History

According to folklore, the Maldives was first colonised by an Indo-Aryan race between the 4th and the 5th centuries BC, however it is certain that early settlers came via Sri Lanka and practiced age-old Buddhist customs.

The conversion to Islam took place in 1153. Legend tells us that during this time a demon rose from the depths of the ocean once every month and demanded a virgin girl to be sacrificed. A pious Moroccan saint, Abu al-Barakat, who visited Maldives at that time learned of the story and exorcised the demon by reading verses from the Quran. The event led the King at the time to embrace Islam.

The country has remained independent except for short periods of time, the longest being the 17-year Portuguese rule in the 16th Century.

It is said that the sea grew red with Muslim blood as the invaders tried to enforce their Christian beliefs upon the islanders. In 1573, Mohammed Thakurufaanu, the greatest Maldivian hero, led a band of men into Male’ harbor and in the pitch darkness of the night searched for and slaughtered the enemy.

In 1782 the Malabar's from the East Coast of India attacked the Maldives destroying the palace and driving the Sultan into exile. Their rule was short-lived. Within months the people became resistant and a group led by Ghaazee Hassan Izzuddeen fought against the enemy forces and defeated them.

In 1887 the Maldives became a British protectorate. However, the British never interfered with the internal politics of the country. In 1965 the country became a fully independent state and in 1968 a Republic was declared.

Location

South West of Sri Lanka, on the equator. Sited at a more remote location on the easternmost tip of North Malé Atoll, Meeru Resort is reached by a speedboat ride from the airport. Some 50 kilometers from the capital of Male, the transfer will take you through some of the most exciting ocean scenery imaginable as you watch the flying fish leaping out of the water and skimming the surface for several meters at a time, or if you are lucky, you will see the dolphins, putting up a show, to give you some excitement during your trip.

Accommodation

• Standard Room Built in units of four or five, all facing the beach, the 58 standard rooms offer simple, uncluttered comfort. Cane furniture on a cool tiled floor offer welcome respite at the end of a hot day, and cheerful tropical plants surrounding the rooms remind you that you're on an island paradise. The bathrooms of 20 of these units are partially open, overlooking an indoor garden. All are fully tiled and fitted. 
• Land Villas

  Fringing the island, and set back behind the beach vegetation, a row of 77 villas stretch out along the west side of the island to complete the effect of a village. These pine chalets with their wide, shaded verandas offer a cool retreat at the end of an action packed day. Deck chairs are provided to sit on as you watch the sun go down, or relax and read in a quiet moment.

  Inside, the chalet rooms are spacious and airy. A ceiling fan whirrs gently, and the room has a sitting area by the full window overlooking the veranda. A bed and side tables with Tiffany-style reading lamps add a touch of class. A dressing area with wardrobe leads into an open air, fully fitted, white tiled bathroom.

• Jacuzzi Villas Which are larger Land Villas with a private, walled-in outdoor area featuring a Jacuzzi for two "under the stars", a wooden sundeck with chaise lounges, a shade Pavilion, a small tropical garden, cable TV and a CD player
• Water Villas

  Step outside and dip your toes in the sea in one of the 27 water villas while the sun comes up. These carefully sited rooms afford breathtaking sea views. Sit on the balcony and listen to the breakers crash on to the reef in the distance, or step down on to the deck to sunbathe with the waves lapping gently underneath you. A few more steps take you right into the sea.

  Inside the pinewood lined rooms, a big comfortable 4-poster bed awaits at the end of the day, or if you want to relax before turning in, a sitting area with armchairs and coffee table are provided. Enjoy the natural warmth of a wood floor underfoot. A discreet white tiled, partially open bathroom where you can shower next to a little garden, adds the final touch of style.

• Jacuzzi Water Villas Which are located over-the-water, in the lagoon short walk along your private jetty to this secluded hideaway featuring a large bedroom, a sitting area with Cable TV, a DVD player, and an espresso machine; a spacious bathroom with double sinks, a private sundeck with steps into the sea, and a Jacuzzi for two!
• Honeymoon Suite

  These two water suites are the perfect place to really get away and enjoy a honeymoon is splendid isolation. Separate from the island and reached by a small boat, the luxury offered is unbeatable. As you step in the door, a cosy sitting area with kitchenette lies to one side. A big comfy sofa and armchairs invite you to snuggle up and listen to the music on the CD player. A big fridge, toaster and coffee maker allow you to make yourself the odd snack.

  On the other side of the entranceway lies a dream bedroom with a big four poster, dressing table and wardrobe, and leading off is a spacious bathroom with bathtub, WC and wash basin. Clean white tiles with pine trim add a touch of class. All the bungalows face the sea and have French windows leading on to a spacious sun deck and patio overlooking the lagoon. No other people in sight. Watch the fish swim underneath your bungalow at night, or step down and join them for a moonlight swim.

Dining

• Farivalhu Restaurant Even on the hottest day the breeze wafts through this amazing eatery. A tall sloping roof with cooling fans buzzing in the rafters. All meals are buffet, with the menu changing every day. A comprehensive breakfast is available to fuel up divers for the day ahead. Lunch and dinner buffets offer a wide selection of different kinds of food, salads, pastas, meat and fish, as well as a good sweet and fresh fruit selection. Vegetarians and people with special dietary needs can also be catered for, but they should let the resort know beforehand.
• Maala Restaurant The Maalan Restaurant is exclusively for guests staying at the “Meeru Village”.
• Asian Wok The Asian Wok, specialising in Thai, Indian, Chinese and Maldivian cuisine.
• Hagern Boat Hagern, serving grilled seafood, beef, and chicken aboard a “restaurant” yacht anchored in the lagoon.

  The Club 1919 Bar, aboard the Hagern yacht anchored in the lagoon.

• Hungnnau Coffee Shop Offering a wide choice of snacks, the coffee shop is a relaxed place overlooking the sea and next to the swimming pool where light meals can be served while you're lazing by the water. Room service is also available from the coffee shop up until 11.00 pm. The system offered here is flexible, so if you're a late riser and miss out on the buffet breakfast, the Hungaanu Coffee Shop offers an a la carte breakfast menu between 9.30 and 11.30. In fact there´s no need to worry about missing any meals as there is a choice of snacks, pizzas, pastas, and more substantial dishes on offer until late at night, as well as a choice of ice creams and fresh fruit.
• Dhoni Bar Nestled next to the Coffee Shop, the Dhoni Bar spills out on to a wooden deck overlooking the sea, so you can sit and sip your cocktail next to the ocean. As well as the usual bar beverages, there's a list of cocktails to suit most tastes, and there's a daily cocktail special should you want to try something different every day. Poolside service is also available. 
• Kakuni Bar This little corner bar, tucked away in the corner of the disco will serve cool drinks in between some energetic dancing. Take a breather and step out on to the beach to enjoy your drink before returning to the dance floor.
• Uthuru Bar The Uthuru Bar in the Meeru Village
• Beach Bar Located at the tip of the island, this secluded little bar will keep swimmers and snorkellers using the little beaches overlooking the lagoon fully refreshed. Informal and friendly, this is an ideal haunt for beach babies.

Facilities

• The Gift Shop Features a complete selection of Swimwear, Sportswear, Batik, Meeru Logo wear, Books, Music CD's, Jewelry, Artwork, Crafts, Sundries, Snacks, Magazines, Cigarettes, and more!
• Meeting & Banquet Facilities Two air-conditioned classrooms, each seating up to 30 guests, and an open-air Hall, island style, with overhead ceiling fans and sand floor, for functions up to 100 guests. Weekly program including Pool Games, Water Aerobics, Waterpolo, and Sports Tournaments Board games are available from the Front Desk including Chess, Checkers, Scrabble, Caramboard, and more!
• Sifani Jewelers Sifani Jewelers offers a complete selection of Gemstones and Jewelery at reasonable prices

Sports & Activities

• Water Sports A variety of water sports are available at the watersports centre at Meeru. Quality equipment are available for windsurfing. Catamarans, canoes and pedal boats are also available for your enjoyment and fun.
• Land Sports It´s almost impossible to spend all your time in the water, but you´ll find plenty to do on the land also. At Meeru a swimming pool, tennis court, table tennis and football are all available, and for those who prefer more relaxed games, a selection of board games is there to be enjoyed.
• Island Hopping This is fun day out on a traditional Maldivian sailing boat -although this one is motorized to get to places fast. And don´t forget to bring your snorkeling gear. The boat stops off at three places: Bodu Hura, Kuda Bandos and Kani Resort. At Bodu Hura you will have the opportunity to see a typical Maldivian fishing village and gain some idea of how the islanders live. There are also several souvenir shops so you can do some shopping while you´re there. Kuda Bandos is an uninhabited island where there is some great snorkeling and a barbecue lunch is served. The final stop is Kani Resort where there are good facilities to enjoy before returning to Meeru.

  Speedboat
   A fun packed day out, where two other resorts -Paradise Island Resort and Kani Resort -are visited, giving guests a chance to see some more of the beautiful island paradises the Maldives has to offer. Then on to the uninhabited island of Kuda Bandos where you can enjoy the snorkeling while a barbecue lunch is prepared. The final stop is at the Maldivian fishing village on the island of Bodu Hura, where you can do a little souvenir shopping while taking in typical Maldivian island life.

• Wave Surfing An option of either a half or full day excursion for surfies who want to have a go at some of the big breaks in the Maldives. First stop off at Chicken Island -where chickens used to be reared and now the call the waves chickens. The boat also stops off at Thulusdhoo, an island that has plenty of activity. Dried fish from all over the Maldives are stored here, and as well as garment factories there is a big coca cola factory here. But don´t let all this detract from you from the big waves -they call them cokes here. At Himmafushi, the last island stop, is a little fishing village with some surfing you´ll really enjoy.
• Excursion 

  Kagi Excursion by Dhoni
  This full day excursion in the traditional Maldivian mode of sea transport will take you to the uninhabited island of Kagi at the north end of North Male Atoll. This is a small island with soft sandy beaches and a good house reef for snorkeling enthusiasts. A barbecue lunch will be served on the island. 

   A two hour excursion to Dhiffushi
  A two hour excursion to the nearby island of Dhiffushi, where the fishing village of 900 people make their living salting and drying fish in the sun. There are also several souvenir shops where you can buy gifts to take home with you.

• Big Game Fishing The Maldives is the perfect place for a spot of fishing. After all the waters here are literally teeming with fish. Our morning fishing excursions take you trawling along the outer atoll, dragging a line on the surface for barracuda, wahoo and jack. Morning fishing is close to the reef, but in deep water. For night fishing we leave just before sunset and drop anchor near the reef. The relaxed fishing uses sinkers, and all you have to do is sit back and wait for the fish to bite. Big game fishing is another experience not to be missed. Using a rod, this is an exciting experience. Just wait and see who catches the biggest barracuda.

Diving

• Diving and Snorkeling Information Meeru is a diving & snorkeling paradise to which many guests return time and again. Spectacular dive sites and Ocean-Pro’s professional dive team make diving holidays on Meeru an unforgettable experience. The multilingual dive staff have many years of experience and look forward to showing you the fascinating underwater world of the Maldives.

  Snorkeling Courses  We offer tips and instruction for those with little snorkeling experience.                                                                                              Schedule: every Wednesday or on request

  2 Reef Snorkeling Excursion We offer a 2 ˝ hour snorkeling excursion 5 days a week.                                                                                                            We take you on a Maldivian dhoni (traditional boat) to 2 different reefs in the North Male Atoll. An instructor or divemaster will give you detailed information about the reef and its marine life before guiding you on you swim. You will often see dolphins on your way out to the reef.                                                                           Schedule: 09.00  Monday, Thursday and Saturday                                            14.00  Wednesday and Friday

• Dive Course We offer all PADI courses from Beginner to instructor level as well as many specialized diving  courses.

  Beginner Courses :

  Bubble Maker A fun scuba dive for children in water shallower than 2 meters.                                                                                               Minimum age: 8 years                                                                           Schedule: on request

  Discover Scuba (DS) Introductory dive in shallow depths for people who love being in the water.                                                                                       Minimum age: 10 years                                                                       Schedule: every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday — at 09.15 a.m.

  PADI Scuba Diver (PSD) – Certification course lasting 2 ˝ days

  PADI Open Water Diver (OWD) – Certification course lasting 4 ˝ days                                                                                                           Your Ocean-Pro Dive Team looks forward to seeing you soon and wishes you a fantastic holiday !

  OceanPro SCUBA Centre featuring Guided Diving and Snorkeling Boat Trips,Equipment and Accessory Sales, Rental and Repair, and a complete PADIInstructional Program

• Divers Night

  Fun and entertainment for divers and non-divers alike! The Ocean-Pro Dive Team presents a popular dive show each week featuring underwater films shown on a big screen. Guests who completed diving courses are also presented with their diplomas. A short film presents an overview of Ocean-Pro´s diving and snorkeling activities. The Dive Center staff will answer any of your questions and get you interested in the beauties of the marine environment.   

  Dive with us !

  Our regular schedule offers :                                                                           Morning Dives / Afternoon Dives / Night Dives / Two-tank Trips                               We offer a wide range of dive sites every day, with easy dives for less experienced  divers and more demanding locations for those with more practice.                                                                                                        On request we also guide experienced divers without extra charge.                  Nitrox fills are available without extra charge for divers certified to dive with  enriched air.

Dhuniya Spa

Dhuniye Spa proudly introduces it's new Over-The-Water Spa at Meeru Viallge. Here you can enjoy delightful treatments in a scenic setting directly over the water. In the comfort of 5 luxurious treatment roomsyou will experience the essence of SPA  Sanus Per Aqua (health through Water). The soothing sound of the water breaking against the reef, the relaxing calmness of the clear turquoise lagoon, and the peaceful serenity of the timeless sunsets are all some of the natural elements which enliven your senses and invite you to step into a different world where you will find harmony between body and mind.

In the end what matters most is
how well did you live
how well did you love
how well did you learn to let go.

(Unknown)

Life enhancing rituals have been practiced in every culture since early times. Ancient civilizations lived in harmony with the rhythms of nature and understood that each person is a unique combination of elements with individual needs. Inspired by the ancient civilizations, we have created the holistic spa treatments and rituals concept, one that merges timeless techniques and philosophies from around the world into a comprehensive program of treatments designed for the modern lifestyle.

The treatments are delivered by an international team of highly professional therapists who are committed to providing personalized care for every guest.

Our spa products are custom blended and comprise a beautiful, innovative selection of 100% pure, organic massage oils, body scrubs, wraps and lotions. An exquisite choice of these products is availble for sale.

Please come to the spa 15 minutes prior to your appointment in order to enjoy the full benefit of your treatment.

Spa hours daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Please dial extension: 3040 Dhuniye Spa (Over-The-Water)
3030 Dhuniye Spa (On-The-Island)

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