Makunudu Island

Visited March 2024 forgot to review Typical bounty type beaches with only 37 rooms. This was our 3rd visit to this island and was surprised at the amount of sharks that came into the bar bay around 4 - 5 o clock (see photos). First time we visited in 1999 you could swim with nursery sharks once a week but not now. The bungalow are clean and compact. You must go fully inclusive as everything imported in and can be expensive. The staff were lovely especially Milon who went over and above to make our stay enjoyable We had returned to the island as our previous visit was November 2023 Beautiful island and great for snorkelling

I've had my fair share of travel to Maldivian resorts, but this is by far the best one. The highlight of my trip was the dive school. It changed my entire worldview. Ricardo and Susan are a unique team who took care of my entire family and taught us many valuable lessons, both in and out of the water. Right from the get-go, we received a completely different treatment than at other resorts. We were given cold towels and water bottles on the boat ride. This was a whole new experience. Upon arrival, we were given trinkets, welcome drinks, and more cold towels. They have thought of everything. I feel that the management actually traveled as local guests and put themselves in our shoes to anticipate the customers' needs. We were given a briefing and taken to our rooms. The staff are super friendly and tried their best to accommodate all our needs. If we asked, they'd try their absolute best to make our dreams come true. We went to the dive school, and Ricardo introduced himself. He gave us all the specifics of the PADI open water course and checked if he could rearrange his schedule. He even tried to get another instructor to come and help him out so he could help us with the classes. Finally, he said that he'd take the classes personally. I was at first disappointed that there was no all-inclusive option in the packages. But look no further; with this resort, they'll bring delicious meals from all parts of the world and a variety of options to your dinner table. You wouldn't want an all-inclusive option. Truly, money well spent. All the meal times were like this. Set meals or buffet, you'll leave the restaurant fully satisfied and full of energy. We extended our stay to finish the dive course. If I were to write about the dive course and the instructors, I could write a book, and it would only be filled with compliments. They leave no stone unturned. They take their time to teach every single member separately and empowered us to move past our comfort zones. They are a dynamic duo who will play a huge role in bringing back returning customers. I definitely am returning to Makunudu Island. This trip will always be remembered, and I hope they only get better with time to make our stay as comfortable as possible.

We stayed here recently and had a mixed experience. Positives:
The resort is only about an hour from the airport by speedboat, and transfer timings are flexible, which is really convenient. The island itself is beautiful — very natural, filled with trees, and has that calm old-Maldives vibe since it’s one of the oldest resorts. Interiors are a bit dated. We were on the all-inclusive package, which included non-motorized water sports (kayak, snorkeling gear, etc.) and activities like sunset cruising and catamaran rides. The sea was absolutely stunning — crystal clear and blue. Drinks were unlimited and good quality (though you can’t take them out of the bar, which felt a little odd). Food was okay — breakfast and lunch were buffet style, dinner was à la carte. Could use more variety, but overall decent. The restaurant host, Milon, went out of his way to make us feel welcome with his warm smile, friendly conversation, and attentive service. Thank you, Milon. The room itself was lovely, but the bathroom was disappointing. The Muslim shower was placed far from the toilet seat, so it couldn’t be reached, there was a strange smell, only one showerhead, and the tap was old and rusty. Negatives:
Unfortunately, the service let us down. Our very first impression wasn’t great — the resort rep scolded us for being “late” for the boat, even though we arrived at 7:15 for a 7:30 departure. Another guest mentioned the same experience. Not the welcome you’d hope for. We were also very disappointed about being denied snorkeling equipment. We explained that we can swim and snorkel (we do it often), signed the consent form, and even said we’d stay close to shore, but were still refused saying we initially mentioned we are not “pros” at swimming. This has never happened at any other resort we’ve stayed at. At check-in, the host didn’t know we were on the all-inclusive package and started explaining full board until we corrected her. Later, we were charged for sparkling water in the minibar, even though the host told us everything except alcohol was included. When we flagged it, we were told it was on the minibar menu — but since we were told otherwise, we didn’t think to double-check. Overall:
The island is gorgeous and the location is convenient, but poor communication and disappointing service affected our stay. With better hospitality, this could be a fantastic resort, but as it stands, I wouldn’t return.

Lovely small resort with friendly staff. Enjoyed my stay there with my husband. Food was excellent. You can enjoy Table Tennis 🏓 and badminton. Also snorkeling 🤿 possible in the reef 🪸 and some water sports. Also they have Suba dive center too.

Makunudu Island Resort is an absolute paradise, especially for those looking for an affordable escape to the Maldives without compromising on quality or experience. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and genuine hospitality from the staff – their friendliness and attentiveness made us feel right at home throughout our stay.