Have just returned from 2 weeks on Embudu Island - Maldives (Feb 2008) - This is a 3 star Island - but I have no complaints - The rooms are basic and could do with a bit of a refurb - but clean and quite adequate.The Island itself is just about the right size - takes about 15 mins to stroll around. The restaurant has just been refurbished and the food and service couldn't be faulted. We were a party of 6 - so had a table to ourselves - but I noticed that some couples were put on tables with other people - which I guess is fine if you get on !
The reef is the best that I have ever swam in 5 trips to the Maldives with a huge array of fish and some of the snorkles are so easy as you just flow with the current - although you do need to keep your eye on which way and how fast it's flowing. The lagoon is huge and harbours a host of fish including baby/juvenile black tip reef sharks - they almost beach themselves trying to catch tiddlers. The reef is so good that other islands bring snorklers to it. There is also a coral garden where we saw turtles !
There is a windy side to the Island - which we were on - and I am glad that we were - just stopped you from frying !.
The bar area is lovely and has lots of swing chairs and baskets to laze around on. Lots of greenery everywhere and a really pretty Island. Nice easy transfer from Male ( you can see it in the distance) - takes abour 30-40 minutes at low tides because you have to skirt right round a huge reef - but at high tide it takes more like 15mins.
I would definately go back - it was a real bargain I think - but will probably try out another Island - there were lots of people there though who were on Embudu for the 2nd or 3rd time. Brits are in the minority - with most visitors being German or French

We (myself and my wife) came back from embudu just over a week ago. I will split my review into a number of different aspects.....

Food: Really not bad at all, as always with buffet some of the standard meals (something pasta something rice and a couple of meaty things) became a little tedious, but the quality was excellent considering it is mostly all imported. The chefs were very happy and unusually very happy to practice their English on you. The waiters are very efficient if a little shy (well our gent was) and the special evenings like the BBQ are well recieved.

Rooms: Well what do you expect for the price? Basic, yes! T.V? No! Air con? Yes (in the superior room) Views? Superb! Cleaner? Yes very good, good English also! and if you are lucky you may have little wall lizards- So cute!

Snorkeling: FANTASTIC, Sharks (only about 2 ft long though) Rays, Eels, Trigger fish, Parrot fish, Barracuda (only little yellow fin's though) and many others worth a look at. There is also much more colorful coral than many people made out on other reviews.

Some of the let downs: Not much to do, I'm not sure if there is enough for a second week . Some power problems, we had at least 4 trip switches go. Although I didn't expect much from the room, maybe it will put other people off.
Positives: Did not get even the slightest bit of illness, Really relaxing apart from many people in tiny swim trunks. Excellent Value.

Very simple resort, located not far from the airport (30/40 mins by motorboat at US 46 per person round trip) confortable accomodation, very basic the standard room (US 170) but in the time we stayed (6 nights totally) we don't miss the AC (provided in the superior rooms along with hot water and fridge for US 189 always per nigth per room). The price include full board.
There are also water bungalow but we don't think is the good choice because are not so luxurios to spend more than 220 US per night per room.

The cleanliness of your room depend a lot from your waiter: our room was not so clean and he changed our carpets (outside and outside the shower) only on request, after 5 days!!! Also the second service at evening was not appropriated and completely wrong (he knocked at our room while we were inside and want to make the room...).

The restaurant is ok but the food is TERRIBLE! We don't know why the others review are so nice but our experience (maybe is for the fact we are italian?) was AWFUL! No oil for the salad, in a island surrounded by fish you cannot eat the fish....you have in the meal but it was so dry so wrong cooked....but why they can't do a BBQ?
Also the breakfast buffet was not good: no good juice, no fresh milk (only refrigerated powder milk), no curd or yougurt, no good fresh fruit!
And don't call dessert what they make! The only decent thing we had in 6 days with 2 meals a day was a chocolate pudding.

They disappointed us also for the pick up at the airport the first day: we sent flight details and they must be there at 16.30.....they come at 19.25 and we lose an afternoon waiting at the Male airport.

The island is great for the nature, for the reef, for the diving center, the beach is also big and nice and very very clean but the resort must be better!

I stayed at embudu from 26/11/07 - 03/12/07.
On arrival at male airport we were whisked away on a traditional maldivian dhoni boat by members of the staff waiting for us.
The transfer takes about 45 mins to 1 hour to reach the island.
On our way there we were accompanied by several different groups of dolphins swimming and jumping up next to our boat! An unforgettable experience itself.

We were checked in without any problems and a complimentary drink and wet towel were provided to refresh yourself with.
And our bags were taken off to our room by a couple of members of staff all done very quickly and hassle free.
Don’t forget to tip the baggage boys a few dollars there very appreciative of it.

The room itself was basic but clean with shower, air con , fridge etc. The beds were not the comfiest in the world but one must remember this is not a 5* resort and I didn’t have any problems sleeping.
The room was cleaned daily and impeccably by the room boy.

The island itself is stunning total paradise - Whiter than white sand crystal clear blue warm water and lush green vegetation. Its only a small island I would stroll around it a few times a day and could generally do it in 10-15 minutes but it has a total island feel to it like you are actually in paradise! I visited Biyadhoo and they have concreted there walkways around the island where as embudu is just sand and trees. No need for shoes!!
There are a few little beaches dotted around the island the most popular being where the sand bank is. However there are plenty of little places to have your own little private spot in paradise without seeing hardly anybody all day.
They also have plenty swing chairs hanging from various trees all over the island great for relaxing in the shade and reading a good book.

The thing that sets embudu apart is its world class reef that is easily accessible from the beach. Whether you go diving or snorkelling the marine life is unbelievable!!
Black tip sharks - don’t worry there harmless! Moray eels, surgeon fish, tangs, trigger fish, snappers, clown fish there all here. And the sheer quantity of them is unbelievable I have never saw so many fish in all my life. - Tip: Buy your snorkelling equipment before you go it works out much cheaper than hiring them when you get there.

Food: The restaurant is new large and airy. Lots of choice for breakfast lunch and dinner with each evening being of a different theme i.e.- Asian night , BBQ night , Italian night etc.
It is buffet style so eat as much or as little as you want don’t miss out on the local tuna curry!! If you like that sort of thing this is not to be missed.
You are allocated a table on your first night and this becomes your table for the duration of your stay with the same waiter looking after you.
If there is only 2 of you on holiday there is a very good chance you will be sharing a table with another 2 people as most of the tables seem to accommodate 4 people. I didn’t find this a problem as we met a great couple but could see how other people might not like this.

The waiters and staff in general cant do enough for you -Very attentive! Our waiter was Abdul possibly the happiest man I have ever met always singing and smiling he looked after us superbly and earned a good tip for his work.
The bar staff were also fantastic very friendly and always smiling. Talk to them they like a good chat and work long hours so a little conversation goes a long way with them.

All in all a very enjoyable week escaping the rat race of life in one of the most stunning places on the planet!
If you want to visit the Maldives and are looking for somewhere very reasonably priced then embudu is well worth a visit! I would personally love to go back but there’s another 100 resorts in the Maldives I’m itching to try after my first taste of real paradise.