The Maldives is one of those rare destinations where the reality genuinely matches the dream. The water is the colour of a swimming pool advertisement, the reefs are alive with extraordinary marine life, and the experience of falling asleep to the sound of the Indian Ocean from an overwater villa is as memorable as you've always imagined. Here's how to make the most of it.
The Geography
The Maldives consists of 26 natural atolls, containing 1,190 coral islands. They are spread across 90,000 square kilometres of the Indian Ocean – larger than the United Kingdom. There are about 200 inhabited islands and a similar number of resort islands (one resort per island is the standard model). Malé, the capital, is one of the world's most densely populated cities, packed into an island barely 2km long.
Getting There and Around
All international flights arrive at Velana International Airport in Malé. From there, transfers to resorts are by speedboat (for islands within 30km) or seaplane (for more distant atolls). Seaplane transfers operate only during daylight hours – factor this into late-arriving international flight connections. Local island guesthouses are typically accessible by public ferry from Malé.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season (November–April) offers the calmest seas, best visibility for diving, and least rainfall. The wet season (May–October) brings occasional rain and rougher seas but significantly lower prices and fewer tourists. The manta ray and whale shark encounters tend to be better in the wet season, when plankton blooms bring these creatures closer to shore.
Marine Life
The Maldives contains some of the world's finest dive and snorkel sites. Whale sharks can be encountered year-round around South Ari Atoll. Manta rays are reliably seen at cleaning stations throughout the archipelago. The house reefs at most resorts support extraordinary diversity – Napoleon wrasse, turtles, reef sharks, and countless species of reef fish visible without even putting on fins.