Dhawa Ihuru Resort

Dhawa Ihuru — formerly Angsana Ihuru — has long been one of our most popular Maldivian resorts, and the reason is simple: that house reef. The drop-off rings the entire island, reaching as close as a few metres from the beach and never more than 50m out. Wide, shallow channels make access effortless, taking you through coral gardens alive with marine life. It's ideal for nervous or beginner snorkellers who want to stay close to shore, but experienced divers will find plenty to marvel at too. We're all agreed — it's utterly addictive.

The resort has had a partial refresh as part of the rebranding. Soft refurbishments have brightened the interiors, and local artists have added marine-life murals to the public areas. The design language can feel a little inconsistent in places — sometimes style winning out over substance — but the villas themselves remain comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped. Great king-size beds, a proper sitting area, and the rare ability to sleep up to four adults in a standard room at this price point. Our tip: go for the entry-level Beachfront Villas and spend the saving elsewhere.

The standout new addition is the gym — impressively modern and housed above the dive centre. The spa remains excellent (treatments come highly recommended), though it has lost some space to make room for a smaller kids' club. Ihuru now offers two All Inclusive packages: the standard 'Dine' option and 'Premium', which adds more dining flexibility, an extended drinks list, daily resort credit for spa and extras.

If you love snorkelling in the Maldives, you've either already been to Ihuru or it's on your list. If it's the latter, we'd say tick it off. Pro tip: worried the island might feel too small for a full stay? Twin it with another resort — Ihuru features regularly in our clients' split-stay itineraries.

Ihuru — meaning 'old palm trees' in Dhivehi — sits in North Malé Atoll, a 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. The island covers 25,000 sq metres of lush greenery, with 590 metres of palm-fringed beaches, crystal-clear waters and kaleidoscopic coral.

The Dhawa brand takes its name from a Southeast Asian tree known for the usefulness of its leaves. The resort's vibrant interiors are designed for independent, design-conscious travellers looking to explore on their own terms.

There are 45 villas across three categories: Beachfront, Beachfront Jet Pool and Beachfront Rainmist. All feature colourful interiors, king-size beds, and the flexibility to accommodate up to four adults.

Environmental initiatives include turtle breeding, reef clearing, barnacle building and erosion protection. The resort runs biology classes and escorted snorkelling safaris to encourage guest participation. Riveli Restaurant and Velaavani Bar sit beachside with lagoon and house-reef views, serving varied international cuisine. The resort is All Inclusive only, with 'Dine' and 'Premium' packages to choose from.

The house reef — just five metres from the Dive Centre — is among the best resort reefs in the Maldives. Sharks, eagle rays, moray eels, turtles, batfish and trevallies are regular visitors, with overhangs of 4–7 metres where lobsters, nurse sharks and stingrays shelter. The shipwreck is easily accessed from shore, and there are numerous dive sites throughout the atoll. Other facilities include an excellent spa, a modern gym, water sports centre and a small kids' club.