Sometimes, you have to work hard to see wildlife. And when I say sometimes, I mean most of the time. You have to creep past snakes in the darkness and risk frostbite to glimpse a tiger. You have to play basketball with the base of your spine along a rickety dirt track to see a zebra, lion or rhino. You have to hike for days to see a condor, paddle for miles to see a seal and at the absolute minimum jump into the sea to eyeball a turtle.
Not so in the Maldives, a chain of one thousand or so islands with a reputation for showing guests the luxurious side of life. The diving grabs all the headlines, requiring paperwork to prove that you know how to breathe, but you don’t even need to go that far.
Take these snaps, gathered from a deckchair safari around the Sheraton Maldives. It’s a family oriented place, just a fifteen minute boat ride from the main island Male. Yet neither children nor the sight of glimmering lights on the horizon (themselves a rarity in the Maldives) scared the wildlife away.
Now then, disclosure. While I did take all of these photos, technically, I didn’t take them all from a deckchair. Friends, readers, spambots, I was weak. I felt troubled, every now and then, by the urge to get a better angle. To make the most of the available light. And even (gulp!) on occasions, to stand up. All in the name of getting a better shot. I hang my camera in shame.
But rest assured, ladies and gents, that you too can see all this wildlife just as the headline promises. From a deckchair. In the Maldives.
Let’s have a look:
Hello?
I’m hungry…
I’m scary…
We’re worse…
What about me?
Disclosure: I received complimentary accommodation at the Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa in the Maldives. All wildlife sightings are my own…
Beautiful photos Abi! And amazing that you shot them all, more or less, from a deckchair (ok, so maybe you stood up… or moved around a bit… but still amazing…). Love your stories and photos…
Thank you! Yes, it surprised me that such wildlife was so easy to find :)
Its funny — until I read this post, I only ever thought of water-embedded villas, long wooden piers and crystal clear water whenever someone mentioned the Maldives; it’s good to see some shots outside of the travel brochures for once.
Thanks – although those things you mention are achingly beautiful in a way that’s difficult somehow to explain. But yes, it’s often the other things that catch my eye!
This looks absolutely divine, your photography is awesome standing or sitting!
Ah – thank you! And yes, it is an absolutely divine place.
Great timing! We started thinking about finding some sun and relaxation during the dark ages of the London winter. The Maldives is sitting at the top of the list…now if I could only find a way to entertain myself on the long flight.
How about sleeping?!
http://www.insidethetravellab.com/how-to-sleep-on-a-plane/
Or…cough, splutter, explain…sorting through and editing your photos? Or is that just me…
These photos are amazing! I never thought that while only relaxing along the lovely beach in Maldives, you can actually see more things that are beautiful too. This is something to look forward to!
The ultimate in lazy holidaying ;-)
Wow, these photos are stunning, the wildlife and the scenery is just beautiful.
Thank you – appreciate you stopping by.
Great photo hunt! Especially the sharks in motion. When I was in Maldives, sharks were looking so much agressive that the first days I was afraid to step into even shallow waters. Despite all the persuasion from the local people saying those sharks never attack humans.
At the end, I was beneath the ocean surface swimming along them, mirroring their routes with no trilling heartbit – fantastic feeling.
Wow. I never got that far. I did enter the water – but away from the sharks. I think I’d need to build up to that a little bit (after the crocodile swim I did without giving it much thought left me a wobbly-legged stuttering mess with a racing heartbeat!!)
Travelling to watch wildlife is my idea of happiness. That you can do it from a deckchair is just a heavenly bonus. Great pictures, love the cheeky Heron.
The heron was by the spa. Double relaxation bliss!
Now THAT is my favourite kind of photography. Wonderful!
Glad I could oblige! ;-)
Lovely animals :)
Cheers
Great post, I had the pleasure of staying at this resort as well, such a beautiful spot. The Heron was hanging around when I was there too ;)
Great pics of the animals…love that little lizard guy!
Ha! I love that the heron is so habitual. It is such a beautiful spot…
Wow…those shark photo taking looked dangerous. Keep safe.
I was assured they were too small to cause any problems…But I didn’t put the theory to the test!
Amazing photos, i don’t think i have seen photos as clear as yours. and the water is so crystal clear. I wish i can be there. Thank you Abi.
Ah…Often I wish that I were back there too! Thanks for your kind words.