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When you think about the Maldives today it’s hard to imagine that just 50 years tourism was only just beginning and at the forefront in those early days was Kurumba. 1972 heralded the start of the tourism industry in the Maldives and the uninhabited island of Vihamanaafushi was furnished with 30 modest huts made of coral stone, coconut timber and palm thatch to provide the first ever resort in this remote island nation in the Indian Ocean, with Euro-Divers providing the scuba diving activities. One can only imagine the feeling of wonder that the first guests felt when they arrived and waded through the sparkling lagoon to the island and experienced a true tropical paradise and underwater realm previously unseen and untouched by tourists.

Fast forward 50 years and guests still have plenty to look forward to and get excited about! Kurumba remains the closest resort to the airport which is great news for those who prefer not to have a lengthy transfer and simply want to get off the plane, hop on a luxury speedboat for 10 minutes and start enjoying their well-deserved holiday. With 24-hour transfer availability, guests don’t need to worry about what time their international flight arrives or departs, they can maximise their time at the resort and, as an added bonus, they no longer need to wade through the lagoon!

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve been to Kurumba and when your first visit was – let’s see who has the earliest date!

Dive Shop Kurumba Maldives
Dive Shop Kurumba Maldives

Everyone is welcome at Kurumba; the resort welcomes families, singles, couples, divers, snorkelers and ‘sit-on-the-beachers’ too. A wide selection of room types caters for all budgets and wishes while the array of restaurants suits all tastes – it’s a different world to the fish curries and rice dinners of 1972. Younger guests can enjoy the fun-packed kids club and those as young as 8 years can join the diving action with Bubblemaker activities.

Kurumba’s house reef has always impressed snorkelers and divers and today it’s no different, it’s one of the best house reefs in Male Atoll to see black-tip reef sharks amongst countless other species thriving here.

Dive Shop Kurumba Maldives

In the last 50 years many dive sites have been discovered and Kurumba’s divers have many excellent dives available to them. In the summer months, Lankan Manta Point is a great spot for fulfilling bucket list dreams of swimming with mantas, it’s just 20 minutes away and holidays here are cheaper in the summer-time – add it to your travel list! The world-renowned site of Chicken Island (also known as Tuna Factory, Fish Factory and Fish Tank) is only 15 minutes away and offers incredible diving with lots to see.

Kurumba has five Marine Protected sites close by and some of them are in the top 10 dive sites in North Malé Atoll to add to your diving trips: Nassimo Thila, Banana Reef, Okobe Thila, HP Reef and Embudhoo Express. Marine Protection means that these sites have a great chance of remaining as magical in another 50 years’ time as they are now.

Manta Ray Kurumba Maldives
Manta Ray Kurumba Maldives

We hope you can come and help us celebrate our 50th Year in the Maldives by visiting Kurumba, the place it all started.