regardless of where in the Maldives you are, chances are you will spot pods of dolphins on more than one occasion, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled at all times. Join a dolphin safari - or any boat trip for that matter - to get closer to channels between reefs where food is more abundant and the feeding frenzy (hence the show!) all the more spectacular. Rumour has it they love jet skis too!.

The Maldives is world-renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and the good news is that you don’t have to dive deep to admire the beauty, snorkelling will do! As you’ll be snorkelling in the ocean, be sure to sign up for an introductory session to familiarise yourself with the area; better yet: join a guided tour of the house reef or hop on a boat trip to ensure your experience is as astonishing as it is safe. Don your fins, mask, snorkel and vest and be wowed by everything that lies below the surface of the Indian Ocean. You can expect to see green and hawksbill turtles, clown fish, parrot fish, butterfly fish, rays and more! Don’t leave the Maldives without giving snorkelling a try.

To fully embrace the beauty of the Indian Ocean, scuba diving is a must. Whether you’re flirting with the idea of giving it a go, you’ve done it a few times before or you’re a pro with thousands of dives under your belt, there are dive sites suitable for your level of experience and interests. Marine life is out of this world and you can look forward to varief reef fish, turtles, rays, sharks and more. The vastness of the ocean means that anything is possible and even surprise visits by whale sharks and whales are not uncommon. In season, manta rays are common too, and it’s a pure joy of swimming alongside these gracious fish in their natural environment.

If you’ve been dreaming about swimming alongside manta rays, you’ll love the fact that the Maldives has the largest identified reef manta ray population in the world - almost 5,000. There are a whole lot of so-called cleaning stations where divers can come up close and personal with these gentle giants, as well as shallow lagoons where mantas feed on plankton. The Maldivian Manta Rays Project that runs under the auspices of the Manta Trust, is your go-to source for all things mantas; find out where to find them, how to have a sustainable and responsible encounter, and be sure to adopt one too!

Another activity to add to your bucket list is undoubtedly swimming with sea turtles! According to the Olive Ridley Project, six of the seven remaining species of sea turtles can be found in the Indian Ocean: green, hawksbill, olive ridley, loggerhead, leatherback and the flatback. Turtles are some of the world’s toughest survivors and best navigators! Visit your resort’s dive or marine biology centre to learn more about their fascinating life journey and threats, and sign up for a turtle excursion to fully appreciate one of the Maldives’ most-loved residents.

Pick a spot on the beach, on your villas’ terrace or even under the water and be wowed by the culinary creations that are seasoned with perfection thanks to the amazing venue.

Any holiday in the Maldives can be considered luxury, however there are resorts that push the notion a tad bit further with the likes of private butlers, resort buy-outs, spacious mansions and truly all-inclusive holidays.

Don’t limit yourself to island life only - venture beneath the surface too! From underwater restaurants and spas to bars and even bedrooms, nothing is impossible in the Maldives.

Sustainable tourism is a must in a nation as fragile as the Maldives. These resorts put a special emphasis on eco-friendly practices and encourage guests to be responsible too.