With warm, crystal clear water lapping at the legs of our luxury villa at Centara Ras Fushi Maldives Resort & Spa, we couldn’t resist its allure. Grabbing our flippers and snorkels, we stepped carefully down the stairs connecting our deck with the ocean and paddled out to explore the house reef.
Paddling out off our back deck at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Staying Fit at Centara Ras Fushi Maldives
One of the many hidden benefits of staying on a tropical island resort is that often simply the act of exploring involves a little exercise. For guests who have specific training goals, want to maintain their training routine or have a preference for training in a cooler, air conditioned space, there’s a well equipped fitness centre waiting for you. Yogis are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to practice – from the soft white sand, boardwalks or your private villa deck. Of course, there are personal trainers and yoga instructors available to lead you too.
Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
A water sports enthusiast’s playground, the Centara also offers endless other ways you can work off those delicious buffet meals during your stay. It’s just up to you to choose your own active adventure. The resort’s house reef is literally at your doorstep. The perfect spot to lose track of time admiring the tropical fish and colourful coral in their underwater playground, it’s just a short paddle from the sand (or your villa steps). You’ll most likely only be able to pull yourself away for a snack or sunscreen break.
Main pool at bar overlooking the beach at Centara Ras Fushi, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
For those who want to dive a little deeper, the PADI dive centre at Centara can arrange a Dhoni (a traditional Maldivian sail boat with motor) to take you a little further out to a number of stunning dive spots, within 15 minutes. Whether you just want to see meet the local marine life from fish to turtles and sharks, or you want to explore caves or wrecks like Giraavaru Cave or the Maldives Victory Wreck, the resort can help you plan your day of diving.
Trying to master the SUP without much luck at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
All the other usual water sports are available too from fishing to tubing, water skiing, windsurfing and sailing. We gave SUP a go just off the main beach. Only having tried it once before while staying in Langkawi with success you could say our confidence levels were slightly inflated wading in with our boards. The water was a little choppy the day we chose to head out and we were soon reminded that we are just beginners. Thankfully, falling into warm Maldivian water bruises nothing but a couple of super competitive egos. It was a lot of fun!
Guests to the nightly fish feeding near Viu Bar at Centara Ras Fushi, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
If you’re happier to see the marine life from the comfort of the wharf, the nightly fish feeding is a great opportunity. That’s when the fish come to you. Similar to the fish feeding at Centara Grand, you can enjoy the show with a cocktail in hand, just footsteps from Viu Bar.
Sunrise meditation on our private deck at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
If you’re bound for the Centara in search of a slower pace; some rest, rejuvenation and relaxation, you couldn’t dream of a better setting. We found the mornings one of the most magical times of the day. We sat and meditated on our deck as the sun came up. One of the many amazing benefits of island living is there is complete silence in the mornings. No traffic. No crowds. Just the sound of the water moving below us. Bliss!
A Maldivian sunrise at Centara Ras Sushi Resort & Spa, Maldives. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Centara Ras Fushi Maldives
Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.
She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.
As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.
Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.
Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.
Read more about Skye’s story here.