Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives

Overview

The South Ari Atoll is one of the most celebrated marine environments on earth — a place where whale sharks cruise the channels year-round and the reefs erupt with colour and life. Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa sits at the heart of it, on a lush oval island surrounded by a house reef so good that many guests never feel the need to leave it.

But Centara Grand is more than a diving destination. It is one of the Maldives' finest all-inclusive family resorts, delivering a genuine premium experience — multiple restaurants, a full-service spa, extensive water sports, and an award-winning kids club — all wrapped in a single, hassle-free price. For families and diving enthusiasts alike, it is an exceptionally compelling proposition.

The South Ari Atoll is the only place in the Maldives where whale sharks can be encountered year-round. Centara Grand's dive centre runs regular whale shark excursions, and sighting rates are remarkably high. If swimming alongside the world's largest fish is on your bucket list, this is the resort to choose.

Accommodation

The resort offers 112 rooms and villas across several categories, from beachfront suites to overwater villas. The design is contemporary tropical — warm timber, clean lines, and plenty of natural light — and all categories are well-maintained and generously sized.

Room Highlights

• Deluxe Beach Suite — Ground-floor rooms set along the beachfront with direct sand access, an outdoor terrace, and tropical garden surroundings. A solid entry-level option that does not feel entry-level.
• Family Beach Suite — Designed specifically for families, with interconnected rooms, additional beds, and direct beach access. Steps from the kids club and main pool.
• Overwater Villa — Perched over the lagoon with a sundeck, steps into the water, and glass floor panels for reef viewing. The quintessential Maldives overwater experience.
• Sunset Overwater Villa — West-facing for uninterrupted sunset views, with an expanded deck and outdoor rain shower. Ideal for couples seeking romance within a family-friendly resort.
• Club Suite — The premium category, with access to the exclusive Club Lounge offering additional dining options, premium beverages, and dedicated concierge service.

Dining

Centara Grand operates as an all-inclusive resort, and the dining offering is comprehensive. Multiple restaurants cover a range of cuisines, and the all-inclusive plan covers meals, snacks, and a generous selection of beverages throughout the day.

• Reef — The main restaurant, offering extensive buffet spreads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Theme nights rotate through international cuisines — Italian, Asian, Maldivian, BBQ — and the quality is a clear step above typical buffet dining.
• Azzuri Mare — An à la carte Italian restaurant set over the water, serving wood-fired pizzas, house-made pasta, and Mediterranean seafood. Included in the all-inclusive plan.
• Suan Bua — Authentic Thai cuisine from Centara's Bangkok heritage. The Tom Yam and green curry are genuinely excellent and a welcome change from the standard resort fare.
• Coral Bar — The main bar, situated at the heart of the resort near the pool. Cocktails, mocktails, and live entertainment in the evenings.
• Vilu Bar — A quieter overwater bar with sunset views. The ideal spot for a pre-dinner drink.

Centara Grand operates exclusively on an all-inclusive basis — every guest is on the Ultimate All-Inclusive plan. This covers all meals at every restaurant, selected beverages (including cocktails, wine, and beer), non-motorised water sports, the kids club, fitness centre, and a daily minibar refresh. Motorised water sports and spa treatments are additional.

Activities & Experiences

Diving & Marine Life

The South Ari Atoll is consistently ranked among the world's top diving destinations, and Centara Grand's PADI-certified dive centre takes full advantage of its location.

• Whale shark excursions — The headline experience. Guided snorkeling trips to the atoll's whale shark aggregation sites run almost daily, and encounters are frequent year-round. Swimming alongside a 10-metre whale shark is a memory that lasts a lifetime.
• House reef diving and snorkeling — The resort's own reef is exceptional, accessible directly from the beach. Expect reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, moray eels, and dense clouds of tropical fish.
• Channel dives — The atoll's channels are swept by nutrient-rich currents that attract pelagic species: grey reef sharks, barracuda, and during the right season, hammerheads.
• Night diving — The house reef transforms after dark, with hunting octopus, sleeping turtles, and bioluminescent organisms.
• PADI courses — From Discover Scuba for complete beginners to Advanced Open Water and beyond. Children aged 10+ can participate in the junior dive programme.

Family Activities

Centara Grand excels at keeping families happy without segregating parents and children into separate experiences.

• Camp Safari Kids Club — An award-winning facility for children aged 3 to 12, with indoor and outdoor play areas, creative workshops, treasure hunts, and supervised snorkeling for older children. All included in the all-inclusive plan.
• Family snorkeling excursions — Guided trips to shallow, calm reef areas suitable for children.
• Glass-bottom boat trips — For younger children not ready to snorkel, this is a wonderful way to see the reef.
• Tennis court — Full-size court with coaching available.
• Main pool — A large freeform pool at the centre of the resort with a dedicated children's section.
• Movie nights — Outdoor cinema screenings on the beach.

Water Sports & Recreation

• Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and catamaran sailing (included)
• Jet skiing, parasailing, and banana boat rides (additional charge)
• Sunset fishing in the traditional Maldivian style
• Big game fishing excursions
• Sunset dolphin cruises

Spa & Wellness

The overwater Cenvaree Spa offers a full menu of massages, body treatments, and facials in tranquil treatment rooms with glass floor panels. While the spa is an additional cost, the treatments represent excellent value compared to ultra-luxury resorts.

Getting There

Centara Grand benefits from one of the shortest seaplane transfers in the Maldives — just 25 minutes from Velana International Airport in Malé to the resort's private jetty. This is a significant advantage for families with young children, as the journey is short enough to be exciting rather than exhausting.

Seaplane transfers operate during daylight hours only (approximately 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM). The short 25-minute flight time means there is a wider window for arrival and departure than at more distant atolls. For late arrivals, the resort can arrange an overnight stay near the airport. Your Lagoon Travel Co. consultant will plan the logistics around your flight schedule.

Why Book with Lagoon Travel Co.

Centara Grand is one of our most recommended resorts for families and diving enthusiasts, and we know the property in detail. We can secure the best available rates and room categories, advise on ideal travel dates for whale shark encounters, arrange special celebrations, and coordinate the entire trip — flights, transfers, pre-arrival requests — so that all you need to do is arrive and enjoy. For families navigating the Maldives for the first time, our guidance saves time, money, and stress.