By Jodie Mason
CEO, Extraordinary Escapes
Luxury Maldives Specialist since 2002
Having stayed at Anantara Kihavah on numerous occasions, we've experienced the resort during different seasons. Yet every visit leaves us with the same impression. This is a resort where exceptional marine experiences, thoughtful design and genuine Maldivian hospitality come together effortlessly.
Our day begins before breakfast. As the first light appears across the lagoon, we step directly from our Sunset Over Water Pool Villa into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The villas remain among our favourite designs in the Maldives, blending contemporary island luxury with thoughtful functionality. One feature we particularly appreciate is the distinctive L-shaped layout, allowing the private pool to be accessed from the bedroom, the outdoor deck and even the bathroom. It is a clever design that perfectly reflects the seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living.
After our morning swim, we collect our bicycles and make our way along Anantara Kihavah's iconic overwater jetty towards breakfast. Stretching gracefully across the lagoon, the jetty offers uninterrupted views across the turquoise waters before arriving at the resort's restaurants, setting the tone for another memorable day.
One of the highlights of staying at Anantara Kihavah during manta season is the opportunity to visit nearby Hanifaru Bay. Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay is one of the few places on Earth where dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of reef manta rays gather to feed. Following a briefing from the resort's marine team, we board our boat and head towards the bay.
Soon enough, we find ourselves surrounded by graceful manta rays as they glide effortlessly beneath and around us. Watching these magnificent animals perform barrel rolls through the plankton-rich waters is one of those experiences that never becomes ordinary. No matter how many times we've visited, we still find ourselves mesmerised. It remains one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters we've experienced anywhere.
Returning to the resort, our Villa Host is waiting to welcome us back. After time to shower and change, we're escorted to one of Anantara Kihavah's signature experiences, lunch at SEA, the resort's iconic underwater restaurant. While several resorts have introduced underwater restaurants over the years, SEA continues to stand apart. It isn't simply the dining room itself that makes the experience so memorable, but the journey that begins long before you reach your table.
A glass of French Champagne is placed in your hand before you are invited to descend into the world's first underwater wine cellar. As you make your way down the staircase, floor-to-ceiling displays of rare Champagnes and vintage wines surround you before the space gradually opens into an intimate dining room beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean. With just eight tables overlooking the living reef, the setting feels remarkably exclusive.
Every visit is different. Throughout lunch we have watched turtles glide effortlessly past the glass, reef sharks patrol the reef edge and colourful schools of tropical fish weave through the surrounding coral gardens. The vibrant coral growth surrounding SEA creates one of the richest underwater outlooks of any restaurant in the Maldives and is one of the reasons why, in our experience, it continues to offer the Maldives' most exceptional underwater dining experience.
The afternoon is spent exploring another of Anantara Kihavah's defining strengths, its exceptional house reef. Encircling much of the island, the reef is among the most impressive we have experienced anywhere in the Maldives. Accompanied by one of the resort's marine guides, we spend the afternoon snorkelling the vibrant coral reef alive with reef fish, turtles and countless other marine species. For guests who enjoy snorkelling, it is easy to understand why Anantara Kihavah has earned such a strong reputation for its marine experiences.
As the sun begins to set, we make our way to SKY Bar, perched above the lagoon. With panoramic views across the Indian Ocean, it is the perfect setting to enjoy sunset cocktails as a resident DJ provides a relaxed soundtrack and the colours of the sky gradually fade from gold to deep orange. Looking back across the illuminated water villas stretching into the lagoon, it is one of our favourite places to pause and reflect on the day.
Dinner this evening is at SPICE, where the menu takes guests on a journey through the diverse flavours of Asia. Beautifully presented dishes, warm hospitality and an elegant setting provide the perfect conclusion to another memorable day.
Our evening, however, is not quite over. We return to SKY, where thousands of tiny lights scattered across the ceiling create the impression of sitting beneath a canopy of stars before climbing to the resort's overwater observatory. Home to one of the Maldives' most powerful telescopes, the observatory offers guests the opportunity to explore the night sky alongside the resort's Sky Guru. With virtually no light pollution, the constellations appear with remarkable clarity, providing a spectacular conclusion to a day that began beneath the surface of the ocean and ends beneath the stars above the Indian Ocean.
What continually impresses us about Anantara Kihavah is the way every signature experience remains connected to the ocean. From swimming alongside manta rays at Hanifaru Bay and snorkelling one of the Maldives' most exceptional house reefs, to dining beneath the surface at SEA and ending the evening beneath the stars at the SKY Observatory, the resort offers experiences that feel genuinely immersive rather than simply luxurious.
For travellers who value exceptional marine experiences, beautiful villas, outstanding snorkelling and thoughtfully designed dining experiences, Anantara Kihavah remains one of the most distinctive luxury resorts in the Maldives.
