I was recently lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit five different Sun Siyam resorts in the Maldives on the trip of a lifetime. While they offer ample opportunity for rest and relaxation, I was in the Maldives primarily to enjoy the adrenaline activities and explore the underwater world at their pristine reefs and day-trip locations. We had an amazing time exploring with underwater scooters, whale shark excursions, stingray scuba dives and freediving through caves. In this article, I’ll share a bit about each resort I experienced and show some of my favorite highlights from the trip.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli Resort
The first place we visited on our trip was Sun Siyam Olhuveli Resort. This was a great place to start as there was an ideal mix of adventure opportunities and luxury atmosphere on this island. I would recommend Olhuveli for active couple or families who want a luxury vacation while also having adventurous, fun days in the tropics. On our first morning at Olhuveli, we were straight into the action jet skiing over crystal-clear waters.
Another awesome activity that we tried at Sun Siyam Olhuveli was the underwater scooter. This was a first for me and I actually rated this as one of the best activities of the entire trip. The underwater scooter is very easy to get the hang of and allows you to cruise the the water like a dolphin. It makes snorkeling much more dynamic and the feeling of flying through the water like an orca is incredible.
The highlight of Sun Siyam Olheuveli was definitely swimming with gentle whale sharks, these magnificent creatures cruise by so gracefully despite being the size of a bus. Being so close to the whale sharks to marvel at their spotted patterns was an incredible experience. After the Whale Sharks, we even spotted a few turtles at other nearby snorkeling spots. The whale shark day trip to South Ari Atoll was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We did another incredible day-trip from Sun Siyam Olhuveli, which was to a dive site nearby Male. It was one of the most amazing scuba-diving experiences I’ve had in my life. As soon as we dropped into the water, we were surrounded by hundreds of stingrays. Later in the dive a few curious sharks came to check us out. And once our scuba dive came to an end, we snorkeled at the surface with hundreds of angel fish.
The final day-trip from Sun Siyam Olhuveli was a multi-stop expedition to a shipwreck and to snorkel with the inquisitive Nurse Sharks. The shipwreck was great because the angle of the ship means that one end is poking out of the water while the other is about 10 meters deep. This allowed snorkelers to explore the shallow parts of the shipwreck and the freedivers to investigate deeper down.
It should be on everyones bucket list to snorkel with Nurse Sharks. They are a relatively placid shark that school around when fed or when they hear a boat engine. This allows snorkelers to float nearby and witness hundreds of sharks, stingrays and feeder fish circling in a tornado of energy.
Evenings were all about kicking back, watching the sunset, and sharing stories over delicious dinners. Sun Siyam Olhuveli was more than just a resort—it was a paradise filled with endless adventures and unforgettable moments. Olhuveli was probably my favorite resort from our entire trip due to the nonstop adventures we had each day!
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef Resort
From Sun Siyam Olhuveli we made a short day trip to another nearby resort called Sun Siyam Vilu Reef. We enjoyed a traditional dance ceremony and a freediving expedition on this island. I loved the natural, laidback surroundings on Vilu Reef and felt that it provided the island vibes many are looking for when they visit the Maldives. The highlight of my day on Vilu Reef was freediving through some caves just off the shore on our snorkeling trip with a local guide.
Sun Siyam Iru Veli Resort
Our next stop was a four-night stay at Sun Siyam Iru Veli. This was my favorite resort of our tour when it came to luxury, relaxed vibes and beautiful scenery. We stayed in an overwater bungalow and enjoyed kayaking, sunset dinners on the beach and even did a night dive where we encountered several nurse sharks. The highlight of the stay at Iru Veli was a beautiful sunset spent on swinging chairs in the water on our first night.
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi
We made one more day trip to another island to visit Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. I loved this island for it’s incredible coral reef and marine life. I met several rays inside the house reef and it’s a hotspot for turtles also. Nemo’s garden was also a fantastic spot to snorkel for smaller fish species.
Sun Siyam World
The final stop on our epic Maldives trip was to Sun Siyam World. This island was massive and had so much to offer. Because it is one of the largest island resorts in the Maldives, it boasted a wide array of activities and facilities. From tennis courts to go-karts to a giant inflatable obstacle course in the lagoon. There are multiple pool clubs and bars as well as numerous different speciality restaurants on the island. One of the highlights for me at Sun Siyam World was our backyard beach. Imagine walking straight out of your back door to a scene like this:
Sun Siyam also offers a mermaid experience. Of course, Pema loved it and we managed to shoot some mystical mermaid photos underneath some of the piers.
There’s so much to offer at each of the islands that you’ll never have a dull moment (except of course, some rest and relaxation). It was an amazing to revel in the endless adventures exploring the Maldives with Sun Siyam.