The Maldives

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

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Me and the gf went to the Maldives last Easter and we're planning a holiday for the same time next year and are considering going back. We went for 2 weeks all inclusive at Embudu Village and loved it, especially the snorkelling. So my question to you all is if anyone has been to the maldives; 1. where did you go? 2. how did you rate the place? and 3. probably the most important, how would you rate the snorkelling?

Chars.
 
Been twice and I rate it as heaven and would happily retire there if I could.

1st time was an Island called Kanifinolhu but that was a while ago and it was a 'real no shoes no news place' but still stunning with its natural beauty.
2nd time was at Laguna Beach which is a bit more advanced but still kept it's beauty.
The snorkeling for me is better than the Caribbean and the Red Sea, not because of the variety of sea-life but because of the tranquility when exploring.:)
I hear it's a different place now after the recent tsunamis though so be careful where you book.
 
Recently returned from Sun Island,

the place was huge so lots to do and the watersports were fantastic.

Snorkeling was good and there are some inexpensive trips to reefs (15-18USD) that are out of this world.
 
ca9phoenix said:
Recently returned from Sun Island,

the place was huge so lots to do and the watersports were fantastic.

Snorkeling was good and there are some inexpensive trips to reefs (15-18USD) that are out of this world.
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We went there in June for our Honeymoon - snorkelling - I walked the 30 steps to the sea and swam a few hundred yards and there was enough to keep me occupied. THe reef trips were ace mind, and they gave you ages to explore.

One problem I found is that for the thick end of £3500 I wanted more to be 'included' in the all-in deal (tho we did fly premium cabin, sea plane transfer also). Would certainly go again if I didn't have the wife in tow, even if it was our honeymoon as she doesn't eat fish and doesn't really swim anywhere as much as me.

Final advice, suncream on the back when snorkelling, nearly fried myself!!!!
 
JohnnyG said:
I hear it's a different place now after the recent tsunamis though so be careful where you book.
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That was the main reason I was asking, I think our island was hit pretty bad, they had sand bags in parts and a lot of the coral was dead. The sea-life was superb, saw just about everything you could see apart from manta rays:(. I was just wondering if all of the reefs around would be smashed up or could some of them escape the damge.

Btw we're students so we'll only be looking toward the budget end of the scale but any advice is appreciated!
 
Went to Meeru Island Resort for my Honeymoon. Was my most relaxing holiday ever. The island was wonderful. Even though it was rated 3 / 4 star the service was easily on par with UK 5 star (if not the food which was 'just good').

It's not the best resort for snorkelling though. Needed a boat to get to the reef although there were pockets of coral near the island. Trips out to the house reef were cheap though.

Last day I was there I took a guided snorkelling session with an instructor from the dive school. I'd highly recommend this and wish I'd done it on day 1. Saw a much better variety of marine life, including turtles.

I've got my PADI open water since then and would love to return to the Maldives to do a bit of diving.
 
Make the snorkelling better and learn to Scuba dive while you are out there ;)

We are looking for 2009, possibly Meerufenfushi.
 
We spent 2 weeks @ Meedhupparu Island Resort on our honeymoon this year.

Can't fault it, weather was amazing, as was the snorkelling. There was uite a bit
of dead reef but the fish were amazing, the highlight was seeing a manta ray from about 6" away.

I would go back in a shot no doubt about it, if we win the lottery we will go back and
stay in one of the water suites.

Enjoy!

Andy
 
Butters said:
My Parents went 6 months after the Tsunami. They said you'd never know anything had happened.
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Due to the reef they were not hit very hard. IIRC there were only 100
people that died during this.

We spoke to some of the staff on our island (who were the most friendly
people i've ever met), they decribed it as a "high tide" on their island.
Which included one house being an inch under water.

Andy
 
Baz said:
Make the snorkelling better and learn to Scuba dive while you are out there ;)
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I would love to but its just so much more expensive, and you dont have the same freedom as snorkelling. If you just woke and fancied I look you could be in the water in a few seconds, plus you dont get tanned diving:p:o
 
mpledge52 said:
I would love to but its just so much more expensive, and you dont have the same freedom as snorkelling. If you just woke and fancied I look you could be in the water in a few seconds, plus you dont get tanned diving:p:o
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True, it can be expensive in some resorts, but you may get more freedom with snorkeling, but you can't beat being down there amongst the coral reef, look under stuff and in holes, and finding some cool fish that you normally wouldn't see snorkeling. Oh, and you are only in the water for 60 minutes max so plenty of time to top up the tan. I usually tend to wear a rash vest when snorkeling as I get burnt shoulders really easily :)
 
We went to Athruga a couple of years ago and couldn't recommend it highly enough. It is right on the reef, so the snorkeling is fantastic and the service is next to none. It is / was run by an Italian company called Franco Rosso, so the food was plentiful and excellent. The staff couldn't do enough for you, even getting me down a coconut from the tree when I fancied some.

The island is one of the smaller ones, taking only about 10 minutes to walk around and doesn't have all the amenities that some of the larger resort islands do, but it makes up for it in so many other ways. I swam almost the whole way around it one day, accompanied by a turtle. Luckily I had my underwater camera with me as it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. We also saw oriental sweetlips, numerous parrot fish, sea urchins, loads of different trigger fish, sharks and more than I can remember right now and the seaplane transfer just made it all that much better.
 
Yea our island was also a very smal one, 10 minute walk around jobby, but I think that makes the exeperience even better. And all these places you have been must be fantastic service wise, ours was only a 2 star apparently but the service/place in general was better than anywhere I've been before and the food was amazing.
 
Honeymooned in 'Kurumathi' about 2 hours from Mali by Boat (which made me as sick as a dog before I had a panic attack.. Don't like Rough Seas).. We had a Water Bungalow from which I went Snorkling on a regular basis!.. even went snorkling when we went Island hopping!...

Walked tip to tip and side to side of our island... watched the Ray's being fed!.. played with some sharks.. Found the Best Cocktail of all time 'The Blue Lagoon' but I've never been able to re-produce it..

Got the Plane back to Mali (no way was I going on a boat again!!) that was wicked!! Transit Van with Wings and Skis..

We were Half Board.. so needed to find out lunch and pay for drinks!... but it wasn't too expensive!...

I'd definatly go back.. might try a different Island or even atol next time!.. (there are 1100 to chose from!!)
 
Baz said:
We are looking for 2009, possibly Meerufenfushi.
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That's where I went - AKA 'Meeru'. Once again highly recommended - if you dive or take the boat out to the reef.

As stated - the house reef is only accessable by boat. Scuba school on the island seemed good from what I could tell (not PADI certified at the time but I ame now). People that went diving loved it - turtles, sharks manta rays...

www.meeru.co.uk is an unofficial forum dedicated to the place.
 
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