Usually, I focus on scuba diving destinations and this often goes together with a lower budget. I´m not a luxury traveler myself and most of my readers might be flashpackers or even backpackers. However, I like to make an exception for Veligandu Island Resort & Spa in the Maldives. It’s a luxury scuba dive destination for a diving holiday in the Maldives. It´s a dream destination you can only imagine, with world-class scuba diving at a stone´s throw away! This hotel review is also written for non-divers.
A complete hotel review of Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives?
In 2010, I worked as a scuba diving instructor at Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives. A few years ago, when I just started Splashpacker, I was invited to go scuba diving at Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives. And so I decided to write a complete hotel review about this island resort, just because Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives is the best island to enjoy the most relaxed scuba diving holiday ever!
Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives is a luxury hotel and a great scuba diving destination
Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives is such a peaceful island and hotel, it really is a true paradise! And guess what? The amazing scuba dive spots, like Madivaru Corner and the Sharks, are to be found at less than a 15-minute boat ride away from the island hotel! Other scuba diving sites within this distance include the early morning dive with the hammerhead sharks, scuba diving with manta rays at Manta Point (in the right season), and more!
Veligandu Island Resort & Spa is located in Rasdhoo Atoll on the Maldives
Veligandu Island Resort is located in Rasdhoo Atoll, in the Maldives. And so is the famous dive site Madivaru Corner! I’ve included a little video about Madivaru Corner above. If you like it, you can also subscribe to the Splashpacker YouTube channel. I’ll include another dive video later on in this post, and you can read more about the scuba diving in Rasdhoo Atoll in other blog posts, but let’s first get back to Veligandu Island Resort & Spa. because it’s also a great island resort on the Maldives for non-divers.
What is the exact location of Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives?
Veligandu Island Resort is located in the Rasdhoo Atoll in the Maldives. Rasdhoo is sometimes also called Rasdu and is also known as Alif Alif, or Alifu Alifu, Atoll. This small atoll in the Maldives consists only of one local island (Rasdhoo Island), two uninhabited islands called Madivaru and Madivaru Finolhude, and two hotel resort islands.
Two resort islands in Rasdhoo Atoll on the Maldives
The two island resorts in Rasdhoo Atoll consist of the hotels on Kuramathi Island and Veligandu Island Resort. I receive a small commission if you book through these links on Agoda, or click here for Booking. There are also hotels and guesthouses on Rasdhoo Island.
How do you get to Veligandu Island Resort from the international airport in Malé on the Maldives?
From the Maldives International Airport, in Malé, you can reach Veligandu Island Resort within 20 minutes by seaplane or approximately 1.5 hours by speedboat. You may be dropped off on Rasdhoo Island by speedboat and you will have to arrange a boat to Veligandu yourself.
Veligandu Island is a sandbox in the Maldives!
Veligandu means sandbox in Divehi (the local language) and this name fits well with the white and quiet beaches you can find all over the island. Actually, the whole island is like a sandbox and you can walk barefoot over the sand everywhere, even in the bar and restaurants! Add some lush green nature and tropical flowers to it and you find yourself on the most dreamy destination ever.
How big is Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives?
Veligandu is a long and narrow island. It is about 600 meters long and 150 meters wide. In feet, it’s about 2000 feet in length and 500 feet wide. All in all, the total area is 0.1 km². That equals about 10 hectares roughly.
However, you can easily enjoy your own private part of the beach where you won´t get disturbed by other people. The beachside of the island is decorated in a way that nature is in balance and provides a hammock or a swing here and there.
Does Veligandu Island Resort have a house reef?
Scuba diving at Veligandu Island Resort can be done from the shore, but the house reef is usually used for diving courses. The boat dives are just so much more beautiful than shore diving, and you don’t want to miss them during a diving holiday to Veligandu in the Maldives. But you can easily go snorkeling on your own on the house reef of Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives.
Other water sports on Veligandu Island Resort & Spa
The amazing scuba diving will be the main attraction of a diving holiday to Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives. But the non-divers won´t easily get bored. Some motorized water sports, like jetski, is available, and non-motorized water sports like windsurfing, catamaran sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddle, are all available too. Obviously, snorkeling is also amazing here!
Day trips, excursions, and other activities at Veligandu Island Resort
On Veligandu Island, you can also book other tours or day trips. Next to scuba diving, you can book activities or excursions like sailing, fishing, dolphin watching, sunset sailing, visiting another island or a trip to the sandbank. There is evening entertainment at night and the island also has a fully equipped gym and a games room with things like billiards and darts.
The swimming pool & Duniye Spa at Veligandu Island Resort
Additionally, the island has a relaxing infinity swimming pool, and last but not least the highly regarded Duniye Spa is amazing for a relaxing massage and a treatment of body, mind, and soul!
Food & drinks in the bars and restaurants on Veligandu Island Resort
The food in the main restaurant is absolutely delicious. I never ever have seen such an all-inclusive buffet-style restaurant in my life! There is anything you can imagine from each continent in the world and some local dishes are available too. When I worked on Veligandu Island, I ate there three times a day, for six months, and never have I been bored with the food.
On Veligandu island are two bars and an a la carte restaurant, next to the main restaurant
The main bar offers any drink you can imagine and provides snacks like pizza as well. There is also a small bar on the other side of the island for a more quiet moment and a second ´a la carte´-restaurant. Also, you can arrange romantic beach dining, dine in room service and even cooking classes!
Accommodation options on Veligandu Island Resort: Water villa, bungalow, or beach villa, with and without jacuzzi
The well-known luxury accommodation images as typical in the Maldives, the water villa, is also to be found on Veligandu Island Resort. Depending on your budget, you can choose between beach villas, jacuzzi beach villas, water villas or jacuzzi water villas. Also, you have the option to choose for a sunset or sunset jacuzzi water villa! When I got invited back to the island a few years ago, I took the opportunity to take some photos of the different rooms.
After this hotel review, you might like to book your (diving) holiday to Veligandu Island!
The rooms at Veligandu Island Resort & Spa might have been renovated in the meantime, I am not sure about this. After reading this review, you might like to book a (diving) holiday to Veligandu in the Maldives yourself. Use the link below to find Veligandu Island Resort on Agoda ( I receive a small commission on your purchase through this link):
Use the link below to book your flight to Malé, the international airport of the Maldives (ad):
Book your flight to the Maldives here on 12.go.com
Other accommodation options for a scuba diving vacation on Rasdhoo Atoll
I am usually a budget traveller, so Veligandu Island is definitely not within the usual ´Splashpacker budget style´. For more information about the more affordable resort of Kuramathi Island, you can click here for Agoda, or here for booking.com (I receive a small commission on your purchase through these links). Still, the most affordable is to stay in a local guesthouse on Rasdhoo Island, obviously.
Splashpacker likes to promote sustainable tourism
Splashpacker likes to promote sustainable tourism, which not only includes conserving the environment and the oceans but that also supports the local people. Veligandu Island Resort belongs to Crown and Champa Resorts, which is owned by various Maldivian and foreign partners. The resort provides a lot of good jobs for the local people of the Maldives.
Veligandu Island has a special place in my heart
The scuba diving is of a very high standard and the resort works with some eco-friendly ethics too. Veligandu Island has a special place in my heart and it´s an amazing scuba diving destination that´s why I decided to include it on Splashpacker.
Every day is a gift on Veligandu Island
I do believe Veligandu will exceed all your expectations as a dive holiday destination in the Maldives! The island is so peaceful that it feels like a small heaven on earth. Every day is a precious gift on Veligandu and it´s no wonder that so many guests go back there on a regular base. It might just be that unforgettable once in a lifetime experience for you.
Scuba Diving the Maldives with Ocean Dive Centre on Veligandu Island Resort
The team of ´Ocean Dive Centre´ on Veligandu Island Resort is professional and very friendly, they do everything to make your scuba diving holiday in the Maldives an unforgettable experience. The diving takes place from a fast, comfortable boat bringing you to most dive spots within 15 minutes, to save your precious time on your diving holiday. The boat crew is also extremely helpful and friendly.
Tip for your scuba dive holiday and diving Veligandu Island Resort on the Maldives
My good friend, who is a local scuba diving instructor on Veligandu for more than a decade now, knows exactly where to find the smaller stuff like the leaf fish and mantis shrimp or creatures that are not always easy to spot, like stonefish for example. Keep an eye on what he is showing, especially whilst diving the dive site Madivaru Corner!
Do you like more scuba diving information for Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives?
I´m working on a full blog post about scuba diving with Ocean Dive Centre on Veligandu in the Maldives. Keep an eye on Splashpacker if you don´t want to miss out, you can also subscribe to the mailing list below.
Mailing List
In the meantime, I have already written a blog post about my favourite dive site which is to be found there. Also, I have shared some videos on Splashpacker YouTube channel. You can find little video´s about Manta Point, the dive site Big Blue and diving with the sharks on Madivaru Corner here so far. You can click on the links to view on YouTube or subscribe to my channel there.
The video of Manta Point, which is also located near Veligandu Island
Book your diving holiday at Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives
If you like to book your diving holiday to Veligandu Island Resort in the Maldives, I once again share the links here to Agoda and Booking. After that, I share a search box from 12go.co which you can use to find your international flight deal to the Maldives. Please note that I receive a small commission on your purchase through those links and the search box.
Click here to book Veligandu Island Resort on booking.com
Click here to book Veligandu Island Resort on Agoda
Book your flight to the Maldives here on 12.go.com
Happy splashpacking!
*As an associate from Booking, Agoda, and 12go.co I earn from qualifying purchases
Yes, Veligandu is such a peaceful little paradise. Thank you for your comment 🙂
Veligandu Island Resort is a paradise for those who are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life.