Maafushi: Best of Maldives
Maafushi is in our opinion if not the best one of the best islands to stay in your vacations to Maldives. It is the ideal island for scuba diving and snorkel enthusiasts. As there are various csuba diving companies in the island and is near to a lot of fantastic scuba diving spots.
The location of Maafushi is also great. From Male (the capital of Maldives) to Maafushi is around 30 min – 1h in speedboat. There are a lot of beautiful islands near Maafushi which makes it ideal as a stay “hotel” island.
Why Maafushi?
The Maldives is an archipelago consisting of numerous islands, each offering unique experiences tailored to different interests. When planning your visit, it’s essential to choose an island that aligns with your activities of interest.
For surfing enthusiasts, Thulusdhoo Island, located in the northern part of the archipelago, is highly recommended. Renowned for its excellent surf breaks, Thulusdhoo is home to the famous Cokes and Chickens surf spots, which attract surfers from around the world. The island’s vibrant surf culture and availability of surf camps make it an ideal destination for those looking to ride the Maldivian waves.
If scuba diving is the primary focus of your trip, Maafushi Island is an exceptional choice. Situated in the South Malé Atoll, Maafushi is surrounded by a plethora of diving sites that cater to both beginners and experienced divers. The island boasts several reputable scuba diving schools and centers, offering a range of diving experiences to explore the underwater wonders of the Maldives. Among these, Eco Dive Club stands out for its scuba diving excursions, while Show Palm is renowned for its snorkeling activities. Maafushi’s convenient location and the availability of diverse aquatic activities make it a prime spot for divers and marine adventure seekers.
In summary, the Maldives offers a rich variety of islands each suited to different leisure pursuits. Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of surfing at Thulusdhoo or the underwater beauty near Maafushi, you’ll find an island perfectly matched to your interests.
What animals can you expect to see around Maafushi
The Maldives is a biodiverse paradise, offering encounters with a wide range of marine and land animals. Some of the most typical and remarkable creatures you might see during a visit to the Maldives include:
Reef Sharks: Commonly sighted around the coral reefs, reef sharks are an exciting find for many snorkelers and divers. Species like the Blacktip Reef Shark and Whitetip Reef Shark are frequent visitors. We even found blacktip sharks around the islands, these are small but still scary.
Sea Turtles: The Maldives is home to several species of sea turtles, including the Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtle. These creatures are often seen gracefully swimming near the reefs or while they’re nesting on the beaches. The most majestic animal in the Maldives, they swim so gentle, as if they are floating or flying in the water.
Manta Rays: The Maldives is known for its manta ray population, particularly around cleaning stations where these majestic creatures gather for the removal of parasites by smaller fish. In my opinion the best animals in the Maldives, there are a lot of rays, they are easy to see and come very close. They will even touch you if you stay still.
Dolphins: Dolphin watching is a popular activity in the Maldives, with the Spinner Dolphin being the most common species. These playful animals are often seen in large pods, performing acrobatics near the boats. The dolphins are relatively easy to see if you do various bout trips, but to do snorkel with them is another story.
Tropical Fish: The coral reefs of the Maldives are teeming with colorful tropical fish, including parrotfish, clownfish (also known as Nemo), angelfish, and butterflyfish, among many others.
Whale Sharks: Although not as commonly seen as the other animals, the South Ari Atoll is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving with these gentle giants, the largest fish in the sea. The trip to see the whale sharks is the less worthy in our opinion. The location where these can be seen is far from Maafushi (about 1h away). The are a lot of tourists there trying to see the whale shark and although it is very spectacular, you can only see it for 30 seconds or so until the whale shark decides to go down because all the commotion in the surface due to all the boats and people.
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