Scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives comprises nearly 1,200 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, with Dhaalu Atoll lying about 150km southwest of Male.Known for its pristine waters, rich marine life and secluded islands, the atoll is home to Kandima Maldives, a 3km-long island resort that offers a distinctly different take on the traditional Maldivian getaway.
Spread across the island, Kandima combines colourful beach and overwater accommodation with a remarkable range of dining, wellness, sports and entertainment facilities. From water sports and marine excursions to a kids' club, art studio, go-kart track and indoor games arena, it positions itself as a destination for families, couples and groups seeking more than a conventional beach holiday.
My first glimpse of this philosophy came even before arriving.
Flying with Manta Air from Velana International Airport in Male, the 50-minute seaplane journey to Dhaalu Atoll offered spectacular aerial views of the Maldivian archipelago — tiny islands surrounded by vast expanses of turquoise water. The seaplane landed on a floating platform offshore, from where a short boat transfer brought us to Kandima.
Above and beside the lagoon
Kandima offers a variety of beach and overwater accommodation. We experienced two options — the Ocean Pool Villa and the Aqua Villa with Swirl Pool.The Ocean Pool Villa is an expansive overwater hideaway, with a large private deck above the crystal-clear lagoon, a private pool and sunbeds overlooking the Indian Ocean.
The Aqua Villa with Swirl Pool offers a more intimate overwater experience, with a private sundeck, Swirl Pool and sun loungers overlooking the vast lagoon. Its bathroom also offers spectacular views of the water.
Other accommodation includes Beach and Sky Studios, Beach Villas with Swirlpool and Sunset Beach Pool Villas with Swirlpool. The overwater category also includes Aqua Villas and Aqua Villas with Swirlpool.
An island with a difference
Kandima's philosophy revolves around being "anything but ordinary", and the island offers plenty to support that idea.
Guests can cycle around the island, snorkel the house reef, enjoy water sports, play tennis or volleyball, join fitness sessions or simply relax on the beach.
Getting around is easy, too. The Kandima Express, a complimentary shuttle, runs along the island's main pathways 24 hours a day and can simply be flagged down.
For families, Kandiland offers supervised children's activities and water-based fun, while PlaySpace features bowling, virtual reality, karaoke and an escape room. The 500m Fast Track circuit adds go-karting to the mix.
For the family, the variety meant everyone could enjoy the holiday differently. The children had plenty to keep them occupied, while we could balance activities with time at the beach and spa.
Kandima General Manager Dermot Birchall said this combination is at the heart of the island's appeal. "I think the biggest point of differentiation is that Kandima is a destination resort," he said. "If a couple or family are looking for a vacation that has quite a number of active lifestyle elements, then they would choose Kandima."
The island also offers professional tennis coaching, yoga, fitness classes, football, volleyball and a running club.Experiences beyond the beach
Our stay was filled with experiences. A Turtle Quest with the Aquaholics team took us into the lagoon in search of marine life, while snorkelling around the house reef offered a glimpse of the underwater world.
A treatment at esKape Spa provided some downtime, while a private session at KULA Art Studio brought the family together for a creative experience.
Dining was equally varied, with Mediterranean cuisine at Azure, grilled specialities at Smoked and Asian dishes at Sea Dragon, alongside buffet dining at Flavour.One of the highlights was the Sundowner Meet & Greet. Instead of a formal cocktail gathering, games and friendly challenges encourage guests to interact.It was here that I quickly connected with travellers from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the GCC. The friendly exchanges continued throughout our stay.
"One of our pillars is 'anything but ordinary'," Birchall said. "We don't want to have a traditional sundowner, which is probably a little bit more formal and a little bit stiffer."For him, the goal is to help guests make the most of their holiday.
"Guests often don't know how to enjoy a vacation to the full because they only go on vacation once or twice a year," he said. "We know how to do it because we live the experience every day."
Growing appeal in the GCC
The GCC is among Kandima's fastest-growing markets, with the destination particularly appealing to multi-generational and extended families."We get multi-generational families here quite often. We also get extended families," Birchall said, citing one GCC family staying during our visit that had booked five villas for a group of 16.
For Gulf travellers, privacy and personalised service remain important, but Birchall believes luxury is increasingly about human connection."Our guests are finding luxury in the amount of time that our employees are sharing with them," he said.
That warmth was evident throughout our stay, particularly in the way staff interacted with our children and remembered small details.
What comes next
Kandima is already looking ahead. An Adventure Park planned for 2027 will feature climbing walls, a skate park, an assault course, zip lines, a giant swing and mini golf, with stargazing facilities introducing astronomy experiences.
The island is also exploring ways to turn its vegetable farms into guest experiences, allowing visitors to learn how crops are grown in the Maldives.
Meanwhile, Coral Residences, a beachfront community featuring 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments, is scheduled to launch soon.
For travellers from Qatar and the wider Gulf, Kandima offers a different interpretation of the Maldivian escape — one that combines turquoise waters and tropical tranquillity with family activities, adventure, wellness, dining and genuine human connection
As we prepared to leave, the Maldives we were taking home was not simply the picture-perfect landscape of turquoise lagoons, white beaches and swaying palms. It was the memory of spotting turtles, children enjoying new activities, conversations with fellow travellers, creative moments at KULA and a sunset shared with new acquaintances.Kandima may call itself "kool and stylish". Its real strength, however, lies in turning a beautiful island stay into a collection of experiences that remain long after the seaplane disappears towards Male.