Joanna James
There's nowhere in the world like the Maldives - staggeringly beautiful and packed for things to do; alone, as a couple and with the whole family. You may think the Maldives is just good for its beaches; which are amazing, no doubt – but there's so much else to do also.
The Maldives may not be the cheapest place in the world to get PADI certified, but it is probably one of the best. There are world-class instructors at nearly all the Maldives island resorts so if you're looking to learn from the best, the Maldives is the best place to go for it. But if you're already certified you need to visit these islands to experience some of the best deep-sea diving the world has to offer. Give your adventurous side a release while enjoying the luxuries of some of the best resorts in the world such as Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. Dive amongst the crystal clear water and swim with whale sharks and the gentle-giant manta rays.
If you feel you're not ready for the deeper ocean, don't fret. The Maldives have some of the best reefs in the world which are set in quite shallow water. You can easily go snorkelling and have an experience you couldn't have anywhere else. The reefs here are breath-taking and home to some of the most colourful species of fish to grace mother earth. The ocean here is calm, clear and bathed in the year-round sun making the water pleasantly warm and simply enjoyable to be in.
Dolphins are probably the single most intelligent species on earth apart from us 'very smart' humans (well sometimes). This intelligence gives us a bond with dolphins which is hard to find with any other species, and there is nowhere better to swim with these magnificent creatures than in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean that envelops the Maldives. Any resort in the islands will offer excursions to go dolphin watching and even swimming with them. It is truly a life-changing experience; which is humbling and exhilarating at the same time.
If you visit the Maldives don't get restricted to the island resort you're most probably going to stay at. it is very easy to get lost in paradise and lose track of time in the luxury of a world-class resort isolated from the rest world. But be sure to make a trip to a few nearby islands; both inhabited and uninhabited and get to know the locals and the culture and try some of the local delicacies in their most authentic form.
The waters around the Maldives are quite docile for most of the year and don't offer up gigantic waves pro-surfers would look for (not to say you can't find a few in the northern atolls). But for the most part, the Maldives are a great place to learn how to surf and for beginners to get better at it. The Maldives are without a doubt the best place to just have a little fun on the waves and enjoy the freedom that nothing but surfing can offer.
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