Travelling to the Maldives this summer was an adventure which I literally dived into—and liked a lot! It was my first time visiting such a faraway destination. I went there to explore the islands, learn how to snorkel and dive, and try the typical main dishes, lunch meals, desserts, and drinks. I chose to stay on Bandos Island as I read that there is a rich house reef which I could explore while taking diving lessons.
Below are five great activities I tried while in the Maldives.
1. Diving
Diving is a sport for experienced swimmers. It requires special training and diving equipment which allows you to go deep into the water and still breathe normally. I signed up for a beginners class which included one hour of training and one hour of diving.
My first diving experience was absolutely amazing and I’ll definitely do it again! I took many videos and photos with my GoPro camera and saw a great variety of sea creatures, like sharks, ray fish, starfish, corals, and sea turtles.
Here are some tips to consider when you go diving: make sure you’re comfortable with swimming; go to a proper training course beforehand; take your time trying the equipment; don’t forget your underwater camera!
2. Snorkelling
The best thing about snorkelling is that you don’t need to be an experienced swimmer to try it. This is actually a surface sport that even kids above five years of age can practise. You only need a good snorkel set and diving fins. The rest is pure enjoyment! I was amazed by the underwater world and variety of fish around the Maldives.
3. Sunset dolphin cruise
One of the many different activities offered on and around Bandos Island is the sunset dolphin cruise. I went with my friends and I can safely say that it was an extraordinary experience! In the Maldives, the sun sets around 6.30 p.m. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the water while having champagne and marvelling at the dolphins, who swam freely very close to our boat.
4. Island hopping
The island hopping program included visiting the Paradise Island Resort and Huraa Island. Both of them are located around 30-40 minutes away from Bandos Island by boat.
The atmosphere on Huraa Island was so festive! The local people danced and sang with great passion in celebration of one of their national holidays. We went around the island, taking photos of the colorful Maldivian houses there. In front of each house we saw at least 14 pairs of shoes, a sign of how big the families were. Everyone was so welcoming, offering us fresh coconut cocktails everywhere we went.
On Paradise Resort Island, I went for lunch and sunbathing on the white sand beach.
5. Sport activities and sailing
The people on Bandos Island seemed to really like sport activities. There were a lot of playgrounds for squash, football, and volleyball. There was also a Club House where people visiting the island could spend their free time playing tennis, TV games, having a sauna or a steam bath for free. Catamaran sailing was also popular.
What’s a trip if you don’t experience something new and exciting? To me, travelling is an adventure. My trip to the Maldives was an enriching experience and I’m glad I tried many different activities for the first time.
What are the most exciting and challenging activities you’ve tried? Share your photos and favorite spots to practise them in the comments below.
