Things to do at Anantara Kihavah

Why people come here

Anantara Kihavah sits in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where manta rays gather in their hundreds. The resort itself is a sleek crescent of overwater villas and beach pools, all connected by teak walkways that seem to float above the lagoon. What clinches it for me, though, is the way the island balances spectacle and solitude. You can dine six meters below the surface at SEA, the world’s first underwater restaurant, then retreat to a villa where the only sound is the ocean lapping against the stilts. The house reef starts right at the shoreline—no boat needed—so snorkelers can drift past turtles and reef sharks while breakfast is still warm. And when night falls, the resort’s observatory, one of the few in the Maldives, offers telescope views of the Milky Way without a single light pollutant in sight.

The underwater restaurant: SEA

SEA holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s first all-glass underwater restaurant. The curved acrylic walls frame a living aquarium: parrotfish dart past, eagle rays glide by, and if you’re lucky, a reef shark cruises through the blue. The menu is Mediterranean with Maldivian accents — lobster carpaccio, black cod with saffron risotto, and a wine list that’s been curated to pair with the view. Reservations are essential, and I always tell clients to book the first seating. The light is softer then, and the reef feels like it’s performing just for you.

Stargazing at the observatory

Baa Atoll is one of the few places on earth where you can see the Southern Cross and the North Star in the same sky. Anantara Kihavah’s observatory, perched on the island’s highest point, houses a research-grade Meade LX200 telescope and a Celestron CPC 1100. The resident astronomer runs private sessions that last about an hour, tailoring each one to the season. In November, we tracked Jupiter’s moons; in May, the focus shifts to Saturn’s rings. The dome is open-air, so the breeze carries the scent of frangipani while you’re counting constellations. If you’re celebrating something special, ask for the ‘shooting star’ package—champagne, canapés, and a very likely that you’ll see at least one meteor.

Diving and snorkeling the house reef

The house reef at Kihavah is a 1.5-kilometer-long ribbon of coral that drops to 30 meters. From the beach, you can snorkel straight out to a cleaning station where hawksbill turtles queue up for their daily scrub. Divers usually head to the ‘Kihavah Caves,’ a series of swim-throughs decorated with black coral, or the ‘Manta Point’ on the outer reef where currents funnel the rays in from December to April. The resort’s dive center, Aquafanatics, runs PADI courses from beginner to Divemaster, and they’ll kit you out with full-face masks if you’re nervous about breathing underwater. I’ve guided clients who’d never snorkeled before, and they all came back with the same wide-eyed look—like they’d just seen the ocean for the first time.

Overwater villas: where to stay

Kihavah has 79 villas, but the overwater category is where the magic happens. The ‘Anantara Pool Villa’ is my go-to recommendation: 265 square meters, a private infinity pool, and a deck that juts out over the lagoon so you can step straight into the water. For honeymooners, I’d upgrade to the ‘Royal Beach Pool Villa’—it comes with a personal butler, a freestanding bathtub that overlooks the ocean, and a private cabana on the sand. most villas have floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide open, so you can lie in bed and watch the sunrise without lifting your head from the pillow. If you’re traveling with kids, the ‘Beach Pool Villa’ gives you direct beach access and enough space for a family of four.

Dining beyond the underwater restaurant

SEA gets all the press, but the resort has four other restaurants that deserve just as much attention. ‘The Spice’ serves Thai street food on a floating platform—pad thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice that’s made with coconut milk from the resort’s own trees. ‘Fiamma’ is the Italian spot, with wood-fired pizzas and handmade pasta; order the truffle ravioli if it’s on the menu. For something more casual, ‘The Beach House’ does grilled seafood and salads right on the sand, and ‘The Lighthouse’ is a bar where you can sip cocktails while watching the sunset. If you’re celebrating an anniversary, ask the butler to arrange a private dinner on the jetty—candles, champagne, and a chef who’ll cook whatever you fancy.

Wellness and spa experiences

The spa, Anantara Spa, is built on stilts over the lagoon. The treatment rooms have glass floors, so you can watch fish swim beneath you while the therapist works on your knots. The signature treatment is the ‘Maldivian Dream’—a 90-minute ritual that starts with a coconut oil scrub, moves to a frangipani-infused massage, and ends with a hair mask made from local aloe. For something more active, the resort offers sunrise yoga on the beach, paddleboard sessions at dawn, and a ‘detox and dive’ package that pairs a morning juice cleanse with an afternoon snorkel. If you’re here in the full moon, don’t miss the sound bath meditation—gongs, crystal bowls, and the ocean as your soundtrack.

What I’d actually book

If I were planning a week at Kihavah for myself, here’s exactly what I’d do. Fly in on the first seaplane of the day so I can check in by 10 a.m. and spend the morning snorkeling the house reef. Lunch at The Beach House—grilled mahi-mahi and a watermelon salad—then an afternoon nap in the Royal Beach Pool Villa with the glass doors open. At 5 p.m., I’d head to the observatory for a private stargazing session, followed by dinner at SEA. The next day, I’d take a half-day diving trip to Hanifaru Bay to swim with mantas, then spend the evening at The Lighthouse with a bottle of Ruinart and the sunset. For the rest of the week, I’d alternate between spa treatments, paddleboarding at dawn, and lazy afternoons reading on the villa deck. And I’d end every night with a dip in the infinity pool, watching the stars reflect on the water.

The honest bit

No resort is perfect, and Kihavah has its quirks. The seaplane transfer is non-negotiable—no speedboats here—so factor in the extra time and cost. The house reef is stunning, but the current can be strong in some spots; if you’re not a confident swimmer, stick to the lagoon side. And while the observatory is a highlight, it’s not a planetarium—you won’t see deep-space nebulae, just the brightest stars and planets. Finally, the resort is popular with honeymooners and couples, so if you’re traveling with kids, you might feel like the odd ones out. That said, the staff are brilliant at making families feel welcome, and the kids’ club has a coral-adoption program that keeps little ones engaged.