8 top things to do in the Maldives beyond your villa

16.02.2024 - 21:15 / lonelyplanet.com / Art

It’s time to bust the myth that there’s nothing to do in the Maldives apart from sipping rainbow-hued cocktails, snapping beachfront selfies and sprawling on chaise longues.

Don’t get us wrong – we love doing all of these things. But there’s more to this archipelago than just relaxation. The Indian Ocean’s most popular holiday destination offers something for everyone.

Today, in addition to lying out in the sun, the most popular activities in the Maldives include skydiving, art master classes and visits to islands where locals live. Read on to discover the best things to do on your next Maldives getaway.

This is an obvious one. The topography of the Maldives’ atolls means the water in which you’ll learn is clear, calm and shallow. The nearest beach is always close by, meaning beginners can head right into the ocean for introductory sessions that would be done in a pool elsewhere. This also means you’ll quickly become accustomed to sharing the sea with a wide range of stunning marine life. And since dive instructors in the Maldives are on longer contracts than freelance instructors elsewhere, you’ll gain an insight into the region’s waters through the people who know it best. The Maldives is also a great place to gain additional qualifications, such as those for technical or shipwreck diving. 

What’s more, resorts are going all-out to offer qualified divers a wider range of experiences. On the Noonu Atoll, for example, Siyam World now offers blue-light diving: night dives with blue illumination that reacts with the fluorescent pigments in certain types of marine life, causing them to glow. 

Not up to scuba diving? No problem. The Maldives’ waters are teeming with marine life that are just as accessible through other means. Most resorts offer excursions for guests keen to see brightly colored fish up close. At Anantara Dhigu resort, just a short speedboat ride away from Male, you can sign up for marine-biologist-led excursions to see (and swim with, if you’re feeling brave) nurse sharks. Similarly, at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, close to the UNESCO-listed Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, guests can join resident marine biologists from the Manta Trust on ray-spotting excursions.

Planning tip: Pack your own fins and goggles if you’re planning on snorkeling – you’ll avoid equipment-rental fees and reduce the risk of having to use ill-fitting kit.

A growing number of resorts are paying homage to the region’s heritage by giving visitors the chance to learn about the Maldives’ history. At the Raa Atoll’s Cora Cora Maldives, guests can visit the Dutch Onion Museum to admire artifacts found around and near the island – including two ancient, onion-shaped bottles for which the museum is named. Also on