Browsing Tag

snorkelling

travel

Kurumba: An Underwater Haven

Posted on March 31, 2017

If it’s the fish you fancy most about the Maldives and its abundant blue ocean, then the underwater world at Kurumba is for you. Named Vihamanaafushi after the word for coconut, this diver’s paradise opened back in 1972 and is one of the longest running resorts in all the atolls. Kurumba began with just 30 rooms that were all constructed using local materials with walls made from coral stone and roofs composed of palm thatch. It’s close to Male airport in the North, which makes it even more appealing for the weekend warrior. Kurumba, Maldives

There’s a much more relaxed and casual atmosphere here, as apposed to the other often-intimidating 5* resorts in the area, it’s perfect for families or for the solo traveller looking for a bit of winter sunshine. Kurumba, Maldives

Currents and reef at this time of year bring with it an abundance of fish feeding on plankton – the current moves around the island with a strong pull and limits your efforts snorkeling so you wont get exhausted quickly, you can just enjoy the ride and take in the array of aquatic action. Kurumba, Maldives

The reef here is less damaged than the rest of the Maldives, with less bleaching affecting the corals as apposed to the more southern atolls. Sky blue lagoons and darker reef drops are visibly different in vibrancy to the deeper turquoise shallows elsewhere. Kurumba, Maldives

Expect to get up close and personal with the local black tip sharks, barracuda, eels and a few house reef turtles too. There’s an app in the Maldives that’s used by the marine biologists across the islands to help identify turtles, whale sharks, manta’s and stingrays, with just a couple of close up shots, you can determine if you’ve stumbled across a newbie (which you get to name) or if they’re locals and have been named before! Kurumba, Maldives

For those looking to keep their head above water for a bit longer to enjoy the beautiful weather… the spa on Kurumba is a breathe of fresh air. Take in a signature massage for an hour to truly enjoy your time off. If like me you’re looking to stay a little more active in between your snorkeling sessions, sign up for a sunrise yoga with their dedicated island instructor and wake up with a little extra good energy. Kurumba, Maldives

travel

Maafushivaru – The Adventure Awaits

Posted on January 10, 2017

When you read about the Maldives, the thing you don’t necessarily realize is just how many different options there are here. With over 330 resorts amongst 1000+ islands, how do you choose your perfect Maldivian getaway? Most of the islands are under 15mins wide (walking distance) and with their very friendly staff; you can so easily get comfortable here. I’ve been extraordinarily lucky this trip to be able to try out a variety of different resorts, and test their levels of adventure, nature and aquatic experiences. Maafushivaru

One white-knuckle seaplane transfer from Male airport later and we’ve landed at our new atoll, Maafushivaru. Straight off the boat onto the pontoon we’re greeted with sea turtles and juvenile lemon sharks basking in the shallows, so I knew from the start this was going to be my kind of island. Maafushivaru

It’s got a very casual feel to the place, compared with our previous resort. It’s a smaller resort and as there’s less people at any one spot, it feels a bit more private. The weather had been threatening us all morning and during our lunch we first got a taste of its infamous tropical climate as we sat and enjoyed a very fuss-free buffet meal. It feels a bit like a luxury diving resort, it’s the kind of place that travelling solo, you’d feel totally at ease. Maafushivaru

This island has its own private island too, if you’re feeling like you want a bit more of a castaway experience (VIP of course) you can check into a separate atoll that’s completely yours for the night. Perfect for families or even a hen do! It’s got a restaurant on the island for when there’s no bookings though so you can still visit it during the day and hang out on an old dhow. Maafushivaru

After lunch we were invited on a private manta ray excursion, where we were also told whale sharks had been spotted in the area too! Not wanting to waste any more time at the dinner table, we all got our equipment ready and headed out with their on-site marine biologist to a nearby sandbar. The weather was determined to keep us guessing but unfortunately that meant the visibility had dropped. Maafushivaru

We didn’t hesitate to see what was beneath the waves (which had started picking up so for those of you who suffer from sea sickness… the best cure is really just to jump in!). Armed with a Go Pro and a snorkel, the water was actually a much warmer place to be than staying in the boat! Maafushivaru Wearing paddle suit from The Upside at Sun & Sand Sports

We toured the reef for all of about 30 minutes, with a few turtles popping up to say hello, amongst a bevvy of colorful fish. What was extremely noticeable amongst all the islands is the global El Nino phenomenon that’s hit them hard. There’s nothing locally that can be done, it’s a weather phenomenon that makes the shallow waters too warm to sustain the plant life.

From corals and reef-beds that used to line the coasts with colours in the Maldives, it’s estimated that over 60% has been lost. You can see a lot of broken corals, white and bare, covered in algae, to the point that live corals or anemones were few and far between. It’s not as bad as Australia of course who’s rumored to have lost up to 90% of their beautiful reefs!

No manta’s or sharks were spotted on our trip, but that gives me even more reason to come back! If you’re looking for more of an aquatic adventure, this island will make sure you get what you came for. Maafushivaru

Top tips:

– Take a Go-Pro!
– Enjoy some table-cooked Teppanyaki on the boardwalk
– Even if it rains, swim!