JA Manafaru.

Dive into the vibrant underwater world of the Haa Alifu Atoll with our PADI-certified team. Explore one of the Maldives’ most pristine and protected coral reef systems, home to extraordinary marine life and breathtaking seascapes. Perfect for beginners and experienced divers seeking an unforgettable underwater adventure at JA Manafaru.

Join our daily morning, afternoon, and evening guided snorkelling trips aboard a traditional dhoni. Discover the abundant marine life in this part of the Maldives. Our guide will bring you to some of the most colourful reefs, where sightings of turtles and reef sharks are common. During the season, it is also possible to spot some mantas in other snorkelling spots. We highly recommend joining the night snorkelling as the reef takes on a whole new look with a buzzing nightlife. Check with the dive centre for the daily schedule, or you can also arrange a private snorkelling trip at your convenience.View Details

Get that magical sandbank experience! You and your partner can enjoy an idyllic picnic or lunch set up on a stretch of sand in the middle of the ocean. We will set up the entire spread, and all you have to do is enjoy the spectacular view accompanied by delicious cuisine. Soak in all the vitamin D from the sun, and then go for a swim in the refreshing turquoise water to cool off. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can also go snorkelling around the sandbank and discover what lies beneath this patch of sand in the middle of the ocean.

As the day comes to an end, it’s time to slow down and take a pause from an active day. Take your special someone on a romantic sunset cruise on board a traditional dhoni. Admire the stunning sunset views while in the middle of the Indian Ocean as you take in that fresh sea breeze. Enjoy a refreshing sparkling wine and canapes as you laze and cruise around. There’s no better way to cap off your day than spending it on a relaxing cruise with your special someone.

Join us on our quest for one of the most adorable marine mammals, dolphins! The dolphins in the Maldives are wild and free, so sightings are not guaranteed. However, our crew knows where to search for these dolphins, and more often than not, luck is on their side. Nothing beats the excitement of searching for these playful creatures and finally seeing them. They usually love to swim alongside or in front of the boat. Sometimes, you’ll see them jump and spin out of the water, a truly memorable sight to see.

Immerse yourself in Maldivian culture and history. Visit one of the most interesting local islands in the Maldives, Utheemu Island. Learn more about one of the most revered and respected national heroes of the Maldives, Mohamed Thakurufaaanu, the saviour of the Maldives during the 15-year Portuguese occupation, as you visit his home island. Visit the well-preserved Utheemu Palace, the residential home of Mohamed Thakurufaanu and his family. On this tour, you will also get the chance to see the Boduthakurufan Memorial Centre. Here, you will discover a few of the remaining Maldivian relics, the mosque where Thakurufaanu and his family go for prayers, and other interesting places all around the island.

Set sail on a traditional dhoni for our unforgettable Sunset Dolphin Cruise. Watch playful dolphins dance through the waves of Haa Alifu Atoll as the sun melts into the horizon. Savour the chef’s selection of nibbles and refreshing drinks while golden skies fade to starlit tranquillity—an enchanting Maldivian experience from afternoon to evening.

Witness one of nature’s most graceful spectacles with a Manta Ray encounter at JA Manafaru. From November to April, these majestic creatures glide through the Haa Alifu Atoll, visiting nearby cleaning stations just 30 minutes away. A rare and awe-inspiring experience that showcases the Maldives’ extraordinary marine life at its most captivating.

Discover the spirit of the Maldives with island excursions from JA Manafaru. Visit Utheemu, the cultural heart of the archipelago and home of national hero Boduthakurufaanu, or set sail in search of playful dolphins. For adventure seekers, try traditional line fishing or the thrill of big game fishing on open waters.

Experience movie magic beneath the night sky with a private beachside screening. Choose your favourite film and relax with your loved ones, toes in the sand, surrounded by the sound of the waves. Enjoy a selection of delicious snacks as the stars above set the perfect scene for an unforgettable evening.

Stay active in paradise with a friendly game on our island's futsal court. Whether practising your skills, playing with family and friends, or joining a match against local islanders, it’s the perfect way to add a dash of competition and camaraderie to your Maldivian island escape.

Embrace the freedom of the ocean as you sail across the crystal-clear lagoon aboard our island catamaran. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or learning the ropes with our water sports team, every journey offers a sense of serenity and adventure gliding effortlessly by wind power from sunrise to sunset.

Surrounded by swaying palms and tropical greenery, the main pool at JA Manafaru feels like a serene coastal lagoon. Unwind with a refreshing dip, float beneath the sun with a cocktail or gelato in hand, while little ones enjoy safe splashes in the dedicated kids’ pool near the CoolZone Kids Club.

Experience one of the Maldives’ oldest island traditions with a sunrise or sunset fishing trip at JA Manafaru. Guided by local experts, learn time-honoured techniques passed down through generations and enjoy the serenity of the ocean as golden skies reflect on the water — an authentic and sustainable Maldivian adventure.

Our watersports centres offer both motorised and non-motorised adventures for every level. Glide across calm waters on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, harness the wind on a sailboat or windsurfer, or feel the rush behind our wakeboats with wakesurfing, wakeboarding, and towable rides designed purely for fun.

Explore the island at your own pace with our kayaks, pedalos, or stand-up paddles. You do not need a lesson to use any of this non-motorised watersports equipment. Even if you have never tried it before, our recreational kayaks and pedalos are ideal for both adults and children. It is easy and safe to use. For stand-up paddle, it requires a little more balancing skill, and if it is your first time, our watersports staff can assist you and get you going. Head to the watersports centre and choose your own paddling adventure.

Explore the island at your own pace with our kayaks, pedalos, or stand-up paddles. You do not need a lesson to use any of this non-motorised watersports equipment. Even if you have never tried it before, our recreational kayaks and pedalos are ideal for both adults and children. It is easy and safe to use. For stand-up paddle, it requires a little more balancing skill, and if it is your first time, our watersports staff can assist you and get you going. Head to the watersports centre and choose your own paddling adventure.

Explore the island at your own pace with our kayaks, pedalos, or stand-up paddles. You do not need a lesson to use any of this non-motorised watersports equipment. Even if you have never tried it before, our recreational kayaks and pedalos are ideal for both adults and children. It is easy and safe to use. For stand-up paddle, it requires a little more balancing skill, and if it is your first time, our watersports staff can assist you and get you going. Head to the watersports centre and choose your own paddling adventure.

Explore the island at your own pace with our kayaks, pedalos, or stand-up paddles. You do not need a lesson to use any of this non-motorised watersports equipment. Even if you have never tried it before, our recreational kayaks and pedalos are ideal for both adults and children. It is easy and safe to use. For stand-up paddle, it requires a little more balancing skill, and if it is your first time, our watersports staff can assist you and get you going. Head to the watersports centre and choose your own paddling adventure.

Let the wind take you on an exciting ride as you glide across the water surface on a windsurf. A beginner lesson is available for those who have never tried this watersport before. Our watersports instructor will teach you how to keep your balance on the board while you hold onto the attached sail. Once you learn the basics, you’ll be able to effortlessly manoeuvre the sails and keep your balance as the wind propels you across the blue lagoon.

Sailing has never been this easy with our catamaran. It is the perfect vessel to start your sailing lessons. Our catamaran is small, lightweight and stable, and it is safe and easy to learn on. Here, you will learn how to handle the lines and tillers to adjust the sails and keep the catamaran in balance when moving from one direction to another. If you want to go on a catamaran ride and skip the lesson, we also offer catamaran sailing excursions with a skipper. If you have a sailing license, all you need to do is show your license, complete the competence check, and rent the catamaran.

Have fun with the whole family and friends on a banana boat ride. This long, inflatable tube resembling a banana fruit can accommodate up to six riders, making it a perfect activity for big groups. This exciting and bouncy ride does not require any special skills or lessons. All you have to do is sit on the tube the way you would sit on a motorcycle, hold on tight and get ready to be towed away across the sparkling, cool water. As the speedboat accelerates, the most thrilling part begins!

Try the latest craze among watersports enthusiasts, learn how to surf without the need for big waves on an electric surfboard. The small electric surfboards, or efoils, are cool and high-performance and can propel you up to 50kms in seconds. You control the speed with a handheld wireless remote control and, with the click of a button, you’ll start to hover above the water. Much like other board sports, the challenge is to keep your balance, but with the calm lagoon at JA Manafaru Maldives, it’s the perfect place to start learning this watersport. Let our professional watersports instructors assist you all the way so you can enjoy this ride.

Learn how to surf even without a wave with a high-performance electric surfboard. Electric surfboards are specially designed boards powered by a battery that allows a rider to glide across any body of water at a high speed. This new watersport is easy to learn and no prior experience is needed. For pro surfers, eSurfing will allow riders to challenge themselves like never before, to push harder, jump a little higher, turn sharper and ride faster. Beginners and experienced eSurfers, don’t miss out on the fun of surfing in the beautiful lagoon of the Maldives!

Have you ever tried a ride where you can rise high above and dive back into the water? Now is your chance to experience one of the latest watersports attractions for thrill-seekers. Our qualified watersports instructor will teach you the basic techniques and skills to stand up on a board with attached boots as you propel up in the air. It only takes a few minutes of instructions and a lot of determination to rise above the water and stay on top for as long as you can. Once you’ve mastered the skills you need, you’ll be flying high above and diving back into the water in no time.

Break from your usual beach routine and enjoy an exhilarating ride on a fun tube. Bouncing across the waves on this fun ride does not require any skills or practise. All you need to do is bring a buddy to share this ride with, sit back, hold on tight, and get ready to be towed. Feel the excitement as you propel and bounce across the surface of the beautiful, clear lagoon. As the speed of the boat increases, the excitement begins, you and your buddy will have nonstop laughs on this fun-filled ride.

Try one of the most thrilling rides on the water to make your holiday a more memorable one. You can do a quick fifteen-minute ride or go on a jet ski safari to explore beyond the lagoon. It’s easy to learn and suitable for youngsters aged 10 and above. Riding and driving a jet ski is almost like riding a motorcycle. Safe and stable, you can go on speeding across the calm water or at a relaxed pace. No matter how you want to ride it, this experience is something that will keep the inner adventurer in you alive.

Glide across the water and rocket high above the water using a power kite. Learn everything you need to know on a short resort course in kitesurfing. You will learn how to use the board, control bar, harness, and inflatable power kite to harness the power of the wind. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the basics, you’ll be guided to prepare for the launch, catch the power of the wind and propel across the ocean.

Another board sport adventure that is relatively easier to learn is kneeboarding. You kneel and sit on your heels on a convex board while your legs are securely strapped over the velcro to keep you from falling into the water. As you hold onto a towrope connected to the speedboat, you’ll be pulled along the water surface as you maintain your balance. With a little practise and patience, you’ll quickly get the hang of it, and once you learn the balancing techniques, you’ll find yourself having fun sliding across the wake.

Take a break from your underwater adventure and fly high above on an exciting parasailing flight. Get a spectacular view of the island as you cruise at a high altitude. You and your special someone will be securely strapped in a parachute connected to the back of a parasailing boat. As the captain slowly drives off and releases the winch line, you’ll slowly glide up until you reach a maximum height of approximately 80 metres. Take in the splendour of the view below before you slowly descend back to the boat.

Zip through the emerald-coloured lagoon like a dolphin with the seabob water scooter. Playing in the water has never been this much fun! Thanks to seabob, you’ll now get a chance to play in the water like a dolphin. This water scooter is light and easy to navigate in the water. You hold it like you’re holding onto a motorcycle handle, and with the push of a button, you can speed off across the water. You can also dive into the water with it to controlled depths to get a glimpse of the marine life below. We guarantee that this activity will surely add more fun to your holiday adventures.

Snorkelling is a MUST DO when in the Maldives. If you have never tried snorkelling before or you’re a little bit nervous about going snorkelling, you can join the snorkelling lesson session. In just forty-five minutes, you’ll get the skills and techniques you need to become a competent snorkeller under the guidance of our professional staff. After the session, you’ll feel more confident in the water, and you can join the daily snorkelling excursions on the island.

Try one of the most popular and fastest-growing watersports of all time. In wakeboarding, you will use a small board with foot bindings and hold onto a towrope connected to a speedboat. Much like other board sports, the goal is to stand up and keep your balance. If you’ve tried surfing or snowboarding before, some of the skills you learned will be useful when learning to wakeboard. Once you’ve picked up the basics, you’ll find yourself having fun crisscrossing along the wake. For experienced wakeboarders, it’s time to refresh your skills.

Learn about this extreme watersport that has been around for decades. The calm lagoon of the Maldives is the ideal place for beginners to learn. For experienced water skiers, it’s a perfect place to master new tricks. This challenging watersport will test both your physical strength and endurance. Wearing a special ski, you hold onto a towrope while being pulled by a speedboat. The goal is to be able to stand up and remain standing as you zoom across the water. Our watersports instructor will teach you all the techniques and skills needed to achieve this.

Private candlelit beach picnic experience

Romantic night cruise under the stars

Discover the authentic flavours of the Maldives with a hands-on cooking class led by Executive Chef Moosa Nazeer and his talented culinary team. Learn the art of traditional Maldivian short eats in a group session or elevate the experience with a private masterclass designed to bring island flavours to life.

Join our talented mixologists for a hands-on cocktail or mocktail masterclass. Learn the art of blending flavours, balancing styles, and perfecting your presentation as you craft timeless classics, signature creations, or your own inspired mix. A fun and interactive experience designed to stir creativity and island spirit.

Celebrate connection and island warmth at our cocktail reception, a weekly pre-sunset social event at JA Manafaru. As the sky turns golden, mingle with fellow guests and our welcoming team over handcrafted cocktails and canapés. Enjoy the rhythmic beat of Maldivian bodu beru drummers and lighthearted games, creating a relaxed, family-style atmosphere by the sea.

Discover thoughtful touches and island keepsakes at our boutique convenience store. From local souvenirs and handcrafted jewellery to beachwear and travel essentials, you’ll find everything you need for your stay or a little something to take home as a memory of paradise. Perfect for last-minute finds or meaningful mementoes.

Designed for children aged three and above, CoolZone at JA Manafaru offers a world of creativity and play. Located beside the Recreation Pavilion, it features arts and crafts, storytelling, and fun educational games. A safe and engaging space where young guests can learn, laugh, and make unforgettable memories in the Maldives.

A fully equipped fitness centre pairs modern exercise equipment with island scenery for strength, movement and mindful wellbeing.

Have the confidence and knowledge to respond to an emergency with the help of Emergency First Response training. As a prerequisite to the Rescue Diver course, you will learn practical knowledge about how to respond to emergencies. The course includes CPR training, rescue breathing, BLS (Basic Life Support), and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). By the end of the course, you will have the ability to apply First Aid response when necessary and other skills and techniques so that you can provide care for a chance of survival while waiting for medical services to arrive.

Go further on your diving adventure and sign up for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. Learn some more skills, such as underwater navigation and deep diving up to 30m/100ft. In addition, you can choose three more adventure dives of your interest from among the following: Enriched Air Nitrox diving, peak performance buoyancy, drift diving, fish identification, and a lot more. You can earn credit toward Specialty certifications for every Specialty course you take. After completing all the exercises, practical tests, and quizzes, you’ll get your Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

Get more confidence in your scuba diving skills when you become a Rescue Diver. Identify problems before they even occur, and learn how to address problems both above and underwater. In this course, you will learn valuable skills such as self-rescue, managing emergencies, rescuing panicked or unresponsive divers, and how to use the emergency oxygen kit. All the rescue scenarios you’ll practise together with your dive instructor to help you become a skilled rescue diver. You can start by registering with PADI eLearning online to complete the five required knowledge development sections of the course.

Create your diving adventure with PADI Specialty courses. Choose a Specialty course to deepen your knowledge and improve your skills in your field of interest. There are plenty of PADI Specialty courses available. Whether you want to increase your bottom time, improve your buoyancy, see what goes on during nighttime underwater, or get a better understanding of the marine ecosystem, there will be something for you. Visit the dive centre and speak with your dive instructor to assist you in choosing the right Specialty course to take.

Become a certified scuba diver and begin your diving adventure with the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you have already completed the Scuba Diver course, it may be credited towards the Open Water Diver course. If you have not taken any other beginner courses, you can start by completing the theory part at home with PADI eLearning online. Once in the resort, you can complete the four confined water sessions and four open water sessions. This course also includes knowledge review quizzes and practical skill assessments. Once certified, you’ll be able to dive anywhere in the world with a certified buddy or diver professional at a maximum depth of 18m/60ft. This course will take about three to five days to complete.

Take the PADI Scuba Diver course and become a qualified diver in just one and half days! This is the first step to becoming a certified Open Water Diver. The course includes three knowledge development sections, three confined water sessions and two open water dives. You must complete both the knowledge review quizzes and the practical skill assessments. At the end of the course, you’ll get a certificate and be able to dive anywhere under the supervision of a dive instructor to a maximum depth of 12m/40ft. While at home, you can register with PADI eLearning to save time studying the basic principles of scuba diving. All training may be credited towards the PADI Open Water course.

Let the kids join the underwater fun with the PADI Bubblemaker program. If your kids are aged 8 to 10, this is the perfect program to blow bubbles through scuba diving. Under the supervision of a dive instructor, the kids will learn how to use scuba equipment specially designed for them and take their first breath underwater. The session will take place in the pool or a pool-like environment at a maximum depth of 2m/6ft for about an hour. Kids do not need to be expert swimmers but must at least be comfortable when in the water.

Try scuba diving with an easy scuba “taster session”. This program is for anyone aged 10 or older who is curious about scuba diving but is not yet ready to commit to a diving course. Under the supervision of a dive instructor, you will try scuba diving in the shallow part of the lagoon. You will learn some basic scuba diving skills and how to use scuba equipment. The fun part is that you will also get the chance to see some colourful fish. This program does not include certification. However, if you dive in open water, it may be credited towards a PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Course later.