Imagine waking up on a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, where the water is a shade of blue that almost doesn’t look real and the only real plan for the day is to see where the ocean takes you.

This year in February, we had the pleasure of joining an all-girls group trip to the Maldives, hosted by Lauren Mackenzie (@lauren.mackenziee) and Mai Roper (@mai.roper). Based on the local island of Omadhoo in the South Ari Atoll, the week was filled with exploration, incredible company, endless blue water and the kind of experiences that leave you with an entirely new appreciation for the ocean. 

We were welcomed by the team at Hitha Maldives, whose hospitality made Omadhoo quickly feel like home. Rather than experiencing the Maldives from a resort island, staying locally gave us the opportunity to see another side of the country — its people, food, traditions and everyday island life.

Most days took us away from Omadhoo and out onto the water, exploring the reefs, sandbanks and uninhabited islands scattered throughout the Ari Atoll.

We snorkelled over colourful reefs, spent afternoons on tiny stretches of sand surrounded by nothing but blue and swam alongside some of the ocean’s most incredible animals — manta rays, whale sharks, nurse sharks, rays and countless reef species.

It was one of those places where every time you slipped beneath the surface, you had absolutely no idea what you might find.

There is something pretty surreal about sharing the water with an animal you have only ever seen in documentaries or photographs.

Swimming alongside manta rays and whale sharks gave us a completely different perspective on the ocean and the life within it. These huge animals moved through the water with an effortlessness that made us feel very, very small.

By the end of the week, we had come away with not only some unbelievable encounters, but a newfound love and respect for the megafauna that call these waters home.

Some of our favourite moments happened back on land.

We indulged in local Maldivian food — with smoked tuna paired with chunks of fresh coconut becoming a personal favourite — learnt traditional weaving techniques and, naturally, attempted to climb our fair share of coconut trees.

There was something special about experiencing the Maldives beyond the picture-perfect beaches. Spending time on Omadhoo allowed us to experience a little of the  culture and community behind the destination, rather than simply passing through it.

From the boat, the Maldives already feels otherworldly. From above, it makes even more sense.

Through drone footage, we were able to see the dramatic transitions between deep ocean, reef edges, lagoons and tiny islands scattered across the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives is made up of 26 natural atolls, which are ring-shaped coral reef systems formed over immense periods of time around sinking volcanic islands. As the original volcanic land gradually disappeared beneath the ocean, coral reefs continued growing upward toward the sunlight, eventually leaving behind the rings of reef, shallow turquoise lagoons and islands that characterise the Maldives today.

From the air, those formations become incredibly clear. Deep navy water suddenly gives way to bright turquoise lagoons, pale reef flats and strips of white sand — sometimes within only a short distance.

Perhaps one of the best parts of the entire trip had nothing to do with where we were.

A group of strangers arrived on Omadhoo and, over the course of a week, became friends through a mutual love of travel, adventure and the ocean.

For much of the trip we were out of service, and without the usual pull of phones, messages and everything happening back home, connection came easily. Days weren't dictated by notifications or packed schedules. We were simply there.

Time became more of a concept than something we needed to pay much attention to.

The Maldives is easy to describe through its blue water, coral reefs and white sand. But looking back, it was the feeling of the week that made it so special — being disconnected from everything else and completely connected to where we were, the people around us and the ocean we had travelled there to experience.