Four Seasons Explorer

Diving: UNESCO reefs from a floating base

The Explorer ties up each night at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, home to one of the Maldives’ most respected dive centres. Operated by Ocean Dive, the team runs a 12-metre luxury dive boat — examples include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth speakers, and ice-cold towels on return. The boat’s bow features a curved dining table where divers refuel between dives with freshly baked cookies and fruit skewers.

Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the reefs here are alive with marine traffic. Manta rays glide through Hanifaru Bay from May to November, while reef sharks, eagle rays, and schools of fusilier dart through the coral year-round. The dive centre’s signature ‘Manta on Call’ service gives guests a waterproof phone; when the spotters radio in a sighting, you’re on the boat within minutes. At $150 per person, it’s a rare Maldives experience that charges only if the mantas show up.

For those who prefer to set their own schedule, the Explorer’s itinerary includes stops at classic Baa Atoll sites like Dhonfanu Thila and Maaya Thila, where overhangs shelter moray eels and nurse sharks. The dive team preps all gear before each descent, so you step off the boat with nothing to do but descend.

Kids club: marine biology meets adventure

While the Explorer itself is adults-only, children aged four to twelve can join the Kuda Velaa Kids Club at Landaa Giraavaru whenever the yacht docks. The club runs two programmes: ‘Passport to Adventure’ for younger kids and ‘Mission: Landaa Giraavaru’ for tweens. Both turn the island into a living classroom.

• Coral-reefscaping: kids build mini reefs with marine biologists, then snorkel to see their work in the lagoon.
• Wishing-tree walks: a scavenger hunt through the jungle, ending with a wish tied to a tree.
• Dosha discovery: an Ayurvedic quiz that matches kids to their ‘body type’ and suggests island-friendly snacks.
• Lizard spotting: a guided hunt for the resort’s resident geckos, with a stamp for every species found.

Completing seven challenges earns a toy; finishing all fourteen unlocks an ice-cream sundae at Blu restaurant. The club is open daily from 10:00 to 18:30, and all activities are complimentary. Parents on the Explorer can drop kids off for a few hours ashore while they enjoy a spa treatment or a sunset cruise.

Spa: Ayurveda tailored to the sea

The AyurMa Spa at Landaa Giraavaru is a short buggy ride from the Explorer’s mooring. The spa building sits in the island’s jungle heart, its pathways lined with dramatic banners that hint at the rituals inside. Before any treatment, guests are offered a complimentary Ayurvedic consultation—a 30-minute chat with a resident doctor who maps out your ‘dosha’ and recommends foods to balance it.

Treatment rooms are more like private villas. The regular rooms feature oversized soaking tubs and outdoor showers, while the dedicated Ayurvedic spaces include twin granite bathtubs and circular ‘sweat lodge’ saunas. The signature ‘Four Hands’ massage pairs two therapists who synchronise strokes to the rhythm of the waves outside. For Explorer guests, the spa team can arrange a boat-side treatment on the yacht’s top deck—weather permitting.

Water sports: lagoon to horizon

The Explorer carries its own paddleboards and kayaks, but when docked at Landaa Giraavaru, guests have access to the resort’s full watersports centre. Non-motorised gear—snorkels, fins, stand-up boards—is complimentary. Jet skis are available for a fee, and the resort’s marine biologists lead guided snorkel tours to the coral frames planted just off the beach.

For something slower, the Explorer’s crew can arrange a sunset dhoni cruise. The traditional Maldivian boat glides along the lagoon’s edge, its lanterns reflecting off the water as the light turns pink. Back at the resort, the 50-metre Olympic pool—cantilevered over the lagoon—offers laps with a view, while the adjacent seawater pool is shallow enough for kids to splash in.

Excursions: beyond the lagoon

The Explorer’s itinerary already includes stops at Hanifaru Bay and local sandbanks, but guests can add private excursions. A speedboat can whisk you to uninhabited islands for a picnic lunch, or to a nearby fishing village where the local school welcomes visitors. For divers, the resort’s marine biologists run night snorkels to spot bioluminescent plankton—a phenomenon that turns the water into a starry sky.

One of the most popular add-ons is a day trip to the resort’s Marine Discovery Centre. The centre is a hands-on museum of Maldivian marine life, complete with touch tanks and a turtle rehabilitation pool. Kids can help feed the resident turtles, while adults chat with the biologists about the latest coral regeneration projects. It’s a rare chance to see conservation in action, and it’s all included in the resort’s activities.