Water - The Adventure Travel Site

Exotic Wildlife In Maldives That Is Sure To Thrill Nature Lovers

Whales and dolphins, crocodiles and snakes, varieties of turtles, the bounty of fish of vibrant hues and the attractive feathered species make the Maldives rich in marine wildlife.

Colourful avifauna

Despite the small land area and isolation restricting the bird population of Maldives, between 160 to 180 species of sea or shorebirds do exist. Herons, seagulls, cranes and the national bird of the Maldives, water hens are seen in different varieties and colours.

Dolphins and whales

Varieties of dolphins and whales provide hours of great excursions for nature lovers as they patiently observe their antics. A bit further into the Indian Ocean, you can also see sperm whales, blue whales, etc.

Marine fish and the reef

Try diving or snorkelling to witness the underwater fantasy by a best Maldives resort. Thousands of fish teeming the coral reefs making a burst of colour giving one a surreal feeling, thus making you want to extend your stay at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon or any such property in the Maldives.

The unique turtles

Many varieties of turtles are seen thriving in the rich seawater off the archipelago. Measures are taken to see to the wellbeing of this endangered species. Securing from irresponsible human action, eggs protected in secure areas are notable 02 such actions. Watch the emotional scene of newly hatched baby turtles making their way slowly to water.

Shark Season in the Maldives – Dive on the Wild Side

Scuba diving in the Maldives is like entering into a whole new world, living under the ocean’s waves! With incredible corals, and a plethora of marine wildlife read on to find out more about how you can dive with sharks and live to tell the tale!

Diving Basics

The good news for novice divers is that a PADI license is not required! Resorts such as Anantara Veli Maldives Resort have in-house diving courses and instructors, which make your foray into the world of diving effortless! Follow the course for beginners and go giving in the private reefs to witness the splendours hidden under the waters.

What Can you Expect?

The beautiful fish you see from your gorgeous Maldives’ over water bungalow is the tip of the iceberg! Dive under the waters to be blown away by colourful shoals of fish, friendly sea turtles, and plenty of harmless sharks. The caves and the reefs will leave you in awe of the very diversity and beauty of the natural world.

Shark Spotting

If you’ve ever dreamt of diving amidst sharks, the best time to do this is between January and March. The Southern atolls are a hotbed for schools of reef sharks during this spell. Float amongst them, as they go about their day, completely undisturbed by your presence even though you’re undoubtedly having the adventure of a lifetime!

Sea Forest Adventure Batam

The city of Batam offers travellers everything from the Sea Forest Adventure to various attractions made to entice family and business travellers all year round.

What is Batam?

This city is essentially recognized as the gate of tourism in Indonesia and is accessible by travellers from Singapore via an hour’s journey by ferry or on a plane.

Indulge in the Sea Forest Adventure

As a relatively new attraction in the city, this location was opened in 2017. If you are staying at a Batam hotel such as the HARRIS Hotel Batam Center Batam then you will only be a 30-minute drive away.

Activities on offer

This stunning attraction offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy activities that revolve around nature, adventure and survival science. One popular activity is playing bubble soccer, which takes the sport up a notch.

There’s room for romance

Sea Forest Adventure also provides people visiting to unwind and enjoy a lovely night under a starry sky during their moon-lit camping sessions.

Surfing at Seminyak Beach

Those who like to visit Seminyak beach and simply unwind may be missing an element of the experience that is priceless. Taking the time to catch a few waves will go a long way towards helping you have the best experience possible.

Where is Seminyak?

This stunning destination can be found right in the middle of South Bali. It is well worth a visit as it is prepared to meet and the needs and amenities of travellers globally.

Finding the right accommodation

If you are looking for a Seminyak hotel, there are plenty to choose from such as HARRIS Hotel Seminyak Bali that will be able to offer you comfort and closeness to the ocean.

Pick the right time to surf

Surfing is a seasonal activity. This means that when people are travelling, they will need to keep in mind the season by which the surf patterns abide to catch the best wave. Seminyak Beach is a treat because the area tends to offer waves all year round.

Eating and drinking in Seminyak

Food is never going too far from reach when you are relaxing in Seminyak, with this tourist town being filled with sunset bars & eateries.

Scuba Diving in the Maldives – Under the Sea

The Maldives Islands are the perfect holiday destination for several reasons, of which scuba diving is one of the foremost! Read on to learn more about the incredible adventure which awaits you when you go scuba diving here!

Do You Need To Be A Swimmer?

The short answer is no! Better yet, you don’t even need a PADI Diver’s licence. However, you do need to dive with a registered diving instructor. Most Maldives luxury resorts take away the hassle of organising your dives. Resorts such as Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences have their dive partners to ensure your safety and comfort are taken care of, as you take the plunge!

What You Can Expect

Diving is an exhilarating experience for novice and seasoned divers alike since no two dives are the same. You can expect to be awestruck by the world that is thriving just beneath the surface of the waves. From gorgeous reefs to a host of colourful fish, sea turtles, manta rays, and harmless reef sharks, it is a whole new world under the sea!

Where To Dive

With over 26 atolls and over a thousand islands to choose from, this can be a really difficult decision to make! From Banana Reef in the Northern atoll which has its fair share of coral reefs and caves to the South Male atoll which has around six popular diving spots, which showcase the full range of marine life, there’s plenty of options for those keen on diving in the Maldives.

Experiencing Maldivian Culture & Life – Captivating Island Insights

For a truly enriching holiday in the Maldives, you should look to experience local culture and life and here are some ways you can do just that.

Image via Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Local Island Visits

While you will no doubt love relaxing at your Maldives pool villa, also make time to visit a local island (if pandemic-related guidelines allow for such excursions). This is an ideal way to soak up the local culture and witness traditional livelihoods; some islands also have museums where you can learn more about the days of old.

Sail the Seas

Local life is linked to the sea and fishing and this can be experienced on excursions on a traditional or luxury dhoni, a local boat. Such journeys are offered at resorts like Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas where one can try traditional Maldivian fishing at sunset; dhonis are ideal to enjoy some dolphin watching too!

Maldivian Cuisine

The cuisine is part of the culture and dishes in Maldives offer flavour-filled culinary discoveries. To help visitors truly gain an appreciation for local food, some resorts have immersive cooking classes worth joining; you will get hands-on guidance on making key main dishes utilising local ingredients or even a traditional dessert.

Below the Waves

The rich marine biodiversity in the Indian Ocean waters that surround the islands here is a part of the country’s natural heritage. Some resorts have a bio centre with a resident marine biologist so that guests can learn about this precious ecosystem, while guided snorkelling and diving are also on offer for marine life encounters.

The best seasons for diving in the Maldives – Know your way around

Diving in the Maldives is a popular pastime and one that calls for careful planning. Provided below are the best times to pay a visit to these awe-inspiring isles for a riveting dive.

Northeast monsoon period

Conducive weather conditions are the need of the hour ahead of any water sporting activity in this part of the world and in the case of scheduling diving expeditions, take note of the northeast monsoon season which descends from December to May. During this time, the winds are calmer which in turn contributes towards sunny skies and pleasing oceans; the perfect combination to delight in some diving. Further, the currents that flow through the atolls from December to March make for excellent visibility, especially if you’ve chosen the eastern atolls as your springboard. The eastern portion of the channels witness sharks congregates whilst western sections can be looked at for manta ray viewing.

Southwest monsoon period

With the advent of the southwest monsoons come June through November, the currents are known to move east within the channels. Importantly, visibility is at its best if one opts to dive in the western parts of the channels. However, you will have to deal with rough seas and stronger winds. In terms of the species that can be spotted, whale sharks, mantas, and turtles are one’s, constant companions.

Where can you stay?

Should you be seeking assistance in planning out a holiday where you can experience such excursions to the deep blue, then it is advisable to check in with properties such as Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas who will also offer you convenient Maldives pool villa accommodation to come home to.

Snorkelling in Thailand – Dive deep and be awed

If you are heading to Thailand anytime soon and want to go snorkelling at the many great sites in the country, read on.

About Snorkelling

To explore what the waters of Thailand have to offer, the best thing to do is go snorkelling during your vacation. If you are put up at Ao Nang beach hotels the likes of Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, you can ask your hotel if they have excursion packages for snorkelling sites nearby.

Ao Mae Yai Bay

This is the most visited snorkelling site in all of Thailand. A combination of 5 islands form the bay area and it falls under the Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park control. Thus, you can rest assured the place is well maintained and safe to explore.

Koh Nang Yuan

Following the Ao Mae Yai Bay is Koh Nang Yuan. Yet another place formed with 3 islands, you can find this site at the northeast part of Koh Tao. Connected by an exotic sandbar, the waters here are home to rich coral life and more. Since the place is shallow, even amateur divers can go snorkelling freely.

Aow Leuk Beach

Known as Turtle Island locally, Aow Leuk is found on the southwest coast of Krabi. If you want to snorkel here, you can grab some snorkelling gear right on the beach as you will find many water sports centres right on the sands. The waters here are rich in marine life and corals too.

The Best Shipwrecks to Explore in the Maldives

While you may have heard of the many reefs to visit when diving in Maldives, there are captivating shipwrecks to explore as well, like those mentioned below.

Fesdu Wreck

Spanning a length of around 30 metres, the Fesdu Wreck is easily accessible from resorts in the Ari Atoll such as Kandolhu Maldives. This former fishing trawler now features various soft and hard corals and you can encounter fascinating marine life too be it longnose hawkfish, damselfish, clownfish, scorpionfish or octopuses.

Halaveli Wreck

Those based at resort villas in the Ari Atoll can also plan diving excursions to the Halaveli Wreck, a 38-metre cargo vessel. An ideal spot for evening or night diving, this wreck has some beautiful corals including on its mast, while moray eels, turtles, barracudas, surgeonfish, angelfish and stingrays may be spotted too.

The Shipyard

Located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, The Shipyard consists of two wrecks; while one lies on its side, the other is upright, adding to the allure of this dive site in Maldives. Soft and hard corals have formed on both wrecks, while divers have a chance to see grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, butterflyfish, Napoleon wrasse and moray eels.

The Victory Wreck

Also known as the Maldive Victory, this wreck near the airport in the North Male Atoll is well-known amongst the local diving community. A cargo ship, it lies at a depth of around 35 metres and is more suitable for experienced divers who can see colourful coral and may spot batfish, trevallies, lionfish, pufferfish and turtles.

The Most Beautiful Atolls in Maldives

The over 1,000 islands in the Maldives are spread across various atolls some of which are more stunning than the rest; here are such atolls worth exploring.

Image credit-Unsplash,
Roberto Nickson,CC0

Baa Atoll

A UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Baa Atoll truly stands out in the Maldives. 5 star resorts here provide the perfect opportunities for exploration; these include Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences from where you can snorkel with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, dive to sites rich in coral and marine life and picnic on secluded sandbanks.

North Male Atoll

Located near the main international airport, the North Male Atoll is another picturesque atoll within easy reach of Male, the capital. One can surf in the waves off Thulusdhoo Island, while there’s plenty of underwater wonders too; popular sites range from the well-known Banana Reef and Manta Point to the intriguing Victory Wreck.

Ari Atoll

Another great atoll for snorkelling and diving in Maldives, the Ari Atoll provides much to discover amidst its scenic islands and underwater landscapes. The reefs here are thriving, home to vibrant coral and diverse marine life including turtles, moray eels and whale sharks, while culture can be experienced on local islands like Rasdhoo.

Lhaviyani Atoll

The Lhaviyani Atoll has more wonderous sights to behold including the stunning 30-km-long reef between the Selhlhifushi and Aligau islands. The Shipyard is a site with two wrecks home to lovely corals and species like butterflyfish and Napoleon wrasse, while on Naifaru island, you can see beautiful mother of pearl artefacts.