Experience Maldives and its serene tropical settings at your own pace by indulging in activities that will thrill you lifetime. Maldives is on of the most favoured destination for all sort of water sports activity. Be it parasailing, Surfing, Skiing, Scuba diving, fly boarding etc Maldives located in lap of white sand and surrounded by blue pristine water will surely give you long lasting experience.
If you are planning to visit Maldives and interested in enjoying water sports and activity we will suggest you to visit there during dry season. Dry season is the best time to visit Maldives as you get to enjoy rain free clear sky and can participate in many activity planned.
Why Maldives for water sports and activity?
Answer is there in natural beauty that Maldives withholds. Some of the key factors are high visibility of water which is up to 15 – 40 meters (50 – 130 feet), moderate water temperature that helps in propagating and sustaining rich marine life constituting almost 70 different species of colourful coral reefs and more than 700 species of fishes and other aqua creatures make these sports, more enjoyable.
We have listed down most of the major water sports activity at Maldives that you can enjoy while you are on your Maldives visit.
Water Sports Activity in Maldives
#1 Wake Boarding
A combination of snowboarding, water-skiing and surfing, wake boarding in Maldives gives you triple the fun and excitement! With the aid of a board strapped to your feet, hang on to the rope fastening you to the speed boat and prepare for a ride of your life, as you skim through the waters at a thrilling speed!
Since you are attached via cable to the speed boat so it is also commonly called as Cable Wake boarding.
Available in most of the resorts in Maldives where motorised sports are allowed. It is better to check in advance at the time of booking.
Key Resorts:
Holiday Inn Resort, Kandooma Maldives and others offer both beginner and advanced sessions.
Average Cost: $100 per person
#2 Wind Surfing
Experience wind as your best friend, through windsurfing in Maldives, which is a delightful sport for beginners and pros. Resorts provide you high performance equipment and skilled instructors if you are willing to lean that. You can opt for basic discover lesson (1 hour) or short course (2 hours).
Wind surfing involves both sailing and surfing. In this windsurfer uses the wind to propel a board forward under his feet and skim across the water. What makes Maldives a hot spot for wind surfing is warm water, consistent winds, and the large lagoons surrounding resorts.
Key Resorts:
Meeru Island Resort & Spa, Adaaran Select, Ozone by Atmosphere etc
Average Cost: $80 per person
#3 Snorkelling
The most common form of water activity which will be available in resorts of Maldives is snorkelling. Its a relaxing way to experience underwater life all that you have to do is to grab a snorkel and venture out to explore the amazing reefs of the atoll.
Snorkelling equipment are available at resort for free and you can bring it to your use and use as per your convenience. Though you will get to enjoy most of the view of reef located around resort but you can opt for snorkelling session in areas located far from shore to experience diverse wild life.
Resort provided experienced snorkel guides conducts scheduled experiences, you can join them and get benefited form their diverse knowledge of underneath marine life.
Night Snorkelling in Maldives is the ultimate adrenaline kick for the serious snorkeler! As night falls on the reef, it takes on a completely new dimension, with a medley of unusual species of flora and fauna emerging.
Cost: $75-$100 for guide session, Free for own activity.
#4 Banana Tube or Banana Boat
Riding a banana shaped boat is an experience filled with enthusiasm and excitement. Coming under category of inflatables and towables water sports, banana boat is a really fun thing to do if you’re travelling to the Maldives with your whole family. The banana boat is attached to another speedboat which pulls you during your ride.
Zipping through tropical waters is 10 times more when you’re straddling an oversized inflatable banana! Add some fun and excited screams to your day as you hop on a Banana Tub for a thrilling ride! Available at most of the Maldives resort, banana tube ride is a fun activity to enjoy with family and friends.
Average Cost: $50 per person
#5 Swimming Lessons
If you don’t know how to swim and never got any chance to learn that then there’s no better place to learn how to swim than at an island resort surrounded by blue pristine water !
Each of the resort have friendly multilingual instructors that provide lessons for both adults and children. Imagine swimming in the crystal clear water where you can see the roof of ocean !! Its thrilling and unique experience.
#6 Catamaran Sailing
Faster than a sailboat, riding the waters on a catamaran is an experience that is parallel to creating art, with the refreshing and free-flowing wind, and sails instead of brushes. Give your holiday a unique add-on by taking some time away from the beaches and golden sands.
Catamaran sailing in Maldives will set your soul free on the seas. With the guidance of an experienced crew on board, you will be able to enjoy a hassle-free sailing experience, perfect for discovering some of the country’s stunning atolls. Spend time with your loved ones amidst nature and the most amazing views the Maldives has to offer.
Key Resorts:
Heritance Aarah, Hard Rock Maldives, Paradise Island and Resort, Veligandu maldives
Average Cost: $75 per person.
#7 Jet Skiing
Thanks to the thrill and 007 movie, Jet ski is one of the most demanded and most thrilled activity on any sea shore. A jet ski can carry maximum of 3 riders depending on its build. If you have ridden a bicycle or a motorbike before, you will find it slightly easy to get your hold on the jet ski.
Bouncing off the waves is sure to feed your adrenaline rush and will make for exciting memories to last a lifetime. You can opt to go solo also but it is always suggested to go with guide available at your resort’s.
Jet Ski in Maldives is unique of all experience as anywhere else you won’t find this combination of white sand and pristine blue water.
Cost: $70 – $100 per person for half an hour
#8 Scuba Diving
Plunge into the depths of the Indian Ocean and discover a world of treasures beneath the surface of the water. When you’re exploring through the mesmerizing seascape, you’ll see a wide spectrum of colourful fish from bannerfish to butterfly fish and other exotic marine life such as sharks, rays and reef sharks.
If you prefer a one to one diving experience, private guides and private boat charters are available upon request and at an additional charge.
For beginners and just for experiencing scuba diving, you can book any 3*-5* resort and they will definitely arrange scuba diving for you on chargeable basis.
For professionals looking for scuba diving in Maldives, it depends on the reef and atolls where you likes to explore. Usually southern Resorts are preferred because of much diverse marine life.
Key Resorts:
Kihaa Maldives, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, VARU by Atmosphere
Average Cost: $150 per person charge
#9 Underwater Walking
Underwater walking is becoming major hit among tourists as it offers a unique experience of walking exactly on the floor of a tremendously deep ocean. This allows you to walk along side of amazing aquatic creature very closely which is once in life time experience.
It is not essential that you will get this facility with resort where you planned to book so it is better to check in advance. You can opt for SeaTREK which is a guided underwater walking tour.
Unlike scuba diving, you can’t go very deep when you do this and you have to make sure that you hold onto the rope to be able to walk along the bottom of the ocean.
#10 Kayaking and Canoeing
Kayaking is the peaceful ways to explore the boundless Indian Ocean. It allows you to closely observe marine biodiversity beneath the surface without getting wet.
Glide across the turquoise waters and watch the magical marine life beneath you. Kayaks are available in different forms in resorts marine centre and you can choose from single to double and even a fascinating glass bottom kayak.
Average Cost: Available to use for Free
#11 Flyboarding
A fly boarding is a brand of hydro flight device. Fly board have jet propulsion and a strapped-on board. Jet supplies propulsion to drive and the fly board into the air to perform a sport known as hydro flying.
Propulsion can thrust you up to 15 meters above the waves, or drive you headlong into the ocean down to 2.5 meters.
Fly boarding is lot of fun and completely secured activity from safety point of view. You will be accompanied with jet Ski and support staff who will familiarise you about the functions and details.
Key Resorts:
Niyama Island Maldives, Hurawalhi Maldives, Sun Island Resort
Average Cost: $150 for 20 min session
#12 Kite surfing
Harness the power of the wind and propel yourself across the turquoise waters with this exhilarating sport. You’ll hit the waters gliding through the wind on the vast lagoon. Master a new skill with the guidance of our experienced instructors. Kite surfing combines power kite flying with wake-boarding to create a spectacularly unique sport.
Resort that have flat water lagoons which faces wind and have kite surf schools with rentals and lessons are most suited for kite surfing.
Key Resorts: Sun Siyam Maldives, Lux South Ari Atoll, Cocoon Maldives, Six Senses Resort, Kuredu Resort and Island
Average Cost: $100 per person for one session
#13 Parasailing
Parasailing is a refreshing and exciting opportunity to have a breathtaking aerial view of Maldives. It offers opportunity to have a glance at the island while you fly in the air. The sport offers you with bird view of resort and islands.
You are tied to parachute which is pulled by a high-speed boat. You will be stable and can record videos easily. Parasailing experience is adventurous as well as beautiful. While you look down you’ll experience Maldives island and its natural beauty, you are caressed by the refreshing wind, making parasailing even more enjoyable.
Cost: $90 per person for 15 minutes
#14 Fun Tubes
Fun tube is totally fun experience. similar to banana tube, fun tube is wide blown up boat which floats over water and is pulled by speed boat for thrilling experience.
During this ride you need to hold tight and try not to slip off as the speed boat takes off and you bump on the waves. What if you loose the grasp ? Don’t worry you will be tied to tube so you are totally safe during ride.
Average Cost: $70 per person
#15 Sea Bob or Underwater scooters
If You want to add speed and action to snorkelling opt for sea bob or underwater scooter. Sea bob allows you to glide underwater at high speed. This underwater scooter gives you a dolphin’s perspective on life beneath the waves, and can be used either when snorkelling or diving. Travel further faster and see more of the reef and the amazing underwater life from another point of view.
SEABOB glide at average speed of 20 km/h and is completely environmentally friendly and emission free for zero impact on the environment. It zooms powerfully and almost silently through the water.
If you are beginner it is advised that you don’t go beyond 3-4 meters in depth, for professional 30-40 meter depth can be recommended. In order to enjoy this fullest it is recommended to travel in dry season that is from November to April as water visibility is more in that duration.
Key Resorts:
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island , Dusit Thani Maldives
Cost: $130 per session for one session.
#16 Water Skiing
If you are new, water skiing and wake boarding will sounds similar to each bother in term of activity but the basic difference between wake boarding and water skiing is that Wake boarding is performed at relatively slower speeds on a wide board with a sideway, surf-style stance. It involves jumps and tricks while Water skiing involves cutting fast turns from side to side across the water and is done at faster speed.
Best season for both activity is dry season. It’s one of the best in term of trill and action. Water skiing behind a fast boat will give you impression of ultimate vacation. Most of the resorts have professional trainers who are ready to guide you on this thrilling activity that will offer memories for a lifetime.
Key resorts:
Heritance Aarah, Hurawalhi Maldives, veligandu Maldives
Average Cost: $100 per person
#17 Hydrofoil
Hydrofoil is unique concept of water sports that let’s you have experience like birds flying over ocean. Hydrofoil experiences include:
- Kite Foiling: Kite surfing with the addition of a hydrofoil under the board, allowing boarders to reach unprecedented speeds as they “fly” over the surface of the water. Boarders get to experience true synchronicity with the ocean with the Resort’s cutting edge North Pro hydrofoil kite board.
- Slingshot Wake Foil: The very best of wake boarding combined with the elevated thrill of using a hydrofoil, for those who want to cruise the waves behind the Resort’s Master Craft ski boat.
- Lift Foil: A truly Back to the Future Indian Ocean mash-up, the electric foil board uses a hand controller synced with an electric motor so riders can choose their own speed and master the art of “flying” over the surface of the water.
Key Resort: Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru.
#18 Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Stand up paddling, also known as standup paddle boarding or simply ‘SUP’ is a leisurely, yet exciting modern water-based activity, which has quickly gained popularity in recent years.
While it is an offshoot of surfing, in contrast with traditional surfing where the surfer remains seated until a wave comes, stand up paddle boarders stand atop their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water surface.
Adventure mixed with wellbeing, SUP provides additional health and fitness benefits through an incredible cardio and core workout that helps relieve stress.
Key resort: Veligandu Maldives
Average Cost: Complementary
#19 Big game fishing
Big game fishing also known as offshore fishing or blue-water fishing is catching big fish on fishing boat with all modern equipment and comforts. The Maldivian waters are rich in varieties of pelagic fish, making the Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Giant Trevelyan a common catch.
TROLLING, is a fishing method where baited fishing lines are drawn through the waters.
Casng, this is a very aracve fishing technique. you can see and feel the strike, which in most cases is very strong.
JIGGING, is a relavely new fishing method. The lures in this type of fishing are the called pilkers, weighng from 150to 250 grams, having different shapes and colors.
Key Resorts:
Kuredu Resort & Spa, Veligandu Resort, Kurumba maldives
Average Cost: Depends on boat/cruize fare, may cost you $150
#20 Bubblemaker
Bubblemaker is as fun as it sounds – a chance for kids to blow bubbles by scuba diving. Children who are at least 8 years old can use scuba gear to breathe underwater and
swim around in shallow water with a specialised instructor and dedicated equipment.
Bubble maker dive for kids in Maldives is the best way to introduce children to scuba diving. It’s fun, easy and safe! It can also be conducted as pool fun and games. Children should be comfortable in the water, but do not need to be super swimmers. The maximum depth recommended for this is 2m/6ft only.
Key resorts:
Kaani Beach Hotel , Meeru Resort maldives, BAGLIONI Hotels & Resort Maldives.
Summary
What makes water and sports activity more special in Maldives is the availability of excellent facilities and proper guidance on the island.
You also have lifeguards to help you out whenever and if needed, especially if you are trying the sport for the first time. With proper safety measures and high end facilities along with suitable environmental conditions, water sports activity in Maldives gives you a memorable experience.
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