Soneva Fushi by Six Senses
If Robinson Crusoe was in hotel development, this is what he would have built. A luxury hideaway on the island of Kunfunadhoo in the Baa Atoll reached by a half-hour scenic seaplane flight from the sanctity of the Six Senses lounge Malé, the only international airport.
SONEVA FUSHI IS INCLUDED IN OUR BOOK, DIVE IN STYLE
Accommodation consists of an incredible variety of thatched villas scattered along the shoreline, each overlooking its own stretch of white-sand beach and just steps away from the warm, clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Some villas also have private seawater swimming pools, and all have bathrooms opening on to private gardens.
Facilities at Soneva Fushi include watersports such as windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, waterskiing, wakeboarding and fishing, while a PADI-certified dive school offers diving and snorkelling excursions to more than 30 sites. Soleni Dive Centre is perfectly run by Thomas and Alessandra, who have been at Soneva Fushi for over a decade. It works like a Swiss clock – appropriately, as Thomas himself is Swiss. This is probably the most experienced dive team in the Maldives, and its members are not so much instructors as underwater bush guides. They have an intimate knowledge of the reefs, and this makes the world of difference to your diving experience. Other activities include tennis, boules, badminton and table tennis.
The signature Six Senses Spa offers a wide range of rejuvenating treatments for mind and body - Maldivian, Thai and Balinese treatments are all available, as well as Ayurveda and Tai Chi. As for dining, there are several options to choose from, including Mediterranean, Indian and Japanese cuisine, with venues including garden and beach restaurants. In-villa dining or private dining on sandbanks is also possible. The resort’s bars include a sunset cocktail bar and another overwater bar at the end of one of the jetties.
Two evenings a week there are also film screenings at the open-air ‘Cinema Paradiso’. Soneva Fushi is a very special place. Its owners continually strive to reach new heights. They dream it (star observatory, overwater champagne bar) then build it, upgrading villas, adding private pools, and incorporating new designs. It is simple luxury, or rather luxuriously simple. Every aspect nudges perfection.
Testimonials
Don't take our word for it...
Tim Simond, Dive in Style author, shares his tips for responsible diving and snorkeling as well as his top picks of the hotels where you can both ‘Dive in Style’ but also have a minimal
What exactly is Eco diving or snorkelling? To qualify as an ‘eco resort’ the guiding issue is that the hotel should have a minimal impact on the environment. And so it is the same with divers and snorkelers who can tend to treat the sea and the coral reefs as an endlessly renewable resource seeing as how there appears to be just so much of it.
However, as everyone should be aware, our oceans are under threat from warming,...
Style Bible
Read More Full archive
