Maldives

Nothing screams "paradise" quite like the Maldives.  The Island nation is a smattering of a 26-atoll chain of heavenly islands scattered across the Indian Ocean with unrivaled, powdery white-sand beaches, a full spectrum of bungalows lined up along long pontoons, jutting out over the stunning crystalline turquoise and cerulean waters with its amazing underwater world.  In a word (or maybe a few): legendary, unforgettable, and an obvious choice for a true holiday of a lifetime.

After spending almost all of 2020 couped up at home, planning a trip felt foreign, as the constant uncertainty of the unknown or what could happen is always at the top of the list. Nonetheless, I started my plans surfing the web and researching recommended resorts.  This proved a very daunting task, as there are so many amazing options out there. I finally chose Ozen Life Madhoo as it was one of the most recommended options. A quick call, emails back and forth, and a PCR test later I was on the flight en-route to Madhoo.  As soon as we entered the airspace of The Maldives the ocean colours dramatically changed to the most beautiful turquoise.  It’s almost hard to verbalize it now, nothing I have ever seen matches its beauty or clarity. John Ruskin said, “blue color is everlastingly appointed by the deity to be a source of delight.” and having seen Maldivian blue, I could not agree more.

Mali Airport is quite small so getting off the flight and exiting passport control was straightforward and quick. You are required to be wearing masks at all times (a trademark of 2020) until one clears passport control and luggage pick up. The Maldivian airport -taxi stand is quite unique as it could either be a boat or a seaplane. Luckily for me my resort was an hour away by boat transfer and I was whisked away in my private boat/ taxi.

Waiting for me upon arrival was the “Welcome to Ozen Committee” which included my private butler (yes, each villa has one assigned to it) and the in-house resident physician (checks your vitals on a daily basis from the day you check-in till the day you check out).  I was given a quick tour of the resort in a cute golf buggy ending at my villa and home for the next six days.

My over-the-water villa was superb, over the top opulent, one with a beautiful glass floor from which you can enjoy the marine life whilst you are in the room. Whoever designed the room did a great job of making sure there were loads and loads of natural light and breath-taking views from every corner in the villa. Luckily for me, my villa had a sunset view with a beautiful eternity pool.  Can you imagine living in the middle of the ocean waking up to an astounding azure view every day? Did I mention, the in-room Jacuzzi? Added bonus!

There is a massive range of outdoor and water sports choices to keep your days busy: paddling, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing (restricted to certain areas so marine life does not get disturbed); topping my list was snorkeling. The tropical waters around the Maldives are ideal for snorkeling with water temperatures averaging 27°C.  As most sites are calm not a lot of expertise or certification is required to be able to discover the vibrant coral reefs. I had my gear ready for my debut into the world of ocean snorkeling.  I must admit I was a bit nervous about jumping from the boat into the belly of a shark but after a lot of coaxing from the guides, I took a leap of faith and jumped into the most beautiful place in the world. Mind blown! You will witness or experience such an abundance of marine life it’s hard to imagine all this exists below those calm waters; coral reef teeming with vibrant tropical marine life. I couldn’t believe that we had already spent 50 minutes in the water when the guide signaled for us to go back.

One of my main reasons for going to the Maldives was to see the Manta Rays and hopefully swim alongside these gentle marine giants. So according to my guides, making the trip during full moon days (check the lunar calendar) will increase your chances of sightings as manta rays travel frequently to their stations on those days. I must take a moment here to thank Abo for making that dream come true for me. 

There were loads of other trips as well, one which included swimming with the dolphins (you really need to be a super-fast swimmer for that) but I loved the experience and tried my best to keep up with their pace; failing didn’t ruin the experience in the least!

The food scene at my resort was great as there is a selection of restaurants, my favourite being M6m (minus six metres).  This place is definitely not one to be missed, it boasts the best seafood with an amazing view of the ocean whilst you dine.  Indoceylon, another restaurant, is a fusion of South Asian, Indian, Sri-Lankan, and Maldivian flavours, everything was delicious and there was an excellent selection of dishes.  More traditional, a la carte options exist at the international and Chinese restaurant.

So, six days of snorkeling, sunbathing, kayaking, dolphin watching, manta ray-ing, and viewing spectacular sunrises and sunsets, capped with amazing dining experiences made my time at the Maldives fly by.  I truly can’t wait to go back again.  

Photography Gear

Underwater Photography: Go pro 6

Fuji film xh1-fujifilm xt4

Lenses : xf 16-55m & 10-24mm

Lucroit filters 3nd  6nd & 10nd /polariser and gnd filter 

Drone shots: mavic pro 2