10 Activities to Include in Your Bucket List While Visiting the Maldives

Written by Kriti Dhingra.

The Maldives is known for being a tropical paradise and is home to some of the most exquisite beaches in the world. Blue waters and sparkling white sand, luxurious resorts and exhilarating water sports, Maldives has something for everyone.

You can either choose to stay in a sea bungalow and enjoy the luxury by getting massages and spa treatments or sipping on fruity cocktails in your personal pool or you can indulge in water sports.

The Maldives is particularly famous for its marine life and clear waters. There is a wonderful diversity of underwater life just waiting to be discovered.

The Maldives also offers a huge range of water-based activities for more of an adrenaline fix. There are so many water sports available in the Maldives that you’ll have difficulty fitting them all in one vacation.

Here’s a list of the water sports in the Maldives that you can try out, for an unforgettable vacation. Take your pick!

Scuba Diving

The warm, twinkling waters of the Indian Ocean provide the perfect conditions for exploring the underwater world filled with aquatic life including turtles, rays, eels, dolphins, and sharks. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never even dived in your life, as these centres provide lessons to teach beginners. Some of the more unusual dives that you can take part in include night dives, deep dives, wreck dives etc.

Best Time: January to April

Swimming: Not Required

Snorkelling

If you love admiring the beautiful tropical fish, but if you’re not confident enough to go scuba diving, then you should try snorkelling. All you need are your masks and fins and you can explore the hidden secrets of the ocean. Just make sure that you don’t accidentally step on any of the corals. Many of the top Maldives resorts also offer snorkelling boat trips which often include things like a fully cooked lunch or a sunset dinner.

Best time: July to September

Swimming: Basics – floating and paddling.

Kayaking

Kayaking is also popular water-based activity in the Maldives. It allows you to paddle around the island and observe the endless Blue Ocean. Not only is kayaking fun, but it’s also a pretty good workout. Some Maldives resorts even offer see-through kayaks, so you get a glimpse of the sea life beneath you. Just make sure to stay safe while you’re out on the Ocean. Wear a hat and don’t forget to apply some sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.

Best time: April to October

Swimming: Preferred

Jet Skiing

Jet skiing is not a very popular water-sport in the Maldives. This is simply because jet skis can cause a lot of noise. Some of the larger Maldives resorts actually allow guests to rent out jet skis and have a bit of fun out on the ocean. It will give you an adrenaline rush while you are swaying over the ocean waters at a very high-speed. Always wear a life jacket while going on a jet ski.

Best time: April to October

Swimming: Not required

Banana Boats

If you really want to laugh until your stomach hurts, then go for a banana boat ride. This is a really fun activity to do if you’re travelling to the Maldives with a group. Riding this banana boat will fill your heart with excitement while you’re on the bubbly blue waters. The banana boat is attached to another speedboat which will drag you around the island. This group sport is amongst the most thrilling water activities in the Maldives. Prepare to fall as it is all part of the fun ride.

Best time: April to October

Swimming: Not Required

Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing involves being attached to a small board with a huge kite that allows you to skim across the ocean at super-fast speeds. It’s a very satisfying sport but it requires a little skill. So you may need to sign up for a couple of lessons with your resort instructor in order to be able to get the hang of it. Keep your eyes wide open and enjoy this thrilling water sport. Surfing across the blue waters of the Maldives will make you fall in love with nature.

Best time: April to October

Swimming: Not Required

Windsurfing

This is a wonderful sport to try out while you’re on vacation in the Maldives. There’s nothing quite like enjoying the cool breeze as you sail over the Indian Ocean with the Maldivian sun beaming down on you. Again the water sports centre will often have highly qualified instructors who will be on hand to help you to learn the basics of windsurfing you can head out on the waters alone.

When you experience a water sport like Windsurfing, it gives you the perfect vibe of surfing in those cool windy breeze above the ocean waves.

Best time: May to October

Swimming: Not required

Catamaran Sailing

This is a more relaxing water outing that really allows you to sit back and relax. Most of the best Maldives resorts will have some kind of sunset catamaran package which includes champagne, a set menu and even some calming music to set the mood. Catamaran sailing is something that should definitely be on your Maldives bucket list.

It’s such a wonderful experience to relax as you skim over the ocean and enjoy the spectacular panoramas of the Maldives. Sailing across the blue waters of the Maldives will make you fall in love with nature. Don’t forget to capture these rare moments of your life.

Best time: November to April

Swimming: Not Required

Flyboarding

If you are eager to try something that not everyone else is doing and that does involve risk, then you should try flyboarding. It is an extreme sport that involves getting on a flyboard which is attached to a jet ski by a hose and sends it up in the air. It is both scary and exciting. This is an unforgettable experience that will give you an adrenalin rush. This one of the most dangerous adventure sports in the Maldives. Make sure to wear your safety gear.

Best Time: May to October

Swimming: Not Required

Parasailing

Parasailing is an exhilarating activity in which you glide through the air while being pulled by a motorboat. It lets you fly away and makes you forget all your worries for a while. Parasailing offers you a panoramic view of the mesmerizing oceans. As you are up in the sky you will have the time of your life. You’ll make memories that’ll last a lifetime. It is undoubtedly one of the best water sports in the Maldives.

Best Time: May to October

Swimming: Not Required

Indulging in a variety of water sports is one of the unique activities that the Maldives has to offer, which sets it apart from other destinations. Have you been to the Maldives before? Which sport are you eager to try out? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Kriti Dhingra is a contributor at The Strong Traveller. She is a student at JIMS pursuing Journalism and Mass Communication. She is passionate about reading fiction novels, watching movies, listening to soulful music and travelling. When she’s not writing, you can find binge-watching shows on Netflix.

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Another post by the writer: Places to Visit on Your First Trip to McLeodganj.