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Ah, the Maldives. That place with the slides. And the underwater restaurants. And one of the world’s deepest wine cellars (yes, really.) But which resorts have what?!

That’s why we’re here, answering some of the most Googled questions when it comes to the Maldives and letting you know exactly where you need to go to dine with fishes, slide directly from your living room into the Indian Ocean, and more.

Which Maldives resort has an underwater restaurant?

Ithaa @ Conrad Maldives Rangali

These days, there isn’t just one Maldives resort with an underwater restaurant – there’s actually quite a few. But only one can claim the title of having the first underwater restaurant in the world, and that would be Conrad Maldives Rangali‘s Ithaa restaurant.

It’s about 5 metres (16 feet) below sea level, surrounded by coral gardens and vibrant marine life. Expect to dine with reef sharks, rays, and colourful fish swimming above you. They serve up contemporary European nosh with a focus on seafood and fancy ingredients like caviar and lobster. The experience includes a six-course dinner or a four-course lunch. The name Ithaa actually means “mother of pearl” in the Maldivian language. The more you know.

SEA Underneath @ Anantara Kihavah Huravalhi Island

Ithaa might claim to be the world’s first, but someone else owns the rights to being called the world’s first underwater wine cellar, and you can find it at Anantara Kihavah Huravalhi Island‘s Sea Underneath restaurant. Even deeper, at 6 metres (19.5 feet) below the Indian Ocean, this all-glass underwater restaurant offers guests panoramic views of vibrant marine life.

Unlike some “overwater” or “partially submerged” restaurants, SEA is fully enclosed, giving floor-to-ceiling views – think turtles, sharks, and schools of tropical fish swimming past. They specialise in gourmet European-Asian fusion cuisine, with premium ingredients like Wagyu beef, Maldivian lobster, and black truffle. And that wine cellar? It’s one of the deepest in the world, holding over 450 labels, including rare vintages.

H2O @ You & Me Maldives

If you like your food as spectacular as literally dining under the Indian Ocean, then you’ll like H2O at You & Me Maldives. As well as being 6 metres beneath and having 360 degree views of the sealife, this underwater restaurant also comes with a menu created by a Michelin-starred chef – Andrea Berton. Expect a mix of fresh seafood, gourmet international cuisine, and artistic plating to boot.

The restaurant is small and intimate, and the resort is adults only too, meaning it’ll suit couples down to a T.

Which Maldives resort has slides?

Like underwater restaurants, a lot of Maldives resorts have cottoned on to the the fact that we bloomin’ love a slide – so these days, a lot of them have ’em ready and waiting. Here’s a few of our faves:

Cocoon Maldives

Located on Ookolhufinolhu Island in Lhaviyani Atoll, Cocoon Maldives is designed with a “nature meets Italian design” concept, so the resort blends contemporary architecture with tropical beauty. There’s 150 villas, including beach suites and overwater villas, but if it’s a slide you’re after, it’s the Lagoon Suite you’ll want – this is the only villa type at Cocoon to come with a slide. With direct access to the turquoise lagoon, the spacious interior includes a king-sized bed, a stylish open-plan living space, and a bathroom with a rainfall shower and ocean views.

Besides those slides, the resort also offers multiple dining options, a beachfront infinity pool, an overwater spa, and a range of water sports and excursions, including diving and snorkelling in the rich marine life of the atoll.

Siyam World

An all-inclusive luxury resort located in the Noonu Atoll, Siyam World is home to 54 hectares of tropical paradise and a 6-kilometre-long house reef teeming with marine life. There’s a whopping 21 villa categories here, with 8 of them featuring their own private slides. You can stay in a Water, Lagoon, or Ocean Villa, all of which come with a pool and slide, or you can upgrade all the way up to a Three Bedroom Lagoon Villa with Pool and Slide.

There’s loads of activities and facilities here, including multiple swimming pools, 18 bars and restaurants, a world-class spa, a water park, and countless excursions like diving, snorkelling, and sunset cruises. Siyam World is also the only resort in the Maldives to have both villas with slides and a waterpark (more on that later!)

You & Me Maldives

An exclusive, adults-only luxury resort located in the pristine Raa Atoll, You and Me Maldives refurbished a portion of its overwater villas a few years ago to feature a slide into its lovely lagoon. There’s two villa categories to look out for if you want to nab that slide, both with very different price points: the Aqua Suite with Slide and the You & Me Suite.

Think of the Aqua Suite as your usual sort of Maldivian over water villa – uninterrupted ocean views, a spacious bedroom with a king-sized bed, and a sleek bathroom with a rain shower and a freestanding bathtub overlooking the sea. The You & Me Suite, meanwhile, is big – like, four-times-bigger big. It’s got a private infinity pool, spa, and personal gym to boot.

There’s also the H2O underwater restaurant, an overwater spa, and a range of activities like snorkelling, diving, and sunset cruises.

Which Maldives resort has a waterpark?

Siyam World

If you want a waterpark (if, you know, being on a private island in the middle of the Indian Ocean isn’t enough water already for you), then you want Siyam World – it’s home sweet home to the largest waterpark in the Maldives.

In the crystal-clear waters of the Noonu Atoll, this giant inflatable aqua park, located just off the shore, offers up an obstacle course that includes slides, climbing walls, trampolines, hurdles, bridges, and balancing beams – never mind the kids, the adults want a go! One of the resort’s standout attractions, the water park is completely free for guests, making it one of the best parts of Siyam World’s all-inclusive experience.

Which Maldives resort has the best house reef?

A house reef refers to the coral reef that’s located close to the shore of a resort island, often just a short swim or snorkel away from the beach. It’s essentially a natural reef system that surrounds the island, providing a thriving underwater ecosystem that guests can explore without needing to travel far. Some resorts have house reefs further out that might require a boat (or a hefty swim) to reach, but we’ve stuck to a couple that are known for having house reefs that are nearby and chocka with marine life.

Bandos Maldives

Located in the North Malé Atoll, just a short boat ride from Velana International Airport, Bandos Maldives is famous for its easily accessible house reef, which encircles the island and is teeming with vibrant marine life.

Snorkelers can step straight from the beach into the crystal-clear waters and encounter colourful coral formations, schools of tropical fish, reef sharks, rays, and even sea turtles. The reef features several drop-offs and underwater caves, and there’s also a PADI-certified dive centre, Dive Bandos – it’s one of the longest-established in the Maldives and offers guided day and night dives, allowing guests to witness the reef’s beauty under different conditions.

Reethi Beach

The house reef at Reethi Beach Resort is easily accessible, located just off the island’s shores in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The reef is just a short swim from the beach, making it incredibly convenient to discover the underwater world without needing a boat trip.

Teeming with colourful coral gardens and home to an array of tropical fish, there’s reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles, with the occasional sighting of manta rays and even whale sharks depending on the season. Simply wade into the calm, clear waters and drift through the reef, surrounded by marine life in every direction.

For those keen on diving, the reef provides access to more advanced dive sites nearby, including drop-offs and caves that are ideal for exploring.

Fancy your own slide? Dining in the deep blue? Get started with our Maldives holidays

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