Skydiving in the Maldives: Why Ifuru Island is like no other
If I’m honest, my first thought when someone offered me a trip to the Maldives was bling and boardwalks, with limited character or culture. But Ifuru Island, a 5km long oasis in the northern part of the famous luxury region, is so much more.
Ifuru – meaning ‘blossom’ in the local Dhivehi language – is half an hour’s onward travel from Male International Airport, the main gateway for travellers coming to the Indian Ocean archipelago. You start your Maldivian experience with a journey by seaplane (a ‘Twin Otter’) over the most astonishing turquoise waters; there really is such a thing as a blue lagoon, we flew over several). What an exhilarating way to enter paradise.
And Ifuru island truly is paradise. Set among stunning tropical gardens, full of unusual flora and fauna, the newly-opened all-inclusive hotel is 5-star, but in the most accessible way. It prides itself on its social offerings and activities but it never feels overrun or touristy. During my stay I spied rare monarch butterflies, lizards, hermit crabs, birds with exotic calls and, at dusk, huge fruit bats swooping directly overhead. Only buggies or bicycles are allowed, so it all feels wonderfully off-grid.
What about Ifuru Maldives’ villas?
I had comfortable beach villa set right upon the white-sand beach, literally 20 seconds from a swim in the bath-warm sea. Privacy is provided by strategically-planted shrubs and well-appointed palm trees, meaning the only soundtrack to my sunbathing was the gentle crashing of waves. You’re provided with everything you could want or need, right down to a welcome bottle of champagne, fresh flowers, a (concealed!) outdoor shower and tub bath, your own terrace, wifi and a smart TV, a pillow ‘menu’ (the lavender variety was my favourite) and a wardrobe complete with robe, slippers and ‘Maldives/Ifuru Island’-embossed flip-flops.
A snorkel’s throw from my villa, I dived into guided snorkelling and scuba-diving over the most amazingly colourful live coral reefs, which attract a plethora of tropical fish and the odd turtle.
There’s also the option of a suite with balcony or terrace for families, an entire block of rooms with an outdoor ‘social lounge’ for a group of pals or wedding parties, or for those wanting to go all-out, a villa with a private pool and beach access.
A slight word of warning: my luggage was 36 hours behind me, stuck in Doha after a particularly tight connecting flight, and given the island is fairly remote, I’d recommend having all essentials on your person, otherwise you’ll end up having to buy swimwear and sun cream from the island’s sole shop, where nothing costs less than $100. The hotel employees did help out with locating the bag, which took a lot of the stress out of the situation.
Almost all the Ifuru staff are from the Maldives, or surrounding countries, which adds to the authentic feel of the resort. The service is top-notch; the hospitality team knows every guest’s name and the island even has its own health clinic with a dedicated doctor and nurse.
I had dinner one night with a couple from the UK who had already decided they would return with a group of family for a big birthday, and that’s one of the great things about this resort – it feels like the type of place where regular guests will return year after year.
What about the food?
The resort has three restaurants: The Waterfront, which is the candlelit shoreside option, complete with a tasting menu; Palm Beach, a rustic grill serving local specialities; and the more relaxed Social House, which is also where the breakfast buffet is served. I couldn’t fault the food – there were plenty of classics to suit all palates, but I particularly enjoyed discovering the local dishes.
Breakfast, for instance, offered everything from traditional Maldivian fish dishes to bircher muesli with purple dragonfruit and vanilla cream donuts. Chefs are always on-hand to make (almost) anything you could want, sweet or savoury: ask for French toast, Indian dosa, pancakes, omelettes, shakshuka eggs… Your wish is their command. I could even get my fix of barista-prepared flat white coffee. And, incidentally, if you feel like a night in, there’s an ‘Ifuru Eats’ 24-hour takeaway service that delivers dinner or a midnight snack straight to your room.
How to skydive in the Maldives
So far so dreamy. But what, exactly, sets this resort apart from others across the 1,200 islands that make up the Maldives? There’s a huge amount of competition for discerning travellers (even in the high season in January when I was there, the hotel was relatively quiet).
Well, it’s a natural island, compared to several surrounding human-made resorts, which play more into the aforementioned boardwalks and bling stereotype. Not many have their own airport, either, so as a unique addition, the hotel can arrange skydiving for guests over those blue lagoons.
Skydive Maldives Ifuru was created by World Champion South African skydiver Will Penny and is the only place you can try the extreme sport here. I took the leap on my third day and it was among the most thrilling, mind-blowing things I’ve ever done. I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely terrified, but my tandem instructor looked after me incredibly well and I will never forget those aerial views over one of the most stunning corners of the planet.
Other more terrestrial activities include painting classes, kayaking, dolphin-spotting and island-hopping excursions further afield, as well as tailor-made yoga and sound bath sessions; I had one on the beach in front of my villa to coincide with sunset. Or you might just want to relax by the infinity pool or Beach Bar with a good book while a a DJ plays chillout tunes as the sun sets in paradise.
• Ifuru Island Maldives is a 5-star, all-inclusive resort located in the Raa Atoll. To book a suite or villa go to the website here. For information on Skydive Maldives Ifuru, visit the website here