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.

The post The Luxury Maldives Resorts With Best House Reefs in 2022 appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

Explore ancient caves, overhangs and greet its multicolored residents. Dive deep into the blues with dolphins, whalesharks, manta rays and turtles. A team of experts is always at your helm and no prior experience is required. Whether you are a novice or an experienced diver, some of the most diverse and pristine diving sites welcome you here, ready to take your breath away.

Take a day off to revitalize, rejuvenate and pamper yourself. Soothe your body, mind and soul with ancient ayurvedic treatments, Balinese massages and therapies. The world’s first underwater spa beckons you here, offering new wellness packages where schools of colorful fish swim right by as you enjoy an exfoliating massage while the tranquility of the ocean surrounds you.

Adrenaline junkies rejoice, as plenty of options remain for you to quench your thirst. Have your pick between paddle boarding, parasailing, kayaking, fun tube, banana boat and waterskiing in world-class watersports centres. If you don’t want to get wet, glass-bottomed boats, dolphin cruises and whale watching are ways to explore Maldivian waters.

Surfers of all kinds flock to the Maldives to catch the perfect wave. Boasting world-renowned surfing spots, most of them are located near the capital, often a quick speedboat ride away from the international airport. The reef chains have waves all year round, with the biggest waves occurring from June till October. While some breaks such as Pasta Point, Honky’s and Lohis are great for left footers, others such as Cokes, Jailbreaks and Sultans are ideal for right footers.

Hop aboard a cruising safari and go on a journey across the Maldives. The traditional fishing vessel, the dhoni as your home for the week, travel from one remote island to the other, taking the path less trodden. Explore pristine snorkeling spots, stop by at uninhabited islands for a swim, go on the hunt for some coconuts and have a beach barbecue set up with the catch of the day as your meal.

From chocolate tasting rooms to homemade gelato, experimental gastronomical delights and fine wine pairings, the Maldives offers some exquisite culinary adventures. From authentic Maldivian dinner spreads with local families to grand buffets with food from across the globe, options here are endless. Be it dinner under the stars at a secluded sandbank, barbecue under the mid-afternoon sun, poolside drinks, or even a three course gourmet meal at the world’s first underwater restaurant, the venues are breathtaking.

Sunny all year round, the Maldives offers the discerning traveller an array of options from luxury to adventure and everything in between. Together with top-notch service and second to none luxury, the glistening turquoise waters, palm fringed beaches and the tropical sun makes the Maldives the ideal summer holiday destination.

The post Plan Your This Summer Holiday In The Maldives appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

With professional instructors providing dive gear and guiding you through, both novices and experts can explore the curves and ripples of the ocean floor studded with colourful corals as its residents come out to swim with you. Whether you come back from your holiday a licensed PADI diver, or you go on your first dive, there will be plenty of stories to share about the mysteries of the ocean.

While the best dive sites are concentrated around the South Ari, Vaavu and North Male’ atoll, the best spots for whale shark encounters are located in South Ari atoll. For a swim with mantas, be sure to head to Baa, Haa Alif or South Ari atoll. For shark enthusiasts, Fuvahmulah area is the place to be. Some of the best dive sites in the Maldives are:

Kudarah Thila, South Ari Atoll
The marine protected area is known for it’s soft coral formations and colourful fish species. One is sure to find an array of reef fish including fusiliers and snappers. Swim through the famous arch bejeweled with corals and the overhang here. A torch in hand, dive in further to find moray eels, nudibranchs, puffer fish and grown turtles hunting for their prey around the overhang.

Fotteyo Kandu, Vaavu Atoll
Arguably the best dive site in the Maldives, Fotteyo Kandu promises encounters with schools of shark species, including the occasional hammerheads. The site is a diver’s paradise complete with overhangs, swim-throughs and caves to explore while jacks, tunas and schools of snappers, unicorn fish and eagle rays trail around you. Keep an eye out for the yellow soft corals growing on the overhangs, and black coral bushes.

Okobe Thila, North Male’ Atoll
Consisting of three main pinnacle sections, the currents here will carry you spiraling your way up and around. Prepare yourself to be greeted by white tip reef sharks and moray eels bobbing their heads out for food. Schools of banner fish and batfish are also known to make appearances. In addition to the holes and cavities in the pinnacles, you will also find lots of interesting coral formations to explore here.

Kandooma Thila, South Male’ Atoll
A dive here will leave you breathless, and for all the right reasons. This teardrop shaped pinnacle does not hold back. It boasts schools of red bass, grey sharks, white-tip sharks, eagle rays and dogtooth tunas. Keep an eye out for the turtles that come out to greet you. The west point of the Thila, Jack Corner is a great spot for barracudas, and further down, a cave known to house snappers and big-eye trevally beckons you.

Broken Rock, South Ari Atoll
With a canyon that breaks the reef into two, the current is quite strong here. Here divers can swim through the canyon as schools of fish whizz past them. Look out for the pastel coloured soft coral formations on the canyon while jacks, butterfly fish, angelfish, moray eels, scorpion fish, puffer fish and the occasional napoleon wrasse comes out to play.

The post Best diving spots in the Maldives appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

There are two kinds of manta rays – the reef manta and the giant manta ray. Both are found in the waters of the Maldives and both are hard to miss. The reef manta can grow to 5m in width while the giant manta ray has a massive central disc which grows to an average of 7m.

Eagle rays are often found in the open ocean. Rhomboidal in shape with a slightly longer tail than other rays, the most spectacular is the spotted eagle ray. They grow to about 5m in length but their most dramatic feature is a dark inky body covered with white speckles.

There are seven species of sea turtle, of which five can be seen in the Maldives. The single most important thing you need to know is that they are an endangered species and are protected by law in the Maldives. The Hawksbill turtle and the Green turtle are the most common turtles sighted. Marine conservationists have embarked on a turtle identification process, gathering photographs from both experts and amateurs alike to try and establish the numbers and movement of these special creatures of the sea.

It is believed that 20 difference species of dolphin call the Maldives home. These include Spinner, Bottlenose, Risso’s, Spotted and Striped Dolphins.  The most common seen in the area are Spinner dolphins which are said to number thousands. They gather in droves to feed on the fauna and are a magnificent site when frolicking in huge groups in the waters around the islands. They may just be the first of the big marine 5 that you get to spot.

Probably the most feared and mysterious of the Marine Big 5 has to be the shark. The largest fish in the world is the Whale Shark. Growing up to 11 or 12 metres in length and weighing up to 19000kg in adulthood, they are a sight to behold. They live to about 70 years and are believed to be harmless to man. With a 1m wide mouth, whale shark are filter feeders (mainly on plankton) and are said to be able to have more than 300 rows of teeth at one time.

That’s what you are looking out for on your visit to the Maldives. Where best to see them? The Baa and Ari Atolls are well known for shark and manta sightings. The Sun Island reef is a good spot for whale sharks, while the reefs of Rangali provide ample sightings of both whale shark and manta ray. Ukulhas Thila and Panettone are also said to be great for manta ray viewing.  Dolphins can often be seen frolicking in the ocean throughout the island chain. The Marine National Sea Turtle Identification Programme has had sightings and photographic evidence of turtles spotted on 16 atolls.

Your tour guide will be able to let you know where the latest sightings of the Maldives Marine Big 5 have been. If you spot one or all five, it is sure to be a most memorable experience.

The post Spot the Maldives Marine Big Five appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

Manta Ray

There are two kinds of manta rays. There is the reef manta and the giant manta ray. Both are found in the waters of the Maldives. Both are hard to miss. The reef manta can grow to 5m in width while the giant manta ray has a massive central disc which can grow as wide as 9 metres, although 7m seems to be more normal. Interesting facts about manta is that they have the largest brain of the fish world; sometimes they may be seen jumping out of the water and they can travel 70km in a day. They are a protected species and can live up to 30 years.

Whale Shark

The largest fish in the world is the Whale Shark. They are fascinating in that they can grow up to 11 or 12 metres in length and amass a whopping 19000kg in adulthood. They live to about 70 years and are believed to be harmless to man. With a 1m wide mouth, whale sharks are filter feeders (mainly on plankton) and are said to be able to have more than 300 rows of teeth at one time.

It is no wonder that droves of tourists flock to the Maldives every year to watch these two fish of the deep. The Maldives has been voted by the Diviac travel magazine as one of the world’s top 10 best places to see manta rays.

The most prolific population is in the region of the Ari Atoll and the Baa Atoll.

Ari Atoll

The Sun Island reef is a good spot for whale sharks, while the reefs of Rangali provide ample sightings of both whale shark and manta ray. Ukulhas Thila and Panettone are also said to be great for manta ray viewing.

While you are able to see whale shark and manta throughout the year, experts have identified times they are most like to come out – these include the months of November, December and May. From January to April, visit the west side of the Ari Atoll for the best viewings of manta ray. The rest of the year visit the east side. The week building up to the full moon also seems to make them more active and your best opportunity of seeing them daily is about three to four hours before high tide.

Baa Atoll

This is a much smaller atoll and is located just north of Ari Atoll. Hanifaru Bay is significant to manta rays particularly,  because it contains a high density of plankton. As a result many rays flock to the area for a banquet

it’s known as cyclone feeding – when more than 100 fish feast together. It’s not uncommon for whale sharks to be seen here at the same time, although the numbers are not as great.

There are some conservation rules when it comes to enjoying these special creatures. Stay more than 3 or 4 metres away from them. Never touch them. Don’t get in their way and if you are going to take an underwater photo of them, don’t use the flash. You are a visitor in their environment so be sure to respect it.

They have been described as majestic and graceful – watching them will be a memory that lasts a lifetime.

The post Manta and Whale Shark Watching in the Maldives appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

Perfect Temperatures

The monsoon rains start to lessen in November, ushering in the dry season in the Maldives. The average temperature during November is 27C (81F) with about 14 days of rainfall adding up around 200mm. As winter sets in the northern hemisphere and the final month of the year begins, the Maldives is the place to be. With a balmy low temperature of 25C (77F), you can leave the winter clothes at home. It will warm your heart to be spending December in this tropical paradise. As the year ends and January arrives, with an average high of 29C (84F) and only 5 days of rainfall, it’s one of the best times of the year to experience the Maldives. In February, while the countries to the north experience the coldest month of the year, the archipelago temperature doesn’t get below 26C (79F). Idyllic comes to mind.

Sunshine

The winter months of the northern hemisphere are known to carry with them short cold days and long frigid nights. With the sun rising late and setting early and largely grey clouds and rain in between, it’s easy to become melancholy. A break to the Maldives will cheer you up with hours and hours of beautiful sunshine. December has 7 hours of sunshine per day, January 9 hours and February 10 hours. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bask in the sunshine and soak up all the vitamin D you need.

Time to Rest and Recuperate

The end of the year is a time for a break – a busy year ends and it’s time to get away and enjoy a vacation where there is no work to be done and you can completely relax. The Maldives offers dozens of luxury resorts that will afford you the opportunity to destress and forget about all the cares of life. Whether you plan on visiting the spa, sunbathing, snorkelling or sleeping, the main aim is to meet your needs so you go home refreshed and ready for the New Year.

Fun For The Whole Family

At the end of the year the whole family are usually available. From young to old, the Maldives offers fun activities for every age and interest. Walking, boating, swimming, golfing, fishing, dancing, dining and diving are just a few of the options that families can do together. It’s an exotic island paradise that will meet the needs of those looking for an adrenaline rush as well as those wanting peace and quiet, and everyone in between. This is where memories are made. Visiting the Maldives in the winter months of November to February certainly is the answer if you want to escape the cold. Book your luxury winter break in the Maldives today.

The post Winter Luxury Break in the Maldives appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

The Banana Reef has become world renown for a number of reasons. It has amazing and unexpected landscapes such as a now famous pinnacle, as well as dramatic cliffs, overhangs and caves. The coral is bright and vivid. Explosions of colour make for an amazing underwater experience – bold yellow, various shades of pink, rose red, luminous green and lavender lilac marine invertebrate gather in their flamboyant communities, attracting a variety of equally as colourful fish.

It’s very popular for divers and snorkelers, eager to see both known and unexpected fellow swimmers. Barracuda, grouper and sharks will be hard to miss, but angel fish and parrot fish, and other smaller predators lurk in crevices of the Banana Reef waiting for their prey to pass by. The landscape is magnificent – different size plants, unusual textures, rocks and shells – shrubs and ferns – some look like spaghetti, others like fungi – all with a spot in this special place.

The fish who make this their home are varied and known by quirky and attractive names – Oriental sweetlips is a distinct fish with its black and yellow stripy body and spotted tail. Its name is clearly from a pair of pursed lips carefully painted in gentle pink. Squirrel and soldier fish are closely related – distinctive eyes, shiny scales, often orange and striped, they are members of the ray-finned fish family. Reef sharks, morays and stingray eels may be seen hanging out on the ocean floor, lazing around until something attractive or tasty lures them from their sandy bed. Giant clams, blowfish and Napoleon wrasse – you will meet some or all of them in these warm colourful waters.

Now that you are absolutely determined to put the Banana Reef on your Maldives itinerary, here is some of the practical advice that you must bear in mind. Safety first. Do be careful to use a reputable tour or diving guide who has sufficient safety and dive equipment for your excursion. Sometimes, the currents are strong, so a surface balloon is recommended. The best mode of transport is by speedboat with a guide. It is not far from the islands to the south of the North Male Atoll, so is easily accessible. Its proximity to these islands is the reason it was the first dive site discovered in the Maldives. Dive operators offer night dives, where seeing the incredible archipelago after dark is an experience on its own. If you have not got an underwater camera, you will be able to hire one.

The memories of visiting the Banana Reef will last a lifetime.

The post Diving in Banana Reef appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

Many visitors to the Maldives hire these watercraft, known as “Liveaboards” in order to take advantage of the best diving spots, but there are far more activities available on them than just diving. While seeing the exotic undersea life would be a highlight of your vacation aboard, you could also choose other water activities such as water or jet skiing, as well as scuba diving, fishing, open sea swimming, surfing or simply sunbathing.

Your choice of liveaboards is broad, from intimate small group carriers with a maximum of 12 guests sharing 6 cabins, to a large 40 metre vessel capable of hosting 26 guests comfortably. Expect modern and spacious accommodation, a relaxing air conditioned saloon and deck space both covered and open to enjoy the view of the endless ocean.

The options for wining and dining aboard have also been designed to bring you memories that will last a lifetime. Expect full board with three meals a day, as well as afternoon snacks. If the weather plays along, you may just be able to have dinner on the beach at an uninhabited island, with the stars twinkling overhead, and the sea lapping at your feet. Most of these liveaboard vacations include equipment and diving options for both day and night. Some have restaurants, highly trained chefs, a concierge service, a bar, library, Jacuzzi and other facilities to make your stay even more enjoyable.

The itinerary varies in both destination and length, so before choosing, inquire about where the liveaboard will take you and how long your stay will be. You may want to choose your cruise from December to May when the water is calmer and warm –  between 26 & 29 degrees Celsius. Most cruises are between 7 & 10 days, but longer options can be negotiated. Popular cruising destinations include the Ari Atoll where, in a radius of 40km, there are 105 islets to explore. Marine life is abundant here and your liveaboard will give you access to some of the more remote and less visited waters. Ask if you can visit Maaya Thila or Donkalo Thila  where mantra are plentiful and whale sharks common. Another useful destination to know about is Baa Atoll, which includes the less congested atolls of Lhaviyani, Noonu and Raa.

Whatever you choose, the crew will be sure to go out of their way to make your visit a tropical vacation to remember.

The post Hire a Liveaboard in the Maldives appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

The post The Underwater Festival returns to LUX* South Ari Atoll appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.

Few places offer such stunning night diving as at Constance Moofushi, located in the Maldives’ South Ari Atoll, and regarded as one of the best diving spots in the world.

What you’ll see by night

At night, diving in shallow waters, with only the light of a dive torch, the multitude of colours from the reef and the life it supports becomes even more apparent, as it stands out against the blackness.

The atmosphere on the reef at night is also very different from that experienced during the day. Predators go hunting, prey flees while other fish sleep quietly in holes or crevices.

Night divers are more likely to see certain species such as the Moray eel or octopuses emerging from their holes to hunt at night.

Underwater firework display

Some sea creatures use bioluminescence as a defence mechanism by ejecting glowing chemicals from their body to ward off danger. These appear as clouds of light under water, creating a beautiful sight for the night diver.

The post Night Diving in the Maldives at Constance Moofushi appeared first on Alpha Maldives Blog.