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VADOO - Guest Comments

Vadoo is a small exclusive resort, rebuilt in 1997, to the very highest standards. It is a quiet, gentle place - but the island is among the old islands of Maldives. Still, there are smiles all around and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The tone is set by the Japanese guests, who make up between a half and two thirds of the total. It is also set by the divers, as the same sort of percentage goes diving everyday.

Maldives Islands Resorts

"Vadoo diving paradise" is the nick-name, and it is not inaccurate. The island is perfectly placed to reach all the best sites in the Southern part of North Male' Atoll, as well as nearby sites, which are some of the best in South Male'. The one other top spot is around Guraidhoo, and further South, and a day trip with lunch is regularly organized to dive it.

Maldives Islands Resorts

In considering to our choosen "25 Dive Zones", Vadoo is in "Vadoo Zone". If you would like to get more information's regarding the available dive sites in this zone, please CLICK.

Maldives Islands Resorts

Of the 15 designated protected marine areas, five are within easy reach and two more (including Guraidhoo) are accessible. These areas are recognized as accept ional in some way endangered, but some of the best diving in the country can be had within a few minutes of the resort. Old shark point and the Victory wreck in North Male' and Embudhu Canyon and the Cathedral in South Male' are legendary. And as per our dive zones, these sites are in "Male' Zone".

Maldives Islands Resorts

Then there is the house-reef itself. Just offshore is a steep wall. Moving North one passes a sandy bar of delicate coral and teeming reef fish. And at the Northern edge morays, snapper and grouper lay inside while sharks and trevally patrol the outside (in the Vadoo channel). Dolphins are often seen along the harbor jetty.

Maldives Islands Resorts

Partly because of the accent on diving, there is no organized evening entertainment, apart from a boat trip to Laguna Beach to go dancing. That is upon request, as the other "potential" excursions, such as the Male' excursions, island hopping, and local island visit, fishing and glass bottomed boat. As a general rule the resort goes to bed early in preparation for the next day.

Maldives Islands Resorts

Or it could be because the rooms are so comfortable (there are so many honeymooner). There used to be three two-storey blocks, each with 8 rooms. These have been demolished and rebuilt. Now there are two blocks and 8 individual bungalows. Each rooms is decked out in marble and pine. No expense has been spared to bring the resort upto the top league. All the toilet fittings, for example, have been imported directly from Japan.

Maldives Islands Resorts

Despite the modern facilities every bungalow is roofed with thatched to keep them in harmony with the environment. This also true of the 7 Water Bungalows (two of which are "suites" with two bedrooms.) These spacious carpeted rooms have glass table whose top comes off so you can feed the fish below, and a private verandah with steps down into the lagoon. And what a lagoon! At the bottom of the steps and out of the reef edge is a truly glorious coral garden.

Maldives Islands Resorts

There are two bars/loungers for relaxing during the day. One in the round over the water, to watch the sunrise and the sunset, and one brand new one built on the beach, for the long easy evenings. The restaurant, too, has been completely rebuilt. The food is a mix of Japanese and western, with local curries too.

Maldives Islands Resorts

The resort is undoubtedly in the top bracket. If you are not allergic to small places (It takes just a 6 minutes to walk around), you are not looking to dance every night, you are not "eurocentric", You've got to love it here.