The luxurious Royal Island Resort & Spa lies at the heart of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve. Just minutes from Hanifaru Bay it’s the obvious choice for those who seek encounters with manta rays and whale sharks.
Located on a small island, set amongst tropical vegetation, the 5-star resort consists of 150 stand-alone villas (sunrise or sunset view), a two bedroom family villa and a two bedroom residence with private pool, all with direct beach access. The villas are elegantly furnished with light wooden interiors, marble flooring and rich coloured textiles throughout. All feature air-conditioning, ceiling fan, cable TV and additional modern amenities as well as a furnished private verandah. The en-suite bathrooms feature both a bath and open-air shower.
Facilities include a choice of restaurants and bars, the Araamu spa, a freeform swimming pool (plus additional one for children only), a gym, water sports centre with a multitude of activities, tennis, badminton and squash courts and a dive centre. In addition island hopping and other excursions are available. The resort features a boutique, and complimentary WiFi internet access is available throughout the island.
Dining options include Maakana, a casual open-air beachside restaurant serving buffet style meals for all guests. Dine in or outdoors at Raabondhi the a la carte seafood and grill restaurant. Other outlets include the Pool Bar (drinks and light bites), 24-hr Boli Bar (cocktails served) and the indoor Fun Pub offering daily entertainment.
The resort offers a tranquil, luxury escape surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and picture perfect beaches. It is a fantastic base for anyone wanting to visit Hanifaru Bay during the annual manta and whale shark aggregation.
Transfer to the resort is a 20 minute flight and 10 minute boat ride from Malé International Airport.
Dive Oceanus
The dive base at Royal Island is one of five operated by Dive Oceanus around the Maldives. All are PADI 5-star centres accredited with Green Star awards for conservation leadership. The multi-lingual team operate daily boat trips to sites spanning the breadth of the Baa Atoll. Diving instruction is available from as young as eight years old for beginners and more experienced divers looking to complete speciality courses.
House reef diving is available from the dive centre jetty, but there are another 40 sites to explore. Daily boat dives are offered to nearby sites as well as longer day trips to sites on the western side of the atoll. Sites like Maavaru Thila where you’ll need a camera to record all the marine life you encounter! Closer to resort, there’s a profusion of life and colour seen at Horubadhoo, stingrays and eagle rays can be seen feeding on the sandy bottom at Madi Thila (you’ll also see frogfish, nurse sharks resting and occasional barracuda) and Nelivaru is home to grouper, schools of tuna and snapper as well as manta rays at the shallow cleaning stations from May to November. There’s an exciting drift dive at Dhonafanu for more experienced divers. Expect groups of Napoleon wrasse, jacks, eagle rays and grey reef sharks if the current is strong enough that day!
The island is located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and just a short boat ride from Hanifaru Bay famed for its annual aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks. It’s here where hundreds of mantas can be observed feeding as they barrel roll in the nutrient rich waters. It’s one of nature’s greatest shows. Please note that you can snorkel here, but diving activity is not permitted.
The centre offers PADI Freediver courses and a full range of Scubapro equipment is available to rent. Tanks are available in 5, 12 and 15 litre sizes with both DIN & INT valves. Nitrox is complimentary for certified divers.
