The fear of open water is a common fear that people have when visiting a Maldives resort. This is how to experience sea life when at a resort.
When travelling to Komandoo, our main aim was to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. However, a bonus of being in the middle of the Indian Ocean is having access to the incredibly diverse marine life of the coral reefs.
It’s hard to imagine a more relaxing setting than the pristine Maldives. The islands are made up of large, turquoise reefs and pearl-white sand beaches, dotted with palm trees and luxury resorts.
But while many visitors enjoy the Maldives’ idyllic setting. Others find themselves in a state of panic when they finally arrive on their dream vacation.
An open water fear can be triggered by anything from indoor swimming pools to scuba classes or even triggered at a Maldives holiday.
There are several reasons for an open water fear:
- Lack of swimming skills, or a bad past experience in the water
- We feel overwhelmed. The ocean is often big and intimidating because it takes so long for our bodies to adapt to it
- Don’t like feeling wet. Wearing swimsuits in public spaces can make us feel self-conscious about our body shape or weight loss
Maldives Activities to Enjoy with an Open Water Fear
I myself have a fear of open water, so activities like snorkelling or deep-sea diving were very much out of my comfort zone. It is not something I was willing to conquer on this trip. Even though I had a strong desire to experience the sea life up close.
Yet, it didn’t dampen my spirit, the water surrounding the island was fairly shallow most hours of the day. I was happy enough to get waist-deep without panicking. As well as having an overwater villa which allowed me to view the clear water from the safety of the deck.
Much of the activities in Komandoo, Maldives are water-based. From snorkelling and scuba-diving to jet skis and windsurfing. There is an incredible amount of things to do to keep yourself active and engaged.
How to enjoy the Maldives without getting in the water
Many people tend to avoid going into the water altogether. This means that you won’t find them doing any activities like snorkelling or scuba diving. If this is something that worries you too, then don’t worry; there are plenty of other things that you can do!
From above and in the water, my husband and I spotted turtles, manta rays, different a variety of sharks, including one that got incredibly close to the water which did nothing to help my fear of open water. As well as lots of other smaller sea life that I could not name. Some of the marine life get incredibly close to the shore. Even if you don’t want to step into the water you can have fun spotting the animals.
Another way to enjoy the water in the Maldives is trying out dining in an underwater restaurant. Being underwater in a safe and comforting environment was an incredible and unique experience to discover the world under the water line.
Watching the vibrant colours of small fish dancing under the water was one of my favourite things to do during the day. The calm of the waters meant that I felt comfortable enough to go into the shallows without too much drama.
We also took a sunset boat trip where we watched a pod of dolphins racing with the boat, doing their fun acrobatics and entertaining all the passengers on the cruise. It was truly one of the most unforgettable magical moments of the holiday and would recommend doing this if you ever have the chance.
If we ever come back to the Maldives in the future, which we no doubt will. I hope to be more confident in the water so I can at least attempt to snorkel.
