ALILA KOTHAIFARU

Snorkeling & diving: the house reef and beyond

The house reef at Alila Kothaifaru is a ten-minute swim from the beach. It’s not the largest in the Maldives, but it’s one of the healthiest: hard and soft corals form a kaleidoscope of purples, oranges, and electric blues, and the visibility often stretches thirty meters. Snorkelers can expect to see hawksbill turtles grazing on sponges, blacktip reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, and schools of fusilier fish darting between the bommies. The resort provides complimentary mask, snorkel, and fins—just step off the jetty and descend the ladder into the lagoon.

For divers, the resort’s PADI 5-Star Dive Center offers daily boat trips to nearby thilas (underwater pinnacles). These sites are known for their sheer walls covered in soft corals and frequent visits from grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and Napoleon wrasse. The dive team keeps groups small—maximum six guests per guideand tailors each trip to experience level. Beginners can complete their Open Water certification in the calm lagoon, while advanced divers can explore the atoll’s outer reefs where currents bring pelagic species within sight. Between December and April, manta rays gather at Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve thirty minutes by dhoni. The dive center organizes snorkel excursions there when conditions allow, and

• Complimentary house-reef snorkeling gear provided in most villas
• PADI 5-Star Dive Center with daily boat dives to thilas and outer reefs
• Manta ray snorkel trips to Hanifaru Bay (December–April)
• Night snorkeling with UV torches to spot sleeping parrotfish and moray eels
• Underwater photography courses with the dive team

Spa Alila: treatments in the treetops

Spa Alila is built on stilts among the island’s tallest palms. The four treatment rooms are connected by wooden walkways that sway gently in the breeze, and each room has floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the jungle canopy. The spa menu blends traditional Maldivian techniques with modern wellness science. Signature treatments include the ‘Island Ritual’, a ninety-minute sequence of exfoliation with crushed coconut and sea salt, followed by a massage using warm coconut oil infused with frangipani. For something more targeted, the ‘Reef Recovery’ facial uses marine collagen and algae extracts to hydrate skin after long days in the sun and salt.

Guests can also book private yoga sessions on the spa’s open-air deck at sunrise. The instructor adapts each class to the group—restorative for those recovering from a long-haul flight, vinyasa for guests who want to build strength before a dive trip. Mats, blocks, and bolsters are provided, and the only soundtrack is the sound of waves breaking on the reef below.

• Four overwater treatment rooms with jungle views
• Signature ‘Island Ritual’ massage with coconut oil and sea salt
• ‘Reef Recovery’ facial with marine collagen and algae extracts
• Private yoga sessions on the open-air deck at sunrise or sunset
• Complimentary daily group yoga class at 7:30 am

Play Alila: kids’ activities for families

Play Alila is a dedicated space for children aged four to twelve. The club is housed in a bright, airy pavilion near the main pool and is stocked with board games, arts and crafts supplies, and a small library of Maldivian folk tales. The resort’s kids’ coordinator designs a daily program that includes treasure hunts along the beach, coconut-husk boat races in the lagoon, and marine biology lessons with the dive team. Parents can drop off children for up to four hours at a time, giving them space to enjoy a spa treatment or a dive trip while knowing their kids are engaged in activities that teach them about the island’s ecosystem.

For families who want to explore together, the resort offers guided snorkel tours tailored to younger guests. The dive team provides child-sized gear and teaches basic snorkeling skills in the shallow lagoon before venturing to the house reef. Teenagers can join the junior PADI program, which includes two pool sessions and two open-water dives, culminating in a certification that’s valid worldwide. Fede guides families here over larger resorts—the island’s intimate scale means kids can roam safely, and the staff treats them like little explorers rather than nuisances.

• Daily supervised activities for children aged 4–12
• Marine biology lessons with the dive team
• Child-sized snorkeling gear and guided lagoon tours
• Junior PADI certification program for teens
• Family snorkel trips to the house reef with a dedicated guide

Excursions: sandbanks, dhoni cruises, and starlight cinema

The resort’s signature excursion is the sunset dhoni cruise. A traditional Maldivian boat, outfitted with cushioned seating and a cooler stocked with champagne and canapés, departs from the jetty at 5 pm. The captain navigates to a nearby sandbank where guests can wade in waist-deep water At sunset below the horizon. On clear nights, the resort sets up a starlight cinema on the beach—bean bags, blankets, and a projector screen framed by palm trees. The film selection changes weekly, but recent screenings have included Maldivian documentaries and classic ocean-themed movies.

For a more active outing, the watersports center offers stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking tours around the lagoon. The guides lead small groups to a secluded mangrove area where herons nest, or to a shallow patch of reef where guests can snorkel without getting in a boat. Fishing enthusiasts can join a half-day big-game fishing trip targeting tuna and mahi-mahi; the catch is prepared for dinner that evening at Seasalt restaurant. My pick is the sandbank picnic—private, simple, and the kind of experience that makes you forget your phone exists.

• Sunset dhoni cruises with champagne and canapés
• Private sandbank picnics with gourmet lunch or dinner
• Starlight cinema on the beach with bean bags and blankets
• Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking tours around the lagoon
• Big-game fishing trips with catch-and-cook options