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KEEP READINGAre you one of those people who loves to take lavish holidays, but hates to sit still? We have the destination for you – the Maldives!
The Maldives might be synonymous with tropical islands and sandy beaches, but that doesn’t mean you have to lay around on them. If it’s important to you that you stay active and pursue a healthy lifestyle even when you’re on holiday, come check out all you have to look forward to when you visit the Maldives.
Photo credit Getty/Giordano Ciprani
Do you consider yourself to be more of a friend of the fish? Swim amongst them! The Maldives are an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands so not only is there beautiful scenery above the waves, but below it as well. Grab your scuba gear and do some deep sea exploration – you’ll be amazed at what you see!
Join a professional and trusted tour like those run by Providers. They have courses around the different islands – check to see how much excursions cost around where you’re staying.
Of course, if you prefer to stick to more shallow waters then you can always break out the snorkel gear wherever you are! That’s where all the colourful reef fish and sea turtles are hanging out as well.
Photo credit Getty/Westend61
Are you really on holiday in the tropics if you don’t go surfing? We don’t think so! And, the Maldives attract professional surfers from all around the world as it provides some pretty intense conditions. Surfing is a fun form of exercise and a quintessential part of the Maldive experience.
For the best surfing conditions, it’s recommended you head over to Dhonveli. It has some of the best breaks in the world and creates incredible pipes. Unless you have to rent a board, surfing doesn’t cost a thing. However, if you’re just learning, you can sign up for a club who can help you plan a surf excursion around your budget and experience level.
Photo credit Getty/Federica Grassi
If regular surfing isn’t your style, then you have to give windsurfing a try! The Maldives is the perfect destination for this fun activity – you already know about the amazing surf, but capture the wind in the sail and you have a real thrilling experience. Not to mention, it’s a great way to see a tonne of the beautiful lagoons!
Most of the resorts you’ll stay at will have a water sport centre with an option to try windsurfing, but not all do, so if you want to give it a try be sure to do your homework. Don’t worry if you’ve never tried this sport before, resorts will offer lessons and smaller sails for beginners which makes for smooth sailing.
Photo credit Getty/Sven Hansche / EyeEm
Don’t get complacent on one island, there’s 90,000 square kilometres of land over a thousand islands. However, some of them actually disappear during high tide so you have to be cautious of your exploration. You can take this adventure into your own hands or sign up for an excursion of the nearby communities so you can learn more about the culture as well.
Island hopping is free unless you get stuck on an island because of the tide. Then you might have to hire a jet boat or sea plane to get you back!