UD Rating - 4 Stars

Year Round

13 Hours

All Levels

From £2725

Bandos Maldives

A classic private island resort just minutes from Malé, set amidst turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches.

Bandos Maldives is a well-established private island resort located in the North Malé Atoll, just 7 km from Velana International Airport, making it one of the most easily accessible resorts in the Maldives. Surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation, the island is known as “the island of hospitality” and offers a welcoming atmosphere for couples, families and divers alike.

The resort features over 200 rooms and villas across a variety of categories, including garden rooms, beachfront villas and overwater accommodation. Each room is designed for comfort and convenience, with modern amenities, private balconies or terraces, and views of the gardens, beach or lagoon. The accommodation combines traditional Maldivian influences with contemporary design, creating a relaxing and inviting space for guests.

Bandos Maldives offers a wide range of facilities and activities to suit all types of travellers. Guests can enjoy multiple restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre and a variety of land and water sports. The resort is particularly popular for its excellent house reef, offering easy access to snorkelling and diving, while the on-site dive centre provides guided dives and courses to explore nearby reefs and marine life including turtles, rays and reef sharks.

With its convenient location, extensive facilities and vibrant marine environment, Bandos Maldives provides a balanced island experience that combines relaxation, adventure and warm Maldivian hospitality in a classic tropical setting.

Board Basis

Half Board Breakfast and dinner included.
Full Board Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
All-Inclusive Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with selected beverages.
Bandos_Maldives_standard_beachfront_room

Standard Beachfront Room

The Standard Beachfront Rooms offer approximately 37 m² of space with one double bed or two single beds, accommodating up to 3 guests. Located just steps from the shoreline, they provide a traditional Maldivian setting with direct beach access.

  • Mini Bar
  • Hairdryer
  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air conditioning
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Sitting area
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Veranda
  • Desk
  • Wi-Fi
  • Wardrobe
  • Safe
Bandos_Maldives_deluxe_beachfront_room

Deluxe Beachfront Room

The Deluxe Beachfront Rooms measure approximately 53 m² and include a double or twin beds, accommodating up to 3 adults or 2 adults with 2 children. Positioned along the beach, they offer spacious interiors ideal for families.

  • Mini Bar
  • Hairdryer
  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air conditioning
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Veranda
  • Desk
  • Bathtub
  • Living Area
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bottled water
  • Wardrobe
  • Safe
Bandos_Maldives_garden_villa

Garden Villa

The Garden Villas feature around 37 m² of space with a double bed, accommodating up to 3 guests. Set within the island’s tropical gardens, they offer a peaceful retreat close to the resort’s main facilities.

  • Mini Bar
  • Hairdryer
  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air conditioning
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Sitting area
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Veranda
  • Desk
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bottled water
  • Wardrobe
  • Safe
Bandos_Maldives_premium_beach_villa

Premium Beach Villa

The Premium Beach Villas are larger duplex-style accommodations with a double bed, accommodating up to 4 guests. Located along the beachfront, they provide extra space and elevated views of the lagoon.

  • Mini Bar
  • Hairdryer
  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air conditioning
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Balcony
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Veranda
  • Desk
  • Open Air Shower
  • Bathrobes
  • Bathtub
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bottled water
  • Wardrobe
  • Safe
Bandos_Maldives_sunset_water_villa_with_pool

Sunset Water Villa with Pool

The Sunset Water Villa with Pool offers approximately 83 m² of overwater space with one king-size bed, accommodating up to 2 adults. Set above the lagoon, these villas feature a private pool and sundeck, providing a secluded and luxurious retreat with uninterrupted ocean and sunset views.

  • Mini Bar
  • Hairdryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Hammock
  • Sitting area
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Desk
  • Open Air Shower
  • Bathrobes
  • Bathtub
  • Private infinity pool
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bottled water
  • Wardrobe
  • Safe

Map

Marcelina

Friday, 06 December 2013

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

Lured by the promise of world-class reefs and adrenaline-fueled shark encounters Marcelina Jesus ventures to the wild islands of Fiji.

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

Available Experiences

Itineraries available in this destination

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What Our Customers Have To Say

Reviews from our Clients, Journalists, Photo Pro's and our own Experts

Our reviews and blogs are an additional guide to evaluate if the holiday is exactly what you are looking for or not. Some love an Eco-Resort, some love air-con and a flat screen TV, we aim to ensure you get what you are looking for, at great value for money.

Click the enquire button to make an enquiry for this resort or if you are interested in a bespoke itinerary. One of our experts will discuss the products available and create your personal itinerary.

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Dive Bandos

Bandos Maldives

Dive Bandos is the longest-established dive centre in the Maldives, located at Bandos Maldives in the North Malé Atoll. With direct access to a captivating house reef and more than 40 dive sites, the award-winning centre offers an impressive variety of underwater experiences for beginners and experienced divers alike. Its multilingual team provides professional guidance and a welcoming approach to exploring the rich marine life of the Indian Ocean.

The surrounding dive sites feature colourful reefs, channels, caves, wrecks and pinnacles, with highlights including Bandos House Reef, Banana Reef, Victory Wreck, Maagiri Caves, Stingray City and Kandooma Thila. Divers can encounter reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, barracuda and abundant tropical fish, while seasonal conditions can bring opportunities to see manta rays and other larger marine life.

Dive Bandos is a member of the PADI International Resort Association and offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses, from Bubblemaker and Discover Scuba Diving through to Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster and specialist programmes including Nitrox, wreck, deep, drift, sidemount and DPV diving. The resort also has an on-site medical centre with a decompression chamber, providing additional reassurance for divers.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

This course is a subset of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you're short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver rating might be right for you.

The PADI Scuba Diver course consists of three main phases:

PADI Scuba Diver to Open Water Upgrade

This program will allow you to dive to depths of 18 metres and achieve the most popular dive program in the world!

From the beginning to end of the course, you will learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, including areas such as dive equipment and techniques that will give you the confidence and skill to become a responsible diver.

PADI Open Water Referral

This is the most popular dive program in the world! And can be your chance to have a lifetime of intense adventures.

From the beginning to end of the course, you will learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, including areas such as dive equipment and techniques that will give you the confidence and skill to become a responsible diver.

You attain this rating by completing five pool dives and a number of knowledge development sessions with a final exam (which is not rocket science its just diving) and by completing four open water dives.

PADI Open Water Diver (Inc Equipment)

This is the most popular dive program in the world! And can be your chance to have a lifetime of intense adventures.

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge Development ( online, independent study or in a classroom) to understand basic principles of scuba diving
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills
Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore!

PADI Adventure Diver

After your Open Water course, why not start a PADI Adventure Diver course and complete some 'Adventure Dives'? You can also take part in just 1 or 2 Adventure Dives if you prefer and these will also count towards the Advanced certification.

To become a certified PADI Adventure Diver you will need to have achieved 3 Adventure Dives with a PADI certified Instructor. These can be completed in as little as 1 day.

A choice of 3 dives of your choice out of a long list of possibilities with an Instructor

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver

The Advanced Open Water Diver program gives you the opportunity to take your diving skill to the next level through three new areas of diving.
You complete your Deep Dive, Underwater Navigation Dive, Night Dive and two other dives for a total of five to attain your Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

This certification includes five dives, including the Deep Diver, the Underwater Navigation Diver and three of the following: You’ll plan your learning path with your instructor by choosing from a long list of Adventure Dives. There are two required dives – Deep and Underwater Navigation – and you choose the other three, for a total of five dives. During the Deep Adventure Dive, you learn how to plan dives to deal with the physiological effects and challenges of deeper scuba diving. The Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive refines your compass navigation skills and helps you better navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time.

The other knowledge and skills you get vary with your interest and the adventures you have – photography, buoyancy control, fish identification, exploring wrecks and many more.

PADI Bubblemaker

Experience scuba diving under the direct supervision of a PADI Pro. Take your first breaths underwater in water shallower than 2 metres/6ft. For children who are at least 8 years old.

Bubble makers get a chance to:

PADI Rescue Diver

Become a Rescue Diver. A great level to be. You will have the skills to aid your fellow divers in an emergency.

The PADI Rescue Diver course prepares you to deal with dive emergencies, minor and major, using a variety of techniques. Through knowledge development and rescue exercises, you learn what to look for and how to respond. During rescue scenarios, you put into practice your knowledge and skills. Topics include:

PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver

The most popular PADI specialty course. Scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives.

You’ll learn why diving with air that has higher oxygen and lower nitrogen content gives you more bottom time, along with enriched air equipment considerations. During a practical session, and two optional (or required) scuba dives, you’ll:

PADI Digital Underwater Photographer

The most popular diving specialties course. It’s easy and fun to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures.

Through hands-on training during two scuba dives and guidance from your PADI Professional, you’ll discover:

PADI Underwater Naturalist

Get a better understanding about the local ecosystem and the differences between terrestrial and aquatic worlds. See new things, even in the most familiar dive sites.

Through class discussions and on two scuba dives, you’ll learn:

PADI AWARE Fish Identification

Enjoy dives even more when you can recognize and identify fish families and their characteristics.

During two scuba dives, you’ll learn:

PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

This course helps you appreciate the complexity of coral reef habitats and teaches how you can help conserve these vital systems.

Through classroom discussions, you learn:

PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy

Observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. Improve the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevate them to the next level.

During two scuba dives, you’ll learn how to:

PADI Search and Recovery Diver

Retrieve lost items that have fallen overboard or over a dock. Learn effective swimming patterns and using a lift bag for heavy objects.

Gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search are the first important steps you learn. During four scuba dives you’ll practice:

PADI Boat Diver

This course helps you expand your knowledge about boats from small inflatables to large liveaboard. You'll gain experience scuba diving by completing two dives from a boat.

The PADI Boat Diver course will expand your knowledge about boats from small inflatables to large liveaboard. You’ll gain experience scuba diving by completing two dives from a boat in your local area and learn :

PADI Night Diver

The underwater world changes as day creatures retire & nocturnal organisms emerge. If you've wondered what happens underwater after the sun goes down, enrol in the PADI Night Diver Specialty course.

Scuba diving at night teaches you to focus on what you can see in your light’s beam, on controlling your buoyancy by feel, on staying with your buddy and on paying attention to details you may overlook during the day. During three night dives, you’ll practice:

PADI Deep Diver

Explore deeper dive sites with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130ft. Learn to manage your gas supply, go over buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control.

Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. During four deep dives with your instructor, you’ll go over:

PADI Drift Diver

Drift diving can be relaxing and exhilarating. The course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide along.

Along with drift diving techniques and procedures, you’ll:

PADI Underwater Navigator

Fine-tune your underwater observation skills and learn to use your compass more accurately. This course may count towards college credit, ask your instructor.

You’ll learn the tools of the trade, including navigation using natural clues and by following compass headings. During three scuba dives, you’ll practice:

PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle

Propel your way through the water and glide over reefs, buzz around a large wreck or weave through a kelp forest. You must be at least 12 years old and a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver or higher.

The PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle course guides you in choosing the right DPV for you. You’ll make two dives and learn about:

PADI Sidemount Diver

A sidemount configuration (scuba tanks alongside of the diver) offers more flexibility and better streamlining options. Learn about the many benefits of diving with a side mount configuration.

Along with learning about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration, during one confined water and three open water scuba dives you’ll learn how to:

PADI Divemaster

Be a leader who mentors and motivates others. Gain dive knowledge, supervision abilities, and become a role model to divers around the world.

The PADI Dive master course teaches you to be a leader and take charge of dive activities. Through knowledge development sessions, water skills exercises and workshops, and hands-on practical assessment, you develop the skills to organize and direct a variety of scuba diving activities. Topics and practical workshops include: