Angaga Island Resort and Spa Snorkeling Tips

The Angaga Island Resort and Spa will please every ocean lover, featuring one of the best house reefs in the Maldives. The island is compact; it can be walked around in 10 minutes, and its house reef is just a few steps away from the beach, where you can discover vibrant corals and rich marine life, including colorful reef fish, sharks, turtles, and rays. If you are considering snorkeling on Angaga Island, here are some valuable things to know.

Where is the Angaga Island Resort and Spa?

The small resort island of Angaga is situated in the South Ari Atoll in the Maldives. This atoll is known for its excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities, as it is located within an area that manta rays and whale sharks regularly visit. With lush, tropical vegetation, a white sandy beach, and a vibrant house reef, Angaga Island has fantastic conditions for a relaxing yet adventure-filled vacation.

How to get to Angaga Island?

Angaga Island can be reached by seaplane from Male International Airport. The journey takes about 30-45 minutes, depending on how many additional stops your flight includes, if it includes any.

The Angaga seaplane docks lie directly next to the island, so after your hydroplane flight, you will be transported to the island with a short, approximately 2-3 minute boat ride.

Note that seaplanes operate only during daylight hours, so if your international flight arrives in the late afternoon (usually after 3:30 p.m.), your island transfer will be scheduled for the next day, and you will need to spend one night in a hotel near Male.

Snorkeling Angaga Island House Reef

Angaga has an extensive, marine-life-rich coral reef running around the island making it one of the most popular Maldives resorts for snorkeling. The best area to snorkel is on the islands’ eastern-north-eastern side, in front of the beach villas and around the spa as marked on the Angaga Island Snorkeling map.

Knowing how devastating was the latest bleaching event in the Maldives was, we were happy to see that the island’s house reef shows good signs of recovery; there are growing corals all around the island with a good variety of aquatic life including big shoals of fish, sea turtles, rays and of course shark species.

The best place to enter the water is next to the main jetty. During high tide, it is possible to swim over the reef, but during low tide, you need to use the designated passages where the coral/rocks were removed to allow safe entry/exit. We stayed in bungalow 107, which had a perfect location in terms of snorkeling since the reef was literally at our doorstep, with a passage directly in front of our room.

The water is not too deep in the main snorkeling area (to the right of the wooden jetty and near the spa), and there is usually no strong current. These features make Angaga’s House Reef ideal for beginner snorkelers, too. However, pay attention around the jetty as there may be boat traffic.

What to See while Snorkeling on Angaga Island?

Best Time to Go Snorkeling in Angaga Island Maldives

The best time to visit Angaga Island (and generally the Maldives) is the dry season that runs from mid-December – early January till the middle-end of April. During these months, you can expect blue skies with abundant sunshine and clear, calm waters with little chance of rain.

Temperatures are constant year-round, the air is around 78-91F (26-32C), while the sea is around 80-86F (27-30C).

From May till November, there is monsoon season in the Maldives when cloudy days are more common, the sea can get rough, there can be strong wind and the visibility can be very bad.

To be honest, this isn’t a bad time for a Maldives snorkeling vacation. Even in the wet season, it doesn’t rain every day, and if the conditions are not too bad, underwater activities are also doable.

In fact, many people intentionally schedule their trips for these months, as the currents bring up so nutrient-rich waters that the chance of encountering big pelagic species is much higher than in the dry season. However, it is advisable to avoid the transition periods (from mid-April to mid-May and in November) as those can bring heavy rainfalls and strong winds.

Lately, the weather got unpredictable so the monsoon timings can differ from what is forecasted. We visited the island at the beginning of May, which is considered a not ideal time to go to the Maldives but had only 2 rainy days in one week.

Angaga Island Resort Snorkeling Trips

If snorkeling at the house reef is not enough for you, the island offers excursions for those who want to explore more. Discover the nearby reefs and swim with mantas or whale sharks; the choice is yours! These tours can be booked by adding your room number and name to the relevant list at the reception.

Whale Shark Watching

The South Ari Atoll is a world-famous destination for spotting whale sharks year-round, so those who want to swim with the biggest fish in the ocean should join a whale shark-watching tour.

The area where the possibility of encountering these majestic creatures is the highest (around Dhigurah and Maamigili) lies just about an hour by boat from Angaga Island. Thus, such an excursion can be done in half a day and is priced fairly (it is approx. 60 USD plus taxes per person); make sure to sign up for one when you are on Angaga!

Swimming With Manta Rays

Reef manta rays are year-round residents in the Maldives, migrating across the country’s atolls. Although sightings are never guaranteed, there is always an excellent chance to find them, so if you have ever dreamt of swimming with manta rays, taking a trip is a must!

Half-Day Snorkeling Trip

Explore some of the nearby coral reefs! Several excellent snorkeling spots are near Angaga, where half-day excursions are organized.

The price of these snorkel trips is around 20 USD plus local taxes. If you are on an all-inclusive package, one half-day snorkeling excursion is included in your package.

Private excursions can be arranged upon request, too.

Accommodation

Angaga Island Resort and Spa offers three types of accommodation: 50 beach bungalows, 20 water bungalows, and 20 superior water villas.

Beach Bungalows

The Angaga beach rooms are situated around the island’s eastern, northern, and western shorelines. Some are built directly on the beach (western side) while others are a little further from the beach, behind the palm trees and bushes; these bungalows are actually really comfortable as they offer a bit of shade, too.

The beach bungalows are equipped with everything you need during a tropical vacation (modern bathroom with shower and bathtub, private patio with swing and seating), and they offer a comfortable stay while being affordable.

Some bungalows on the island’s west side are duplexes, perfect for families or groups of friends traveling together.

Water Bungalows

Placed at the western end of Angaga, the water bungalows may be the ideal choice for honeymooners or sunset chasers. When the ocean is calm, it is easy to access the house reef from them. Moreover, you can spot eagle rays, giant stingrays, and resting nurse sharks in the clear, shallow waters around the bungalows.

Note that these water villas and the sunset bar at their end are currently under renovation and will be completely renewed by the end of 2023.

Superior Water Villas

Located on the island’s southern side, close to the restaurant and water sports center, the superior water villas are perfect for those who want to stay luxuriously in the Maldives. The villas have direct access to the lagoon and feature private sundecks.

Facilities

Restaurant

There is one restaurant on Angaga (Dolphin Restaurant), situated on the island’s southern side. It serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacks can also be ordered throughout the day at the bars.

Bars

Angaga Island has two bars. The main bar is located next to the main jetty directly at the beach, while there is a sunset bar at the end of the water bungalows’ jetty on the western side of the island.

If you are on All Inclusive, you can order a wide selection of juices, soft drinks, and cocktails from the All-Inc drinks list, but we found the regular prices affordable, too; for example, you can get a beer for 4 USD, while cocktails are around 8-10 USD, taxes excluded.

Spa

To rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul, treatments can be booked at the island’s Thai massage center.

Diving Center

Whether you are a beginner who wants to go on an intro dive or an experienced diver who is looking to encounter big pelagic species, the on-site diving center will take care of your needs. Daily boat trips are offered to the nearby reefs as well as to the house reef.

Water Sport Center

Those who want to stay active or want some adrenaline can head to the water sports point where a wide range of activities can be tried using motorized and non-motorized equipment such as jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding paddle boarding, and windsurfing.

Other Facilities

Angaga Island Resort and Spa has a souvenir shop, library, gym, volleyball and beach soccer court, tennis court, and a game corner with table tennis and darts.

Note that there is no animation/evening entertainment or playground for kids.

Conclusion

We found snorkeling in Angaga Island Resort and Spa surprisingly good; the house reef is easily accessible and has excellent conditions for beginners. The corals are recovering nicely after the bleaching event, there is a lot of newly grown hard coral. Marine life is also fantastic; within a small section, you will see all common Maldivian reef species, including fish, rays, turtles, and sharks. The island also met our expectations; the staff is friendly without being pushy, the service is good, and there is a laid-back vibe. However, there is no animation/entertainment, so this may not be a good choice for families, but rather for couples or travelers who want to enjoy the underwater world. We recommend visiting Angaga for those looking for an affordable resort island with a good house reef and wishing to stay in the area where it is easy to go on whale shark watching and manta ray swimming excursions.

This is not a sponsored post; we’ve organized and booked our stay ourselves, and this article reflects our real opinion/experience.

Inspired? Pin it!