Have you ever seen a giant manta ray fly? They launch themselves out of the water, exuberantly flapping their wave-like wings as they splash into the blue below. It's delightful. Underwater, they glide quickly and effortlessly among the bright corals.
But rays aren’t the only magnificent underwater creatures to make their homes in the reefs surrounding the Maldivian Atolls. This island nation is made up of over 1000 islands with only 200 populated. They are surrounded by a barrier reef and littered with lagoons and stretches of sparkling sandy beaches. There is nowhere in the Maldives with an elevation higher than 8ft (2.4m). The islands feel as if they are as much a part of the ocean as they are the land.
And so will you. With April comes the Maldives budget season. And this is a place where getting a deal is no small thing. Airfares and resort rates are significantly lower starting next month, and the crowds thin. While some showers start to appear, you’ll still get 8 hours of sunshine a day. And what beautiful sunshine it is. The waters are lukewarm and beckon with possibility. Spend your day on a paddle board before watching the most incredible sunset from the deck of your cabana, cocktail in hand, and let me know how you feel in a week.