Time flies. Vilamendhoo is reopening on November 1, 2020, My Team and I are excited and looking forward to having you back. The island’s house reef is teaming with marine life that adds color to our underwater garden. The resort reopening will be done with safely in mind. Learn more about the measures on “A Safe Holiday Experience in Vilamendhoo”.
Our Dive Center will be open to operate dive excursions including Whale shark, Manta & Turtle and Snorkeling boat trips. Renewal of vow ceremonies and romantic dining will continue. If you require more information, contact us via email, or you may also use the live chat function on our website or get in touch with your travel agent.
Also, kindly remind our guests of the following;
Our Travel Updates page is constantly updated to provide our guests with as much as information possible to help plan travel.
Vilamendhoo also facilitate PCR Tests including free tests for guests staying a minimum 7 nights who require a certificate to present to airlines and arrival countries.
I would also like to remind our guests traveling on November to submit the Traveller Health Declaration and copy of the PCR test required for arrivals by the Maldives Immigration Authority via https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv, 24 hours prior to your travel.
We have arranged special offers up to 25% off which can be combined with our complimentary child stay offer during November 2020 to April 5, 2021. If you plan to have extended family gatherings and celebrate festivities together without the chaos of crowds, with sunshine and diving, Vilamendhoo will be great tropical option.
We look forward to welcome you again and experience your second home in Maldives. Finally, we are expecting turtle hatchlings in the island around 2nd or 3rd weeks of November which will be a marvelous experience to our guests of all ages. Until you arrive follow us on our social media channels as we frequently share the latest update of the resort.
What is the best time to Dive & Snorkel at Vilamendhoo?
Around the year.
[Updated on Thursday, April 03, 2025]
From avid diver to beginner, the waters around Vilamendhoo provide plenty of excursions and dive experiences to see the marine life, including hard and soft coral, Turtles, Manta rays and Whale Sharks encounters.
Vilamendhoo is a Year-Round Diving and Snorkelling Paradise
Situated in the diving and snorkelling hot spot of South Ari Atoll, Vilamendhoo offers exceptional experiences for all skill levels, no matter the season. From beginners to experienced divers or snorkellers, it provides plenty of opportunities to discover the incredible marine life surrounding the tropical island in the Maldives. The resort encompasses nearly 50 dive sites, all within one-hour reach by dive boats, including the Maamigili Marine Protected Area and National Park, where whale sharks are habitually spotted.
“Buffet resturant had a different variety evry night and was very tasty, staff was very friendly and helpful. House reef was wonderful and beginner snorkeling friendly.” – William, February 2025 – Expedia
House Reef – A famous underwater garden
One of Vilamendhoo’s most incredible features is its house reef, located just a few steps from the beach. The coral garden encircles the island, extending over the narrow lagoon around the overwater villas on the western end of the island. Divers enjoy the sight of the soft and hard corals teeming in the fringing reef. From brain corals to table corals and deeply formed coral habitats are found along with the colourful fish that reside in them. Parrot-fish, butterfly-fish, angelfish, trumpet-fish, oriental sweetlips, trevallys, clown-fish, moray-eels and spotted-eagle-rays and turtles can easily be spotted just with a house reef dive.
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[Related: Spotting Sea Turtles in the Maldives With Vilamendhoo » ]
Euro Divers – Snorkellers’ and Divers’ companion on the island
The Euro-Divers Dive Centre at Vilamendhoo is an award winning, professional dive operator. As a fully equiped, 5-Star Dive Centre, it offers a wide range of PADI courses for all dive enthusiasts. Beginners and refreshers will be introduced to a house reef orientation dive. Followed by any dive course or preferred dive trips to dive sites around the atoll – all with expert guidance. From open water dives to advanced diving, Euro Divers offers all recreational dive experiences. The team also conducts guided night snorkelling to the house reef for those seeking adventure and witness the marine life glow in the dark.
Top Nearby Dive Sites
Vilamendhoo Thila – 5 minutes from the island
Just five minutes from Vilamendhoo’s dive jetty, this submerged dive point boasts dramatic overhangs and thriving marine life. Divers can encounter grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and vibrant reef fish. With its diverse landscape, Vilamendhoo Thila is an unforgettable underwater adventure for all divers.
Bapoli Thila – 20 minutes from the island
Bapoli Thila is a haven for its elegant underwater landscape. Its vivid drop-offs and stunning rock formations hide tiger and peacock mantis shrimp, octopuses, stonefish, and vibrant anemones. With shimmering glassfish and elusive critters, this dive site is an exciting marine habitat for divers.
Kudarah Thila – 35 minutes from the island
Kudarah Thila is a renowned marine reserve teeming with life. Schools of blue-striped snappers swirl around vibrant corals while grey reef sharks patrol the depths. With rich biodiversity and stunning formations, it attracts many experienced divers.
“We enjoyed a 1 week family holiday in Dec24. Its a fantastic resort, located on a beautiful island with stunning beaches, surrounded by a great house-reef. Very friendly & helpful staff, good food, an excellent dive centre and dive location. Would happily return.” – DubaiScotts, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 2024 – TripAdvisor
Discover the Best of Vilamendhoo
Vilamendhoo House Reef Snorkelling: Just a few steps from the beach, the reef offers 10 easy entry and exit points, allowing the divers and snorkelers.
Join Vilamendhoo Fun Dives:Features over 15 stunning ‘Thila’s (submerged coral formations), including famous sites like Kuda Rah Thila, Lucky Hell, Kudhimaa Wreck, and 7th Heaven. Encounter sharks, eagle rays, and massive schools of snapper in these spectacular underwater landscapes.
Whale Shark Encounters:South Ari Atoll is one of the locations where whale sharks are seen year-round. Join a full-day excursion for a chance to swim alongside these gentle giants.
Manta Ray Sightings Excursions: Experience the magical manta rays at four well-known cleaning stations across South Ari Atoll, shifting sightings based on the season.
“We had a wonderful holiday at Vilamendhoo Resort. Everything was arranged smoothly e.g. the seaplane transfers. The house reef was amazing to snorkel in, we could see reef sharks, turtles, eels, rays, colorful fish. My dream of swimming with whale sharks came true on the whale shark excursion organized by the resort. The dive center was also fantastic, with boat trips to the best dive sites and great dive guides! Can’t wait to discover some other dive sites next time. We met some other repeated visitors and we definitely understand why :)” – Jesssrnck, Ghent, Belgium, July 2024 – TripAdvisor
Special offers
A choice of offers for your Maldives holiday. See All Offers »
Spending the Christmas and New Year’s holiday festive season with family and friends is the longstanding tradition. Let us suggest a beautiful, tropical destination called Vilamendhoo, where you can get together with the ones you love and celebrate the season without the worries of social distancing and the constraints imposed by the prevailing pandemic.
Why Vilamendhoo tops the list to spend your festive season
Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa is a private island, the only resort on the island and naturally shields our guests from the crowds. The World Tourism Organization also endorsed the Maldives with the Safe Travels Stamp so you may travel with peace of mind. With Maldives reopening borders, more airlines are flying into the Maldives.
Vilamendhoos’ long beaches the required freedom of space. No masks on beaches.
Escape the winter, escape the crowds to sun, sand and clean ocean and blissful relaxation.
Indulge in fantastic diving, snorkelling, yachting, good food, spa, entertainment and Maldivian hospitality during the festive season. The waters around Vilamendhoo is famed for Whale shark spotting, rays and turtles. Swim into the resorts house reef right from the beach.
Surprise a loved one. Catch up and celebrate all those anniversaries, missed sunsets and cancelled holidays. Or make your Vilamendhoo holiday an opportunity for an extended family getaway and celebrate festivities together, on a tropical island.
Facilitation of PCR testing as required by your home countries and airlines for onward travel.
Vilamendhoo offers a choice of special offers and flexible cancellation to help plan travel and to allow you to the opportunity to linger longer in the Maldives. Book direct, book via OTAs or speak to your travel agent for the best rates and packages.
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