Pandemic honeymoon ideas in the Maldives

If you simply can’t wait for normality to return before tying the knot, you’re probably asking yourself “how do we spend our honeymoon during the pandemic?” Well, we believe newly-weds should get the honeymoon of their dreams, no matter what. And with one of the world’s favourite scuba diving and honeymoon destinations open for business, there’s really no reason not to. 

Here’s a few of our favourite resorts in the Maldives offering honeymoon and scuba diving packages, so you can take the plunge with your loved one - in more ways than one.

Honeymoons are all about taking time to connect with your loved-one and having a well-earned break before embarking on the next chapter of your lives together. Hidden away on a private island, COMO Cocoa Island is all about connecting - with your new life partner, yourself, and the entire world around you. Inspired by ancient Buddhist traditions and philosophies, this resort promotes slow, intimate living with a range of wholesome approaches to wellness. In fact, the resort’s Shambhala Retreat wellness centre is the perfect setting for newlywed couples to strengthen their bonds, with massage pavilions, outdoor bathtubs, hydrotherapy pool, steam facility, and an open-air yoga pavilion. 

And the nuptial bliss doesn’t have to end there. COMO Cocoa offers a wide range of complimentary watersports to enhance your honeymoon, including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and the staff are happy to arrange exciting trips in search of dolphins, whale sharks, and more. The resort’s PADI 5-Star dive centre provides access to a number of renowned dive sites including Kandooma Caves and Cocoa Thila, and couples have the opportunity to enjoy an expert-led dive with the resident marine biologist.

Beach and sandbank dinners are a staple for any romantic Maldives getaway, and rightly so. With the warm sea breeze, powder-fine sand, and breathtaking surroundings there are few better settings for an intimate meal for two. But Dusit Thani’s ‘borderless dining’ takes this a step further, delivering bespoke romantic meals anywhere on the island. The resort’s highly-trained staff combine exquisite settings, sweeping views, and carefully-crafted culinary delights to immerse guests in a truly multi-sensory dining experience - creating highly intimate and memorable experiences in the process. 

Of course, diverse dining options aren’t the only thing that stand this resort out from the crowd. Dusit Thani also offers an in-house spa with a sauna, steam room, and shaded pool, as well as tennis courts, a fitness centre, and the region’s largest infinity pool. The PADI 5-Star dive centre is well-versed in catering to nervous newlyweds taking their first breaths beneath the waves, as well as more experienced dive buddies in the mood for adventure. Plus, Dusit Thani’s location, within the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, provides access to some of the Maldives finest underwater experiences - including Hanifaru Bay.

Inviting your new ‘in-laws’ might not be high up on your honeymoon hit-list, but hear us out. Four Seasons Voavah is one of the world's most exclusive private islands, only available to book in its entirety, and off limits to everyone else but you. This exceptional island retreat can accommodate up to 20 guests in seven villas and suites and comes complete with a team of dedicated staff at your disposal. But with five hectares of pristine island to explore, multiple pools and watersports, a relaxing spa, and 24/7 access to a private luxury yacht, there’s plenty of privacy to be found for those more romantic moments. 

As if all of that wasn’t enough, being located within the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve makes Four Seasons Voavah the world’s first exclusive-use UNESCO hideaway - even its own house reef is protected. And of course, you’ll also have access to the legendary Hanifaru Bay, with private marine biologists and Manta Trust scientists on hand to enlighten every experience. So there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. But hey, if you’re still not convinced about bringing the wedding party, you two could always go alone…

There are few things more romantic than simply chatting with your loved-one long into the evening over a great bottle of wine. Well, how about doing just that in an award-winning ‘wine cave’ surrounded by an extensive selection of fine labels from prestigious vineyards across the world? Yep, that’s right, Ja Manafaru boasts its own subterranean wine cellar, set below sea level in an underground volcanic stone cave. This restaurant’s luxurious wooden furnishings and mood lighting combine with the gourmet menu, designed to perfectly enhance the wines, making it an undersea haven for romance. 

Guest rooms come with your own experienced host, who will happily coordinate all of your honeymoon’s daily activities, such as a romantic treatment at the award-winning spa, island-hopping expeditions, and nearly every watersport you can imagine. Located in the far north of the Maldives, Ja Manafaru is the only resort in Haa Alif Atoll, and only a few liveaboards pass through these waters each year, so divers are likely to have the top sites all to themselves. Plus, couples new to the world of diving will love Ja Manafaru's house reef, thanks to its shallow coral gardens, calm conditions, and excellent visibility. 

Just married and you’re probably thinking you couldn’t possibly be happier, right? Well think again. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is a paradise for newly-weds with one of the most gorgeous and nourishing spas you’ve ever seen. The Iridium Spa offers a range of massage treatments, as well as steam rooms, saunas and cold-drench showers - and one of the most expansive hydrotherapy pools in the Maldives. Here, couples can soak themselves in heated seawater, and let a whirlpool of jets melt their tensions away, as they gaze over the Indian Ocean together with a glass of champagne. Now that’s what we call bliss. 

Amidst all the relaxation, guests can also explore the resort’s house reef right from the shore or find adventure in the watersports centre. The staff at St. Regis Resort loves to organise intimate excursions for loved ones on board a traditional dhoni, catamaran or the resort’s luxury yacht - Norma. And, Dhaalu Atoll also has plenty of sites on offer for both beginner and advanced divers. Guests can choose between a quick descent on the house reef, daily one or two-tank boat trips, and adventurous night dives.