Joanna James
Ranked among the world's top beach vacation hubs, the Maldives is also a prime playground for adrenaline junkies and water sports lovers. Here's a rundown of the 5 most thrilling things tourists can do during a getaway in the paradise isles.
The Maldives is blessed with some of the most breathtaking underwater landscapes on earth, and there's nothing more exciting than diving beneath the surface of the waves during a trip to the Maldives. Easily accessible for those based at Nova Maldives and other resorts offering Maldives all -inclusive vacations, diving tours are also organised by local tour operators. Some of the top dive sites in the island nation are found off the coast of Maaya Thila where one can spot everything from tuna fish, angel fish to grey reef sharks and snappers in the area's coral coves and caves. HP Reef and Manta Point are other popular diving hotspots in the Maldives apart from Banana Reef while wreck divers will also find plenty of sunken ships to explore during a diving expedition.
The Maldives has a geography that appears to be tailor-made for island hopping, and one can hardly imagine a more perfect destination for this activity than the pristine archipelago that is the Maldives. The archipelago is made up of more than a thousand islands, and sailing from one virgin beached island to another can be the adventure of a lifetime. Most tourists also combine snorkelling and kayaking activities to their island hopping itinerary as they will encounter ideal conditions for engaging in both of these pastimes on a tour. Tourists must select whether they wish to explore the North Male Atoll or the South Male Atoll on the tour as it is impossible to cover both ends on a single excursion. Tours typically take place between 10 am and 4:30 pm and can take more than 6 hours to complete.
The Maldives has been a wave rider's dream destination for decades, and no trip to the Maldives would be complete without signing up for a surfing session. The archipelago offers experienced and beginner surfers a wide variety of surf spots to choose from, and the massive waves the Maldives is known for are accessible for most of the year although much depends on the surfing location and the timing of the visit.
Considered one of the most rewarding experiences available to visitors in the Maldives, dolphin and whale watching safaris are accessible to those who holiday in the Maldives between December and March. There's nothing more thrilling than witnessing the world's largest mammal in the wild. It is not uncommon to find schools of dolphins also trailing behind whale-watching cruises so one can not only glimpse blue whales and sperm whales during the excursion but also spinner and bottlenose dolphins.
Only in the Maldives can you dance the night away in a submerged nightclub in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Subsix is not only a disco but also an underwater bar and restaurant where one can wine and dine in the latter hours of the day.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
