If Maldives sunset are more your sort of a therapy (perhaps with a medicinal elixir to aid the process), then here are score of powerful ones for what ails you…
Best of the Maldives: Moon Therapies – Oaga
Just had the Hunter’s Moon this week which could be an opportunity for one of Oaga’s San’dhu Moon Therapies
- ·“Upholding Maldivian practices and rituals of the past centuries that used the moon’s energy to craft medicinal massage oils and elixirs, our San’dhu Moon Therapies connect with the moon phases and their energies, offering powerful rituals to boost your vital energy and balance the body and the mind, and the overall spiritual wellbeing.”
Great for more than werewolves!
Best of the Maldives: Stem Cell Treatment – Soneva Fushi
Stem cells are truly amazing components of the human body. They are undifferentiated cells that can turn into wide range of cell types (or they can just replicate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cell). As a result of these distinctive characteristics, they are seen as the original human cell from which the human organised has evolved. A friend of mine recently had a life saving stem cell transplant where his faulty immune system was destroyed by the doctors and then they introduced the right stem cells to grow him whole new, healthy immune system (forgive the over-simplification).
Soneva Fushi has brought the scientific magic of stem cells to the Maldives offers the first ever stem cell treatments for a range of skin care procedures – Soneva Soul – First And Only Stem Cell Centre In Maldives (maldives-times.com):
- “By importing stem cells with prescription, Soneva Soul has eminent its collection of bespoke health and wellness services. Operating with the essential approvals from the Maldives Food and Drug Authority and maintenance world-class standards, the resort is now competent to provide targeted treatment and protocols by the power and probable of stem cells. The stem cells used in their treatment are complete by Sweden-based Cellcolabs, a biotech company that’s devoted to growing global access to stem cell treatments. Built on two decades of study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, they specialize in the high-class manufacture of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).”
The treatments are from Sweden-based Cellcolabs, a biotech company that’s devoted to growing global access to stem cell treatments. Built on two decades of study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, they specialize in the high-class manufacture of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The procedures include:
- Ntra-Articular Orthopedic Injetions to assist damaged tissue repair
- Topical injections with Micro-Needling to promote skin renewal
- IV system Stem Cell to reduce swelling and aid tissue recovery
- Intradermal Injections for a range of cosmetic treatments
Best of the Maldives: Floating Spa – South Palm
Across the 4 decades of watching the Maldives tourism evolve, we remember when most mainstream resorts didn’t even have spas. Then some added Western therapists on six-month contract given a table in some back room to work from. Eventually, proper wellness spas became the norm and soon, at the luxury properties, these establishments got positioned over the magical water like the villas and restaurants before them. Now South Palm has taken that treatment innovation a step even further by (a) introducing the Maldives’ first ever floating spa, and (b) the Maldives first ever lake spa.
Many of my favourite treatments in the Maldives were on overwater platforms where the natural sounds and sensations of the surrounding sea providing the soothing soundscape. A good massage will leave feeling like your are floating, and at South Palm you can get that feeling for real
Best of the Maldives: Beach Pond – The Standard
The Maldives are famed for their tranquil and shallow lagoons, but The Standard features the calmest, shallowest micro-lagoon in the Maldives. A little tidal pond formed on the main beach. We used to play in these with delight when we were youngsters. If your lucky a few tiny fish will have been trapped in a little temporary beach aquarium.
Best of the Maldives: Colourful Plunge Pool – Oaga
We are noting a increasing number of plunge pools in villas. Having your own private pool is becoming the norm for the 5-star luxury properties. The plunge pools are actually superb for the younger children (safe and perfectly adequate) and frankly for most adults (who often just want a literal “plunge” to cool off from the heat especially if they have been lying in the sun. Oaga’s plunge pools, like al the rest of the property, present an yet another canvas for artistic creativity.
Best of the Maldives: Duo Submersible – The Patina
The Maldives’ underwater spectacle was its first (drawing divers from around the world) attraction and, even with all of the on-land development of spectacular properties, remains one of its top attractions today. But if you don’t want to get wet snorkeling or invest in the training for scuba, the growing fleet of submersibles around the resorts give you a cozy front row seat to all the underwater wonders. The latest launch is The Patina’s two-seater, bubble canopy SEAmagine. The two seater also allows for the pilot to hand the controls over to the guest for the Maldives’ first ever submarine pilot training:
- “The resort partnered with Dive Butler to establish the Maldives’ first submarine pilot training facility. Ocean Pearl has been engineered by the world-renowned SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation, established in 1995 and recognised for its leadership in the recreational submarine industry. Today, SEAmagine submersibles have accumulated over 12,000 dives – surpassing the total number of dives accumulated by all its competitors combined – and are extensively used by various leisure, commercial, defence and scientific organisations worldwide. Ocean Pearl will be operated with Dive Butler, whose submarine pilots have completed SEAmagine’s rigorous training programme, initially developed in collaboration with the US Coast Guard and since established as the industry standard. Every expedition is led by an onboard pilot and a surface co-pilot, ensuring guests’ safety and access to the profound knowledge of marine life, complementing the sheer wonder of the experience with an educational dimension.”
Best of the Maldives: OBLU Helengeli – Female Diving
Not only has the Maldives grown as a destination over the years, but the role of women at the destination continues to grow as well. OBLU Helengeli set a milestone in one of the areas most synonymous with the Maldives – diving –
- “OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO, a resort managed by Atmosphere Core, and its dive partner, TGI Maldives, have been recognized for their exceptional dedication to female divers. The prestigious PADI® ‘Outstanding Contribution to Female Diving’ award marks a global milestone, being the first of its kind ever presented.”
Best of the Maldives: Tiger Shark Diving – Pelagic Dive Centre
Diving with the Tiger Sharks at Fuvahmulah is a truly bucket list dive experience and several dive companies operate from the harbor right where the sharks visit. After my characteristic research, we chose Pelagic Divers and we weren’t disappointed. Our case for choosing them was…
- Hamna Recommendation – I started by getting in touch with Hamna Ali who is one the subject of one of the most iconic tiger shark diving images and she recommended Pelagic as the operator who trained her.
- Owned, Run and Fully Staffed by Maldivians – One of the charms of Fuvahmulah overall is to escape the contrived playgrounds of the resort islands and explore the world of modern day Maldives, so this all-Maldivian enterprise, with the special connection to the island and these creatures, fits the vibe completely.
- Tiger Shark PADI Certification – Pelagic is so committed to the tiger sharks that they have developed a special Tiger Shark Diving Certification which has been recognized by PADI.
Guide to Fuvahmulah
One of the true highlights of this year’s Tour was our visit to Fuvahmulah. The first time we have stayed on an inhabited island and explored the modern live of the Maldivian islander.
Our itinerary worked exceptionally well and we felt we really had a chance to experience the lion share of the island in a reasonable compact period of time:
DAY 1 –
- Afternoon: Fly from Male to Fuvahmulah on the 3:05 Maldivian Airways arriving at 4:30
- Evening: Settle into AIG Hotel. Take a dip in the pool, drink some mocktail sundowners watching the sunset over the ocean, rooftop al fresco dinner at the hotel
DAY 2 –
- Morning to Afternoon: 3 dives with Pelagic Divers which includes a Deep Dive (to see pelagics like Thresher Sharks), the famous Tiger Shark dive, and a coral reef dive.
- Evening: Dinner at Eden Café
DAY 3 –
- Morning to Afternoon: 3 dives with Pelagic Divers which includes a Deep Dive (to see pelagics like Thresher Sharks), the famous Tiger Shark dive, and a coral reef dive.
- Evening: Dinner at AIG Hotel.
DAY 4 –
- Morning: Visit to Pebble Beach.
- Afternoon: Seaside lunch at Peebles Restaurant
- Evening: final visits around island and lounging by the rooftop pool
DAY 5 –
- Morning: depart on the 5:30 am Maldivian Airways flight (for international connection home or to transfer to a resort).
Here are few tips from our experience:
- Cafes – There are about 30 all over the place, but only a few are distinctive. The ones we researched and we delighted by are…
- AIG Grand – view
- Eden Café – décor
- Pebbles – beachfront locatio
- ·Currency – Most places take cards or phone payments and will convert into dollars. Some will only take cash, but are just as happy with dollars as ruffia. BUT (a) they don’t like $1 notes, (b) they can’t take any torn notes or defaced ones (the banks won’t accept them from them), and (c) don’t expect them to be able to give you change in dollars (though sometimes they might be able).
- Flights – 2 per day on Maldivian Air. There is a ferry to Gan (1 hour) or to Gaafu Dhaalu (1.5 hour) if you wanted to combine with a resort there.
- Excursions – Dhadimagi Kilhi Lake, Pebble Beach and the beaches in general offer lots of picturesque waterside strolling. But there is no real swimming (if the sharks don’t get you, the currents will). Also, there is no real real town centre for shopping, cafes, etc. (instead shops and eateries are widely dispersed across the island).