About

About Vakkaru Maldives

Once used as a coconut plantation, Vakkaru Island is a vibrant splash of tropical jungle, ringed by white sand. This stunning retreat into nature features facilities to suit adventurous guests, plus luxurious amenities throughout. The resort's modern design showcases the island's natural beauty, with perfect beaches, a calm lagoon, and plenty of quiet paths to explore. Scuba dive or snorkel any time you want on the expansive house reef, easily one of the best in Baa Atoll. Or, pamper yourself with soothing days at the spa, fine dining and drinking, once in a lifetime excursions, and bespoke guest experiences with celebrity hosts.

Baa Atoll is a diver's dream, featuring channels, manta ray encounters, and near-guaranteed encounters with marine megafauna. Vakkaru offers daily scuba diving and snorkelling trips to all the best sites in the region including Hanifaru Bay, one of the best places on the planet to spot mantas and whale sharks. Dedicated divers can make the most of their time on the island with PADI courses, traditional and fluorescent night dives, and exciting guided experiences. And, experienced dive teams can take it to the next level with free nitrox and any time access to the house reef.

Explore the resort

Vakkaru is one of Baa Atoll's newest and most luxurious resorts, boasting some of the most impressive amenities paired perfectly with stunning natural beauty. Spacious and modern guest rooms blend perfectly into the tropical backdrop and include exceptional details including 24-hour butler service, free bicycles for exploring, and perfectly appointed interiors. Adventurous guests will love this resort's outdoor facilities including snorkelling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and day trips to legendary Hanifaru Bay. Vakkaru's private house reef is one of the Maldives’ most impressive, including kilometres of coral and a plunging blue hole.

Vakkaru Island proudly offers a sumptuous selection of dining experiences, with buffet restaurants, a la carte bistros, cocktail lounges, and private chef-prepared meals. Daily menus feature an exotic blend of western and local dishes with fresh produce from the island's organic garden and line-caught seafood. For a healthy dose of rest and relaxation, treat yourself to a day at Merana Spa. This oasis of calm features massage, bodywork, and romantic couples sessions in the over-water treatment rooms, and access to a sauna, steam bath, and whirlpool. Younger travellers are guaranteed to enjoy their stay, with an exciting kids club featuring daily events, and outdoor pool and play area.

Diving with Vakkaru Maldives

Vakkaru's partner dive centre, Silver Sands, specialises in unique underwater experiences with seamless customer service. They offer PADI courses for adults and children, and guided day and nighttime adventures on the house reef, including fluorescent night diving. Their daily excursions throughout Baa Atoll let you dive the best sites, known for encounters with sharks, manta rays, turtles, and more. Divers of all skill and certification levels will love this shop's professional quality rental equipment and cameras, spacious custom dive boats, free nitrox for qualified divers, and concierge service both above and below the waves.

Baa Atoll's number one attraction is its population of reef manta rays. Silver Sands offers daily trips to the most reliable diving and snorkelling sites for encounters, including the world-famous Hanifaru Bay. Plus, dive sites boasting coral channels known as kandus, bustling thilas, current-swept corners, and light-filled coral gardens as well. Or, if you prefer independent adventure, spend your days exploring the island's sprawling house reef, complete with its very own blue hole. With on-demand tank fills, you can grab your dive buddy and hit the water any time you want, as often as you feel like it!

Conservation

Vakkaru is committed to developing a more sustainable operation through various green initiatives and innovations intended to preserve the surrounding environment and community. The resort's on-site Reverse Osmosis water treatment facility produces clean drinking water, available in each guest villa as well as all dining outlets, and uses recyclable glass bottles to prevent plastic waste from entering the island ecosystem. The resort is also home to a sizeable organic farm, which makes use of composted organic waste, as well as greywater water for irrigation.

Vakkaru Island's house reef plays host to a diverse range of marine life, and it's one of the resorts most prominent attractions. The island's staff organises regular reef cleanups, aimed at removing debris from the water and guests are invited to join in these efforts and learn about the underwater world in the process. The island is also home to a coral nursery, using a specially designed frame to attach each fragment allowing it to be transplanted independently. Once large enough, these newly planted corals are placed on the house reef and regularly monitored for growth.