Question 2 resorts in August for snorkeling and diving ?

[kalani80]

Hello,

We are 3 : my wife, my 7 years old daughter and I.

We live in Paris.

We are searching for our next destination for August.

What we are looking for ? Snorkeling with big animals (dolphins, manta rays, whale sharks, small sharks…) , a couple of easy dives for me (again to see big animals including sharks), hot water, comfortable accommodation, nice beaches and good food ;-)

Note: my daughter already did snorkeling with turtles and dolphins last summer but the sea was calm.

I initially thought about Baja California but I think that my daughter is still too young for this destination .

So, Maybe Maldives can meet our expectations.

I know that august is the rainy season but I understood that rain doesn't stay long. Would you avoid the Maldives in August?

It would be about 10 nights in the Maldives. So, I think about going into 2 different resorts.
Maybe 5 days in south Ari Atoll (for whale sharks ? ) and 5 days in Baa Atoll for Manta Rays ?

Do you think it is a good idea?
Is it possible to swim with wild dolphins?
Do you have any recommandations for resorts with very good snorkeling directly from the hotel?
For going from a resort to another, we will have to go via Malé, right?
Max price : around 400 Euros per night all meals included for 3.

The resorts that I have already identified : Nova Maldives, Royal island resort Baa Atoll (but I understood that the seaplane is mandatory to go there and it is expensive).
Or RAA Atoll ? Furavery Maldives?

Thank you for your help.

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

I have not much to contribute, but...
As you suspect, moving from one resort to another is very likely to involve a journey back to Male. Nova seems to be linked via Seaplane and not using domestic flights to Maamigili. Don't see this as a downside: it's a quite excinting experience.
So, i would not split your stay: South Ari is good for Whale Sharks and for Mantas. Been there, done that, loved it.
Nova Maldives: it is not far away from the Protected Area around Dhigurah where Whale Sharks and Mantas are seen on a daily bases and i am pretty sure, there are tours offered for snorkelers and divers to that area.
There seems to have possibilities to dive the house reef and there are other nice spots nearby e.g. Kudimaa Wreck (aka Mahchafushi wreck) at Centara Grand.