Ivana Bednářová | archiv Sentido-OBLU-Helengeli
Sun, turquoise lagoons and fine sand between the toes – that’s how we all imagine the Maldives. But what if you add morning yoga, Ayurvedic massage and diving among corals?
This July, the islands hosted the first International PADI Women’s Dive Month, connecting the underwater world with wellness and feminine energy. I was there – and discovered that the Maldives are not only luxurious and photogenic but also inspiring and meaningful.
A second return to paradise
It was my second time in the Maldives. And while they say the world is too big for us to go back, some places just deserve a return visit. This paradise comprises over 1,190 islands, of which only approximately 200 are inhabited and around 150 have been transformed into resort islands. This time I flew in for a new experience – the first ever worldwide PADI Women’s Dive Month. The combination of diving, wellness and feminine energy sounded like a dream.
Sangeli – a gentle introduction
to the Maldivian dream
The first stop was OBLU SELECT Sangeli, a luxury resort in the North Malé atoll, about 50 minutes by speedboat from the airport in Male. There are 137 villas on the island – from beach villas to the iconic over-water villas, where you are only a few steps away from the lagoon. We, a party of seven women from different parts of Europe, stayed in beach villas, each with its own pool and direct access to the beach. The welcome was warm in the Maldivian style: a full complement of staff, welcome drink, smiles and singing.
After arriving, we headed straight to ELE|NA The Spa, a wellness sanctuary above the lagoon. The gentle smell of coconut oil, the sound of the sea and the skilful hands of the therapists washed the fatigue from the long journey away in an instant.
Stormy night over the ocean
In the afternoon we had a dive briefing. Although I already had a licence, I appreciated the refresher – the instructors were patient and fun to be around. Yoga and the first dive were planned for the morning. But in July, the south-west monsoon peaks here, so a storm caught me by surprise that night. The wind was pounding against the windows, the rain was drumming on the roof, the waves were rising… I admit I was scared for a while. Sleeping just above ocean level in a monsoon downpour is not an everyday experience.
