Listly by Robert Patricks
As one of the archipelago's most intriguing regions the South Male Atoll is an activity hub lined with highlights. From water sports to island hopping here are some of the area's best activities.
Often regarded as one of the most popular activity options in the South Male Atoll, exploring different water sports varieties is a way of life for seasoned visitors to this region of the archipelago. The choices are truly endless as the idyllic weather and water conditions prevalent in the area makes it the perfect location for engaging in a number of water sports varieties. Some of the must-try water sports in the South Male Atoll include kite surfing, wake boarding, surfing and water skiing while kite boarding and parasailing are also exciting water bound activities visitors can enjoy. Unusual water sports available in the area include underwater hockey, bicycle polo and extreme croquet while kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts can also explore the atoll at their own pace.
Home to arguably the most coveted diving sites in the archipelago, the South Male Atoll is an underwater amusement park for avid scuba divers. The best sites for diving activities in the atoll are concentrated in the Vadhoo Kandu channel while the Vaadhoo caves and the Velassaru Caves are equally intriguing diving hubs. The Vaagali Caves is ideal for intermediary divers as the caves on its northern quarter are littered with soft corals. The Embudhoo Express and the Guraidhoo Kandu are also among the top dive sites in the atoll where several shipwrecks including the Yacht Thila shipwreck also decorates the sea floor.
This is an activity that is best experienced in a tropical paradise laden with over a thousand islands such as the Maldives. The South Male Atoll is littered with pristine islands complete with unspoiled beaches and visitors can explore the breathtaking surroundings of these idyllic isles on an island hopping tour. Organized by local tour operators visitors can enjoy a picnic lunch in Guilhi and Guraidhoo where the local populace produces traditional crafts and other souvenirs which will make wonderful keepsakes for island hoppers. Visitors based in a Maldives resort hotel such as the Anantara Veli Maldives Resort can book an island hopping tour of the South Male Atoll through the resort.
Nature lovers and eco conscious travellers touring the South Male Atoll can take part in local conservation efforts and make a lasting contribution to the pristine environment of the Maldives at large. Areas where visitors can make a difference through conservation programmes and volunteer work include marine conservation, coral reef protection, conservation efforts to safeguard endangered species such as marine turtles and marine biology research.
As perhaps the most popular hotspot around the South Male Atoll, Male, the nation's capital is an activity hub like no other in the country. Home to some if not all of the country's top cultural institutions and landmarks, visitors who are visiting the Maldivian capital for the first time must make it a point to tour iconic attractions such as Hukuru Miskiiy, the National Museum, Sultan Park and the city's presidential palaces. Shopaholics will also find the city a maze of local thoroughfares and stylish boutiques while Male is also the location where visitors can experience a ride on the Whale Submarine. Offering visitors an up-close look at marine life on a coral reef, this one of a kind underwater experience is one of the most memorable submerged adventures visitors will encounter in the South Male Atoll.