When it comes to parasailing, always go first, like I did. Otherwise, watching your travelling buddies fly up into the air and dangle under a smiling red parachute may put you off.

Even when they land gently back on the boat and tell you how peaceful it is up there, you won’t quite believe them.

It’s true, though – being pulled along through the air, hundreds of feet above the sea, is an incredible way to take in the beauty of the Maldives and the surrounding clear blue water of the Indian Ocean.

Best of all, it’s just part of a package of delights you can experience while staying at the all-inclusive four-star Oblu by Atmosphere resort on the island of Helengeli.

The Maldives has earned a reputation as a honeymooners’ destination, and it’s easy to see why. The perfect beaches and ocean in every shade of blue provide a breathtaking background to the real star of the show – your own plunge pool.

That’s if you book the top-of-the-range lagoon villa rooms, which each have a private balcony with said pool, loungers and steps down into the sea.

Don’t resist the urge to sip a cocktail in your pool while gazing at the fiery, sudden sunsets, and make a point of sliding in at night to spot reef sharks swimming under your room.

Helengeli is renowned for its coral reef and abundant marine life. Its unique position at the northern entrance of the Maldives archipelago means that, unlike other islands, it sits right in the middle of a channel, which splits into two around the island.

These channels provide extra nutrients for the island’s reef, which in turn nourishes the sea life.

Not far below the surface, you’ll also find turtles and the odd bashful little octopus.

Watch out for the giant lobsters, if only because you might be eating one of them later at the resort’s cover charge barbecue restaurant, Just Grill.

My favourite part of the trip was visiting an almost uninhabited island to enjoy a barbecue of freshly-caught fish.

To get there, we jumped off our boat to snorkel our way past schools of striped and shimmering fish. Then our guide, Dhilley, led us on to a sandy area rising out of the sea at low tide.

Standing there, under the watchful eye of a crab buffeted about by the waves, we looked out at the endless sea. This is where newlyweds can have a table and chairs set up for a romantic lunch, far away from the rest of the world.

Here we were treated to an amazing barbecue while Dhilley told us about his encounter with the Beckhams when they visited. Apparently they were lovely and very keen on the snorkelling, which is a great alternative to diving, if that’s not for you.

The island excursion is included in your resort package, as is a sunset fishing expedition, complete with canapes and champagne.

If nothing’s biting, the experienced fishermen on board can get on with showing you how it’s done, while you sit back and sip the bubbles.

You get to see an epic Maldivian sunset and – if you’re lucky – cheeky dolphins will come out to play and race alongside the boat.

There’s also a variety of watersports on offer within the all-inclusive deal, such as paddle boarding and kayaking, and you can pay extra for jet skiing and other motorised activities (the parasailing is $99 per flight).

What if you just want to relax though?

Some days, all you’ll want to do is roll out of your villa, head to lunch at The Spice restaurant, and then on to a lounger by the sea, maybe picking up a cocktail on the way.

Your all-inclusive buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner includes plenty for the homesick – such as bacon, surprisingly for a Muslim country – but there’s much more for the adventurous.

Look out for the coconut dhal curry making an appearance at breakfast, heavenly when scooped up with a chapati. For lunch and dinner, reef fish, tuna and steaks are on offer at the grill station, and you can pick up a freshly made dish at the curry station.

The chefs at The Spice do an impressive job of changing the menu at each meal, but if you fancy something a little more special, you can book a table on the beach at Just Grill.

Dining by candlelight at the water’s edge is that bit more romantic than the lively bustle of The Spice.

Sunset dinner on the beach at Just Grill

You can choose from a variety of steaks, seafood and, of course, that lobster. The most unusual dish is the chicken and banana soup, which has to be tried. It sounds bizarre but tastes delightful. With sides and wine, dinner is $35 a head.

It seems as though all the guests on the island round off their nights with a drink or three at Helen’s Bar, where wine, beer and cocktails are part of the all-inclusive deal.

A common theme among the other guests in Helen’s was that they’d come to Helengeli for the snorkelling and to relax.

The relaxing spa

Unlimited Prosecco definitely helps with the latter, but to truly get into holiday mode, book yourself in to the Elena spa – definitely worth paying extra for. I went for the $65 aromatherapy massage with scented oil.

It was a sad day when I had to leave this little piece of heaven.

Parting with that plunge pool was particularly hard. But thank goodness the Maldives photograph so well. I only have to look at my Instagram account to bring back the happy memories.

That’s why I posted the pictures there, not to make anyone back home jealous. Definitely not... but they will be.

Top Tips

  1. Pack some major high-factor, water-resistant sunscreen.
  2. Take a rash vest to stop you burning while diving.
  3. Look out for Mr Fry living up to his name and cracking out tempura dishes outside Helen’s Bar at tea time – perfect for those post-snorkelling hunger pangs.
  4. Arrange a guided snorkelling tour to get a better look at the sea creatures.
  5. Too tired to walk the 15 minutes from your villa to the dive centre? Jump on one of the passing buggies!

Get there

7nts a/i at the 4* Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli Island, North Male Atoll, Maldives, starts at £1,859pp based on 2 sharing. Inc speedboat airport transfers, 2 excursions, 3 non-motorized watersports. Book by Oct 31. oblu-helengeli.com

Emirates flies from Gatwick to Male, Maldives, from £771 return; Glasgow £834, Manchester £699, Birmingham £683. emirates.com

Tourist info:visitmaldives.com

Time zone: UK +4hrs

Currency: Rufiyaa £1 = 21

Best time to go: Helen of joy all year round