Hi DeadSea
Paradise Island: Close to Male, so that's good if the pax are not famous for a set schedule. Rooms ok, service good, food very good, especially the italian joint down at the pier. The island is big and busy enough to help battle Maldives-boredom. Mid-range pricing.
Bandos: Similar to Paradise Island. Also a 'Crew-island'.
Dhonveli: A festering flea-pit. Crew found dirty beds in two of the rooms on checking in. Sand in the beds! Dirty, disorganised. The island is ugly, part concrete, part rubbish, all Russian low-end tourism. It's close to Male, which is why you may be tempted. Big mistake.
Olhuveli Beach: Now here's a jewel! 45 minutes by boat from the airport, small and exclusive, 2 great restaurants. Beautiful island, good service, well-run watersports-centre, really good rooms. More expensive than Bandos, obviously, but still ok, price-wise.
Some additional info:
Male gets really busy. Get in early with Handling, or you may have difficulty getting parking. The bigger the kit you're driving, the bigger these difficulties become. You may have to drop pax and position down to Gan, about 30 minutes south, on the southernmost atoll. Do not be tempted to stay in the 'Equator Village' there. It is a former military barracks and a complete toilet. Rather pax back to Male with the local Turboprop-job.
In a pinch you may have to bunk down in the airport hotel on the airport-island itself. This place is not flashy in any way, but it is clean and is well-run. Do not stay in Male City! Downtown Riyadh is better!
When you're there, pick up one of the resort guide-books. A good investment!
Try, via your shiny new resort guide-book, to contact the resorts directly. If you can negotiate well you'll save a packet by avoiding the agents!
Good luck!
Bug