[2023 PICKS] The 15 Best Maldives Resorts for Snorkeling

The best Maldives resorts for snorkeling have the most idyllic location. The Maldives is a tropical paradise known for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and abundant marine life. For snorkelers, the Maldives is a dream come true, with a vast array of colorful fish and coral reefs to explore. If you’re planning a snorkeling trip to the Maldives, you’ll want to stay at one of the best resorts for this activity.

These resorts offer top-notch snorkeling experiences, with access to some of the best snorkeling spots in the Maldives and a range of amenities and activities to keep you entertained. From luxury overwater villas to budget-friendly beachfront accommodations, there’s a Maldives resort to suit every taste and budget.

The Best Resorts in the Maldives for Snorkeling

1. Soneva Jani

8.9 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Soneva Jani is located on the island of Medhufaru in a 5.6 km lagoon in the Noonu Atoll, offering some of the best Maldives snorkeling.

It features both overwater and island villas, each with a private pool and a retractable roof to stargaze from the master bedroom. Some of the villas even have slides from the top floor directly into the lagoon below. The villas are luxuriously designed with sustainable materials and boast a spacious master bedroom with an adjoining kids’ sleeping area, an open-air bathroom with bathtub, shower, and lagoon access, a mini-bar with espresso machine, a private wine cellar selection, and a deck with direct access to the lagoon.

The main facilities of Soneva Jani are located at The Gathering, a three-story structure that includes a Spa, gift shop, water sports, and dive center, an Observatory, silent cinema, tennis court, labyrinth gardens, eco-center,, and Children’s Den. There is plenty of dining options and cuisines, as well as complimentary cheese, chocolate, and ice-cream rooms.

To get to Soneva Jani, guests must take a 40-minute seaplane ride from Male International Airport or a 1-hour speedboat ride from Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani’s sister resort.

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2. InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort

9.3 Average Rating on Booking.com
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InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is situated in Raa Atoll, known for some of the most perfect snorkeling in Maldives.  This resort also offers private Beach, Overwater, and Lagoon villas and residences, each featuring Maldivian-inspired interiors.

Resort facilities such as Avi Spa, a yoga pavilion, and five restaurants are available for guests to enjoy. The restaurants vary from Mediterranean tapas and sea-to-table South Asian-inspired dining to creative cocktails. At The Retreat, an adult-only enclave, guests can enjoy all-day refreshments with deep blue lagoon views.

Club InterContinental benefits include afternoon tea, evening aperitif at the Pool Bar, and all-day refreshments at The Retreat and The Pool Bar. The Marine Discovery Centre provides screening of educational films and collaboration with the Manta Trust Foundation. Guests can embark on exploratory snorkeling or even make a difference by adopting a Manta.

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3. Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort

9.3 Average Rating on Booking.com
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InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is situated in Raa Atoll and features private Beach, Overwater, and Lagoon villas and residences, each with Maldivian-inspired interiors. Resort facilities such as Avi Spa and a yoga pavilion are onsite to allow guests to relax and recharge – truly some of the best Maldives resort for snorkeling.

To satisfy guests’ taste buds, the resort has five restaurants. From Mediterranean tapas at The Lighthouse to sea-to-table South Asian-inspired dining at The Fish Market and a fusion of cross-continental flavors at Café Umi, there is something for everyone. Guests can also sip creative cocktails at The Sunset Bar or reconnect in the adult-only enclave of The Retreat. For an elevated touch of personalization, Dining by Design offers guests a sunset cruise, gourmet picnic, or movie night under the stars.

Club InterContinental guests are treated to afternoon tea, evening aperitif at the Pool Bar, and all-day refreshments at The Retreat and The Pool Bar. The Marine Discovery Centre provides educational films and the chance to collaborate with the Manta Trust Foundation. Guests can go snorkeling or adopt a Manta.

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4. JOALI

9.6 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is one of the best Maldives resorts for snorkeling, offering a luxurious getaway with a private Beach, Overwater, and Lagoon villas and residences. Each villa boasts Maldivian-inspired interiors and resort facilities such as Avi Spa, designed to recharge the soul and awaken the senses. For those seeking a more spiritual experience, a yoga pavilion offers personalized training.

Guests can also enjoy a variety of culinary experiences with five restaurants, each offering a unique culinary journey. From Mediterranean tapas at The Lighthouse to sea-to-table South Asian-inspired dining at The Fish Market and a fusion of cross-continental flavors at Café Umi, all dishes are crafted with organic, local, and sustainable ingredients. For a truly romantic experience, guests can succumb to the romance of The Sunset Bar, or reconnect in The Retreat, an adult-only enclave with deep blue lagoon views. Dining by Design is also available, allowing guests to experience personalized picnics, sunset cruises, and movie nights under the stars.

Club InterContinental benefits include afternoon tea, evening aperitifs at the Pool Bar, and all-day refreshments at The Retreat and The Pool Bar. Further, the Marine Discovery Centre provides educational films and collaboration with the Manta Trust Foundation, allowing guests to explore the surrounding waters and even make a difference by adopting a Manta.

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5. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

9.6 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Four Seasons Resort Maldives is a luxurious getaway located in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. You can reach the resort after a 30-minute seaplane flight from Male International Airport. Land-based accommodations provide private beach access, a pool, outdoor showers, and lush private gardens. The Water Villas feature panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, spacious sundeck, outdoor showers, and nets for over-water lazing.

Four Seasons is some of the best snorkeling resorts offering a variety of activities to enjoy. Guests can enjoy meals at any of the four in-house restaurants, with Ayurvedic options available. Experience Anti Gravity Yoga, Panchakarma, and the Night Spa at the multi-award-winning Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat. You can also swim with seasonal groups of manta rays and whale sharks, join coral reef scaping and turtle rehabilitation projects at the Marine Discovery Centre, and enjoy kite surfing, X-Jetblades, and parasailing.

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6. Niyama Private Islands Maldives

9.2 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Niyama Private Islands Maldives is one of the best Maldives resort set in a luxurious tropical paradise offering a quiet private beach, butler services, and free WiFi. Located on the beach or over the crystal lagoon, its villas are spacious and modern and come with a 40-inch flat-screen TV, international TV channels, Bose surrounds sound system, and a well-stocked minibar. Outdoor bathrooms are equipped with a soaking tub and soothing rain showers.

A variety of activities can be arranged by the resort’s butlers, such as guided snorkeling trips, sunset cruises, manta ray snorkeling, and fishing trips. Guests can also look forward to playing the latest video games, swimming in the main pool, or exercising at the gym, as well as enjoying the amenities of the resort’s 24-hour spa. The Kids Club is a world-class facility that caters to children 12 months to 12 years old.

Niyama Private Islands Maldives features a unique selection of restaurants. Subsix is a world-class underwater restaurant located 6 m below sea level, while Edge is set 500 m out in the ocean, accessible only by boat. Nest offers a tree-top setting perfect for romantic and family dining, and Tribal is the only resort in the Maldives to have an Afro-Latin restaurant.

Transport to and from the resort is also convenient. It is a 40-minute seaplane ride from Male International Airport, while Maldives’ Dhaalu Airport is now open to private jet transfers that can be arranged at an extra charge.

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7. Coco Bodu Hithi

8.7 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Coco Bodu Hithi is one of the best Maldives resort for activities, on an island paradise in North Male Atoll, a 40-minute speedboat ride away from Malé International Airport. It offers modern comforts and amenities for its guests, such as villas with private pools, free WiFi, and flat-screen TVs. Guests can enjoy a variety of features, such as pre-booked yoga sessions with a yoga master, outdoor decks, and an in-room bar that offers hot coffee. An electric kettle and personal safe are also provided in each villa.

The property also offers health-conscious facilities like Tai Chi pavilions and an over-water gym. Those who wish to pamper themselves can enjoy massage services at the spa or take advantage of the beauty salon and laundry services. Chinese-speaking staff is also available to assist guests.

When it comes to dining, guests can enjoy savor fusion cuisine at Air Restaurant, Asian seafood dishes at Aqua Restaurant, casual beach dining at Breeze Restaurant, and international wine at Altitude. To end the night, Latitude Bar offers cocktails with a soothing sea breeze.

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8. Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

9.6 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Gili Lankanfushi is a Maldives resort with house reef on the private island of Lankanfushi in Male Atoll, is a luxurious accommodation that overlooks the Indian Ocean. It is a 20-minute speedboat ride from Male International Airport. Every eco-friendly residence is equipped with a cable/satellite TV, DVD player, BOSE surround-sound system, espresso machine, and minibar. There is free Wi-Fi access throughout the resort.

Guests can enjoy an ocean-view outdoor pool and a relaxing spa with glass-paneled floors. Traditional Ayurvedic treatments, yoga programs, and other recreational activities such as tennis, island day trips, and scuba diving are available.

Gili Lankanfushi also offers a variety of dining options. The Wine Cellar and Underground Chocolate Cave serve premium wine and gourmet chocolate, respectively. By the Sea, Restaurant offers fusion and Japanese cuisine, while the Main Restaurant and Bar provide international buffet spreads.

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9. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

9.1 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is the best island in Maldives for snorkeling and the first St. Regis on a private island. It is set on nine hectares of lush tropical gardens and powdery white sand and is surrounded by a turquoise lagoon. The resort can be reached in 45 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport (MLE). Guests are welcomed with world-class service, and personalized St. Regis Butler Service is available for all the rooms.

The 77 spacious villas and suites each come with a private pool, iPad room controls, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Walk-in closets, private terraces, and Bang & Olufsen BeoVision TVs with international channels are also included. The marble bathrooms come with freestanding bathtubs, rainforest showers, and signature amenities. A nonalcoholic stocked mini-bar is available in each villa category, and free Wi-Fi access is also available.

The St. Regis Maldives offers six distinct dining venues, including a pop-up restaurant, an overwater tapas bar, and exceptional wine dinners at the Decanter cellar. Guests can also delight in an island picnic, floating rituals, and more. Halal food is available.

At Iridium Spa, guests can indulge in a holistic approach to relaxation and rejuvenation by enjoying six overwater treatment rooms, including two that are dedicated to healing Ayurveda treatments. Each visit offers a customized spa experience, such as authentic rituals or luxury caviar treatments. The Blue Hole is one of the most expansive hydrotherapy pools in the Indian Ocean.

The resort also offers services and entertainment such as acupuncture, meditation, anti-gravity yoga, Children’s club, indoor games at Socialite Club, an outdoor main pool, an outdoor tennis court, and a library. Guests can also enjoy activities such as diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, jet skiing, sea bobbing, glass bottom kayaking, parasailing, and chartering a luxury yacht called Norma.

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10. Soneva Fushi

9.2 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Soneva Fushi is also in one of the best Maldives islands for snorkeling.

It is a luxurious eco-friendly resort located on a private island within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is accessible via a thirty-minute seaplane transfer from Male International Airport. The villas and rooms at Soneva Fushi are spacious and provide direct access to the nearby beach. Each villa includes a signature bathroom built within a large private garden space, with outdoor showers and separate bathtubs.

Complimentary bicycles are available to explore the island, and guests can take advantage of the intuitive service the Barefoot Butler provides. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities, including watching movies at the open-air Cinema Paradiso, counting Saturn’s rings in the high-tech Observatory, indulging in homemade chocolates and ice cream, choosing from five hundred different wines, and dining at six different restaurants.

The resort also offers the Maldives’ only glass studio, where guests can learn the art of glass blowing. Complimentary non-motorized water sports are also available, and guests can sail aboard the two-bedroom luxury yacht, Soneva in Aqua. For an even more intimate experience, guests can spend an evening overnight at the Sandbank, a private and remote location.

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11. Dhigali Maldives

9.3 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Dhigali Maldives – A Premium All-Inclusive Resort is located 45 minutes away from Male airport via a seaplane ride, available for an all inclusive snorkeling resorts. It is surrounded by a large house-reef beyond the lagoon. At the resort, guests can enjoy the Spa set in a tropical lush garden. This tranquil setting features an outdoor plunge pool surrounded by day beds within the natural greenery, offering indigenous therapies and healing traditions.

The resort offers luxurious rooms with a private bathroom with a bath or shower and bidet. Bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries are provided for additional comfort. Some rooms also have a seating area with a coffee machine.

A number of activities are available for guests to enjoy in the area, such as snorkeling and windsurfing.

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12. Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences

9.6 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Amilla Fushi Resort Villas & Residences is one of the best Maldives island for snorkeling.

It is a luxurious island resort located in Baa Atoll. It offers a selection of island homes, such as those hovering over the clear waters, nestled among lush tree tops, or situated on the shores of pristine white sand. There is an outdoor pool, spa, and wellness center for guests. Free WiFi access is available throughout the resort.

The air-conditioned accommodation features terraces, a minibar, and a seating area. Each room comes with a private bathroom with a shower or bath. Guests can admire the stunning sea views from the room’s windows.

The resort offers a variety of activities and facilities, such as a restaurant, private beach area, tennis court, ticket service, tour desk, and luggage storage. Guests can also enjoy activities such as fishing, diving, and snorkeling. There are seven enticing restaurants to choose from, offering signature Japanese izakaya with a spicy Latin touch, and three bars serving craft cocktails, immunity-boosting tinctures, and fine wines.

Amilla Fushi Resort Villas & Residences is a 30-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport and a 15-minute flight to Dharavandhoo Domestic Airport in Baa Atoll.

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13. The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives

8.9 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi offers some of the best snorkeling in Maldives in a 52-acre luxury resort located in the heart of Noonu Atoll. It features 221 spacious beaches and overwater villas, each with a private terrace, a flat-screen TV, an en suite bathroom with an I-spa bathtub, complimentary toiletries and slippers, and an outdoor rain-shower facility. Guests can also enjoy free WiFi throughout the resort.

The resort boasts an infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean, a family pool in lush tropical surroundings, and a fitness center with garden views. Guests can also take part in a variety of water sports, including sailing, windsurfing, flyboarding, and scuba diving.

The resort also offers a variety of spa treatments, chosen from eastern and western healing practices, at The Spa by Thalgo France. Guests can also enjoy snorkeling with complimentary snorkeling equipment provided at the house reef and Nemo garden.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is 8 km from Minaavaru Dive Site and 10 km from Iguraidhoo Dive Site and can be reached with a 45-minute scenic seaplane flight from Malé International Airport.

The resort offers 15 food and beverage outlets, including buffet options with live cooking stations and private meals on the beach.

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14. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

9.0 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is one of the finest Maldives snorkeling resorts, the perfect destination for those seeking a luxurious beach holiday. Located on a gorgeous island in the North Malé Atoll, it is only 25 minutes away from Male International Airport and provides free airport transfers. With a minimum 3 nights stay, travelers will enjoy exclusive villas and private pools, free WiFi access throughout the property, round-trip airport transfers, a sunset cruise, and even a USD 100 per night resort credit.

Each villa features a modern Maldivian styling that incorporates thatched roofs and rustic worn-wood elements and is equipped with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, both outdoor and indoor showers and tea/coffee-making facilities. Guests can enjoy the white sandy beaches just steps away from the villas, and each villa comes with a private plunge pool and jet pool.

At Banyan Tree Spa Vabbinfaru, guests can relax and enjoy a range of massage treatments and beauty therapies. For those seeking more activity, the resort offers watersports and a diving center offering rental of snorkeling equipment, dive trips, and guided catamaran excursions. The property also houses a marine laboratory.

When it comes to culinary options, guests can savor Maldivian cuisine, fresh seafood, and international dishes at the beachfront Ilaafathi Restaurant and Sangu Garden Restaurant. For additional dining/activity variety, guests can travel to Angsana Ihuru, 5 minutes away by speedboat, where they can dine at Riveli and The Velaavani Bar and snorkel in the house reef.

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15. Kuramathi Maldives

9.2 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Kuramathi Maldives is a luxurious resort on a beautiful island in the Maldives. Guests are invited to stay in private villas equipped with flat-screen TVs; some even offer a spa bath. The resort has a variety of amenities, including 12 dining options, a kids club, 3 outdoor pools, and a spa.

The air-conditioned villas provide spectacular views of the sea and easy beach and garden access. They come with cable TV, a DVD player, an iPod docking station, a minibar, an in-room safe, and some even include an espresso machine.

Guests have a variety of dining options. The 3 main restaurants serve international buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while The Reef offers fresh seafood, and Island Barbecue provides traditional barbecues set on the beachfront. There are also 7 bars serving refreshing drinks and cocktails.

The resort is a 20-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport, and guests are welcomed on arrival by a hotel representative. Water sports and diving can be enjoyed at the resort’s water sports and dive centers, and it offers some of the best snorkeling in Maldives.

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Snorkeling in Maldives Wrap Up

The Maldives is a paradise for snorkelers, with its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and abundant marine life. If you’re planning a snorkeling trip to the Maldives, you’ll want to stay at one of the best resorts for this activity. The Maldives has a range of resorts that offer top-notch snorkeling experiences, with access to some of the best snorkeling spots in the Maldives and a range of amenities and activities to keep you entertained.