Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

Dive resort · Maldives · South Ari Atoll · Official Website

The island and its turquoise lagoon from the air

Overwater villas and the island from the air

Booking by Tour Leader Club

5 room types · 60 on the dive centre's map dive sites · house reef

Vilamendhoo is a classic Maldivian island resort built on the ‘One Island, One Resort’ principle: 900 metres long, 250 wide, 1.5 km of white beach and nobody on it but guests. It sits in South Ari Atoll — the atoll where whale sharks aggregate all year.

The reason to come with a tank is the house reef. It runs along both sides of the island and starts a few metres from the shore: you can swim out onto it whenever you like, night dives included, with no boat and no timetable. On the reef there are turtles, schools of jacks, napoleons and black tip reef sharks, with eagle rays out in the blue.

The dive centre is run by Euro-Divers, a Swiss company operating since 1972, and rated a PADI 5 Star centre with courses from a first breath underwater up to divemaster. The centre’s map names 60 sites across South Ari: thilas, channels, and the spots where mantas and whale sharks turn up.

The island is split into a family side and an adults’ side. The family side holds the Tropical, Adjacent Beachfront and Beachfront villas, the Heron Kids Club, the playground and the pool with a wading area. The 18+ side holds the Romantic Beachfront and Romantic Ocean villas, with its own Ahima restaurant, Sunset Bar and infinity pool.

There are 184 villas in five categories. The rate includes full board from the buffet; the All Inclusive Dine Around package adds drinks, snacks and a handful of activities on top.

Note: the resort is closed for renovation from 1 May to 14 November 2026 and reopens on 15 November 2026.

No markup

You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.

We run the deal

Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.

Card payment

We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.

Support all the way

We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.

The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.

About the resort

Country

Maldives

Location

South Ari Atoll

Nearest airport

Velana International (MLE), Malé — 88 km

Transfer

Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane, 25 minutes from Velana International

met by a resort representative in the arrivals hall

House reef

Yes — house reef on both sides of the island, shore entry, dived at any hour including at night

Dive sites

60 on the dive centre's map

Dive centre

Euro-Divers, a PADI 5 Star centre

Rooms

184 villas, 5 categories

At the resort

House reef along both sides of the island

1.5 km of white beach

Two freshwater pools

Adults-only 18+ area with its own restaurant, bar and pool

Two buffet restaurants

Two à la carte restaurants and a café

Five bars and a lounge

Duniye Spa over the water

Heron Kids Club, indoor play area and playground

Fitness centre

Tennis and padel courts, badminton, football, pétanque, putting green

Games room, library, gift shop

Manta Trust marine biology centre

Vila Memories photo studio

Clinic and a resident doctor on the island

Free Wi-Fi in the villa

Diving

House reef from the shore at any hour, night dives included

60 South Ari dive sites on the centre's map

Whale sharks in the atoll all year

Mantas, eagle rays, turtles, black tip reef sharks

Thila and channel dives

PADI courses from a first dive up to divemaster

Equipment rental, servicing and a retail shop

Guided night snorkelling

The dive centre is run by Euro-Divers, a Swiss company operating since 1972 and rated a PADI 5 Star centre. Trips go out as single tank, two tank or full day. A medical questionnaire is filled in before diving, and any "yes" answer means a physician's fit-to-dive certificate is required. Diving insurance is mandatory; divers without it can buy a short-term DAN policy at the centre. Unguided night snorkelling is prohibited. The resort's site publishes no dive prices.

Food

Full board from the buffet included in the rate

Funama — the family buffet restaurant

Ahima — the adults-only buffet

Faru — seafood à la carte

Asian Wok — Asian cooking, teppanyaki and a wok kitchen

Boashi — café by the pool

Dinner on the beach on request

In-villa dining

Which restaurant you eat in follows your villa: guests in the Tropical, Adjacent Beachfront and Beachfront villas eat in Funama, guests in the Romantic Beachfront and Romantic Ocean villas in Ahima, which is adults-only. Moving from Funama to Ahima costs extra. Both rooms are open-air with sand floors. The All Inclusive Dine Around package is sold separately: unlimited drinks and snacks, a set menu at Asian Wok or Faru, 20% off other dishes there and a set of activities.

Beyond diving

Snorkelling on the house reef and whale shark trips

Manta and turtle excursions

Kayaks, paddleboards, catamaran, windsurfing

Waterskiing, wakeboarding, fun tube, jet ski

Sunset cruise and traditional dhoni sailing

Fishing — trolling, jigging, casting

Trip to the local island of Dhangethi

Tennis, padel, badminton, football, pétanque, putting green

Duniye Spa and yoga

Evening programme, cultural shows and live music

Rooms

Garden villa

$341

View: Garden

The most affordable category: the villa is tucked into the island's gardens with tropical foliage all around. Inside there is a king-size bed, a sitting area and a partially open-air bathroom with double sinks and a rain shower; outside, a private porch with furniture.

King-size bed Partially open-air bathroom with double sinks Rain shower Private porch with furniture Air-conditioning and ceiling fan Stocked minibar, tea and coffee Safe, TV, hair dryer, bathrobes Free Wi-Fi Assigned sunbeds

Beach villa, two under one roof

$429

View: Beach and lagoon

Two villas under one roof with separate entrances — the option for two families, or a group that wants to be next door but not in the same room. Each half is sold separately. The water is a few steps away.

King-size bed A separate entrance for each half Partially open-air bathroom with double sinks Rain shower Private porch with furniture Air-conditioning and ceiling fan Stocked minibar, tea and coffee Safe, TV, hair dryer, bathrobes Free Wi-Fi

Beach villa

$473

View: Beach and lagoon

A standalone villa right on the shore: wooden finish, lagoon views and sand starting just past the porch. The category for anyone who wants to walk onto the house reef straight from the door.

King-size bed Lagoon view Partially open-air bathroom with double sinks Rain shower Private porch with furniture Air-conditioning and ceiling fan Stocked minibar, tea and coffee Safe, TV, hair dryer, bathrobes Free Wi-Fi Assigned sunbeds

Beach villa, adults only

$516

View: Beach and lagoon

A spacious villa on the adults' side of the island: the lagoon a few steps away, a separate bathtub for two in the bathroom and a Nespresso machine in the room. Guests under 18 are not accommodated in this category.

Guests aged 18 and over only King-size bed Bathtub in the bathroom Double sinks and a rain shower Nespresso machine Private porch with furniture Wooden floor Air-conditioning and ceiling fan Stocked minibar, tea and coffee Free Wi-Fi

Overwater villa, adults only

$613

View: Ocean

The only overwater category: timber, plenty of space, a bathtub and a private staircase straight down into the lagoon. It stands on the walkway on the adults' side of the island; guests under 18 are not accommodated here.

Guests aged 18 and over only Villa on stilts above the lagoon Private staircase into the water King-size bed Bathtub in the bathroom Double sinks and a rain shower Nespresso machine Private porch with furniture Air-conditioning and ceiling fan Free Wi-Fi

When to go

Best time: All year; brief showers are possible from May to November
Water temperature: around 29 °C all year

The average air temperature in the Maldives is about 30 °C and barely changes. Rain between May and November does happen but is infrequent and short. Whale sharks stay in South Ari all year — one of the few places in the world where they can be met in any season. Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. The resort is closed for renovation from 1 May to 14 November 2026; bookings are for stays from 15 November 2026.

Getting there

Every route to the Maldives runs through Velana International Airport (MLE) in Malé. Vilamendhoo lies 88 km away, in South Ari Atoll.

From there it is a 25-minute Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane. A resort representative meets guests in the arrivals hall and walks them to the TMA check-in counter; a bus then takes about ten minutes to the seaplane terminal. Departure is usually within one to two hours of all guests clearing immigration.

Seaplanes fly only in daylight, roughly between 06:00 and 18:00. The last flight to the island leaves around 16:00 — if an international flight lands later, the resort will arrange a night in Malé. Going back, the last departure from the island is also around 16:00, so an onward international flight can only be taken from 09:00 the next day.

The seaplane baggage allowance is 20 kg plus 5 kg of hand luggage; excess is charged separately.