Freediving Family Reunion:
Ocean Conservation and Mantas in the Maldives (14 Spots Total)
Experience a rare slice of the real Maldives.
When most people think of the Maldives, they imagine luxury resorts, overwater villas, and curated tourism. But that’s only one side of these islands. This trip is about something rarer — a glimpse into the untouched Maldives, where the reefs breathe freely, the marine life is wild, and the culture runs deep.
Join this Freediving Family Reunion set on the remote island of Makunudhoo, which combines conservation with laid-back adventure and raw, wild beauty. Our partner for this trip is the only operator on the island, but it’s no resort island - Makunudhoo is a rare slice of the Maldives still untouched by tourism — and that’s the magic.
With fewer than 2,000 residents, this is your chance to experience authentic Maldivian island life, far from the crowds.
Unlike many tourist hubs in the Maldives where harmful practices like shark feeding are common, this experience is built on respect and research. We’ll explore healthy ecosystems, witness marine life in its purest form, and learn how local communities and scientists are working together to protect the reefs for future generations.
In addition to beautiful corals and an abundance of marine life, one of the main draws of this trip are the daily interactions with Manta Rays.
This trip is heavily focused on conservation and sustainability in the Maldives so we’ll dive deep into the ecology of manta rays with evening marine talks.
We’ll also explore uninhabited islands, catch our own fish and take cooking classes from the locals. This is where curiosity meets community — in and out of the water.
This is your chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet other like-minded ocean lovers, and share an unforgettable week in one of the most untouched corners of the Maldives.
What Are Freediving Family Reunions?
Freediving Family Retreats are our way of bringing the friends and family we meet at Deep Weeks together once again to use what we learned to have fun and dive together in an incredible place somewhere in the world!
Each family reunion is a close knit and unique experience for those that join. Space is very limited at these events which opens us up to one of a kind opportunities to explore the world with friends.
What’s in store in Makunudhoo:
✨ Everything taken care of — from domestic flights and boat rides to cozy accommodation, delicious meals, and every adventure in between. Just show up and we’ll handle the rest.
🚤 10x epic boat excursions gliding out to dive with manta rays, drift over vibrant reefs, and step onto untouched islands most travelers never see.
🦋 Dive deeper into manta magic — join marine researcher Tiana Wu and discover how these gentle giants live, feed, and thrive, and why protecting them matters.
🎣 Catch-and-cook adventures — learn the traditional ways of hand line fishing with local fisherman. And yes, we’ll eat what we catch!!
🍛 Discover the flavors of island cuisine — by stepping straight into a Maldivian kitchen for a cooking class!
🩵 That familiar Freediving Family energy — equal parts goofy, soulful, curious, and wild.
🌙 Evenings of storytelling, community, and reflection — reconnecting with old Deep Week friends and making new ones.
🏝️ True, authentic Maldivian island life — warm smiles, home-cooked meals, and a slower rhythm that lets you fully exhale.
We’ll be staying in a locally owned guesthouse right on the island of Makunudhoo, just steps from the sea. Each cozy room is shared between two guests, offering comfortable beds, air conditioning, and everything you need to relax after a day in the ocean. It’s simple, peaceful, and nestled in with island life — no resort flash, just clean, quiet spaces and heartfelt hospitality. This intimate setting keeps us close to the water, close to each other, and fully immersed in the rhythm of the Maldives.
This is also where our Maldivian chef, who has worked in various 5-star restaurants, will prepare three traditional dishes a day so we can experience the rich culinary heritage of the Maldives! These dishes will include fresh fish and other delicacies in various forms of curries, soups, and other local recipes! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets can also be accommodated.
Where are we staying?
Deeply cultural and fully immersed.
Our retreat begins during the sacred month of Ramadan, a deeply important time for the local Muslim community on Makunudhoo. As this trip overlaps with the last few days of the festivities, we’ll experience the local celebrations and customs.
While this won’t affect our meal schedule, out of respect for the local culture, we’ll dress modestly when in town (shoulders to thighs covered), and enjoy the simplicity of island life — no alcohol, no distractions, just ocean, connection, and clarity.
This is a beautiful opportunity to experience Maldivian culture with presence and care, and we’re grateful to be welcomed into the community during such a meaningful time.
Take a peak at all we have planned
Each day we’ll have a beautiful meal prepared by our chef for breakfast, lunch and dinner (at the chef’s restaurant just 5 min walk from the accom)! The days will be structured with: breakfast at the accom - AM Dive for Mantas - lunch - afternoon activity - dinner at accom. The dive locations are all 10-15 minutes boat ride away. Read below for some of the special afternoon activities!
📅 March 16 – Travel to Makunudhoo
• In the morning on the first day we’ll travel from the main island (Malé) to Makunudhoo! (we recommend you arrive the day before in Malé.
• We’ll acquaint ourselves each other and unwind from our travels before having a welcome meeting and briefing at the guest house!
🤿 March 17 – Dive and Manta talk!
• Morning dive sesh for Mantas!
• PM fun dive in the afternoon!
• In the evening, we’ll have a Manta Biology talk given by Manta Researcher Tiana Wu!
🪸 March 18 – Dive and coral presentation!
• Depart for another day exploring the reefs in the AM!
• Painting class by local ocean painter in the afternoon.
• Evening talk about coral!
🐠 March 19 – Dive and fishing!
• AM dive with Mantas
• We’ll spend the afternoon fishing at sunset for a fresh catch!
🐚 March 20 – Mantas, mantas, mantas!
• AM Dive
• Maldivian cooking class for lunch!
• Manta behavior conservation talk in the evening!
🐬 March 21 – Diving, dolphins and turtles
• AM Dive for Mantas
• PM fun dive, perhaps for more mantas!
• Dolphin and turtles talk in the evening
🏝️ March 22 – Dive and island picnic
• We’ll have our usual morning dive followed by a remote island picnic!
✈️ March 23 – Departure Day 🥲
• Travel back to Malé. We’ll depart the island around 12 noon!
*Please note everything is weather dependent but we can usually expect perfect conditions this time of year!
What’s included?
✅ What Is Included:
• All domestic travel from Malé to Makunudhoo
• 10 boat trips for ~3 hours each
• Shared accomodation for 7 nights on Makunudhoo island (2 ppl / room)
• All meals on Makunudhoo island covered by local chef
• Traditional Maldivian Cooking Class
• Ocean painting class with local artist
• Donations to conservation research and local schools on island.
❌ What is not included
• International flights to and from Malé from origin
• Travel insurance
• Personal luxury items, toiletries, etc.
Meet Your Hosts
This underwater adventure will be guided by Marissa Schmidt (Freediving Family’s resident spearo and ocean-lover) and Tiana Wu (resident of the Maldives and Manta Researcher). Together, Marissa and Tiana will be there to answer your questions, pepper you with Manta chat and generally have an awesome time! 🩵
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Usually we restrict Family Reunions to those who have attended a Freediving Family event in the past. BUT! For this event we are waiving that! If you are interested in mantas, conservation or simply want to check out our vibe, this event is open to you!
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During our Family Reunions, we don’t offer certifications. You must be at least Wave 1 certified or the equivalent to be able to attend these events!
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Due to the unique nature of the events and how each one is individually planned, we are only able to transfer your deposit to a future Freediving Family Reunion and only if you have requested the deposit to be moved no closer than 8 weeks before the event begins.
In the event that you need to cancel your spot between 8 weeks and 2 weeks of the event starting, we do charge a fee equal to the event deposit. Any balance remaining can be applied to a future Family Reunion.
If you need to cancel within 2 weeks of the event starting, we cannot move your balance to a future event.We cannot issue refunds.
For more info, check our terms of service.
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Our accommodation has 7 shared room with 2 beds each. Each have their own attached bathroom.
They are also air conditioned, which we love! 🌬️
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You should plan to bring your own gear. But our local operator on island you can rent you some if need be. Just be sure to let us know in advance!
Lead will be provided but weight belts will not so please do bring your own!
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The water in the Maldives this time of year is incredibly warm - 29–30 °C (84–86 °F).
We recommend a thin suit (1-2mm) or less. Divers often get away with a rash guard and leggings in these temps 🙌
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You can pay an initial deposit to secure your spot and 8 weeks before the reunion begins the remaining balance is due.
With no deposit, there is no booking confirmed.
As soon as you book in, you will receive an email with a button that says “Pay Remainder Balance”. We ask that if you are booking on within 8 weeks of the event starting, you continue on to pay the remaining balance as soon as possible!
We ask the full payment to be covered eight weeks before the start of the event.
You can also choose to pay in full upon checkout.
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You can pay with a credit or debit card on our website. The payment is securely captured through Stripe. PayPal transfer or crypto are also options. If you would like to pay with PayPal or crypto, please contact Marissa at deepweek@freedivingfamily.com and she can assist you.
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Nothing during the retreat is compulsory.
If you feel like you need some time to chill and relax by skipping a dive session, then by all means do so!
As Brandon always says, this is your vacation and you get to decide how much or little you want to do!
If you do decide to skip an activity, you are not entitled to a partial refund on the event.
Pricing
Only 14 spots total!
$750 AUD
Deposit
$3,790 AUD
Full Payment
The price includes a donation to conservation research and local schools on Makunudhoo island, as well all costs associated with the trip - including domestic flights from Velena international airport to Makunudhoo, accommodation, boat fees, entry fees, and meals. It does not include any international flight travel or transportation costs from other locations or gear hire (except lead). To ensure your booking is confirmed, please provide a $750 AUD non-refundable deposit. The remaining amount can be paid 8 weeks prior to the Family Reunion. Your transaction is secure through Stripe. Terms of Service.