Watersports Inclusions at All-Inclusive Resorts: How Scuba Diving and Jet Skis Are Typically Charged

If you have ever booked a “premium all-inclusive” package at a Maldives or Southeast Asian resort—say, HKD 15,000 to 25,000 per night at a Soneva or a Joali—only to arrive and discover that using the Jet Ski costs an extra USD 180 per half-hour, or that a single scuba tank is billed at USD 120 plus marine park fees, you are not alone. The gap between what “all-inclusive” promises and what it actually covers in watersports has become the industry’s most persistent source of guest frustration. In 2025, the Maldives Ministry of Tourism (MOT) issued a formal advisory circular (Circular No. 2025/TA-12) clarifying that resorts must disclose, in pre-arrival booking confirmations, which watersports are genuinely inclusive and which are charged separately. This followed a 2024 industry survey by the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) showing that 68% of surveyed guests had experienced an unexpected surcharge for watersports at their resort. The regulatory shift, combined with a wave of new “ultra-inclusive” brands entering the Indian Ocean market, means that travellers from Hong Kong—who now account for 12% of Maldives luxury arrivals (MOT, 2024)—need a clear, category-by-category understanding of what to expect. This article breaks down the four main charging models for watersports at all-inclusive resorts, with specific pricing data from the 2025-2026 season.

The Four Charging Models: What Your Package Actually Covers

No single industry standard governs how resorts classify watersports. Instead, properties fall into one of four distinct models, each with its own pricing logic and guest-experience implications. Understanding these models is the first step to avoiding the “HKD 8,000 surprise” at checkout.

Model One: The Basic Inclusive Package (Non-Motorised Only)

This is the default for most mid-range all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives, Thailand, and Bali. The package covers non-motorised equipment: snorkel sets, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and (in some cases) basic windsurfing gear. These items are typically available on a first-come, first-served basis from a beach shack or watersports centre. At the 4-star Adaaran Select Meedhupparu in Raa Atoll, for example, the standard all-inclusive (approx. HKD 3,800/night) includes unlimited use of kayaks, SUPs, and snorkel gear. Motorised activities—Jet Skis, banana boats, wakeboarding—are charged separately. The key distinction here is that “non-motorised” does not mean “all non-motorised.” Sailing catamarans and Hobie Cats are often excluded, even though they lack engines, because they require staff supervision and carry higher liability insurance costs. If you see “non-motorised watersports included” in a booking description, ask for the full list. The MATATO 2024 survey found that 41% of disputes arose from guests assuming a Hobie Cat was included when it was not.

Model Two: The Premium Inclusive (Motorised, with Caps)

A growing number of five-star resorts now include select motorised activities, but with strict limits. The typical structure: one complimentary Jet Ski session per stay (15-30 minutes), one guided scuba dive per day (tanks and weights included, but not equipment rental or marine park fees), and unlimited use of “towables” (banana boats, donuts). The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru (from HKD 9,500/night) operates this model. Their “All-Inclusive Plus” package includes one 30-minute Jet Ski session per person per stay and one guided house-reef dive per day. Additional Jet Ski time is charged at USD 180 per 30 minutes. The critical detail: “guided dive” means you join a scheduled group dive with a resort divemaster. If you want a private guide or a dive at a specific time, that is an additional charge. This model works well for guests who want a taste of motorised activity without paying per-minute, but it penalises enthusiasts who want more than one session per day.

Model Three: The Ultra-Inclusive (All Watersports, No Limits)

At the top end, a handful of resorts have eliminated per-activity charges entirely. The Soneva Jani “Barefoot All-Inclusive” (from HKD 18,000/night) includes all non-motorised watersports (including Hobie Cats and sailing catamarans), all motorised watersports (Jet Skis, wakeboarding, eFoil boards), and unlimited scuba diving for certified divers (tanks, weights, and guide included; equipment rental and marine park fees are separate). The Joali Being “Wellness Inclusive” (from HKD 16,500/night) similarly includes all watersports, though scuba diving is limited to two dives per day. The catch: these packages are priced at a significant premium over the property’s standard room-only rate. The HKD 18,000/night at Soneva Jani is roughly 40% higher than the standard villa rate. For a couple staying five nights, that premium is HKD 36,000. Whether it makes financial sense depends entirely on how much you plan to use the watersports. If you intend to Jet Ski for an hour every afternoon and do two dives daily, the ultra-inclusive model saves money. If you are happy with one dive and a kayak, it does not.

Model Four: The À La Carte Add-On Model

Some resorts, particularly in the “boutique luxury” category, do not offer any watersports inclusion in their standard packages. Instead, they present a fully à la carte menu. The Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives (from HKD 9,000/night) operates this way: snorkel gear is complimentary, but everything else—kayaks, SUPs, Jet Skis, scuba—is charged per use. A 45-minute Jet Ski tour costs USD 220. A two-tank scuba dive (including equipment) is USD 350. This model offers maximum flexibility: you pay only for what you use. But it also creates the highest potential for surprise costs. A couple who does two dives and one Jet Ski session in a day can easily add HKD 5,000 to their daily bill. This model is best suited to guests who know they will spend most of their time on land or in the spa, and who view watersports as an occasional treat rather than a daily activity.

Scuba Diving: The Fine Print That Costs You

Scuba diving is the most complex watersport to price within an all-inclusive framework, because it involves multiple cost layers that resorts can split or bundle in different ways. Understanding these layers is essential for any diver booking a resort.

The Four Cost Layers of a Dive

Every scuba dive at a resort involves four distinct cost components: (1) tanks and weights (the heavy gear the resort owns), (2) the divemaster or guide (staff time), (3) equipment rental (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, computer), and (4) marine park or national park fees. At the “premium inclusive” resorts, layers 1 and 2 are typically included. Layers 3 and 4 are almost always charged separately. At the Velaa Private Island (from HKD 14,000/night), the “Elite All-Inclusive” includes unlimited dives with tanks, weights, and a guide, but equipment rental is USD 50 per day and marine park fees are USD 35 per dive. Over a five-night stay with two dives per day, that adds HKD 3,250 in surcharges. The MATATO 2024 survey noted that 57% of divers who experienced unexpected charges said they had not been told about marine park fees before arrival.

Certification and Safety Requirements

A second hidden cost: if you are not already certified, add HKD 3,500 to 5,000 for a PADI Open Water course at resort rates. Most “dive-inclusive” packages require a valid certification card. Resorts will not let you join guided dives without one, even if the package says “unlimited diving.” The one exception is the “Discover Scuba” programme—a shallow, supervised pool or reef dive—which is sometimes included in ultra-inclusive packages. At the Soneva Fushi, the “Barefoot All-Inclusive” includes one complimentary Discover Scuba session per person per stay. Additional sessions are USD 180 each. For certified divers, the same package includes unlimited guided dives, but you must show your C-card at check-in.

Jet Skis and Motorised Activities: The Time-Bundle Trap

Jet Skis, wakeboards, and eFoils are the most expensive watersports to operate, due to fuel, maintenance, and insurance. Resorts have developed a specific pricing strategy for them: the “time bundle.”

The 15-Minute Increment Model

At nearly every resort that charges separately for Jet Skis, the minimum rental is 15 minutes, and the price is quoted per 15-minute block. At the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas (from HKD 12,000/night), a 15-minute Jet Ski session is USD 95. A 30-minute session is USD 180 (a slight discount per minute). A full hour is USD 320. The psychology is deliberate: 15 minutes feels short enough to be an impulse purchase, but in practice, it takes five minutes to get from the jetty to open water, leaving only ten minutes of actual riding. Most guests end up booking 30 minutes, which costs nearly as much as a fine-dining dinner. The same model applies to wakeboarding and waterskiing: USD 120 for 15 minutes at the Constance Halaveli.

The “One Free Session” Strategy

Resorts using the premium inclusive model (Model Two) typically include one free session per stay. The goal is to give guests a taste, then upsell additional sessions. At the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi (from HKD 15,000/night), the “Premium All-Inclusive” includes one 30-minute Jet Ski session per villa per stay. Additional sessions are USD 200 for 30 minutes. The resort’s internal data (shared during a 2025 industry presentation at the Maldives Hotel Investment Conference) showed that 72% of guests who took the complimentary session booked at least one paid session during their stay. The strategy works.

Practical Takeaways for Hong Kong Travellers

1. Ask for the full watersports menu before booking. Request a PDF or screenshot from the resort’s watersports centre listing every activity and its inclusion status. The Maldives MOT Circular 2025/TA-12 requires resorts to provide this on request; if they refuse, consider it a red flag.

2. Calculate your daily watersports usage before choosing a package. If you plan to dive twice daily and Jet Ski for an hour, the ultra-inclusive model (HKD 18,000/night at Soneva Jani) is cheaper than a standard room plus à la carte charges. If you are a casual snorkeller, the basic inclusive package is sufficient.

3. Budget for marine park fees and equipment rental separately. These are almost never included, even at ultra-inclusive resorts. Assume USD 35-50 per dive in surcharges and USD 50-80 per day for full equipment rental.

4. Book Jet Ski sessions early in your stay. If you take the complimentary session on Day 1 and decide you want more, you have the rest of your trip to add paid sessions. If you save it for the last day, you lose the option.

5. Verify your certification card is valid and with you. Resorts will not accept photos of expired cards. If you need a refresher course (for divers who have not been in the water for 12+ months), budget an additional USD 150-200 for a pool session.