The vibrant marine life of the coral reefs in the Maldives is a perfect getaway for a communion with nature. Want to know the best resorts to take advantage of the stunning underwater life? Here is our selection.

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

Exceptional underwater experiences

raffles maldives meradhoo

The resort’s position in the remote northern Gaafu Alifu atoll means that the surrounding waters and house reefs are home to some of the richest marine life located above the equator. There, the ocean is a natural playground for guests.

Raffles offers an array of exciting watersport activities to explore, from an adventure dive with tiger sharks, to a mangrove exploration, a snorkelling excursion in the house reef, and a mesmerizing dolphin cruise.

For a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, guests can swim with magnificent whale sharks and go on a nighttime excursion on a traditional Dhoni to encounter these impressive creatures, reaching up to 12 meters in length. What’s more? Guests can have their own Marine Butler taking them to the best underwater spots to make sure they make the most of the abundant marine life.

Vakkaru Maldives

Fascinating immersive adventures

Lying in the heart of Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Vakkaru Maldives is a secluded reef island blessed with timeless ocean views, powder-soft white sands, and a house reef with unique marine biodiversity.

Guests can embark on an extraordinary marine discovery journey around the atoll, famous for its marine megafauna – whale sharks, dolphins, and the world’s largest aggregation of manta rays.

Adventure awaits at Vakkaru Maldives, from swimming with the turtles, to learning how to deep dive, going on a big game expedition, and cruising around the Baa Atoll on a luxury yacht. Other thrilling water adventures include night snorkelling tours where guests can enjoy watching the reef go to sleep and discover the nocturnal creatures that inhabit the underwater world. And for more insights onto the marine world, they can go on a voyage of discovery with the resident marine biologist and explore Vakkaru’s house reef.

W Maldives

An underwater playground

W Maldives

Located in the breathtaking North Ari Atoll, the W Maldives resort is set atop one of the best house reefs in the Maldives. Explore a wonderland of white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and direct access to the coral reef right from guests’ villa.

The heart-shaped paradise is home to hundreds of species of marine life ready to be explored. Accessible from anywhere on the resort, guests can jump in with their snorkelling gear at any time, mingle with vibrant colors of the coral forest and spot the captivating diversity of marine life.

They can also opt for a night snorkel hop by speedboat, to explore the water wonders by night at different reefs. DOWN UNDER Dive center is an invitation to discover life beneath the surface. Guests can experience the most popular diving sites in the Maldives and enjoy some of the richest marine life in the world as they swim along with mantas, turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, and whale sharks.

The abundance of underwater caves, caverns, and overhangs ensures dives are nothing short of a spectacle. WAVE water sports center offers multiple ways to explore the waters surrounding the resort or venture to the nearby uninhabited islands with a guided jet-ski tour.