The Maldives is mostly renowned for romance. The picture-perfect Indian Ocean islands have always been a very popular luxury destination for couples. But what is not so well known is that the Maldives is also a terrific destination for those looking for an adrenaline-fuelled experience. It’s a thrill-seeker’s paradise.
Those visiting the islands for Valentine’s need not be restricted to romance. They can also enjoy a huge variety of white-knuckle sports. There is much more to the Maldives than indulging in a sensual couple’s massages, or having a romantic, candlelit dîner à deux on the beach, looking dreamily into each other’s eyes.
As Skyscanner forecasts that 2025 will be the most significant year ever for sport-related trips, our expert travel team have scoured the archipelago and come up with the four luxury Maldives resorts which offer the best adrenaline-driven activities.
IFURU ISLAND
A terrific and very unusual way to mark Valentine’s Day is by communing with the breathtaking underwater world to be found off the coast of Ifuru Island in the Maldives’ Raa Atoll.
The luxury resort is a magnet for divers from all over the world. The waters encircling it are rife with vibrant marine life, exceptional coral formations and outstanding sub-marine landscapes.
Waterfront view of Ifuru Maldives, in the Raa Atoll
The dive sites around Ifuru Island satisfy every interest, from astonishing reefs to dazzling overhangs and caves. Each dive reveals a new side to the teeming underwater ecosystem of the Maldives. There are so many wondrous sites to choose from. For instance, Bea Ge Faru serves up a panorama of colours and marine species.
This reef presents divers with the opportunity to come face-to-face with turtles, eagle rays and stingrays. The splendidly named Oriental sweetlips and the iconic Maldivian anemonefish also bustle around the area. Thanks to the richness of its marine life, Bea Ge Faru is celebrated for its unforgettable underwater photography.
Scuba-diving in Ifuru offers great chances of close encounters with turtles and other large marine animals as well as exploring reefs bursting with stunning underwater landscapes.
Ungulu Caves, meanwhile, is a site laden with intrigue. Its mysterious overhangs are populated by groupers, Napoleon wrasse, and schools of bannerfish. And Vaadhoo Reef provides divers with mesmerising coral landscapes. There they may well see turtles, fusiliers, eagle rays, and snappers. All marine life is there.
Ifuru Island is a destination sure to kindle a lasting romance with the Maldives’ world-famous underwater paradise.
KANDIMA MALDIVES
On Valentine’s Day, the adrenaline is sure to be pumping at this luxury resort with the Kandima Maldives Fast Track, the country’s only asphalt go-kart track.
The longest and most rapid E-Go-Kart circuit in the Maldives, this breathtaking ocean-front track is powered by electrics. As guests hurtle at up to 80 kilometres an hour around the 12 death-defying turns of the 500-metre circuit, they will have a truly memorable, eco-friendly, zero-emission adventure.
Kandima Maldives, in the Dhaalu Atoll, is ringed by a cyan-blue lagoon and pristine white-sand beaches.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, couples are invited to race against each other. Competing head-to-head at full throttle will surely fuel guests’ romantic rivalry. Kandima’s exclusive “Valentine’s Combo”offers 30 minutes of high-octane thrills, followed by a photo session to capture the memories of this exhilarating experience.
Kandima’s e-karting circuit is the only one in the whole of the Maldives.
Guests who particularly relish competition will also have the chance to take part in the “Couple Karting Mini Grand Prix” on Valentine’s Day. The victors willwin a complimentary 10-minute karting session.
In their downtime between scorching round Fast Track at eye-watering speeds, couples can take a breather by lapping up the delightful experience of an hour-long sunset parasailing adventure. The luxury resort of Kandima is the place to enjoy love in the fast lane.
AMILLA MALDIVES
Nestled within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, Amilla is a luxury resort developed on a natural island and one of the few owned by Maldivians. They have less villas and residences than other island resorts, which means more space to play, relax and explore.
Aerial View of Amilla Maldives, one of the few natural islands turned into a 5-star luxury resort and owned by Maldivians.
This year, Amilla is offering several Valentine’s Day activities certain to spike your adrenaline. Feel like James Bond swooping over the sea on the resort’s exclusive Jet Blade. High above the glittering waters of the Indian Ocean, you can soar, hover, dive and spin on this astounding, futuristic water-propelled device. An excellent way of viewing the resort from above, this thrilling adventure melds the joy of flight with the natural splendour of the Maldives.
Guests at Amilla can also enjoy another unique experience on the Subwing. Holding onto this graceful underwater board, you will be towed along just below the surface. You can adjust the wings in order to dive, roll, or glide underneath the waves. This elegant piece of kit enables you to feel deeply connected to the underwater kingdom.
Thrilling James Bond-like experiences at Amilla Maldives: the Jet Blade and Subwing.
A private speedboat is available to hire at Amilla as well. With the help of a captain, you can plot your own course as you investigate secluded snorkelling sites and deserted sandbanks. You can also search for the dolphins that are often found frolicking near the resort.
PATINA FARI ISLANDS
What better way to set your pulse racing on the Maldives this Valentine’s Day than by taking an extraordinary voyage under the waves in a submarine?
Patina Fari Islands is offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience, an unrivalled opportunity to explore what lies beneath the surface of the crystalline waters surrounding the Fari Islands.
Left: Aeria view of Patina Maldives. Right: one bedroom water pool villa at Patina.
Left: aerial view of Patina Maldives. Right: one bedroom water pool villa at Patina.
A submarine, called the Ocean Pearl, provides travellers with an unsurpassed view of the wonders of this stunning underwater realm. Steered by a highly-trained on-board pilot, the Ocean Pearl is driven by a bespoke propulsion system. This endows the two-person vessel with unparalleled agility. The submarine also boasts a 360-degree cabin perspective and a range of state-of-the-art sub-sea tools.
The craft can be very safely and precisely taken up close to reefs, furnishing passengers with magnetic, unimpeded views of the corals, the rarely-seen marine species and the exotic, sunken treasures that line the ocean floor. They may well be lucky enough to look on in awe as a manta ray or an elusive sea turtle glides gracefully past the vessel.
Ocean Pearl, the ground-breaking submarine at Patina Maldives, offering guests unprecedented under-water experiences.
As a bonus, guests riding in the Ocean Pearl have the chance to take part in a hands-on environmental initiative which contributes directly to the conservation of the delicate marine ecosystem of the Maldives. Led by marine biologists and environmental experts, guests can participate in data collection and documentation, helping with vital ongoing research efforts and aiding the preservation of this precious area.
Author: James Rampton
If you are interested in the Maldives, you may like to read more about Amilla Maldives, or find out about Kuda Villingili, another great luxury resort in the Maldives.
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