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Best Time to Explore
The house reef can be explored at any tide by night or day. There are periods of slack water at both high and low tide, while mild to medium currents can run along the outer reef slope during tide changes. This allows divers the opportunity to drift along the reef face at various speeds while exploring its beauty. At high tide you can enter or exit the water at numerous points along the beach. When currents on the house reef are flowing on the stronger side, the resort's dive center team will make recommendations for alternatives that might be more suitable to each individual guest.
In case you feel a little bit worried to go out snorkelling by yourself, the resort's snorkel guides are always happy to take you for the guided house reef tour. If you feel the deeper waters are not tickling your fancy, you can stay in the shallow lagoon just off the main beach and try to spot a turtle or two (they don’t mind the occasional selfie, but make sure you respect their space, and never, ever touch them!).
What to See Underwater?
One doesn’t necessarily have to join a boat excursion to experience good snorkelling and diving. The most of house reefs is easily accessible from the resort’s beach or jetty – don your equipment and get ready in the shade of the hut and off you go into the warm waters of the Maldives to experience the magic that lies beneath the surface. If the convenience alone doesn’t make you want to jump onto a plane right now, let us tell you more about what what you expect to see on Maldives' house reefs.
Tiny, colourful nudibranchs and flamboyant mantis shrimps hide amongst the corals, schools of colourful reef fish move past hiding moray eels and resting stingrays. If you’re lucky, you may even spot cruising eagle rays and reef sharks swimming along the edge where the bottom starts to drop off. The house reef is also home to the magnificent octopus, one of nature’s more curious creatures.
Fun fact: Did you know that octopus change the colour and texture of their skin to camouflage themselves into their environment? Their skin colouration also reflects their mood. They are usually brown, but turn white when afraid, and red when angry.
If you feel that you need another type of adventure, don't fret: there is also a shipwreck on a some house reefs, at which you often see a big napoleon wrasse, surrounded by the resident school of bat fish.
Which Resort Have the 'BEST' House Reef Snorkeling?
The best house reefs are easily accessed, stunning house reefs make these 10 islands the icing on the wedding cake. Some you can snorkel the whole way round: Diamonds Athuruga has a seamless drop-off with great coral where whale sharks have been sighted; Eriyadu’s edge is just a short swim in any direction; and Vilamendhoo’s close-by channel attracts spectacular predators. Bathala's position at the atoll edge brings snorkellers face to face with everything from turtles and tuna to eagle rays and even hammerhead sharks. Angsana Ihuru was named the best house reef in Maldives, with an embarrassment of fish species and living coral. Equipment at Hurawalhi comes within the all-inclusive deal, and there are guided snorkelling trips all day. The new water villas at Lily Beach make access to their coral gardens a matter of a few steps and a few metres swim.
Best Experience: Couples, House Reef Snorkeling, All Inclusive
Robinson Club Maldives Adults Only is all-inclusive resort set on a beautiful island in the heart of the Indian ocean with amazing blue waters and white beaches — all the ingredients for your perfect honeymoon. Located in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll a remote southern part of the Maldives, the 4-star resort occupies its own private island and offers 121 beach and garden bungalows and over-water villas with living areas and terraces. Food gets excellent reviews from guests, and Sundowner Bar is a favorite for afternoon drinks on bean bags placed along the sand. With an amazing house reef snorkeling, a wide range of activities and programs, excellent entertainment options, this is a great all-inclusive pick for couples, but keep in mind that getting there requires a 70-minute domestic flight from Malé airport followed half-hour speedboat transfer.
The House reef is beautiful! Feels like swimming in a huge aquarium. You'll snorkel every day and always something new to discove including sharks, turtles, fish, rays and dolphins. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, but today some guests have said that the coral has suffered some damage in the last few years. The snorkelling gear is free for the duration of your stay - which is great, especially if you stay in water villa built metres above the water had steps leading straight down into the water where you can swim and snorkel at your leisure. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Families, Couples, House Reef Snorkeling, All Inclusive
Reopened in 2009 as a 5-star resort, Lily Beach is a romantic place for a family holiday with All Inclusive that includes food, drinks and various activities. The stylish and spacious rooms have open air bathrooms with hydromassage baths, outdoor terraces with direct access to the ocean or to the beach, as well as other facilities: from sunscreen and quality toiletries to the packed mini bars and large flat-screen TVs. The resort's family facilities include a kid's buffet in the restaurant, a swimming pool and a game club. Active guests can enjoy land and water sports, while couples have many romantic options and places to seclude. New villas over the water made snorkeling easier - just a few steps down and a short drift to the exit of the house reef. The house reef edge usually lies 10-20 meters from the beach. If there is not strong tide, snorkelers can drift right over the tops of the corals. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Families, Couples, House Reef Snorkeling, All Inclusive
With its own luxury Safari Boats, Safari Island is located in the heart of North Ari Atoll, Maldives. Combines warm hospitality with a lovely ambiance, the resort's main highlights are white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters with incredible house reef snorkeling. Located only 20 minutes by seaplane from Malé airport, Safari Island is the perfect getaway for a relaxing and exciting break away. The Safari's house reef offers one of the best snorkeling experience in this part of the country. The waters surrounding the island teem with brightly coloured fish and other marine life. The snorkeling is exciting and provide lots to explore and interact with. The House reef is 7-8 meters distance from the beach and ideal for snorkeling and diving with live corals and many different kinds of sea creatures. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Ultimate Luxury, Over Water Villas, Privacy and Tranquillity, spa, Wildlife, swimming with mantas
Voted most Instagrammable hotel in the world, staying in Anantara Kihavan Maldives Villas is much more than just enjoying the luxury of your private area. Strong swimmers can go for snorkeling around the edge outside the house reef. The drop off is an exciting abyss in deep blue water, with overhangs, caves and many other things. Nevertheless, in the past there have been some events related to coral bleaching, against the background of stress from the resort's construction, so the quality and scale of the coral cover is not very impressive. Sea life is beautiful, with large schools of fish, including perches and triggerfish, but not too much of pelagics? including turtles, sharks and rays. With a sandy bottom, the beautiful lagoon is free of corals, and is ideal for swimming and water sports. Another reason - the rooms are so gorgeous that guests are only occasionally seen on a house reef or snorkeling Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Water Villas, for Couples, House Reef Snorkeling & Diving, Mantas Watching
If the idea to stay on the Maldives in a Thai-style hotel raises your eyebrows, think about what it gives you. The warm hospitality of Thailand in an unprecedented luxury setting: two of the best aspects of an Asian luxury trip in one magnificent package. Located on Mudhdhoo island in Baa Atoll, the Maldives' first and only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Dusit Thani seduces guests with pearly white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, lush vegetation and a fantastic house reef with one of the most abundant marine life in the Maldives. Inspired by Thailand, architecture provides private life alone with a vibrant nature featuring both classical and modern styles. The resort villas and apartments are beautiful shelters of modern sophistication, with luxurious facilities and state os the art amenities. Fine cusine in an exotic setting is another highlight of this resort. The resort is also home to the largest infinity pool in the Maldives with an impressive of 750 square meters. As a visual center of the hotel, this swimming pool combines technology and nature with the flowing majestic Banyan tree. The resort is located in the heart of Baa Atoll, where an ambundance marine life has earned the status of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Fantastic house reef snorkelling and diving are guaranteed - and for non-divers - the local biologist of the resort is always at hand to learn more about marine life. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: for Honeymoon, Beach, Design, Fashion and Music, House Reef Snorkelling
In luxurious hotels mysteriously named 'W', the Starwood group emphasizes a confident, young brand - oriented to design, fashion and music. Located in the North Ari Atoll, W Maldives offers 77 escapes and suites located both ashore and overwater, including 28 Wonderful Beach Oasis, 46 Fabulous Overwater Oasis, three WOW Ocean Escape and one Extreme WOW Ocean Haven (the W brand’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). Each chic and spacious escape features infinity plunge pool. There is a mixture of six bars and restaurants at W Maldives. Kitchen, the all-day dining bistro, and Fire, where guests have their choice of four different barbecues, provide menus for everyone’s palate. Swim up to the pool bar Wet and order a light lunch.
There is even a dining option on the resort’s private desert island, Gaathafushi, or Fish, the resort’s specialty seafood restaurant set over the water and under the stars. Fifteen Below is the only underground club in the Maldives, with its own resident DJ and a sushi bar Sushi Beat.
Guests can also spoil themselves with a selection of over 125 treatments at the award-winning overwater Away Spa. Read Full Review....
Best Experience: There are no kids on the island - this is a big plus; a magnificent large overwater villas with stunning views of the lagoon; Superb house reef snorkeling, a fantastic '5.8 Undersea' restaurant
Hurawalhi in the Maldives - this is incomparable, extraordinary and absolutely original. Ecologically innovative, a new 5*-star resort, the world's largest underwater restaurant, tropical champagne pavilion, stylish villas and politics just over 15 years old, and with no other resorts in the neighborhood as far as the eye can see - Hurawalhi Island Resort offers its own look at Paradise. Just 40 minutes of scenic flight by seaplane from Velana international airport (Male), and here's for you a distinctive collection of beautifully designed, exclusive and extremely spacious villas across the sparkling sapphire of clean lagoon - ideally located, so that all guests can enjoy the views of sunrise or sunset against the background of the ocean. And with restaurants that are on the beach, on the water and even under water, the philosophy here is that nothing is impossible. For sports lovers: For fans of outdoor activities there are tennis, badminton and beach volleyball, as well as a fully equipped fishing boat for deep-sea fishing. On offer is a fantastic snorkeling on the house reef, including a night fluorescent diving, and a snorkelling excursion with a marine biologist, and of course a full PADI certification course in the educational 5 * dive center Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Couples, Family, Beaches, House Reef Snorkeling, Dining, All Inclusive
With the unique All Inclusive Serenity Plan, OBLU Select by Atmosphere at Sangeli Island is the newest ALL INCLUSIVE resort in the Maldives. Opened on July 1 2018, the hotel offers a wide selection of modern individual beach and water villas and suites to choose from, some with private pools. Just 50 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport (Male), this idyllic tropical paradise is within easy reach. Perfectly suitable for couples and families, OBLU Select at Sangeli promises to be a beautiful island chic and it's a delightful addition to Maldives' resort segment. The resort will be positioned as a premium all-inclusive 4-star, and includes 137 individual villas in six categories - on the beach and over water. OBLU SELECT at Sangeli offers discerning travelers a comprehensive, carefree beach experience in the Maldives. OBLU has many modern amenities, self-contained beach and water villas, and suites, a selection of restaurants and services, amongst some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the entire Kaafu atoll. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Honeymoon, Beach, Spa, House Reef Snorkeling & Diving
Baros is a perfect getaway located in the North Malé Atoll only a 25-minute by speedboat from Malé Airport. Located on a beautiful private island with a crystal clear coral lagoon, Baros is a 5 * star boutique hotel in the Maldives that will surpass all of your highest fantasies of the 'dream island'. Surrounded by clean, warm waters and snow-white sands, with groves of coconut palms and fragrant flowers, this cozy resort landscape is really worthy of fainting. Baros' house reef is known as one of the best house reefs in the Maldives. With a length of 300 meters, the coral gardens have easy access. The reef is dropped off by ledges to a depth of 20 meters, where you will find the hypnotic world of corals with an amazing variety of a vibrant marine life. Expect to see blacktip reef sharks, turtles and many species of fish, including pelagics. In Baros is particularly popular fluorescent night diving, offering a look at the underwater world in a new light. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: for Couples, House Reef Snorkeling, Two Islands One Great Price
A true island paradise, Angsana Ihuru is an eco-friendly luxury resort located on the tiny beautiful island with the best house reef in the Maldives. The 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana (Male) airport, a peace and quiet is the name of the game in this boutique resort with 45 villas run by Singapore's Banyan Tree, one of the world's most luxurious hotel brands. For guests there is one of the best house reefs in the Maldives - literally a few meters from the beach is hypnotic snorkeling (for free!), as well as excellent diving (own 5* star dive center PADI). Delicious food and drinks are served in the restaurant, and guests should expect an easy, unobtrusive pressure from the staff offering to book a therapy session at the excellent Thai spa. To diversify the activities there is a free transfer to Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru next door, where you will also find a restaurant, bar and spa. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Couples, Family, Value, House Reef Snorkeling, Diving, All Inclusive
Perfect for your romantic getaway or family vacation, Bandos Maldives offers 250 rooms in 6 categories on a beautiful island only 15 minutes by boat from Male airport. Recently completely renovated, Bandos is known as one of the best resorts for family holidays in the Maldives and you can safely relax while your kid is keenly spending time with friends around professional caregivers who have many exciting children's programs and entertainment. A vibrant house reef is one of the best not only in the North Male Atoll, but also in Maldives! Expect to see many bright and cute sea creatures: turtles, rays, white reef sharks, giant moray eels, colorful fish - this abundance does not occur in every resort in the Maldives. In short - do not miss snorkeling! Read Full Review...
Best Experience: Couples, Family, Value, House Reef Snorkeling, Diving, All Inclusive
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is located in Ari Atoll and its house reef and proximity to some of the most beautiful dive sites in the Maldives is the greatest attraction. Acquired by a luxury brand from Sri Lanka, Cinnamon today has 112 rooms, of average price range, that's good for couples and families. On a beautiful island, there is complete cleanliness, and guests are served by a variety of facilities to choose from, including a spa, squash and tennis courts, a children's playground, a pool, and exciting excursions. New Water Villas are the brightest and most attractive rooms, but there are other categories of accommodation with good value, and avid divers and snorkel fans should not miss the chance to explore the famous Ellaidhoo's house reef. Regardless of the season, the serene atmosphere of a beautiful island, a lot of greenery, and the rustic spirit of Ellaidhoo await you. Read Full Review...
Best Experience: for Honeymoon, Beach, Value, Diving, House Reef Snorkelling
37 villas
Combining modern and traditional elements, the small paradise has been freshly renovated and reopened in December 2014 with a new shine, but still maintaining its unique Maldivian character. Due to its size and limited number of Villas, Mirihi is considered as being one of the smallest islands in the Maldives and offers 37 villas, and has its own and unique style, filled with luxury and comfortable features that you can expect from any large 5 * resort. With one of the best house reefs in the country, snorkeling in Mirihi is an easy necessity. Discover the beauty of marine life with a night dive, or with whale sharks and manta rays trips. At Mirihi, you do not need to be a diver to discover the magic of the Maldives at its best. Mirihi under water is just another world. Read Full Review....
Best Experience: Couples, Family, Value, House Reef Snorkeling, Diving
For many visitors Filitheyo Island Resort is one of the best hotels in the Maldives, and definitely a secret dream for everyone who loves diving and snorkeling. Filitheyo Island Resort is located in Faafu Atoll, the undisputed winner among the most unspoiled atolls of the Maldives, abundant in vibrant marine life and healthy corals. Snow-white sandy beach with fringe of palm trees reflected in the turquoise lagoon, comfortable accommodation in the depths of dense vegetation and over the water, delicious food under bright stars, spa, excursions to uninhabited islands, a large choice of activities, and last but not least fascinating diving and snorkeling at house reef - here is an approximate picture of Filitheyo, a brilliant emerald in the crown of the Maldives. Read Full Review...
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