Biyadhoo Island Maldives – Snorkeling & Resort Information

Biyadhoo Island Resort is a 3-star island in South Male Atoll, Maldives. Its proximity to the Velena International Airport, easy boat access, lush vegetation, and fantastic house reef with vibrant sea life (sea turtles, reef sharks, starfish, octopus, and colorful fish galore) makes it an excellent choice for those who are looking for an affordable resort island to stay at.

Biyadhoo was the first resort island we visited in the Maldives, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Although it is not a luxurious island, it has all the facilities for a perfect tropical vacation, and its house reef offers a lot to see for snorkelers at all levels. We summarized our experience in this article, including snorkeling insights with photos and some things to know about the resort. We hope you will find helpful information here if you consider visiting Biyadhoo!

Quick Summary

• Biyahoo is a 3-star resort island just 35 minutes away by speedboat from Velena International Airport in South Male Atoll
• it is recommended for travelers seeking affordable resort accommodation in the Maldives
• the island offers good snorkeling inside a shallow lagoon area and at a deeper drop-off
• you can see a variety of marine species at the house reef, such as green and hawksbill sea turtles, Maldivian reef fish, black- and whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, octopus, sea stars, sea cucumbers

Note that this post is not sponsored in any way; we have booked and paid for our flights and accommodation ourselves and this post reflects our experience. If you want to stay at this resort, we would appreciate it if you do it through our link Biyadhoo Island Resort. Like this, we can make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Snorkeling Biyadhoo House Reef – How Is It & What To See?

The small island of Biyadhoo has a lagoon and reef snorkeling areas. The lagoon is situated around the island’s west and northwestern sides. The water is not too deep (1-3 m / 3-10ft ) and current-free, providing safe snorkeling for beginners, weak swimmers, and small kids.

In this shallow area -on top of juvenile reef fish species- green sea turtles can be seen as they feed in the rich seagrass beds. Also, you can bump into stingrays and baby reef sharks cruising around searching for food.

The island is fringed by a coral reef with a depth between 3 and 12 m (10 and 40ft). Although the reef is very damaged (you will find more information about the conditions of the corals below), it has rich sea life.

Eagle rays, moray eels, and blacktip reef sharks are the most typical creatures to see. Lucky ones can spot other sharks, such as whitetip and nurse sharks, too, but they are not as common as blacktips.

Octopuses, different types of sea cucumbers, feather stars, and sea stars can be observed, too, besides all common fishes of the Maldives, including clownfish, batfish, huge schools of sergeant major, bannerfish, lionfish, boxfish, parrotfish, etc…

Hawksbill sea turtles can also be seen around the island. This species is feeding on coral and sponges, so they are usually on the reef.

We think the best spots for snorkeling are the lagoon and the outer reef between passages 3 and 5. These areas have easy entry and exit, lack strong currents, and offer interesting marine life!

Biyadhoo Coral Reef

The Maldives atolls belong to the best coral reefs in the world but you might have heard that the El Nino phenomenon has affected the region’s reefs badly in the past few years.

Unfortunately, this is true, so the reefs in the Maldives are not as lively as before and this fact applies to Biyadhoo’s house reef too.

Swimming over dying reefs, colorless corals broke our hearts. The warm ocean temperature caused by El Nino killed most corals. You can see promising signs of recovery; corals have started to re-grow, but unfortunately, it is a prolonged process.

However, despite the corals’ conditions, the reef still has vibrant life! There are many reef fish near the corals, and you find many bigger creatures, too; big blacktips often hunt around over the coral structures in the shallow areas, where you can see coral-eating hawksbill turtles.

Water Entrance For Biyadhoo Island Reef

The island of Biyadhoo offers easy and safe water access points. You can enter the shallow lagoon snorkeling area by walking in from the shore. To get to the reef, you can use seven passages marked on the snorkel map.

The corals/rocks were removed at these passages, so they are ideal entry and exit points. You will also get a copy of the island’s map among the info sheets you receive upon arrival, indicating the passages.

The map also marks the areas not recommended for inexperienced snorkelers due to incoming solid currents; this is the southeastern corner between passages 2 and 1, so these should be avoided.

During our 8-day stay, we went snorkeling 2-3 times every day and confirmed that the currents can get really strong around the marked spots. Although the marine life is fantastic around that corner since it gets fresh, nutrient-rich currents from the open ocean through Kandooma Channel, we recommended snorkeling on the southwestern, western, northwestern, northern, and northeastern sides between passages 2 and 7.

Biyadhoo Snorkeling Tours

Snorkeling the Biyadhoo House Reef is also possible for non-resort guests. The nearby Maafushi and Guraidhoo are popular if you are looking for a budget-friendly local island to stay on; both offer Biyadhoo snorkeling trips.

Boat tours usually stop on the island’s west side so guests can explore the lagoon, where the green turtles are, and snorkel along the reef.

Note: As of late 2023, the resort is under renovation and planned to reopen around the end of 2024, so snorkeling at Biyadhoo is currently only possible by boat trips.

Biyadhoo Island Snorkeling Photos

Biyadhoo Island Beaches

If you don’t want to go snorkeling, you can just lie on the beach on the island’s picturesque white sandy shores. The main and most beautiful beach is the long sandy one on the sunset (west) side.

Most people spend their time here on the west beach, which is the most comfortable side of the island since it is just next to the bar. We always found free sunbeds despite the island being almost full during our stay.

Other smaller sandy and rocky beaches surround the island, mainly on the eastern (sunrise) side. Some of them are not recommended for swimming or snorkeling because of strong currents (these areas are marked on the island’s map you receive upon arrival). Still, they are perfect for privacy-seekers as fewer people come to them.

Biyadhoo Island Travel & Resort Information

If you are thinking about choosing Biyadhoo as your next Maldives snorkeling vacation destination, here is some helpful information you need to know about the island and resort:

Note that Biyadhoo Resort is currently under renovation and is expected to re-open in late 2024, so probably you won’t find it available through booking sites at the moment. It will be bookable again once the opening date is clear, so check back later or see our other snorkeling resort recommendations in the Maldives. For example, Embudu Village or Bandos are also budget resorts near Male with good snorkeling.

Where is Biyadhoo Island Resort?

The island of Biyadhoo is in South Male Atoll, about 30 km (18.6 miles) from MLE Velena International Airport.

How To Get to Biyadhoo Maldives – Arrival Process

You can get to Biyadhoo Island Resort from Male Airport by speedboat. The transfer is approx. 35-45 minutes.

A representative met us at the Biyadhoo counter in the arrival hall and guided us to the boat terminal just outside the airport’s building.

When we approached the island, the receptionist and the porter were already on the pier, welcoming us. They took care of our luggage while we filled out the check-in form.

The Check-in process was easy and fast. They provided information regarding the restaurant/bar/facilities and let us go to our room shortly. We got a welcome drink, which was refreshing after traveling long hours, and we could start using the facilities (restaurants, bar) immediately.

Island Facilities

Although Biyadhoo Resort is officially a 3-star hotel, it offers everything you need for a relaxed tropical holiday. There is a spa, water sports center, diving center, a small souvenir shop, and even a football pitch (but no gym).

Meals are served buffet style in the Palm restaurant. The breakfast selection was almost the same almost every day: pastry, bread, fried egg, English breakfast, fruit, etc…

Lunch and dinner were thematic, with meat, fish, and pasta in different styles daily. We found the food tasty, but do not expect gourmet dishes!

The island’s bar, Coconut Bar, offers drinks (water, soft drinks, and yummy cocktails) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Light snacks are served in the afternoons, too. We had sandwiches several times; they were tasty and quite filling!

What Room Types Are Available?

Biyadhoo Resort has 96 rooms. All have AC, minibar, and hot shower and are the same style, so there are no room special room categories.

The rooms are in two buildings: one on the sunrise and one on the sunset side. The sunset side is slightly better because it is closer to the main beach, restaurant, and bar. Usually, these rooms are a bit more expensive than the ones on the sunrise side.

If you read some Biyadhoo Island Resort reviews, you can often hear people complaining that the rooms are outdated. This, indeed, is one of the first resort islands, so the buildings are a bit old and simple.

However, the renovation of the island started in 2023, and Biyadhoo will re-open refurbished entirely in 2024.

Biyadhoo Island Resort Summary

Why Did We Choose This Island?

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that Biyadhoo was the first resort we visited in the Maldives. Choosing an island seemed to be difficult, as there were just too many choices.

We didn’t want to spend a fortune on the trip (which is very easy in the Maldives), so we started to look for islands close to Male and found good reviews about Biyadhoo. Of course, the most crucial factor was the house reef, so we could go snorkeling from the shore without paying for boat trips. When we saw that this resort is reasonably priced and has an excellent All-inclusive system, we knew it would be a good choice for us.

What Was Our Personal Experience?

Generally, Biyadhoo is a well-kept, clean island with an intimate atmosphere. It is not a luxury resort, but one of the best in the lower-price category. The resort has basic but comfortable rooms, good food, and an average service level.

The island features picture-perfect white sandy beaches, lush greenery, and decent snorkeling, giving you that special ‘Maldives feeling’ you only get on resort islands.

We don’t regret our choice, and we think that Biyadhoo Resort is perfect for first-time Maldivers, including solo travelers, couples, and families. This island is not for you if you want fancy accommodation, an overwater villa, or a jacuzzi suite. If you are on a budget but still want to experience what a resort island can offer, then Biyadhoo Resort might be a good choice!

Inspired? Pin it!