Anantara Dhigu

Dhigu is a 35-minute speedboat from Malé and offers one of the best lagoons in the country on the sunset side — fully sandy, no coral rubble, no seagrass.

Food at Sea.Fire.Salt and Baan Huraa is reliably good and the half-board dine-around is more flexible than at most resorts in the same band. Best for families and short trips where you don't want to fly seaplane.

Why people come here

Dhigu is a 35-minute speedboat from MaléŽ and offers of the best lagoons in the country on the sunset side — fully sandy, no coral rubble, no seagrass. Food at Sea.Fire.Salt and Baan Huraa is reliably good and the half-board dine-around is more flexible than at most resorts in the same band. Best for families and short trips where you don't want to fly seaplane.

The villas

Dhigu's villas cover beach and over-water with the over-water suites on a long jetty as the strongest option for couples. The villa density is the property's structural friction — thatched roofs of adjacent beach villas can touch each other, and seclusion is not what Dhigu sells. Pay up for the over-water categories if privacy matters. The beach villas have direct sand access and most have outdoor showers; the Sunset Over Water Pool Suites at the end of the jetty offer the most unobstructed views on the property.

Dining across the lagoon

Dhigu's kitchen covers the standard mix across multiple restaurants. The Thai over-water venue is one of the more photogenic dining rooms in the country, and the grill restaurant handles meat-led dinners reliably. The half-board credits handle most venues meaningfully. The dhoni shuttle to sister Anantara Veli extends the dining options at no charge — Veli's three restaurants are open to Dhigu guests and vice versa.

Surfing and watersports

Dhigu partners with Tropicsurf, the same school that operates at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and Six Senses Laamu. The closest break is Natives, a left-hand reef wave about 15 minutes by speedboat. It’s consistent on a south swell and works for intermediate surfers; the inside section is forgiving, while the outside can get hollow on bigger days. Quarters and Boatyards are also within easy reach—Quarters is a faster right-hander, Boatyards a playful left with long rides. The resort’s Aquafanatics centre rents boards, runs coaching sessions, and organises private charters so you can chase uncrowded line-ups. If you’re not a surfer, the same boats take you to manta points or whale-shark hotspots. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are free to use, and the marine biologist leads turtle and nurse-shark snorkelling trips most afternoons.

The kids club and family perks

Dhoni Kids Club is one of the largest in the Maldives—it looks more like a small school than a resort playroom. The daily programme includes treasure hunts, Maldivian cooking classes, and marine biology sessions where kids learn to identify reef fish. Parents get a complimentary babysitting credit each evening, so you can enjoy a spa treatment or a quiet dinner at Veli. Children under six eat free at all restaurants, and the resort can arrange private movie nights on the beach with popcorn and blankets. For older kids, there’s a beach volleyball court, a tennis court, and a teen lounge with gaming consoles. The lagoon is shallow and calm, well suited to first-time snorkellers, and the staff will happily set up a floating picnic so the whole family can eat lunch in the water.

The honest bit

Dhigu's sunrise side lagoon is materially weaker than the sunset side — rough sand, poor views facing Veli and Naladhu, and not worth booking even at the discount. The villa density issue persists across the beach category. The breakfast buffet has been called mass-market by repeat guests (and myself), and the F&B team is aware. Best framing: Dhigu is a families and groups property where the lagoon (on the sunset side) does the heavy lifting and the short transfer removes seaplane risk. Still, Dhigu is one of my top sellers as it is one of the last standing resorts in south male that offers a good prife/performance ratio and I will always recommend it for lagoon lovers. Its a tough one to beat!

Who it suits

Families with kids aged 3–16 who want space to run, a kids club that doesn’t close at 5 p.m., and parents who still want a glass of champagne at sunset. Groups of friends who want to surf in the morning and party by the pool in the afternoon. Couples who like the idea of an adults-only vibe but don’t want to give up the option of a family-friendly restaurant or a late-night movie on the beach. And anyone who’s ever felt claustrophobic on a tiny Maldivian island—Dhigu’s size and the shared lagoon mean you can explore for days without feeling like you’re retracing your steps.

Transfers made simple

Velana International Airport is 22 km away—about 35 minutes by speedboat. The resort runs a private lounge at the airport where you can wait in air-conditioned comfort while the boat is prepared. Speedboats run 24/7, so you won’t be stuck waiting for a seaplane schedule. If you’re arriving late or leaving early, the resort can arrange a midnight transfer; just let Fede know when you message him. The boats are basic but comfortable—life jackets, bottled water, and USB charging ports are standard. Because the transfer is short, you’ll be on the beach sipping a welcome coconut within an hour of landing. Kids can be at the Dhoni Club while you work, and the overwater spa is open until 8 p.m. For post-meeting massages. The package is flexible—you can split the nights between Dhigu and Veli if you want a change of scenery. Message Fede for the current terms; the package is popular and often sells out during European school holidays.