The first thing that strikes you when you land in the Maldives isn’t the incredibly blue water or the blindingly white sand – it’s the seaplanes. This Indian Ocean nation is home to the world’s largest seaplane operation, carrying out more than 1 million transfers a year, and an entire terminal at Male’s Velana International Airport is dedicated to these distinctive aircraft.It’s a reminder that the Maldives didn’t become one of the world’s best-known tropical retreats by accident. Yes, the country is blessed to have more than 1200 idyllic islands, but in the 50 years since tourism took off here, it has worked hard to become an in-demand destination, targeting not just honeymooners but holidaymakers of all kinds.Whatever your idea of the perfect island escape, the Maldives has you covered. There are resorts that are aimed at families, such as Constance Moofushi and Lux South Ari Atoll. There are resorts pitched at wellness lovers, including Joali Being and Six Senses Laamu.The bustling seaplane terminal at Velana International Airport in Male.Louie DouvisThere are resorts that are great for surfing, or for swimming with wild manta rays, or for dining in an underwater restaurant. And speaking of food: whether you love Indian food, or French, or Thai, or Japanese, the Maldives’ best resorts offer a planet’s worth of flavours.As you might expect in a country so vulnerable to climate change – most of its islands sit about a metre above sea level – the Maldives has embraced sustainability. Single-use plastics were banned in 2022, coral conservation is a key activity at many resorts, and there are plans to achieve carbon neutrality in five years’ time. Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is leading the way as the nation’s first fully solar-powered island.Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletterGet exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.Snorkelling in the Maldives is easy and often possible from the resort beach. Perhaps the only thing that has been stopping Australians from falling hard for the Maldives has been the challenge of getting there. Until now, flying to the Maldives from Australia has meant a layover in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Dubai or Doha.That is changing thanks to Luxury Escapes, which this year began offering direct Melbourne-to-Male flights with the national carrier, Maldivian, as part of its holiday packages. Slashing travel time to less than 12 hours will persuade plenty of people to give this tropical getaway a go. To get you in the mood, here is our guide to some of the Maldives’ most memorable resorts.THE ALL-ROUNDERAnantara DhiguBy Jane ReddyOverwater villas at Anantara Dhigu.Arrival into Male Airport might normally entail yet another flight to finally get to your island paradise. Not at Dhigu, the naturally occurring island in the South Male Atoll that’s just a 35-minute speedboat ride, dock to dock.Check in after dark and you’ll wake to an island reveal that’s just as smile-inducing as the traditional Maldivian drumbeats for guests who step onto the jetty in sunlight hours.At just 480 metres by 120 metres, Dhigu’s diminutive size belies its ability to cater for all; families come first but spontaneous adult play – a barefoot bike ride around the island or sand petanque on the way to sundowners – matters too. There are seven restaurants and a large beachfront infinity pool; daily activities for littlies include tie-dye and cooking classes, while for grown-ups there is sunset yoga and singing bowls, no bookings required.A snorkelling excursion at the edge of the lagoon to swim among baby blacktip reef sharks will invigorate the most surly teen. Or try a “Mummy and me” session at the overwater day spa for a face-down massage staring at aquatic life through the glass floor – that might do the trick.A family pool villa twin room at Anantara Dhigu.There are overwater villas, but the private and spacious two-bedroom pool villas with beach access and many daybeds are the ideal family home.Rooms from $992 a night, including breakfast; two-bedroom family beach pool villa from $3086 a night.See anantara.comTHE ADULT ESCAPEAnantara VeliBy Chris ChamberlinAnantara Veli tailors towards adults and couples.Returning home after having a villa host (butler) is incredibly tough. I’ve become so carefree that I’m forgetting basic things: like my umbrella, on another island. No fear, my helper is here … and so is the resort’s scuba team when an underwater camera slips out of my hand while snorkelling.I’m normally one to keep the “do not disturb” sign on permanent display, but at Veli, the elite housekeeping becomes a form of entertainment. Which towel animal will they construct today? What message will they leave in leaves – or on a leaf? Every departure from my room has a surprise awaiting my return.The Balance Wellness spa also features separate hot and cold plunge pools.With children comfortably accommodated at Dhigu, Veli tailors towards adults and couples. In an abbreviated cooking class, I learn how to perfectly shape crab cakes, like the ones I’ve found irresistible all week. Then a surfing lesson at Tropicsurf has me standing on a board for the first time: a feat I couldn’t even achieve on the Gold Coast.A boat of sushi at Origami restaurant doesn’t disappoint, and nor does the Balance Wellness spa with separate hot and cold plunge pools for a refreshing post-massage dip. An excursion to swim with nurse sharks might frighten some, but it’s an experience that will live with me forever. I’d come back to the Maldives just for this.Rooms from $934 a night, including tax and breakfast; overwater pool villa from $1156 a night. See anantara.comA DEEP DIVEAvani+ FaresBy Jane ReddySmugglers Shack, home to the largest collection of rum in the Maldives.Set on the western edge of the Maldives, next stop Africa, there’s easy access to the wonders of the aquatic world at Avani+ Fares in the Baa Atoll.Join the all-Maldivian boat crew for sunset dolphin spotting, snorkel off the beach along the 220-metre healthy house reef, or dive at one of the multitude of sites – all, at most, 25 minutes away by boat.Alongside the usual Western fare at Skipjack, with its exposed dhoni-shaped ceiling, flavours of this centuries-old trading route, from Sri Lankan hoppers to local snapper, feature across the island’s three main restaurants. The island was once a coconut plantation.Local flavours of this centuries-old trading route feature in the resort’s restaurants, including Charcoal for seafood and steak.While the Avani brand may attract a younger crowd at its other global properties, the 176 rooms at Fares – whether an overwater bungalow or a beach villa with interconnecting rooms (one fully accessible) – cater to all.Smugglers Shack is home to the largest rum collection in the Maldives. Private dinners on the sand in front of Smugglers are a resort specialty, as are sundowners by the main pool, accompanied by tunes from a rotation of international DJs.Premium ocean view rooms from $455 a night, including breakfast. See avanihotels.comFUN AND GAMESCentara Grand LagoonBy Chris ChamberlinAt Centara Grand Lagoon expect curvy private pools in overwater villas.As one of the Maldives’ newest resorts, Centara Grand Lagoon embraces modern style – and contemporary fun. From the car-shaped “Rolls-Royce” boat available for hire to the curvy private pools in the overwater villas, a week can pass in no time.The design affords ocean views from the bath and shower – without any other villas in your vista. Splurge on an elite three-bedroom suite and a waterslide complements the traditional ocean staircase for the young and young at heart.A snorkelling excursion is a must to explore the nearby reef: and when that’s done, to execute a running jump from the boat’s top deck into deeper water. Skip the dolphin sunset cruise in the rainy season – an afternoon shower can dampen those animal-watching ambitions.A snorkelling excursion is a must to explore the nearby reef.Alex CoppelBlue Fin restaurant lives up to its name, serving crab cakes, reef fish, and orange-glazed Hokkaido scallops topped with caviar, all artfully plated. The “Kaashi and Kofi” espresso martini adaptation adds coconut fat-washed rum into the mix.For holiday vibes without the hangover, try the “Blue Paradise” mocktail – a blend of non-alcoholic rum and curacao with ginger ale and passionfruit. Frequent Centara guests (CentaraThe1 Platinum Elite members) qualify for free access to The Club: an overwater retreat where all snacks and beverages are gratis, with a view to boot.From $1118 a night, including tax and breakfast; overwater pool villa from $1454 a night. See centarahotelsresorts.comSURF’S UPFour Seasons Kuda Huraa and Landaa GiravaruBy Lee TullochThe main beach at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru.