Top five affordable luxury dive hotels in the Maldives

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Top five affordable luxury dive hotels in the Maldives

The Maldives has a well-earned reputation for offering glamour and luxury in abundance. But despite its stunning white sand beaches and range of exclusive resorts, it can be more affordable than you think. This is especially true when you consider that all five of the resorts listed below offer incredible specials for the summer. That’s an offer that’s too good to turn down.

Diving in the Maldives is a unique experience. Its position far away from any other landmass has led to an incredible array of diverse marine life. The numerous ocean currents that channel water between the multiple atolls and islands are teeming with life. The plankton-rich waters, reefs, sandbars and lagoons were formed over millions of years and are just begging to be explored. And if you want to do it in style and without breaking the bank, check out the five luxury but affordable resorts below.

The Residence

With 50 sensational Huvadhoo Atoll dive sites easily reached by boat from this resort, its diving credentials are second to none. Located in one of the largest atolls in the world and with luxury villas dangling over brilliant blue waters, The Residence Maldives is perhaps the ultimate private island experience. There are only 94 villas and each draws inspiration from the natural beauty around it, creating as close a vision of paradise as you can find anywhere on the planet.

OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli

Helengeli Island is known for its exotic reef, silver-tipped sharks and giant sea turtles. The house reef is located just metres away from the shore and is fully protected. OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli is vibrant and stylish and just 50 minutes from Male International Airport by boat. Choose from several all-inclusive plans with fine dining and a range of activities, including fantastic channel diving and a garden spa.

OBLU SELECT at Sangeli

Situated on the northwestern tip of the Male Atoll, the newly opened OBLU SELECT at Sangeli offers visitors an all-encompassing beach holiday experience. There is a choice of villas and suites, restaurants and some of the most exotic dive and snorkelling locations in the Maldives. What more could you want?

Finolhu

Based at Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s best locations for diving with manta rays, Finolhu offers a unique diving experience. Situated in the UNESCO World Biosphere of Baa Atoll, this resort is perfectly suited to couples, families and groups of friends. Visit between May and November and it becomes one of the largest manta ray feeding places on earth.

Carpe Diem Resort

This brand new resort only opened towards the end of 2018 and aims to offer an experience that is ‘social by nature’. The Carpe Diem Resort is located at the spot that the Baa Atoll meets the Raa Atoll and is particularly rich in marine diversity. The Hanifaru UNESCO reserve is just 15 minutes away by boat with even more stunning dive sites.

Booked your dive holiday and want to get amazing underwater pictures? You can also check out an interesting article on underwater cameras at Dive In.