Summary of where to snorkel in The Maldives
Best in The Maldives
(Please go to individual pages for more details on snorkeling photography in
each destination using the
button)
Best Snorkeling in The Maldives
Ellaidhoo - Chaaya Reef - recommended from most points of view
Ellaidhoo - Chaaya Reef - recommended from most points of view
Chaaya Reef - good value for money, holiday destination and good
for snorkelling photography.
Visibility usually good. Access easy - wander in off steps.
Fish much better than the corals - guided night snorkel a 'must'.
Medium sized resort - restrained evening entertainment. Can stay longer here than smaller islands.
Visibility usually good. Access easy - wander in off steps.
Fish much better than the corals - guided night snorkel a 'must'.
Medium sized resort - restrained evening entertainment. Can stay longer here than smaller islands.
Best Snorkeling in The Maldives
Filitheyo - Highy recommended from all points of view
Filitheyo - Highy recommended from all points of view
Filitheyo - ticks all the boxes as a holiday destination generally and specifically for
snorkelling photography.
Visibility very good. Access easy - wander in off beach at the designated entry points.
Like swimming in an aquarium - fish very good. Corals ok/ good.
Medium to large sized island (for Maldives) so, 7 - 10 days good.
Visibility very good. Access easy - wander in off beach at the designated entry points.
Like swimming in an aquarium - fish very good. Corals ok/ good.
Medium to large sized island (for Maldives) so, 7 - 10 days good.
Best Snorkeling in The Maldives
Hembadhu - (Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef Maldives) - Highly recommended
Hembadhu - (Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef Maldives) - Highly recommended
Hembadhu - ticks all the boxes.
Visibility usually good but can be spoilt if windy - clears quickly. Access easy - wander in off beach.
Well-defined, small, choice areas - very good fish - in the right areas is like swimming in an aquarium. Corals better than Filitheyo.
Very small resort so 5 days suited.
Visibility usually good but can be spoilt if windy - clears quickly. Access easy - wander in off beach.
Well-defined, small, choice areas - very good fish - in the right areas is like swimming in an aquarium. Corals better than Filitheyo.
Very small resort so 5 days suited.
Best Snorkeling in The Maldives
Ihuru - (Angsana Ihuru) - Very highly recommended
Ihuru - (Angsana Ihuru) - Very highly recommended
Angsana Ihuru - ticks all the boxes (but at a cost).
Visibility usually good - except on west (by NW) side of the island. Access easy - wander in off beach.
Excellent house reef - corals best I've seen in The Maldives. Good fish from reef and drop-off.
Small island, modern luxury resort fits well with island - excellent, friendly service.
Visibility usually good - except on west (by NW) side of the island. Access easy - wander in off beach.
Excellent house reef - corals best I've seen in The Maldives. Good fish from reef and drop-off.
Small island, modern luxury resort fits well with island - excellent, friendly service.
Best Snorkeling in The Maldives
Banyan Tree - (Vabbinfaru) - Recommended
Banyan Tree - (Vabbinfaru) - Recommended
The Banyan Tree - ticks the boxes.
48 villas - established, luxury resort on small island. 5PM feed of stingrays a feature.
Access easy - off beach or either of two jetties. Visibility usually good - except on west side.
Good night snorkel helped by excellent guide - all sorts of critters and usually, nurse sharks.
Good fish and impressive table coral formations.
48 villas - established, luxury resort on small island. 5PM feed of stingrays a feature.
Access easy - off beach or either of two jetties. Visibility usually good - except on west side.
Good night snorkel helped by excellent guide - all sorts of critters and usually, nurse sharks.
Good fish and impressive table coral formations.
thanks to Andrew Grant for this contribution)
The Maldives - Hudhuranfushi - North Male Atoll - Not recommended for snorkelling photography
Hidhuranfushi - ticks none of the boxes with regards to the
snorkeling photography. Approximately 30 minutes boat ride from Male town.
Picture shows a typical beach. Very shallow so almost too shallow to swim in most places. Dark patches are seaweed concealing small, sharp rocks - so footwear needed.
The designated snorkelling area was adjacent to the main landing pier, a few hundred years to the left of this shot.
Picture shows a typical beach. Very shallow so almost too shallow to swim in most places. Dark patches are seaweed concealing small, sharp rocks - so footwear needed.
The designated snorkelling area was adjacent to the main landing pier, a few hundred years to the left of this shot.
Was not a very large area, (maybe 200m x 300m), maybe 4-5m at its deepest.
I didn’t try it as when I enquired, they said to come back in two hours when the current had abated.
I never went back - especially as warning signs of the currents abound.
Another guest said it was “OK, but it didn’t take long to explore the whole thing and there weren’t that many fish.
I didn’t try it as when I enquired, they said to come back in two hours when the current had abated.
I never went back - especially as warning signs of the currents abound.
Another guest said it was “OK, but it didn’t take long to explore the whole thing and there weren’t that many fish.
The Maldives - Kandooma - (Holiday Inn Resort) - Not recommended for snorkelling photography
Kandooma - ticks none of the boxes.
Warning signs re currents abound.
Took a short group boat trip to official snorkelling spot. Poor visibility, very few fish but corals OK (picture on left).
Buildings not very ethnic.
Main beach in lifeless bay with poor visibility while we were there.
Warning signs re currents abound.
Took a short group boat trip to official snorkelling spot. Poor visibility, very few fish but corals OK (picture on left).
Buildings not very ethnic.
Main beach in lifeless bay with poor visibility while we were there.
