Maldives

Getting There

Fly to Malé (MLE). From Malé, transfers to resorts are by speedboat (20–90 minutes depending on distance) or seaplane (15–30 minutes, spectacular views, operates daylight hours only). Your resort will arrange everything.

The Atolls

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls and over 1,200 islands; about 200 are inhabited and around 160 host resorts (one resort per island is the model). The southern atolls (Addu, Fuvahmulah) are more remote and have better diving but fewer resort options. The central atolls (North Malé, South Malé, Baa, Ari) are the most accessible and have the widest range of accommodation. Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has the best chance of manta ray encounters.

The Marine Life

The clear water and the protected reef systems produce marine life density that is among the best in the Indian Ocean. Manta rays congregate at certain cleaning stations seasonally. Whale sharks are present year-round at certain atolls. Reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, and a density of reef fish that makes snorkelling rewarding even from a beach. Most resorts have a diving centre on-site; bring your certification card.

Choosing a Resort

The resort you choose is the destination — you'll spend most of your time on a very small island. Important considerations: house reef quality (some resorts have an excellent reef directly accessible from the beach, others require a boat trip), overwater villa versus beach villa (both have advantages; overwater is the more famous experience but beach villas have easier water access), and transfer time (longer speedboat or seaplane transfers mean more complex logistics and daylight dependency for seaplanes).

Budget

The Maldives is expensive. There is no budget version. Mid-range resorts start at around £300–500 per room per night all-inclusive. Luxury resorts (Soneva, Six Senses, Gili Lankanfushi, Cheval Blanc) are £800–2,000+ per night. Local island guesthouses (Maafushi, Thulusdhoo) offer a fraction of the cost with a different experience — you're on an inhabited island with local culture, beaches are designated, no alcohol on the island.