EXCURSIONS

At first light, hammerhead sharks rise from the deep water just outside Rasdhoo's reef. This early-morning blue-water dive is a bucket-list experience for experienced divers. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the reef wall is also full of turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks.

Join a small-group trip to a manta cleaning station, where these gentle giants come to be cleaned by reef fish. Best between December and April, though mantas can be seen at other times too.

Take a short boat ride to a nearby sandbank, a strip of pure white sand in the middle of the lagoon. Swim, snorkel, sunbathe and enjoy a picnic lunch with nothing but the ocean around you.

Visit the best snorkel spots around Rasdhoo and Kuramathi, where green and hawksbill turtles graze on the reef among clouds of tropical fish. Suitable for beginners and families.

Board a traditional dhoni in the late afternoon and head out in search of spinner dolphins as the sky turns gold. A relaxed, unforgettable evening on the water.

Learn the traditional Maldivian way of fishing with a simple hand line. If you are lucky, your catch can be grilled for dinner back at the guesthouse.

Enjoy a taste of resort life with a day pass to a nearby resort island: beaches, restaurants and bars. Ask us for current day-pass options and prices.

Head south to the Maldives' famous whale shark area. Spend the day searching for whale sharks, with snorkelling stops, lunch and often dolphin sightings on the way.