5 of the Best Things to Do in Maldives – Paradise on Earth

You cannot leave the Maldives without having experienced a scuba diving tour. Listed amongst the top attractions in Maldives, scuba diving is quite a treat. As the coral islands are home to some of the world's best dive spots, there are plenty of opportunities for one to go diving in the Maldives. Many private resorts there, such as Niyama Maldives, specialise in scuba diving and snorkelling tours as the activities are extremely popular amongst guests. A dive tour in the Maldives will treat you to sights of gorgeous coral formations amongst which live various species of marine life. Swim with giant manta rays, discover the gentle nature of the huge whale sharks and watch as sea turtles amble past you.

If scuba diving sounds too complicated for you, opt to keep it simple and choose a snorkelling tour. All you need are snorkel fins and a mask, coupled with swimming skills to get you to the nearest reef from the beach of your Maldives resort. A simple swim to the reef will treat you to sights of colourful little fish swimming amongst the coral formations, and if you are lucky, you could run into a friendly dolphin or two. Snorkelling only requires basic swimming skills and a verdant reef to explore.

Dolphin watching is immensely popular amongst people planning a trip to the Maldives. You can book tours via your hotel in the Maldives and set off on a very rewarding adventure. The seas around the islands are teeming with bottlenose dolphins, and it's easy to run into a pod of these friendly mammals, who waste no time when it comes to entertaining you with acrobats, coupled with a friendly nod of the head. Make sure to book your tour via a responsible agent, in order to ensure the dolphins are not harassed or disturbed. The boats should not go too close to the creatures and you should not attempt to touch the dolphins or take too many flash photos of them.

The Maldives archipelago is made up of over 1,000 islands; hence, an island-hopping tour promises to be quite an adventure. You can book these tours with your resort in the Maldives and even have it tailor-made to suit your liking. For instance, you could choose to add a picnic on an isolated sand bar as part of your island-hopping tour. The tours are quite diverse and you will get to explore both inhabited and uninhabited islands in all their rustic glory, swim in the ocean, and bask on isolated beaches as well as strike up conversations with locals. The latter is a treat for culture buffs as you get to observe the simple lifestyles of the islanders.

As an island nation in Asia, and a 100% Muslim population, the Maldives is quite the culture shock for many westerners visiting the place on a holiday. Use your time on the islands to understand the traditions and cultures of this exotic nation. Learn about the conservative laws and way of life practised by the locals. And do sample and enjoy the delicious cuisine, which is part of the lazy balmy island vibes you get to enjoy.