SQUEEZING my husband Andy’s hand, I point at the majestic turtle gliding through the turquoise water ahead of us.
We’ve spotted huge shoals of powder-blue sturgeons, parrotfish and an octopus.
And we’ve only snorkelled a few minutes from the white shoreline here on Ifuru Island in the Maldives.
It could be the perfect romantic moment, but for our toddler Raffy reciting: “One, two, three, four, five, once I caught a fish alive!” at the top of his voice as he clings on to my back. Our four year old, Poppy, is piggybacking on Andy.
Being able to share this adventure with our kids, who are both wearing life vests I hasten to add, makes it even more special.
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On her first go at snorkelling, Poppy’s eyes widen with amazement when she spies a fish that looks like a zebra.
Nearby, Raffy is content with his new aqua version of “horsey” as we are lucky enough to spot basking sharks and a ray, too.
Happy hour
Ifuru Island Resort is brand-new, having opened in September.
With 1,200 islands in the Maldives, Ifuru sits in the Raa Atoll, a 40-minute flight north of the capital Malé.
As there’s an airport, it’s cheaper to get to than resorts only accessible by seaplane, but catching a view of the archipelago from above is just as breathtaking.
On landing, we are greeted with palm leaf and frangipani flower garlands, before we hop on a pink golf buggy for the shortest transfer ever – we’re talking minutes.
The smart suites and villas are a hop and a skip from the 1km of blindingly beautiful sand and it’s a mere step from pool to beach.
“Island vibe boss” Rochelle heads things up and is the brains behind touches like cool cotton robes and home-made cocktails and kombucha in the minibars.
It’s all-inclusive here, but forget watered-down daiquiris at the pool bar.
Palm Chill, a top-notch tequila and hibiscus concoction soon becomes my fave, alongside the healthier Green Power juice – a blend of matcha and yuzu.
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The main restaurant, Social House, offers breakfasts of local treats and classics, plus excellent iced coffees.
Later in the day, we tuck into plates of Maldivian tuna with rice crisps and mango, home-made bao buns stuffed with teriyaki chicken, and braised lamb ribbon pasta.
Even dishes that sound unremarkable, like the quinoa tagine and chicken rice, are an explosion of flavours.
Our favourite place to feast is The Waterfront – a cobalt-blue restaurant on the pier, where succulent pork belly tortillas, salmon tartare and black dal are served up alongside the sound of lapping waves and mesmerising sunset views.
Elsewhere, we get our steak fix at Palm Grill.
Wildlife wonders
Kids are more than welcome at Ifuru – both in every eatery and on the dance floor, when the DJ hits the metallic-gold booth and the bar turns electric blue.
There’s a kids’ club, where the staff’s origami skills amaze the little ones, but our days are mostly filled with beachcombing, pool games and snorkelling adventures – mine and Andy’s equipment is loaned free for the length of our stay.
Each day, new inflatables appear at the pool (think swans, flamingos and turtles), which delight our two, as do the fruit bats swooping between the palm trees and the discovery of shells with colours and shapes we’ve never seen before.
Most have been nabbed as residences by hermit crabs and, as it’s illegal to take shells home as souvenirs, photos have to do.
There are extras to pay for if you want to spoil yourself even more – think floating breakfasts, private beach dinners and sky-diving (it’s the only resort in the Maldives to have a permanent “drop zone”).
I opt for a relaxing trip to the lush spa, with its sauna, steam room and plunge pool, indulging in a full-body massage using oil made from Maldivian coconuts, £80 for 50 minutes.
Another day, we book a dolphin cruise for £77 per person.
As the sun sets, one somersaults in front of our boat, before we spot 20 or so leaping alongside us. It’s nothing short of magical, as they spin and flip and guide us back to shore.
I’ve never been more thankful that I ignored a TikTok video warning of bleak days in the cheaper rainy season of May to November.
We’ve only seen one downpour but have had balmy temperatures of 28°C.
As our week in paradise draws to a close, all I want for Christmas is to be back here…
