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Best islands to charter in the Maldives
Published 04 January 2024
With 26 atolls and over 1,200 islands, the far-flung Indian Ocean cruising grounds of the Maldives offer something a little out of the ordinary for a luxury yacht charter. With almost all of the 1,000-plus coral islands offering pearly-white, crowd-free beaches lapped by clear seas, how do you choose? Burgess jumps into the deep end of these lesser-chartered waters to bring you the best experiences they have to offer.
Set sail from the Malé Atoll
The Maldivian capital of Malé is one of the three official ports of entry to the Maldives, and, with an international airport located on the neighbouring Hulhule Island, makes the ideal embarkation point for a yacht charter through the Malé Atoll. Step aboard your yacht in the Port of Malé and begin your luxury yacht adventure through the Indian Ocean. Drifting from idyllic anchorage to idyllic anchorage, discover island upon island surrounded by crystal-clear lagoons encrusted with reefs.
Around one in 10 of the islands in the Maldives are inhabited by luxury resorts, and aboard a superyacht you can easily flit between resort islands and uninhabited islands, stopping on the way to discover the more remote dive sites and fishing grounds. Whether you are taking the tender to dine at the Four Seasons Resort on Kuda Huraa or heading for an afternoon of rest and relaxation at Ritz-Carlton in the North Malé Fari Islands group, the options are almost endless.
On the latter, the Ritz Carlton resort may be new to the Maldives, but it has already gained a reputation for having the islands’ most recognisable wellness centre offering multi-hour treatments, while the Summer Pavilion restaurant here is also worth venturing ashore for if you fancy giving the chef the night off.
A diver’s paradise
North Malé Atoll offers some of the best diving spots in the entire Maldivian archipelago and possesses a wonderful shallow reef that is accessible to both snorkellers and divers. Towards the south of the North Malé Atoll also lies the Maldives Victory Wreck – the wreck of an 80m-long (262.5ft) cargo ship that sits at a very accessible depth of between 15m (49.2ft) and 35m (114.8ft). With a warm current that flows through the channel, schooling fish swarm the dive site that has become one of the most popular wreck dives in the entire archipelago.
Another popular dive site is Banana Reef, which takes its name from its curved shape when viewed from the air. The official Marine Protected Area (MPA) attracts all manner of marine life, including sharks, barracudas, blue-striped snappers and schools of bannerfish. Nearby Okobe Thila is another MPA, but this one is for experienced divers only due to the more challenging underwater topography.
Reasons to anchor in Felidhu
Lying just 40 nautical miles north of the Malé Atoll, the Felidhu Atoll is surrounded by continuous barrier reef and offers a wide variety of diving and snorkelling opportunities for any luxury yacht charter. Comprising 19 islands split between two natural atolls – the main Vaavu Atoll and the lesser-developed Vattaru Atoll – the currents that flow inside the channels attract sharks and other pelagic fish, while manta rays can be spotted riding the outgoing current. However, it is the Dewana Kandu National Park that is the star attraction – a bucket-list dive, the site is famed for being one of the most exhilarating drift dives in the world.
The Ari Atoll
Maldivian waters are also among the top five places in the world for spotting whales and dolphins during a yacht charter, and the South Ari Atoll MPA, also known as Alifu Daalu, is a great spot for those chasing those bucket-list wildlife encounters. With over 20 different species, ranging from the mighty blue whale to the diminutive Spinner Dolphin, even non-divers can easily watch on deck as they go about their regular routine, feeding offshore at night and then coming into the lagoons in the early morning before leaving late afternoon for the open sea.
Alternatively, the North Ari Atoll, also called Alifu Alifu, is a great spot to watch out for hammerhead sharks. Ashore, the inhabited islands have a few attractions including watermelon farms on the fertile Thoddoo, and the Buddhist temples on the main island of Rasdhoo. Further south, tender ashore to view the coral sculptures on Fenfushi and visit the islands’ 16th Century Mosque.
Omadhoo whale shark spotting
The South Ari Atoll is also where you will find the world’s largest whale shark congregation. The huge fish graze along the outermost part of the reef, making the atoll an ideal spot for freediving. Omadhoo is probably the best spot on the planet for spotting resident whale sharks throughout the year. For those that prefer to stay closer to shore, many islands to the south of the South Ari Atoll have a reef just metres from the beach, ideal for snorkellers.
Dine at the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
One place not to miss while on a luxury yacht charter in the South Ari Atoll is underwater restaurant, Ithaa. The first of its kind in the world, the award-winning restaurant is part of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island – one of the original resorts of the Maldives.
In fact, the resort is responsible for many of the features that people now take for granted in the Maldives. The first in-room glass floor originated here, as did the first undersea restaurant, and most importantly, the initiative is designed to limit its impact on the surrounding environment.
Baa Atoll
The Ari Atoll may be known for its whale sharks, but lying to the north of the Ari Atoll, tiny Baa Atoll is home to the largest aggregation of manta rays in the world – and by itself comprises 40 percent of the entire Maldivian population of manta rays.
Thanks to a unique geographical location unlike any other, the rays gather in the waters that are on the edge of the open ocean above a gaping channel, taking advantage of the plankton trapped in the atoll’s bays, making them easy to find and see.
Baa Atoll UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
The Baa Atoll, which supports one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, was awarded UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve status in 2011. This rare marine environment is a hub for planktonic larvae of reef organisms from all areas of the Indian Ocean, and as result it boasts significant biodiversity and waters that are home to a long list of marine species.
Raa Atoll
The far-flung Raa Atoll, also known as North Maalhosmadulu, is one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world. Despite being amongst the Maldives’ most northerly atolls, it is also one of the most frequented by the superyacht crowd. Consisting of 88 islands, the atoll is home to a highly diverse range of marine life and is known for its unexplored underwater reserves.
The Raa Atoll is also a showcase of the rich cultural heritage of the Maldives. It was here that the Maldivian monarchy is said to have first emerged when a Sinhalese prince and his bride became stranded on the island of Rasgetheemu, which became the first capital of the Maldives, while the island of Ugulu hosts the heritage site of Redhunge Usgandu.
Live like a local in Alifushi
For an intriguing insight into traditional Maldivian life step ashore on the island of Alifushi. Head to the island’s main village where skilled craftsmen still use traditional boat building methods. You could also learn the art of Fangi (mat weaving) from the skilled locals, gaining an insight into their craftsmanship and traditions.
When is the best time to charter in the Maldives?
Visibility for diving and snorkelling is generally best during the dry season from December to April owing to the northeast monsoon. This is when sea conditions are also generally at their best through most of the atolls. The marine life can also be wonderful if you choose your spot in the rainy season which is from June to November, although sea conditions at this time of year are less predictable with shifting winds.
Get ready to enjoy your Maldives adventure with Burgess. Enquire now.
To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.
- Yachts, prices and availability are correct at the time of publication.
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