Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

Aquafaunatics offers a variety of water sports and diving activities, including certified and beginner dives, private snorkel safaris, guaranteed hawksbill sightings, and night snorkeling tours. The resort also provides premium charters, including the Nirvana Yacht for freediving and snorkeling to secret spots. With a zero plastic policy, all gear is rinsed with desalinated water. The team includes 5 PADI divemasters and 2 freediving instructors, and equipment includes ScubaPro regulators and Cresi prescription masks.

Anantara Veli offers PADI freediving courses with Aqua fanatics, including basic, advanced, and master certification levels. The courses include underwater photography sessions, underwater portrait sessions, and unique training tools like sonar depth trackers and VR Apnea Trainer. The staff includes a lead instructor, Miguel Costa, and medical backup. PADI Freediver Standards and guest PB Videos verify the courses, which work best from May to October. The resort offers underwater photography sessions and various underwater photography equipment, making it perfect for underwater photographers, athletes, and couples.

Anantara Veli offers year-round surfing with the best breaks in the prime season (April-October) and off-season (November-March) with lagoon wave pools and foam board lessons. Unique offers include private coaching, video analysis, custom boards, and surf and stay packages. The resort team includes an ex-WSL competitor, Tomas Sobral, and provides safety measures like jet ski backup and reef booties. Lessons are available in 2-hour slots, with a maximum group size of 4 students per instructor. Boards range from 5'6" to 9'0", and rash guards are UPF 50+ with resort logo.

Anantara Veli offers recreational sports facilities including a tennis court with ocean view artificial grass, a beach sports hub, volleyball with bioluminescent night lines, pétanque with Maldives championship-grade steel boules, and badminton with feather shuttlecocks. The resort also features an overwater games pavilion with giant magnetic boards and professional tables, as well as resort championships and sunset chess with master classes.

Anantara Veli offers a range of signature excursions, including island excursions like a private sandbank picnic, local village tour, and dolphin and turtle snorkeling. Marine excursions include dolphin and turtle snorkeling, nurse shark snorkeling, and Manta Ray Safaris. These activities adhere to Anantara's ethical tourism policy, with a maximum of six swimmers per encounter and no flash photography. The resort also offers a scientific partnership with the Manta Trust, a post-snorkel "Manta Passport" with sighting details.

Anantara Veli offers the JetSurf Pro 2023 experience, the fastest guest-accessible watercraft in the Maldives. The resort features a guided circuit system, 3 lagoon routes, LED buoy markers, GPS speed tracking, a carbon-fiber hydrodynamic hull, mandatory 15-minute training for first-time riders, and auto-inflating VHF radio life vests. The resort offers private guided sessions, neon board colors, and overwater drone footage. It's perfect for adrenaline seekers and couples seeking Maldives-first thrills, with a "Surf & Sushi" package after the ride.

The luxury Nirvana Yacht, designed by Sun Reef Yachts, is a private charter experience for up to 12 guests. With a crew of 4, it can cruise at 18 knots and cover 150 nautical miles. Signature experiences include a sunset and dolphin cruise, a private island getaway, and a dive safari. The yacht also offers gourmet service, including sushi rolled tableside, a live teppanyaki grill, and wine pairings from The Cellar. The dietary accommodations include vegetarian/GF menus and kids' bento boxes. The yacht is custom-built for Anantara by Sun Reef Yachts.

Anantara Veli offers unique wedding experiences for couples over 16 years old, including sunset tent ceremonies, overwater pavilion exchanges, and beachfront barefoot vow renewals. The "Island Takeover" package includes a manta ray snorkel safari, a fireworks drone show, and cultural elements. In addition, the resort offers interactive food stations, an underwater reception, and gourmet experiences. Legal weddings require a minimum stay of three nights, with officiants available in non-denominational, Hindu, Muslim, or Catholic languages. Bridal services include in-villa hair/makeup by Charlotte Tilbury-trained artists.

Cumin Restaurant offers a South Asian fusion cuisine with Indian Ocean Coast flavors. Located on a beachfront with sand floors, it seats 70 people and has a resort-elegant dress code. The menu highlights include signature dishes like Maldivian Tuna Curry and Sri Lankan Black Pork marinated with jaggery and tamarind. Chef's Garden Specials feature daily dishes with curry leaves, kaffir lime, and lemongrass. Unique features include a Spice Blending Station and a Tandoor Theater for live naan bread preparation. Dining times are from 6:30PM to 10:30PM, and moonlight dining is available. Chef Arjun Mehta, who has worked at Taj Hotels, Mumbai, has won the 2023 Taste of Maldives Award for "Best Fusion Cuisine."

Origami Restaurant offers modern Japanese cuisine with a teppanyaki theater, located in an overwater pavilion with sunset views. The restaurant has 38 indoor seats and 40 outdoor terrace seats. The signature offerings include sushi and sashimi, an omakase tasting menu, signature rolls, and a Robatayaki grill. The restaurant also features a teppanyaki show with chef performances. The restaurant offers a private teppan table for couples and operates from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Origami Restaurant has won the 2024 Maldives Gastronomy Award for "Best Japanese Restaurant."

Baan Huraa is a resort-style restaurant that serves regional Thai cuisine from the North, South, Northeast, and Central regions. The restaurant is located in an overwater teak pavilion with 60 seats, and guests can enjoy a mix of private tables and communal dining. Signature dishes include Khao Soi, Sai Oua, Massaman Neua, Gaeng Som, Som Tum Maldivian, and Lobb Pla. Unique dining experiences include the Sunset Sharing Set, Thai Boxing Night, and Royal Thai Dinner. The head chef, Nareerat "Ning" Srisomphan, ensures authenticity with weekly spice shipments from Bangkok's Khlong Toey Market, traditional clay mortar and pestle for pastes, and no MSG (natural umami from scratch-made stocks).

The Dhoni Bar offers a day-to-night Mediterranean lounge with an infinity pool edge and lagoon views. The lounge has 26 dining tables and 45 lounge areas, with swimwear allowed. Daytime offerings include iced coffee flights, superfood smoothies, Mediterranean mezze platters, and tuna poké bowls. The evening transformation offers signature cocktails like "Maldivian Old Fashioned" and "Dhoni Sunset." Spanish tapas include Joselito Jamón Ibérico and Gambas al Ajillo. There is a sunset sabering ceremony every night, and champagne service is available by the glass. Unique features include DJ sessions on Friday nights with chill-house beats, daily mixology classes, and floating trays for poolside drinks. The culinary team includes Luca Bianchi, head mixologist, and Miguel Ángel, a tapas chef specializing in Andalusian cuisine.

Anantara Veli offers a Cellar & Global Epicurean Experiences, featuring over 500+ labels, old world gems like 1982 Château Lynch-Bages and 2010 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, new world stars like Screaming Eagle Cabernet and Penfolds Grange, and 35+ by-the-glass wines, including organic/natural options. Exclusive experiences include "Bottle of the Month" tastings, villa-specific pairings, and private tastings for up to 12 guests.

The Yellow Fin Club is an adult-only overwater cocktail lounge on Anantara Dhigu, open from 11AM to 11PM and offering a sunset service from 5PM to 7PM. The Sunset Cocktail Menu includes the "Golden Dolphin," a butterfly pea-infused gin, mango purée, and edible gold flakes, Tidal Negroni, and Dhoni Old Fashioned Bourbon infused with Maldivian cinnamon bark. Light bites include Tuna Poke Tacos and Lobster Sliders. Unique experiences include a 45-minute cocktail crafting class, sunset sabering, champagne bottle opening, and full moon parties with fire dancers and DJs.

Fushi Café is a beachfront open-air pavilion offering a day-night international buffet with 154 seats. The buffet features live stations like the Maldivian Mas Huni, Eggs Benedict Bar, and French Pastry Corner. The buffet offers global selections from Japanese to European and includes tropical highlights like the Maldives Fruit Market and coconut water service. The themed dinner buffets rotate weekly themes, with Mediterranean themes on Monday, Asian street food on Wednesday, and Maldivian Night on Friday. Signature features include a chocolate fountain and Chef's Adventure Table. The culinary team includes Executive Chef Marco Rossi and Pastry Chef Sophie Laurent.

Sea.Fire.Salt is an ocean-to-table grill experience situated on an overwater deck, offering stunning sunset views. The restaurant offers 80 private tables and a smart, elegant dress code. The menu highlights include daily caught Maldivian seafood, signature dishes like the Reef Fish Duo, Lobster Two Ways, and Tuna Trio. Prime-aged meats are dry-aged on-site, with cuts like Australian Wagyu MB6+, 48-Day Dry-Aged Lamb Rack, and vegetarian "Steak". The restaurant features interactive elements like a salt library, fire pit counter, and Catch of the Day Tank. Special menus include "Surf & Turf Omakase" and Moonlight Grill. The sommelier's selection includes Maldivian-inspired cocktails and a 150-label wine list. The restaurant's head chef is James MacLeod, an ex-Nobu London grill master.

Aqua is an Italian poolside oasis located on an infinity pool edge with 270° ocean views. The resort offers 90 seats, including daybeds, dining tables, and ocean hammock service. Swimwear-friendly attire is allowed. In the day, guests can enjoy light Italian lunches like truffle arancini, caprese cloud, and lobster panini. The resort also offers ocean hammock dining and an aperitivo cart for prosecco and cicchetti. In the evening, guests can enjoy authentic specialties like hand-rolled pasta, wood-fired pizza, and signature aperitivos like spritz trolley and live mozzarella bar. Unique features include gelato al Tramonto, pasta-making classes, and unlimited refills of prosecco on tap.

Gulhifushi Island is a private island escape with a private sandbank within the resort lagoon. It can accommodate up to 160 guests across three zones and offers access via kayak, SUP, or pontoon. The Island offers casual dining, a grill menu, and tiki bar specials. Adventure activities include snorkeling, house reef access, guided tours, water toys, and floating sun loungers. Exclusive features include a private heart-shaped lounger arrangement and weekly movie nights on the beach. The resort also offers guided tours and water toys.

Anantara Veli offers a personalized dining experience with 20+ curated spots. It features romantic escapes like the "Starlit Sandbank" and the "Overwater Cabana," adventure dining options like the "Reef Breakfast" and "Treetop Feast," cultural journeys like the "Maldivian Fisherman's Banquet," and culinary freedom options like Chef's Surprise Tasting and Global BBQ. Premium upgrades include Gold Leaf Service, Truffle Shaving Station, and vintage wine pairings. The resort also offers a dedicated event planner, professional photography package, fire dance, and Bodu Beru Drumming. The beach banquet includes sunset canapés, a candlelit feast, bonfire, and star map and telescope experience.

Cooking School offers interactive chef-led cooking classes in an overwater pavilion and herb garden. The classes last for 2.5 hours and cater to 2–8 guests. Signature classes include Maldivian Masterclass, Thai Street Food, and a "Create Your Menu" option. The school also offers a pre-class garden tour, where guests harvest lemongrass and kaffir lime from the resort's organic garden. Lagoon-side cooking stations with ocean views and professional induction cooktops are available. A take-home kit with printed recipes and spice blends is provided, along with a certificate of completion. Chef Tasanai, a Bangkok native with 15 years of experience, teaches traditional techniques like mortar-and-pestle curry pastes and palm sugar balancing.

Anantara Veli offers private culinary experiences in all 67 villas, including overwater and beachfront rooms. Signature dishes include sushi platters, tableside broth pouring, and 48-day dry-aged ribeye. Themed dining options include "Maldivian Moonlight" with lobster curry and palm sugar desserts and "Breakfast in Bed" with a champagne trolley and eggs benedict station. All-day comfort food includes midnight tacos and power smoothies. The resort offers customization options, gluten-free pasta, Halal/Kosher requests, and a culinary team with four specialists.

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort offers a balanced wellness approach that blends Ayurveda, biohacking, and Maldivian traditions. The resort aims to promote long-term lifestyle shifts, not just temporary relaxation. Signature treatments include the "Shirodhara with Maldivian Coconut Oil" which reduces cortisol levels by 73%. The resort also offers a 24K Gold & Diamond Facial, which includes gold leaf application, diamond-dust microdermabrasion, and cold quartz roller massage. The resort features treatment suites, an overwater pavilion, herbal steam room, and ice fountain. The expert team includes an ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Priya Rajan, and an aesthetician, Sophie Laurent.

Anantara Veli offers an Oceanfront Yoga & Meditation Sanctuary, featuring a sunrise-to-sunset holistic movement concept. The sanctuary is located on an overwater platform with 270° Indian Ocean views, accommodating 12 guests per session. Daily practices include sunrise Vinyasa, a Tibetan singing bowl sound bath, and moonlight Yin. Private sessions include "Floating Savasana" and certified acroyoga for couples. Specialty programs include marine meditation, post-session snorkeling, prenatal yoga, and hydrotherapy add-on in plunge pools. Expert instructors include Maya Fernandez, trained in Bali and Rishikesh, and guest masters.

Anantara Veli offers a fitness center with an 85 sqm climate-controlled studio, Technogym Artis Line, Peloton Bike+, and free weights up to 50kg. The center features a reformer Pilates corner, a functional training zone, personal training, body composition analysis, pre-wedding toning programs, recovery tech, and group classes. The gym has a climate control system with a constant temperature of 22°C and HEPA filtration and a professional staff, including a head trainer and a sports massage therapist.