From being up close and personal with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea, exploring the oldest ecosystems in the world, coral reefs, and swimming side by side with the ocean’s predators and preys in some of the largest fish feeding grounds in the world, the Maldives islands offer the discerning traveler a kaleidoscope of marine animals to swim with.
Lily Beach Resort & Spa
Offering some of the top snorkeling spots in the country, Lily Beach is sure to quench your thirst for ocean adventure. The house reef offers a chance for beginners to snorkel around side by side with sea turtles and baby sharks, while schools of fish put on a show for you. Allow the Prodivers team to take you above and beyond, with over 50 dive sites in close proximity to explore for novices and experts alike, where whale sharks and manta rays frequent the excited divers.
W Maldives
Step into the world underwater armed with your gear. W Retreat promises an experience of a lifetime in their house reef teeming with aquatic animals. Explore the nooks and crannies of the reef and the eccentrically coloured inhabitants within it. Here, you are bound to come face to face with angle, parrot and schools of other fish, while turtles and sharks circle the overhangs of the reef. Step beyond the reef with your dive guide, and close proximity, swim along with rare whales and giant rays – a thrill not to be missed.
Dusit Thani Resort
Venture into the depths of the sea in search of turtles with the in-house Marine Biodiversity Educator. Explore the house reef and see where the brightly coloured schools of fish lead you. To learn more, allow the instructor to educate you on ocean conservation with their marine life presentation. Try your hand at scuba diving, or any of the other adrenaline inducing watersports from jetski rides to wake boarding and water skiing. For a completely mesmerising experience, head to Hanifaru Bay and observe as hordes of mantas gracefully glide around you to feed. If you don’t wish to get wet, sunset fishing and sunset dolphin cruise makes for the perfect family outing.
Anantara Kihavah Villas
Dip in to the pool of possibilities here. Located within the UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll, Anantara Kihavah’s waters hold many unspoiled mysteries within it. Enroll in a PADI certification course and become a certified diver right here in paradise. For an afternoon of leisure, take a canoe, kayak or wind surf out into the sea and bask in the sun. Contribute to the regeneration of corals at the Coral Adoption Programme and protect the habitats of its peculiar residents, and even monitor the fruits of your labour as they grow to house brightly coloured fish, mollusks and crustaceans.
Angsana Ihuru
The snorkeling safari at Angsana Ihuru promises to leave you in awe. Swim through the underwater gardens and its residents and learn more about ocean conservation. The Marine Conservation Lab allows you to plant your own coral and contribute to protecting the habitat of the thriving fish species within it. Less than 100 metres away, the Rannamaari shipwreck beckons thrill seekers to explore it ruins. Try your hand at scuba diving with the expert team or enjoy a range of watersports from wakeboarding, big game fishing, to windsurfing with the team.