Maldives may seem nothing more than a pinhead on the map, but what a stunner of an island it is! Home to the best beaches in the world with the whitest sands, a paradise of reef-ringed atolls for astonishing underwater encounters, spectacular wildlife, palm forests and beautiful bungalows in azure blue waters…head on over to create your most cherished holiday memories for a lifetime.

Scuba-dive where the unseen thrive

An astonishing world of underwater creatures inhabit the numerous atolls, coral islands and reefs of over two thousand islands in the Maldives archipelago. Fabulous fish you’ve never seen before, hide shyly or simply wait to flaunt their stuff. Lucky you, who scuba dives to witness them!  

Gear up and acclimatize before you get to use Maldives’ state-of-the-art water sports facilities. Rewards come when you prepare to dive deep, 10 feet or more, to explore some of the best diving sites in the Maldives – like Baa Atoll (a unique UNESCO biosphere reserve) where you can spot manta rays and whale sharks, Ari Atoll, where you’ll say hello to the barracuda, stingrays and more, and the shark-infested Fuvahmulah Atoll for those rarer species such as tiger sharks, thresher sharks, and even hammerheads that love to hang out here. 

If you consider yourself a real explorer, scuba diving should be an enviable skill that gets you places that your land-bound friends will envy.  Every dive brings a sense of awe, calm and wonder. Here’s your chance to engage with an environment and biodiversity of around 200 inhabited islands of the Maldives.

Unravelog tip: For dives with great visibility and weather that’s dry and warm, we recommend you plan your visit between January and April.

Snorkel in crystal clear waters

The thousands of coral reefs in the Maldives teem with some amazing aquatic life, all just a head dunk away. Go snorkelling to your heart’s content, viewing hundreds of exotic species of fish – some strange, odd or awesome, and some you can name or recognize. Get up close – it’s a feast for your eyes and a lasting other-worldly sensation, while you look for tuna, eagle rays, barracudas, grey reef sharks…guaranteed to give you goosebumps.

The best time for snorkelling in the Maldives is between January and April when the weather is presumably at its best and the waters are the clearest. But no matter when in the year you decide to travel, you are in for a treat.

At Banana Reef (Kuda Kalhi), experience the rich habitat for beautiful fish, coral reefs, and marine life, especially late May to July. You will delight in swimming with the Palette Surgeonfish (Finding Nemo’s “Dory”), manta rays, black snapper fish, bannerfish, sharps and creatures of mind-boggling variety.

The HP Reef (Malé Atoll), also named the ‘Rainbow Reef’ for its mind-blowing, vividly coloured coral, hosts barracudas, grey reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna and more, besides a collection of brilliant and diverse species of small reef fish. If you are travelling to the Maldives between December and April, it’s the best time to snorkel here.

And, there’s the unmissable Manta Point (Lankanfinolhu Island). For those seeking a stunning and incredible underwater experience, get a ring-side view of nature’s magnificent Manta Rays. They come up breathtakingly close, and you can’t help being awed. But that isn’t all, the other species here demand your attention too, such as the squirrelfish, masked bannerfish, spangled emperor fish, napoleons, sharks… it’s snorkelling heaven at Manta Point between May and November.

Unravelog tip: Pack your sunscreen! Apply at least 15 mins before heading for the water. Make sure it has a good SPF (30+) that suits your skin, as you will hang out on the water’s surface for a while.

Windsurf around lagoons

Trust an intrepid Australian to discover the best surf breaks in the Maldives! Tony Hinde introduced windsurfing to the island in the late 1970s. With its beautiful lagoons, engaging water and consistent winds, don’t miss a taste of the best-rated spots to windsurf in the Maldives. 

The place to find yourself is in North and South Male Atoll, during the windsurfing season –  the southwest monsoon. It is ideal from April to October. During this time, conditions are naturally favourable. What makes it so rewarding too, are the exceptional facilities and equipment, that will enhance your windsurfing experiences and memories.

The well-equipped resorts in the Maldives have trained instructors to guide guests – from learning the fundamentals of windsurfing to making sure you have safe and secure conditions to enjoy yourself at all times. 

Unravelog tip: Find, preferably, an island that has a large lagoon, with fewer corals, for a good windsurfing experience. We recommend resorts like the Hilton Iru Fushi, Rihiveli and Velassaru, for their windsurfing facilities. 

Parasail for heightened views

There’s nothing quite like a snapshot-in-the-mind experience, as you soar high, parasailing over the archipelago.  Sparkling like a jewel below, the beauty of the whole island is revealed at a single glance and is beautiful to behold. Tranquil beaches, gorgeous resorts, blue-green lagoons and an expanse of ocean, as far as the eye can see.

Take off into the air with your parachute, pulled by a motorboat,. Or try parasailing, accompanied by experts, should you prefer it.  If you are adventurous enough to try it on your own, hotel and resort staff will all ensure your safety as much as possible. With professional guides to help you get it right, with all the essential information. 

While any place on the island is good for parasailing, you will love it at  Reethi Beach, also known by this curious name – Fonimagoodhoo. It is safe, the water isn’t very deep, and it is picture-perfect too – with exquisite, glistening white sands. Also to consider is Cocoon Beach for great views of the entire island as well as the Indian Ocean while sailing high in the air.

Unravelog tip:  Watch for some frolicking, playful dolphins and other fish skimming the surface of the ocean from above!  

Jet ski to boost your adrenaline

The combination of warm weather, cool breeze, and the azure Indian Ocean is practically a guarantee for a great day of jet skiing in the Maldives. It’s like riding a motorbike on the water. This big, stable motor water ski also doubles as a vehicle to get between islands. 

Not many resorts offer jet-skiing since it is risky. Handling a jet ski does require a certain amount of experience and control to prevent accidents, so we urge you to let professionals handle the ride, while you enjoy the excitement, safely seated behind them. Choose a resort that offers this sport, as they ensure that all the necessary safety precautions are taken. And be aware, the age limit is 18 and above. 

Unravelog tip: We recommend Maafushi Island (26 kms from Male) for jet skiing. They do have a whole lot of other water sports too.

Wakeboard on the sea

Go gliding over the Arabian Sea, on a wakeboard, enjoy the rush of wind in your hair and great views of the lagoons.  Wakeboarding is a sport where you get towed by a boat ahead of you (and is a bit like snowboarding). With deft control, you can lift yourself off into the air and land back over the smooth waves of the warm Maldivian water on the sea at a thrilling pace.  Is it tough?  Well, the trickiest part of wakeboarding is getting back on land.  But with just a beginner’s lesson first in the shallow lagoon area, you can easily learn the crucial steps that need to be followed. Once you feel confident, you move further into the water until you master it.  It is liberating when you steadily build confidence, step by step, jumping the small waves, until you are one with your wakeboard!!

Unravelog Tip: Try the different variants of wakeboarding – such as water skiing and kneeboarding. And if you are really confident in your wakeboard skills, try hoverboarding!  It is a strapped-on water Jetpack that can raise you up to 5 metres in the air, while you cut through the water at 40 kilometres per hour.