5 Best Things to Do in Maldives—Islands of Pure Bliss

Now, this is an adventure you simply cannot afford to miss when holidaying in the Maldives. Diving is so important in the Maldives that the best resorts feature a dive centre and even offer the services of experienced trainers to help novices earn their PADI diving certificates. And it certainly is worth the effort; the Indian Ocean that surrounds the archipelago is home to over 500 species of marine life. Some are rare and special, such as the elusive whale shark often spotted in the Maldives. There are huge manta rays and harmless reef sharks as well as many other exotic creatures to see. Best of all the world beneath the waves is festooned with gorgeous coral formations in a variety of sizes and shapes. Diving in the Maldives is truly amazing and humbling, as you learn about the beauty of mother nature. Make the most of your holiday by choosing one of the best all-inclusive resorts Maldives has to offer. You will be amazed at the savings as well as the comforts on offer. Popular choices like Heritance Aarah Maldives are among those offering diving facilities.

Again, this one is a must in the Maldives. Besides, it's super easy. All you need are a snorkel, fins and a mask. Take along your own or rent from your resort in the Maldives. Anyone with basic swimming skills can enjoy the thrills of snorkelling. Simply swim out to the nearest reef from the beach that your resort is located on and explore the colourful coral formations, the pretty fish and even the occasional friendly dolphin who pops by. Seeing turtles ambling along is not uncommon on a snorkelling trip in the Maldives. It's one activity that families as a whole can enjoy on the archipelago.

When you are holidaying on an archipelago of over 1,000 islands, you simply must explore. Most of the islands are uninhabited while a few belong to resorts and others are inhabited by locals. Therefore, an island hopping trip is an amazing adventure of varied thrills. Ask your Maldives hotel about booking one and you will be able to explore the nearest atolls. A tour generally consists of visiting an uninhabited island for relaxing, picnicking on the beach, swimming in a private bay and exploring the verdant interiors. Later you get to visit a local island; chat with the people there and experience the simple lifestyles of Maldivians.

A must for the romantic, sunset cruises are organised by Maldives resorts. Most tours are on traditional wooden crafts called dhonis. The vessel sets sail into the ocean as the sun begins to set. You will be engulfed in fiery orange hues as the sky blazes towards sunset. Options of opening a bottle of bubbly are available while those of you who want to hang out on the ocean under a canopy of stars can choose to enjoy dinner on board.

The islands are visited by several dolphin species; the most common being the bottlenose. Dolphin spotting tours take you to places frequented by the friendly sea mammals, there you can enjoy up-close encounters with pods of dolphins, in a responsible and non-invasive manner.