The Oblu Nature Helengeli house reef is a snorkeler’s paradise
The Oblu Nature Helengeli house reef is a world-renowned snorkelling destination. Our travel team recently visited this beautiful island as part of this year’s Maldives Special...
Whether you are seeking winter sun or planning a trip later in the year to the Maldives, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO is a truly outstanding place to visit for those who wish to admire the marine life in the Indian Ocean.
This resort is excellent for family holidays, multi-generational breaks and romantic getaways. You can reach Oblu Nature Helengeli by speedboat, which is especially appealing for those who don’t wish to board a seaplane after a long-haul flight.
A friendly team of staff greet arrivals with a welcome reception. Serious snorkelers will be keen to explore the ocean as soon as possible. Your efforts to reach this island will be richly rewarded as soon as you enter the water. The Oblu Nature Helengeli house reef offers some of the best snorkelling in the Maldives.
There is healthy coral on the reef and the marine life is diverse. During our visit, we swam with several turtles on the Helengeli house reef, multiple times a day. The turtles were very easy for children to see because they often frequented one of the channels out to the drop off. You can enjoy watching them feed in their natural environment and gracefully swim through the coral.
In addition to turtles, the Helengeli house reef is home to a vast selection of fish, reef sharks, various different rays and even octopus. Watching a male and a female octopus navigate the coral was a particular highlight of our visit. However, the special moments didn’t stop there. We were lucky enough to see a large dolphin pod swim past the Sunset Jetty, with one of the dolphins performing a spontaneous extravagant jump as the others glided through the waves.
There is little need to embark on any excursions during your stay because the Helengeli house reef is so good. However, it is possible to enjoy trips such as a sunset cruise, manta ray excursion and a dedicated turtle or dolphin trip. We saw dolphins swimming in deep sea from a speedboat. Although, watching them come past the house reef later in the week was an extra special treat.
If you are considering bringing children on a trip to the Maldives, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO is an excellent resort for families. It is possible for beginners to snorkel from the Sunset Jetty and there is easy access to the sea. You can climb down a ladder and either enjoy the underwater sites by staying near to the jetty, or venture only a few metres to experience the spectacular drop off.
Depending on the season, sometimes the Titan triggerfish can be mating. These fish get very protective of their nests. At one point during our stay, a very small section of the reef was flagged up as having a nest. The team quickly identified the location of the eggs so that guests could avoid swimming too close.
A significant part of the OBLU NATURE Helengeli house reef is manned by experienced and knowledgeable lifeguards. This is reassuring for beginners and when you are swimming with children. The drop off on the sunset side of the island is marked with life rings and you can stop for a rest at regular intervals during a swim down this stretch of the reef.
OBLU NATURE Helengeli is rooted in nature. Once you leave the water, you can enjoy spotting fruit bats in the trees. It is fun to look out for lizards darting through the lusciously lined paths. Meanwhile, watching the hermit crabs gather together on the beach is fascinating for all the family. This is an idyllic island, with an abundant tropical environment.
In terms of accommodation, the island now offers water villas alongside the accommodation that lines the beaches. The family villas are excellent for those visiting with children and there are many options that accommodate five guests. The All Inclusive plan is very good and this encompasses unlimited beverages (including a good selection of alcoholic drinks), meals and snacks throughout your stay.
The main meals that are included in the All Inclusive plan are consumed in the Spice restaurant. Although this is a buffet set-up, the food stations are located in a separate room, which means there is limited disturbance. The seating area is expansive and, even when the resort is operating at full capacity, it doesn’t seem particularly busy.
Depending on the length of your stay, a couple of complimentary dinners may be included at the two other restaurants on the island. There is an Indian restaurant called Raga Route and also Just Grill. Additional dining experiences are also possible, such as the Beach BBQ, which is highly recommended. Fresh seafood (there is a meat and vegetarian option too) is cooked on the beach by a dedicated chef and you can enjoy your meal under the stars, right on the shoreline. Bubbles on the Beach is also a lovely extra experience to enjoy as a couple. We recommend asking for the Pommery Champagne, which can be sipped as you watch the sun go down from a heart shaped seating area that has been carved out in the sand.
The Kids Club is particularly strong in terms of its offerings. There is a structured set of activities, which changes each day. Children can visit whenever they wish and enjoy lots of a different activities. The selection includes Towel Art, Kids Yoga, Necklace Making, Treasure Hunts and a Nature Quiz.
The team at OBLU NATURE Helengeli are very helpful and friendly. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome on the island. The resident marine biologist also provides a very interesting presentation once a week and this is well worth attending so that you can improve your knowledge of the island and learn about the environment.
Above all, in our opinion, the exquisite house reef at OBLU NATURE Helengeli makes this a must-visit resort for those planning a trip to the Maldives.
Watch some video highlights on our reel on Instagram (@TheSloaney)
The Little Sloaney Verdict
Our Little Sloaney team share their highlights in their own words….
“My favourite parts of the trip were seeing dolphins coming past the jetty and also snorkeling with turtles. It was so easy to snorkel with the turtles and I have only done snorkeling a few times before. I saw them everytime that I went into the sea. I also loved the hermit crabs and watching the fruit bats in the evening. The Kids Club was fun because there were interesting activities that I could try. I really liked learning towel art. The food was very nice and there were lots of options, including spaghetti. I also liked walking down the jetty and sitting on the end of it at night to see what I could see in the sea. We managed to spot rays and turtles.” Rose*, Aged 7.
“I have never snorkeled properly before. On this trip I saw turtles when snorkeling, starfish and also a sand ray. It was brilliant. It was easy for me to get into the sea from the ladder on the jetty, which meant I could get to the drop off quickly. I also went up the snorkeling channel on the sunset side of the island to see the turtles there. I loved that there were a lot of hermit crabs and I liked watching them on the beach at night”. Michael*, Aged 4.
*Names changed
The Sloaney Travel team visited in February 2025. You can discover more and book your stay here: Maldives All Inclusive Resorts l OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO
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