In a destination where overwater villas and barefoot luxury are almost expected, one tiny Maldivian island offers something you won’t find anywhere else: a spa sunk beneath the sea. At Huvafen Fushi, wellness quite literally lives underwater. Coral-framed treatment rooms, softly shifting turquoise light, and the slow ballet of reef fish turn each ritual into something closer to a guided meditation than a standard spa session.

Above the waves, wooden walkways lead to overwater pavilions and open-air decks; below them, a glass-framed cocoon feels as though it has drifted to the ocean floor. The result is a resort where “going to the spa” becomes the anchor of your stay rather than a quiet hour slotted between pool time and dinner.

A Spa Suspended Between Sea and Sky

Huvafen Spa is divided between two realms: underwater and overwater. Beneath the surface, a couple’s treatment room wraps guests in panoramic reef views, while schools of fish drift past like a living screensaver. It’s the world’s first underwater spa, and the setting alone is disarming, the kind of place where you instinctively lower your voice and breathe a little deeper.

Back on the surface, overwater treatment pavilions open to the horizon. Here, treatments unfold to the soundtrack of the surf and the occasional thrum of a passing dhoni. Alongside the treatment rooms, there’s a dedicated manicure and pedicure space, separate steam and sauna areas for men and women, and a boutique stocked with the same brands used in the therapists’ hands: Natura Bissé, Aromatherapy Associates, Margaret Dabbs, and Obsidian Skincare for men.

Signature Therapies by a Globally Recognised Massage Expert

Huvafen Spa’s philosophy is shaped by Beata Aleksandrowicz, a massage expert known for blending Eastern and Western technique. Every therapist on the island has been trained in her method, which layers deep tissue work and trigger-point release with Thai stretches, energy work, and intuitive touch.

Her signatures are designed less as stand-alone massages and more as full-body recalibrations. The Jet Lag Massage targets weary travellers with a combination of scalp stimulation, body stretches, and focused back work to restore circulation and combat that foggy, post-flight heaviness. Body Balance uses gentle lymphatic drainage and abdominal massage to encourage natural detoxification, particularly effective when paired with the island’s light, nutrient-rich cuisine.

For those craving deeper emotional rest, Face Therapy offers a holistic “pro-ageing” facial massage that releases tension in the jaw, temples, and scalp, easing headaches while softening expression lines. It’s the sort of treatment that leaves you looking refreshed, yes, but more noticeably feeling reset.

The Allure of the Underwater Dream

If there’s one treatment that captures the spirit of Huvafen’s underwater spa, it’s Underwater Dream. Set in the submerged couple’s suite, this 90-minute ritual is built around the healing potential of sleep. Reflexology, pressure points, and Shiatsu-inspired stretches begin at the feet and move through the body, guided by breathwork that slows the nervous system to a near-trance.

Another standout is Underwater Rendezvous, a two-hour, top-to-toe sequence combining targeted back work, Beata’s face therapy techniques, and a cocooning foot massage. With reef life gliding just beyond the glass, it feels like being cared for inside a private aquarium, only with heated beds, plush throws, and therapists who know exactly how to work jet-lagged

High-Touch, High-Tech Skincare

While the setting is unapologetically escapist, the spa menu is surprisingly results-driven. Natura Bissé, the Barcelona-born brand repeatedly named World’s Best Spa Brand, underpins many of the facials. Formulas focus on sensorial textures and clinically proven actives; the brand cites neuroscience-backed research showing its treatments can improve perceived well-being by nearly 70 percent.

The Diamond Aqualux underwater signature is the hero: a 120-minute ritual that pairs a deeply sculpting facial (complete with Gua Sha and myofascial lifting techniques) with a full-body massage using Diamond Well-Living dry oils. It’s designed for skin that has seen too many flights and too much sun, delivering both glow and contour in one unhurried session.

Elsewhere on the menu, vitamin C fans will gravitate towards the Vitamin C Lovers overwater signature, a head-to-toe ritual built around brightening C+C formulas, while Aromatherapy Associates’ essential-oil blends shape a series of “Ultimate” experiences that target sleep, stress, and muscular tension.

For men, Obsidian Skincare facials use volcanic perlite exfoliation, cooling masks, and lymphatic drainage to counter sun, salt, and the occasional late night at the bar, with an Obsidian gift included to continue the regime back home.

Wellness Beyond the Treatment Room

Huvafen Fushi treats wellness as an island-wide experience rather than a single building. The gym, open 24 hours a day, looks out over the Indian Ocean, turning even a quick treadmill session into something more meditative. Post-workout, sea breezes and a slow stretch on the deck help muscles cool down naturally.

Yoga is woven gently into the resort’s rhythm. Private Hatha classes take place either on a quiet stretch of beach or in an overwater pavilion where the floor seems to float above the lagoon. Whether you’re new to yoga or revisiting a long-neglected practice, instructors tailor sessions with a focus on breath, alignment, and that tangible post-savasana calm.

For something more unusual, Lonu Veyo, an ancient-style salt flotation pool set by the beach, offers a weightless, womb-like immersion that many guests describe as the highlight of their stay. It’s a simple concept: warm, mineral-rich water, Maldivian sky overhead, and the rare sensation of feeling completely supported.

Know Before You Go

Huvafen Spa is open daily from late morning into the evening, and advance bookings are strongly recommended, especially for the underwater suite, which is in high demand. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to slip into the pre-treatment relaxation spaces and complete a short lifestyle consultation, the therapists use it to fine-tune pressure, focus areas, and desired outcomes.

Children aged six to fourteen can enjoy selected treatments when accompanied by an adult, making this a rare Maldivian spa where families can share wellness time together. After any sun-exposed day, snorkelling with reef sharks, sailing to sandbanks, or simply dozing on a lounger, the team recommends avoiding direct sun immediately post-treatment and continuing the ritual back in your villa with take-home products from the spa’s boutique.

For travellers who see a holiday as an opportunity to recalibrate rather than simply collapse by the pool, Huvafen Fushi’s underwater spa is more than a novelty. It’s a fully realised wellness destination where cutting-edge skincare, thoughtful bodywork, and quietly powerful rituals meet one of the most extraordinary settings in the Maldives, above and below the waterline