How Maldives resorts unveil an underwater world

The Indian Ocean has a secret.

It’s called Lemuria, and millions of years ago it was speculated to be a land of mountains and jungles. Nowadays mythical Lemuria is submerged beneath the waves but traces of it, in theory, still remain. The Maldives, alongside other Indian Ocean countries, are believed to be part of this secret world. Here, islets bob on the surface like pond lilies, each laced with immaculate beaches which are some of the most beautiful in the world. A holiday to the Maldives stands as a reminder of how powerful the ocean can be, yet how it has created the most spectacular tranquil wonderland we may ever know of. We investigated how these Maldives resorts unveil this underwater world, alongside the other amazing sights of the Indian Ocean.

The Best Maldives Resorts for Waterside Dining

The Lighthouse Restaurant in Baros Maldives Resort makes dining a work of art.

The Lighthouse Restaurant in Baros Resort is poised on a pavilion above the Indian Ocean. It specialises in gourmet cuisine and features a temperature controlled wine selection. Sitting above glass waters, the restaurant is a haven for beauty aficionados. Here you can dine by the sea, sip your drink and gaze into the coral reefs below, all with a glorious pink sunset backdrop. Known as one of the best Maldives resort restaurants, The Lighthouse makes an idyllic starting-point to familiarise yourself with the secret lands below the surface on your holiday to the Maldives.

The Best Maldives Resorts for Underwater Clubbing

Niyama is a Maldives resort with the world’s only underwater club.

Get a little closer to an underwater world. The stunning PER AQUUM Niyama resort is a gorgeous collection of beach huts, cabanas and over-water villas. Spread across two islands with a host of luxury amenities, this Maldives resort spoils you from the start. And there’s more than meets the eye too. Below the waves, you’ll discover Subsix. It’s a club, a café, a restaurant, and it’s entirely submerged beneath the ocean surface. The world’s only underwater club lets you dine and dance with the fishes. Watch the abundance of wildlife swim by the windows and give yourself an unforgettable night to remember on your holiday to the Maldives.

The Best Maldives Resorts for Watersports

Whether you play in the pool or splash in the sea, water sports are abound at Centara Grand

What’s the first thing you think of when you see the Maldives? It’s usually the azure waters laced throughout the towns, villages and resorts. But sometimes it’s the amazing watersport opportunities the little country offers. Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa is considered one of the best Maldives resorts for watersports. Kayak, windsurf, or paddle in the sea. Or try your hand with the resort’s PADI Dive centre in what’s known to be the world’s greatest diving spot. Guests even get one free dive per day. If you thought dining with the marine life was exciting, try swimming with them!

The Best Maldives Resorts for Over-water Bungalows

Some of the idyllic over-water villas at The Residence Maldives

Sometimes you want to get up-close-and-personal with the tranquil seas, and there’s few better ways to do this than by booking an over-water villa. The best Maldives resorts for this include The Residence Maldives. Drift to sleep with the gentle lapping of the waves at night, or slip straight from the sun-deck into the Indian Ocean’s refreshing waters during the day. Often these villas come with an easy-access ladder and snorkelling equipment rentals too. Water is a way of life in the Maldives, and you’ll soon discover all its revitalizing benefits when your hotel room is right above it.

Any holiday to the Maldives involves the watery world in one way or another, whether you enjoy relaxing in your villa gazing across the ocean vistas, hurtling across the waves in a speedboat, paddling over the tranquil surf in a kayak, or dining underwater by a coral reef. The best Maldives resorts? That’s entirely up to you. The forgotten continent, if it ever existed, is long gone, but this tiny collection of islands stand as testament to how unbelievably beautiful its remains are. Our collection of resorts helps you get the most out of your Maldives holiday no matter what secret worlds you want to explore.