Resort Islands

Asdu Sun Island  

As almost every other resort of Maldives has been reconstructed, branded, conceptualized and/or upgraded, Asdu is the one & only Maldivian resort that has remained unchanged.

Owner of Asdu Commented, "This resort was opened in December 1981 and since then we have tried our best to keep the Island-habitat as original and natural as it had been at the beginning, endeavoring to continue the traditional Maldivian hospitality and charm of yesteryears."

The island is hidden in North Male' Atoll - as Dhiffushi (uninhabited island) and Meer (Tourist Resort) being on Asdu's horizon, the island has a feel of isolated. Even in advertising and marketing, also the island is hidden. Asdu's only advertising media is word-of-mouth from friends to friends and it goes on........

As you can visualize from above picture - the island is really small and they have 30 Standard Rooms. And the reception, restaurant and bar goes under a single building. They have NO alternative restaurants or coffee shops for expensive food varieties; NO luxurious Spas', NO Swimming pool, NO Tennis Court, NO Bath Tub, NO DVD or CD, NO mini bar, NO air condition.

Asdu is probably the most informally managed Tourist Resort in Maldives, this island is a place for people who are bored of the modern world, and live the simple life for a while.

   Accommodation

All the rooms are almost on the beach-line, which is few meters from the lagoon, and as you can see from both the below pictures - they are simple and very similar.

The rooms are built in blocks of twos' and threes'. Inside the room you can get a telephone - but NO hair dryer and NO air conditionnning and NO hot water. The rooms are a bit bigger than a normal resort room and also the roof-ceiling is a bit higher; and it lets the sun-light-in with good air-flowing.

Inside the room ceiling mostly they have used a product called "Satta" - which is made-up of coir rope and screw pine leaves, which helps to reduce the heat from the corrugated tin roof up-on the roof of each room.

The main buildings are under a corrugated sheet roof and floors are kept in concrete with a bit of a dark color on it. The islands vegetation is not that bad, but they have few large palm trees and a thick scrubby bushes with a combine of dhigaa and hirudhu trees. And the unusual magic of its calmness, tranquility works here for most of the guests - and you will remember only the enjoyment of the simple life on this island.

Asdu major strength is its white sandy beach and the lagoon, that recedes to crystal clear waters of the lagoon and in its exotic coral reef abundant in tropical fish of unimaginable colors.

The reef drop-off, extensive and its about 20 to 30 meters from the beach, is ideal for beginner-divers and for snorkeling.

Above are the highlights of Asdu, and the island has gain for not undergoing reclaiming beach or pumping sand from the lagoon - where some of the bigger resorts reefs have suffered because of this notorious actions - but surely not Asdu.

   Dinning

Drinks are reasonably well priced, compared to the transportation and import duty costs of the country. Asdu isn't the sort of place that will sting you for extras, quite the opposite in fact.

The menu for all meals are set. It is not gourmet stuff, but it is at least clean, good, tasty and fare based around a lot of fresh fish caught that day (usually by your waiter or another member of staff).

   Diving

For an island like Asdu they don't need a huge dive-base - and you could do an Open Water PADI Dive Course for US$ 420/-. Keep in mind the boat rides are extra US$ 10/- per person per trip.

The dive spots accessible to Asdu are excellent, with a mix of local channels and thilas. Not much of watersports in such a lay-back island - tough the kayaks are free, and if you are a repeater you may get the windsurfs free, too.

Asdu continues to live its own life, independent of the fashionable changes that all the other resorts undergo (whether successful or not). For a taste of the original Maldives Asdu now has no competition.

For many clients this is nothing to boast about, but for others there is a special magic that needs to be experienced to be understood.