Originally Posted by crazycrab955

Other than some superficial similarities (food, amenities, names), the resorts couldn't be more different. Cocoa is much older and situated on a tiny island (Makunufushi), while Maalifushi feels very new and the island is significantly larger.

Advantages of Maalifushi:
- Villas are new and spectacular, especially the overwater ones
- Variety of room types available
- larger island so there is more to explore
- Feeling of "remoteness;" Thaa Atoll is barely developed, and you have to take a 1 hr seaplane to reach the resort
- Variety of food (two restaurants, two bars)
- *if* you are lucky enough to get bicycles, it can be fun to ride around the island. We had to wait until our last day before a pair of bikes were made available to us, which was a real sore point.

Advantages of Cocoa Island:
- sea life is fantastic; snorkeling is dramatically better than Maalifushi. Good house reefs on both sides, especially adjacent to the jetties. Maalifushi snorkeling is underwhelming and/or too shallow near the water villas, and the sea can be very rough by the jetties.
- Weather is generally better in South Male Atoll vs Thaa Atoll, but this is dependent on season.
- Beach is dramatically better than Maalifushi; long sand bars and wonderful soft sand. Maalifushi's beach is rough and not particularly nice to walk.
- Small island means you can get everywhere in just a few minutes by walking; more of a "robinson crusoe" feel at Cocoa
- Proximity to Male Airport; 24-hr speedboat transfers mean you can limit your time at MLE and maximise resort time

Many of these are not either/or...they are mostly dependent upon what you value in your holiday. COMO is running a double destination offer, and it seemed like many people are splitting their time between each resort. That may be the best of both worlds!