If I could give this 10 stars I would—I ended up with the same guide I had on my first tour with Secret Paradise Maldives, Shark, and once again he did not disappoint.
Shark led me through some breathing exercises beforehand; then we practiced snorkeling in the shallow water at the sand bar before then heading to the snorkeling site, and it worked! It was like nothing I’ve had the chance to experience—so many varieties of fish, “the whole gang from Finding Nemo was there,” I joked with some friends later.
Shark was the best guide, and Secret Paradise Maldives in particular were professional, quick to respond to messages and very pleasant to work with. Thank you all for such a great trip!
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All Equipment Included
Responsible Snorkeling
Explore White Sand Beaches & Snorkel in Crystal-Clear Waters
This is a Maldives ocean adventure not to be missed! Head to a sun-drenched sandbank nestled in a blue lagoon where you can can unwind or snorkel the vibrant underwater world, surrounded by colorful tropical fish. Visit some of the best snorkeling spots close to Male, and spot dolphins in their natural environment. As the day draws to a close, witness the sky ablaze with the captivating hues of a Maldivian sunset, creating memories that will stay with you forever.
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
- USD 160 per person
Departure time
- Daily 14:00 – 18:00
Meeting point
- Westside jetty Hulhumale (adjacent to the ferry terminal).
- Collection from the airport, hotels in Malé, Hulhumale or the cruise tender jetty available upon request and is offered free of charge.
We are only able to collect from private resort islands in North and South Male Atolls. Permission must be gained from the resort to enable us to use their private jetty. Not all resorts will allow this service so please do confirm with the resort prior to booking. Charges for return transfer will be based on the distance the resort is located from Male.
Duration
- 4 hours
Group size
- Maximum 8 persons
Included
- Snorkeling equipment/fish ID card
- Buoyancy aid
- Sun umbrella
- Water & Fresh Fruit
- Secret Paradise snorkeling guide
- Local tax (10% service charge and 16% GST)
We do provide snorkeling equipment on all our tours but please feel free to bring along your own mask and snorkel. Not only will you be assured your mask fits your face properly and is comfortable and less likely to have leakage, it will also lower any health associated risks. We find that peace of mind goes a long way.
Not included
- Food
What to bring
-
Refillable water bottle, beach towel, sun glasses, sun hat, water resistant reef friendly sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, snacks, money for personal expenditure.
We recommend the use of a rash guard or t-shirt whilst snorkeling.
For all water based activities we would advise wherever possible for your belongings to be in a ‘dry bag’ and to bring only the minimum requirement. It is also advisable if you intend to take a taxi or bus following your tour to carry a set of dry clothing.
For all water based activities we would advise wherever possible for your belongings to be in a ‘dry bag’ and to bring only the minimum requirement. It is also advisable if you intend to take a taxi or bus following your tour to carry a set of dry clothing.
YOUR IMPACT
- Your travel spend sustains the local economy and the livelihoods of locals, including your tour leader and our local suppliers.
- Contribute to the protection of coral reefs and marine life by learning about the Green Fins code of snorkeling conduct.
- Increase your awareness of how you can make a positive impact on coral reefs even by your actions back at home or when you travel to other destinations.
- Participate in fish ID data collection which assists in monitoring biodiversity and track changes in marine ecosystems.
- Participate in a beach clean-up, directly removing debris and protecting marine life from pollution.
Carbon Footprint
130Kg of CO₂e – average carbon emission per person
Find our more about our Carbon Management here
About your guide
One of our experienced and professionally trained local tour guides will accompany you for the duration of the activity. All our guides hold First Aid and Lifeguard qualifications and have completed Travelife Online Sustainable Tourism Certification.
Highlights
Escape the bustle of Male city and relax on a beautiful sandbank.
Snorkel two spectacular locations to discover the Maldives’ unique marine ecosystem.
Keep your eyes open to spot turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, and more.
You’ll be in safe hands with our snorkeling briefings and certified guides accompanying you.
Enjoy a Maldives sunset with a chance to spot dolphins.
What to Expect
We head south to a beautiful sandbank set in a blue lagoon approximately 40 minutes from the capital. Relax on the sands under the shade of a sun umbrella, swim in the warm waters, or snorkel the house reef. An ideal location to learn to snorkel with your guide or refresh your skills.
Leaving the sandbank visit two of the best snorkeling points close to Malé. Sites vary, depending on weather and current conditions, but you can be guaranteed an abundance of colorful tropical fish and coral life.
Following a safety briefing and advice on how to be a responsible snorkeler, put on your provided fins, mask, and snorkel and jump into the warm, azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Keep your eyes open for sea turtles, reef sharks, and rays — youngsters will want to be on the lookout for Nemo (aka clownfish).
Your snorkel guide will not only act as your ‘spotter’ to point out marine life that may not have caught your eye but will also assist less confident or inexperienced snorkelers, ensuring your equipment is comfortable and you feel safe in the water.
As the sun begins to set, turning the sky to a blaze of color, your boat captain will head to the east of Hulhumale to a channel where there is a high probability of encountering dolphins. As magical marine creatures in their natural habitat, there is never a guarantee of sightings but when we are lucky we can watch them jump and perform!
Don’t swim? Don’t worry we provide buoyancy aids for all non-swimmers and our guides will provide instruction and coaching on how to float, snorkel and utilize the equipment. Your guide will assess your confidence and ability in the water to ensure it is safe to proceed to a coral reef area for your first snorkel encounter.
Be Prepared! Learn more about Responsible Snorkeling Conduct here
Hear From Our Previous Guests
I took the snorkelling, sandbank and dolphin cruise in Mid-December. Fantastic experience!
I had never snorkelled before in my life, but UB taught me how to do it and I was snorkelling freely after an hour and saw incredible coral life. I consider myself a nature lover but found I learned a lot I didn’t know about the Maldives, marine ecosystems and conservation on the tour.
I felt safe and comfortable on the whole trip despite being a woman travelling alone, and I recommend anybody interested in having an incredible tour in the Maldives to make a detour in Male to Secret Paradise. I will certainly visit again one day.
Thanks to the entire Secret Paradise team for giving us the opportunity to enjoy the Maldives and the ocean in a very sustainable manner. Ruth was very kind and helpful in organizing this excursion. The guide Mash and the team are really experienced, and dedicated, and shared all the information about marine life.
Right from the beginning though it was fun. The boat ride was great and they took us to the sandbank which was a pleasant surprise in the middle of nowhere. Marsh is a superb guide and took time to guide me along the slope where one can see the maximum marine life.
We are very happy about our excursion with Secret Paradise! Both Ruth and Kokko are SO professional and kind, we got more than what we expected! The price was worth the excursion and we felt everybody was really taking care of us! Totally satisfied with the service!
Easily the best tour operator for Maldives. Prompt responses, good rates, and excellent service. Would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Maldives.
The trip itself was amazing. A beautiful sandbank, snorkelling at Kurumba and at Stingray city/fish tank is something not to be missed! Our guide Mash was really attentive and made sure he pointed out all the different species of fish, sharks and rays.
