Our trip to the Maldives with Anantara Kihavah Villas was absolutely magical! On our bucket list since the times when email forwards were still chic, we were attracted to the Maldives for the pristine white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters that leave you guessing if they’re Photoshopped (we assure you they are not!). But even more so, we wanted to visit the Maldives to see the colorful coral reefs and reef fish.
Anantara Kihavah Villas is located on the Baa Atoll, 125 kilometers from Malé, the capital of the Maldives. The Baa Atoll covers nearly 1200 square kilometers and is made up of 75 islands, only 13 of which are inhabited. The Baa Atoll contains some of the richest coral reef systems in the world, including rare pink hydrozoans corals. This is just part of the reason that the Maldives’ Baa Atoll was declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2011. To become a member of an illustrious list of World Biosphere Reserves, the place must combine core protected areas with zones where sustainable development – and innovative approaches to it – are fostered, tested, and developed by locals and enterprises alike. Anantara Kihavah is definitely doing that with their Coral Adoption Program and sustainable development.
But enough of a lesson on the Maldives for today. Instead, take a “dive” with us and have a look at just some of the incredible corals and colorful reef fish in the underwater world of the Maldives.
Clown Triggerfish
Powderblue Surgeonfish
Peacock Damsels swim around huge coral fans
Spotted Butterfly Fish
School of Powderblue Surgeonfish
Oriental Sweetlips hide amongst the coral
Clown Triggerfish (these were one of my favorites!)
Titan Triggerfish
Parrotfish
Yellow Trumpetfish
Black Spotted Puffer Fish
Stingray
Three Striped Damsels
Unicornfish
Picasso Triggerfish
Stareyed Stonefish, the most venomous fish in the world
We went on a snorkel excursion with Anantara Kihavah Villa’s resident marine biologist, Jenny, who was more than happy to name many of the fish we saw for us and we immediately made notes once back aboard our boat. It was really fantastic to have Jenny on the excursion to tell us a bit about the various fish.
Which of these Maldivian reef fish would you most like to see?
Thank you to Anantara Kihavah Villas for hosting us during our stay in the Maldives. As always, all opinions are entirely our own.
Andi says
Wow these fish are GORGEOUS!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Aren’t they, Andi? The Maldives was definitely one of my favorite places to snorkel ever. It’s such a spectacularly colorful underwater world.
Steph says
I’m terrified of scuba diving but I just might learn if I ever visited the Maldives! So pretty.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Steph, these were all taken while snorkeling! Scuba freaks me out a bit too, but after seeing all this just snorkeling, I want to learn to dive more than ever!
Sofie Couwenbergh says
Amazing pictures. I'd love to go snorkeling there! Boyfriend and I always try to go snorkeling when we're on vacation, but we haven't yet made it to destinations where there's such a wide range of sea life on display.
Jennifer says
It's tough living in Europe because we really don't have coral reefs. The Adriatic and Mediterranean are rocky. So we love when we can get our fix of coral reefs and colorful reef fish.
Liz says
This makes me want to go to the Maldives right now! I’ve never dived before but it’s on my list 😀
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We actually took all of these photos snorkeling. But I feel more inspired than ever to make this the year that we get scuba certified. And our next trip back to the Maldives, we’re going diving! Can you imagine what it must look like to dive there if all of this can be seen from the surface?
Alainsojourner says
I cant wait to go scuba diving in two weeks!
Your photos are awesome!
Kate says
Absolutely stunning photos – the colours of the fish are so vivid!
Kate
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Kate! It’s easy to take great photos in such an incredible underwater world.
Self Catered Ski Chalets says
Gorgeous photos here. The Maldives is always somewhere I have dreamed to visit.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Maldives were definitely one of the most incredible places we’ve visited. Definitely go if you have the chance!
Ali says
Gorgeous! I love snorkeling, this looks like it was lots of fun!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Definitely one of the best places we’ve ever snorkeled. We were in the water every chance we got and many of these fish we even saw just snorkeling right from our villa.
Cole says
Gorgeous photos! Would love to stay there and go diving. It has been my dream to go sometime in the Maldives, just not sure when it will happen 🙁
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I want to go back when the whale sharks and manta rays are migrating through. Would be so incredible!
Andrew says
Mmm pretty fishies.
Yeah, not much more to say. Surprised to see the really poisonous one and veryhappy to not see any pictures of eels. They freak me out. I am a happy boater, but not much of a swimmer. I know Ali likes snorkeling, so I am sure I will try it at somepoint, but no diving for me.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We didn’t see any eels that I recall. Reading up on some of the fish we did encounter, I was surprised that several are quite dangerous. And seeing the stonefish really freaked Tim out. I was just glad not to see any jellyfish. Now, those scare me!
Gina says
First off, so jealous you went to the Maldives! That’s one of my dream trips. Secondly, great pictures of all the colorful fish! I really want to go scuba diving there someday.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Gina! We dreamed, we went, we’re dreaming of going again. 😉 But if we ever make it back, we’re going to be sure to get scuba certified first.
Leigh says
What fun to be able to capture such great shots. I’ve never shot underwater and the only place I’ve been that’s been super interesting is the Galapagos. You’ve had some amazing experiences this year.
Kay says
Unreal colors! I wish I was there 🙂
Were you diving or snorkeling? In the beginning og this post you say "take a dive with us" and in the end "we went on a snorkel excursion". I am just thinking of going there… but I am not a diver 🙁
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We were snorkeling. We aren’t certified to dive either…yet. But seeing this amazing underwater world from the surface has inspired us to get dive certified.
Laurel says
So pretty! Would love to dive or snorkel in the Maldives.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I want to get dive certified more than ever now! I can only imagine what awaits had we gone diving if all of this can be seen from the surface!
Phil says
These are great pictures. For sure you should learn how to dive, the deeper you go the more interesting life becomes! Though the irony is taking pictures becomes much, much harder so your photographic history will make it look less interesting as you lose all the color and light. But when you are actually there, it’s amazing. Have dived a couple of times in the Maldives and it is truly spectacular. Nice web site by the way.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Phil! That is ironic, but sometimes you just have to put the camera down and just enjoy. I suspect that will be the case when we do start diving.
jill says
Eeeeek!! So pretty! Jack and I just got scuba certified so we’ve been talking about the next place we should go diving. Maldives looks gorgeous!! *taking notes*
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We want to get scuba certified but the taking the mask off and putting it back on under water part terrifies me for some reason!
Alainsojourner says
wow! that’s awesome!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks! The sea life is so amazing in the Maldives!
Freya says
WoW fabulous pictures, looks totally amazing.
Haven’t been there (yet) but definitely on the list.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Freya! The Maldives is incredibly beautiful above and below the water.
Erika Blake says
Gorgeous Jen!
Jennifer says
Thanks, Erika! The reef life is just incredible in the Maldives.