SRI LANKAINDIAWHERETHE MALDIVESACCOMMODATION
Overwater suites and villas, which
feature at both Cocoa Island and
Maalifushi Island are COCO’s
calling card. Each room has its own
private terrace, perfect for slipping
into the warm Maldivian sea.
All suites in Maalifushi come with
their own bike. A fantastic way to
explore the white sandy lanes.
comohotels.comGETTING THERE
Singapore Airlines flies to the
capital Male via Singapore. Go to
singaporeair.com for more details.
To reach the COMO resorts book a
speedboat or seaplane transfer via
their website (comohotels.com)filter. With senses reeling, I walk
to the edge of the deck in my
over-water villa and look down
to see rays, baby reef sharks and
a seemingly endless collection
of stripy Nemo extras calmly
milling around in the crystal
clear Indian Ocean.
Cocoa Island is the smaller
of the two luxurious Maldivian
COMO resorts, COMO being the
initials of their billionaire owner
Christina Ong and her daughter
Melissa. You immediately notice
a level of detail you would
expect from the stylish owner,
who’s reputedly one of the
wealthiest women in the world.
The resorts have a reputation for
their strong focus on wellness –
incorporating their own COMO
Shambhala brand.
Not surprisingly, seafood
with a South Indian influence
is the focus of the cuisine and
the options on the main menu
seem acceptably healthy, at least
to me. But there’s a secondary
“wellness menu” for those who
wouldn’t even entertain the idea
of a holiday blowout.
In such idyllic surrounds
the temptation to do nothing
but read a book with your feet
dipped in the warm ocean
waters is strong, but if you’re
fully committed to the wellness
theme there’s an impressive
gym, countless holistic
treatments, water sports and
truly spectacular snorkelling
and diving opportunities.
On the larger COMO
Maalifushi island the standard
of accommodation reaches
oligarch-level opulence. My
signature villa has its own
private garden and pool,adjoining gym and access to your
own stretch of beach. I was told
quietly that it’s popular with
celebrities. I can see why.
In just a few brief dips in
the ocean I encounter more
sharks, rays, turtles and a
rather exhibitionist octopus
that changes colour before my
eyes. To fully enjoy the marine
life I decide to take a ride on
the resort’s 68-foot luxury yacht,
Cameron (named after another
Ong family member). From this
elegant vessel you can partake in
game fishing, surfing or diving
but I decide to keep my ‘P Diddy
on holiday’ vibe going by kicking
back watching the sunset with a
champagne on the immaculate
white deck.
The visitor is so valued here
that the resorts even have their
own unofficial time zone -
Island time +1 hour ahead of
standard Maldives time so those
picture-perfect sunsets are
still present while you dine. It’s
fitting, for this is a time and a
place where earthly concerns
melt away. Either that, or I got
brainwashed by Dr Aashly back
in the hydro pool.luxurious) resorts. I arrive via
Singapore into the capital
Male around midnight. Less than
100 metres from the arrival gate
I climb into a waiting speedboat
and, feeling rather Bond-like,
take a jetlag-blitzing 30-minute
ride to COMO Cocoa Island.
Arriving under the cover of
darkness sets up a spectacular
pull-back of the curtains on the
first morning. The 360-degree
view is a vivid, picture-perfect
backdrop of turquoise, green and
white. I wonder for a moment
if my entire world has been
enhanced by one giant Instagram
“ I wonder for a moment if my
entire world has been enhanced
by one giant Instagram filter”
Top: Maalifushi island
from the air. Left:
hydrotherapy pool
at Cocoa Island.Sleep with the fishes?
Over-water villas are
any man’s wet dream.