Machchafushi is a small island in South Ari Atoll, 25 minutes from Malé by seaplane, open since 1992 and renovated in 2016. It was Centara Grand Island until it took back the island's own name as part of The Centara Collection. The house reef runs out from a shallow lagoon to a 60-metre drop, with the Kudhi Maa, a 52-metre cargo ship sunk as an artificial reef, at 12 to 30 metres on its edge, and the South Ari Marine Protected Area, with its whale sharks, is a short boat ride south.
About three-quarters of the 112 villas are over the lagoon: the Overwater Villas (86 m²), facing the sunrise or the sunset, with a soaking tub and a sundeck with steps into the water; the Reethi Muraka Overwater Villas (106 m²) with a catamaran net; Family Overwater Villas (93 m²) with a kids' bedroom; and the Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villas (114 m²). On the beach, 42 Duplex Beach Villas (87 m²) put the bed on a mezzanine, and eight Club Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villas (159 m²) have their own pool. The Club villas come with The Club, a lounge with its own pool and beach.
Reef serves buffets with live stations and a teppanyaki counter; Suan Bua cooks Thai food in a pavilion over a lotus pond; and Mare Azzurro serves Italian food and seafood over the lagoon. The Coral Bar is the two-storey social hub, with pool tables and a teens' games room, and the Aqua Bar faces the sunset. Rates are bed and breakfast, with half board, full board and all-inclusive plans. There's SPA Cenvaree, a PADI dive centre, a big pool and the Camp Safari kids' club.