Filitheyo, Maldives

Filitheyo is highly recommended if you are looking for a medium-size, traditional-style resort with good diving and snorkelling.

Accommodation is basic, but there are good facilities, including a swimming pool, and excellent spa and a magical rustic bar at its focal point.


The Dive Centre is a really professional operation run by Werner Lau.

Filitheyo is ideal if you are looking for a medium-size resort with good snorkelling and diving courtesy of the Werner Lau dive centre. The lagoon is narrow on the north side with the reef edge close to the beach offering fantastic snorkelling without having to swim great distances. On the South side the lagoon is larger and shallower but full of dead coral which is not ideal for swimming. The swimming pool however compensates for this.

The detached Deluxe Villas on the south side enjoy a nice wide stretch of beach equi-distant between the pool and the reception buildings. The semi-detached Superior Villas on the north side also enjoy a good beach although it is somewhat narrower. The east side of the island has no beach at all and very rocky. This means you cannot walk right around Filitheyo on the beach. The interior of the island enjoys thick vegetation with plenty of palm trees. The vegetation is fumigated weekly to control mosquitoes, insects, etc.

The quality of accommodation is excellent with no plastic to be seen anywhere. All the sun loungers, tables, chairs, etc are the finest hardwood. The Superior Villas with their open-air bathroom are well equipped with 4-poster bed, satellite TV and mini hifi. 10 Superior Villas are sold as Family Villas which are considerably cheaper than purchasing 2 villas which one is forced to do in most other resorts. The detached Deluxe Villas are essentially the same as the Superiors but marginally bigger and include a bathtub. The Water Villas are top class with their sundecks overlooking the lagoon.

The coffee shop, sunset bar and swimming pool are located at the western tip of the island looking over to the water villas....an ideal place for a mid-morning coffee or a cocktail at dusk. The coffee shop offers an a-la-carte menu in the evenings although I found the food in the buffet restaurant of a very high standard, well presented, varied and tasty.

One of Filitheyo's best features is its rustic bar, located next to the pond with its beautiful lilies, the sunken library with its internet connection and the recreation area with darts and table tennis.