Maldives-best resort for snorkelling/diving and teens?

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Hi

I have been thinking of going to the Maldives in summer 2016 to celebrate end of GCSEs for DS1. Both DS are keen on snorkelling and watersports and DS1 has already done a level one scuba course in France although I'm not sure if this equates to anything outside of France! Both DS are very keen to see a wider range of fish than you can see in the Med.

I know it's a long way in advance to plan it but this would be a once in a lifetime holiday so need to get it right. Most importantly, is August even a good time to visit or will it be too wet?

If August will be OK, then I would be very grateful for tips on the best reef for snorkelling off the beach and being close to good areas for scuba diving and also advice on a resort good for (older child) families not couples as it will just be me and DS1 and 2. Accommodation doesn't need to be top of the range although we would prefer at least mid range food but maybe you get high quality food throughout the Maldives?

Also it would be helpful if anyone has a ballpark figure of how much we might expect it to cost, obviously I realise that even the lower end resorts are going to be exorbitant!

Thanks in advance!

A friend of mine went to the One & Only Reethi Rah at half term with her two boys (14). They had a great time.

Most islands offer non-motorised water sports, snorkel hire, and some sort of games room or gym and maybe tennis or volleyball but most people just laze!

I've been at Easter and November/December. Maybe also July. I can't quite remember. Even in the wet season it is not too bad as it is warm rain and you are in swimwear anyway!

All of the resorts I have stayed at have offered padi qualifications. That is the most widely recognised for recreational diving.

We've always gone for a week and found that has been about right.

Hi, we went to Kurumathi too and really enjoyed it! Ten days is just right IMHO, a week would have been too short considering the long flights, and two weeks would break the bank.
Kurumathi is Kuoni exclusive (or it was) but you can still book it through third parties. We used Blue Bay Travel who were excellent and threw in free seaplane transfers.
Kurumathi is large and has great facilities - snorkel hire and flippers are included as standard, there's a well appointed gym, and you can pay to snorkel or hire canoes. They have some good entertainments too, live bands, and a film night on the beach which we loved There was a mix of honeymooners and families, but it is generally very quiet - I think you'll find that of most Maldives resorts!

Oh, we went at Easter, not sure what summer is like, but it will be cheaper!

Thanks for all the advice! Lots of the resorts don't seem to mention whether they have family rooms (Vilamendhoo does which is a plus, but no motorised watersports) so maybe an indication that they are mainly for honeymooners. Those of you who went with older DC did you have more than one room? Baros looks lovely pag wonderful house reef and waterskiing/wakeboarding but did you have 2 villas as that would probably put it out of our price range?

Hi

We book through and agent. We have used hayes and Jarvis a few times but last time we booked with best@travel who were £800 cheaper than anyone else. I have also heard very good things about simply Maldives - they are very knowledgeable.

Kuredu is in the north so no whale sharks in that area but even if you are in the south you wouldn't be guaranteed to see them. Sightings are much more rare - sightings down nearly 80% from 5 years ago.

If the maldives doesn't pan out then maybe the Caribbean would suit as there are more options to interest your boys and to do culturally - maybe Cuba or Barbados would suit. I have been to both and had great times.

We've booked through Kuoni and British Airways holidays (the latter because it was the only way we could find the BA direct flights as many operators have a stop in the UAE and we wanted to avoid that).

What about Mauritius?