Top 5 Things to Do in the Maldives for First-Time Visitors - Five Must-Do Activities for First-Timers Holidaying in the

The Maldives is home to not one but three underwater restaurants, and no trip to the Maldives would be complete without wining and dining in the middle of the ocean. Whether you choose Subsix, the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant or the S.E.A Restaurant, the joy of enjoying a scrumptious meal while vibrant fish species swim past is difficult to describe. These floor-to-ceiling glass cubes submerged in the ocean provide unhindered views of the sea floor and all of its big and small inhabitants dispersed among verdant coral reefs. Dining underwater is a uniquely Maldivian experience, and where else can one dig into one's dinner surrounded by an underwater wilderness complete with marine creatures?

The Maldives is considered Asia's top destination for water sports lovers, and a holiday in the paradise isles affords plenty of opportunities to engage in water-bound adventures. Whether one is based at Kurumba Maldives or any other resort hub for yoga in Maldives, the wide variety of water sports activities on offer will prove staggering to say the least. Those that require little or no swimming skills include snorkelling, banana boating and jet skiing while kayaking is also open for tourists of various ages and fitness levels. More challenging water-bound activities include scuba diving, parasailing, surfing, water skiing and windsurfing. First-time visitors who wish to learn how to dive or surf can also sign up for lessons at the local water sports centres in the country.

Although most tourists give it a miss, there's nothing as exciting as exploring the capital of the Maldives on your first journey to the archipelago. As the only area of the island collective that even remotely resembles a city with paved roads, shops and mosques, Male offers travellers a welcome respite from the resort islands where everything is curated to serve a vision of paradise the Maldives must maintain to attract visitors. Male is where the authentic Maldives can be found in all its complexity as one can witness everything from locals commuting to work on buses to hawkers selling snacks to picnickers on Republic Square. In addition to the Grand Friday Mosque and the National Museum, must-visit highlights in Male include its resplendent presidential palaces and trendy boutiques. Chaandhanee Magu is a local market where first-time visitors can stock up on souvenirs.

As a leading spa retreat hotspot, the Maldives also offers holidaymakers the chance to unwind in some of the best spa facilities in the region. Offering therapies and services steeped in Ayurvedic, Thai, Balinese and Swedish spa schools, the healing centres in the Maldives are mainly concentrated in resort islands. Those who are visiting the country with family or with a spouse can sign up for couples' massages and group therapy sessions.

With over 1,000 coral islands, the Maldives is a perfect destination for island hopping. Visitors can take a speedboat or a traditional Maldivian boat, known as a dhoni, to explore nearby islands. Each island has its own unique features, from deserted sandbanks to local communities, and visitors can experience a different side of the Maldives on each island they visit. Some popular islands to visit include Maafushi, Hulhumale, and Fulidhoo. Island hopping is a great way to immerse oneself in the local culture, sample traditional cuisine, and explore the stunning natural beauty of the Maldives.