The North Malé Atoll is the most accessible and most varied collection of resort islands in the Maldives, reachable by speedboat from Malé International Airport in 20 to 45 minutes. The atoll contains everything from budget guesthouses on local islands like Maafushi to boutique mid-range resorts with spectacular house reefs. The underwater world — mantas, whale sharks, sea turtles, reef sharks, and the most vivid coral gardens in the Indian Ocean — is the primary experience, and it is extraordinary.