Have you ever thought about taking an exotic vacation?  Somewhere far away from the hotels the theater shows and the malls?  Then think about a scuba diving liveaboard journey!

When you choose a scuba diving “liveaboard” journey, you are not just taking a scuba diving adventure.  You literally live aboard the cruiser—for days on end!  It’s the perfect vacation because it is a cross between a cruise ship luxury holiday and an outdoor adventure complete with scuba diving, snorkeling and many other activities.

You Will Have Plenty to See

What can you expect from liveaboard scuba diving?  First, never feel threatened.  In fact, it’s sometimes annoying how often the crew does safety checks, just to make sure no one is ever faced with adangerous situation.  Then, the crew takes you aboard one of the ships (there are several, and each contains its own personality and level of luxury), and then chart a course.  Along the way, you will get
to see spectacular scenery involving the best of Maldives, including the ocean, islands and marine life from above the surface of the water.

Now when it’s actually time to scuba liveaboard style, you will see unbelievable sights, like rainbow-colored coral reefs and aquatic animals.  What are some of the species of life to look forward to?  We’re talking whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks, napoleon wrasse and many other smaller fish.  You will literally see schools of fish passing by your head and the colors are unimaginable.  It’s definitely something to experience!

You Will Have Plenty To Do

However, the point of scuba liveaboards adventures is that there is more to see than just underwater life.  You can also come back to the cruise and enjoy hotel-quality cabins, lots of space to move around in, social activities, cooked meals, drinks and a very friendly staff.  Comfortable home settings wait for you here, such as air-conditioned rooms and hot showers.  Imagine what it would be like to spend a night under the stars and looking into the sky from the ocean with your sweetheart!

Besides luxurious amenities you can also enjoy an island visit for dinner, volleyball and football games (the staff is always eager to play!) and even snorkeling activities if scuba diving is too deep a thought for you.  There is also plenty of fishing activity to enjoy and you can catch red snapper, barracuda, tuna, jackfish and grouper, all of which the cook will make into a fine meal immediately after your catch.

Although carrying alcoholic beverages aboard is banned, you can still enjoy drinks courtesy of a licensed and trained bartender.  Airport travel is also provided, including a trip to and from the airport.  Safety is always a top priority here, as there is no diving activities scheduled in the last 24 hours of the trip, just to make sure guests are ready to fly.

Why not come experience an exotic vacation like no other?  It’s not just an adventure, it is an adventure and a spiritual journey!

Just in… 2 incredible last minute offers on-board the MV Aquarius on a VERY unique Southern Sharks cruise.

This area is very secluded and remote.  There are only 2 resorts in the area and almost NO other boats or divers at this dive site.

This is an unspoiled area with masses of sharks and amazing hard corals, a site not to be missed!!!

January 23^rd – 30^th – Last Minute Steal!
Cruise: “Southern Sharks”
Price: USD $999 per person (includes 6% T-GST tax)
Atolls: Laamu, Huvadhoo, Formulak, Addu
Boarding Point: Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll
Disembark: Gan, Addu Atoll
Domestic Flights: Clients need to purchase additional domestic flights Male/Kadhdhoo and Gan/Male. These flights (approx. US$ 360 return) can be booked on here or we would be happy to do it for you!

February 6^th – 13^th – 7 nights for the price of 6!
Price: USD 1.177 per person inclusive 6% T-GST.
Cruise: “Southern Sharks”
Atolls: Laamu, Huvadhoo, Formulak, Addu
Boarding Point: Kaadedhdhoo, Huvadhoo
Disembark: Gan, Addu Atoll
Domestic Flights: Clients need to purchase additional domestic flights Male/ Kaadedhdhoo and Gan/Male. These flights (approx. US$ 360 return) can be booked on here or we would be happy to do it for you!

Book now before we are sold out.

Looking back after a diving week in the Maldives with the MY Theia, I had a tremendous experience and lots of great encounters.

Walking off the plane from cold Vienna and being embraced by the very hot and very humid Maldivian climate in my winter outfit was my first experience. OK, the experienced travelers bring their tropical clothes in their carry on luggage and step out of the restroom in shorts and tank tops before landing, but not me

We got picked up from the airport and headed off to start our liveaboard dive trip for the week on board the MY Theia.  The ride to the boat was about 10 minutes, and wow – what a boat!! 15 divers with more than enough space on board, cabins were king size and beautiful.  We met on deck for briefing, hanging out with the guests and crew with 2 great bunches of the world´s best bananas – I became an addict.

1st dive, Check gear dive at the outer reef, almost no current but turtles, 2 murray eels and 2 white tip juvenile sharks – my best check dive so far. I like the liveaboard dive system, gear remains on the dive boat where tanks get filled during the trip, no carrying the equipment around.

2nd dive at a manta “cleaning station” where herds of small fish with beaklike snouts provide tweak out parasits-service to big fish like mantas on eastern outer reef of north male atoll. After 5 minutes close to the station 2 medium size mantas turned up out of nowhere and gave us a great show. Perfect photo op  for cameras

For the next dive at Rasdhoo, a small atoll between south & north male and ari atoll, we were late but were still able to dive which turned night dive for the 2nd half.  
The outer reef on Rasdhoo east side is a great location. Dive guide local Mikey found a camouflage colored 2´ leaf fish doddering under an overhang, don’t know how he spotted it, but we were sure glad he did. Divers from another boat took advantage also, we had our very own paparazzi

Next morning, same place but 50 m out into the blue before sunrise – the main hammer head area in the Maldives. We went down about 25-30m… waiting, looking around, down and up – at this time we had about a 50% statistical chance of no encounter.  No hammerheads today, maybe another time   Up to the dive boat and back to Theia for breakfast.  I LOVED the meal schedule – early morning dive at 7am after only coffee and crackers, after the dive a serious breakfast with all egg varieties and fruits tasting great after a good dive.

Next dive same place at the colorful reef with the great fish life and then we proceeded 2hrs to the Maayya Thila inside north Ari Atoll. A “Thila” is a kind of shallow inside atolls raging from 4-6 m.  This one is home of greys reef, white tip sharks, big murray eels, sting rays and turtles. 
 We did a night dive here as well, and it was one of best night dives ever – I tend to overlap night dives as they use to be done on good safe but boring sites – but Hussen, the ship manager convinced everybody that it´s not always like that, and he was so right. 
 Descending into a melting pot of white tips, murray eels, barracudas and sting rays hunting the thila mainly for restless fussilier schools which move over the thila top like a kind of liquid, in between an occasional stone fish (undetectable fish finding Mikey again) and sleeping turtles in overhangs on the side of the thila – a most memorable experience.

Next day 1st dive was at Makaruh thila, similar topography as Maayya thila with great coral growth on the top and in the overhangs around at 8-15m. The home of small fish like gobis, blennies and a cute sleeping baby white tip between 2 table coral storeys.
  At the up current side 2 cruising grey reef sharks, big fish seem to be mainly up current wherever you are if its a “thila” or a channel, a “kandhu” between open see and an atoll.

The next dive, Malhoss Thila, known as Blue Caves was my week´s favorite in respect of UW landscape and colors.  200m deep overhang adjusted with clear blue soft corals, schools of blue stripe snappers hang out in their blue living room.  At the top of broken out coral blocks of extreme coral growth diversity of 2 grey reefs. On the sandy bottom a bunch of white tips sleeping and swaying in the smooth current. 
3rd dive at the Thila with a swim thru chimney and zillions of glass fish forming different shapes. Who is the boss? Again a busy camera matter.

One main safari issue: whale shark. Cruising along the south side of Ari Atoll was really valuable – the crew watching from atop of the Theia for whale shark shapes and shadows near the outer reefs at some 10m depth were successful. We dropped close to the first whale shark, we had the honor of snorkeling with this 10m giant 
until my legs failed to move, a condition challenge.  
After getting picked up by the dive boat we continued to a dive site called Maamigilli Kandhu and were happy to encounter 2 whale sharks coming out of the atoll at slow speed which made it possible to follow even with dive gear. 10 memorable minutes with this gentle beast, a literally breath taking devotional dive.

Next dive which took us to the house reef north west of Dhigurah delivered another manta ray encounter + a king size sting ray hunting on the top reef – seriously productive dive again. Seems rays and shark have all 5 gills. On the way back from dive site to the Theia, some of the fitter divers went snorkeling with 2 further mantas who were cruising the lagoon of Dhigurah island near the night anchorage.

Next days diving an the Kudarah Thila in the middle of Dhigurah Channel showed a stunning landscape with tremendous rich fish life. Herds of trevallies cruising around, school of blue stripes, scorpion fish dwelling in their camouflage in spite of one who probably failed primary camouflage school, so I found it without Mikey. Good models as they hardly move and they have the most characteristic profile.

Famous last dive – Ranveli corner north of Dangheti on the east side of south Ari atoll. Good visibility, school of eagle rays, trevallies, white tips and turtles. 

I forgot the Raadhigaa Thila north of Raadhigaa island – an unspoilt shallow well exposed to currents in the Mandhu channel on the middle Ari atolls west side. Its like coral bleaching never took place. Pristine hard corals on the top reef, great overhangs with swim throughs on the south side, fantastic UW-landscape.

In summary – one week was not enough, without obligations I would have booked next week. The chefs from sri lanka did a great job, the service, the….ah well, everything!!! I just don’t have anything to complain about.

Jan Bouzon
Vienna

Is 2011 the Best Manta Ray Season Maldives has Seen in Years?

Manta rays are often photographed swimming close to scuba divers

Over the past few months, we have been swamped with reports of manta ray sightings in the Maldives, with overjoyed divers and dive guides agreeing that it has been a bumper year for manta lovers. Many of our boats, such as Theia and MV Aquarius, have responded by launching special “Manta Madness” cruises, which take guests to the best Manta spots of the Maldives.

“It seems that thanks to numerous conservation efforts, the Maldives manta ray population is doing well these days. This is great news, especially considering that manta rays are an endangered species in most parts of the world.”

The recovery of the manta ray population in the Maldives appears to be evident in the dive logs of all of the liveaboard diving cruise ships we work with, as well as from anecdotal evidence we’ve received from crew members and guests over the past few months.

The abundance of mantas is also something observed by the Save Our Seas Foundation. Guy Stevens, the head of the foundation’s manta ray conservation project in the Maldives, recently commented: “The Maldives is the perfect place for these reef mantas; there is plenty of food all year round, there are few natural predators, and most importantly in today’s world of human exploitation, there has never been a significant or commercial fisheries for manta rays in the Maldives.” To read the whole interview, click here.

Best Time to See Manta Rays in the Maldives

Traditionally, the summer months offer the best chances for diving or snorkeling with manta rays in the Maldives. This is because of the higher amount of plankton in the water, which has a significant bearing on the manta ray migration in the Maldives. A manta ray diet consists mainly of plankton and the prevailing winds and currents of the hot Maldivian summer can create such a high concentration of food in certain places that a manta ray feeding frenzy ensues.

Watch this thrilling video of an underwater expedition amongst several manta rays in the Maldives

One of the most famous places where so-called manta ray cyclone feeding can occur, is the now legendary Hanifaru Bay, a dive spot made famous by a breathtaking photo reportage published by the National Geographic in 2009.

Especially in August, it is not uncommon to see more than a hundred animals gathering here during the Maldives manta ray season to make the most of the site’s unique geographical position, which sweeps huge amounts of plankton into the bay at certain times. This manta ray behavior is sometimes referred to as a “manta ray feeding aggregation”. The Maldives is known for the world’s largest aggregations of such nature.

Manta Ray Cleaning Stations Maldives

Another important element in the lives of these fascinating and absolutely harmless sea creatures are the many manta ray cleaning stations of the Maldives, which can attract several mantas at once. Seeing a troupe of imposing rays queue politely for their turn at the cleaning station is an absolutely unforgettable sight. Experienced dive guides such as ours know the locations of the most highly frequented feeding stations, where chances of diving with manta rays in the Maldives are the highest.

A open-mouthed manta ray approaches the camera

The manta ray cleaning stations of the Maldives are essentially rock or coral formation where manta rays stop by regularly to let cleaner wrasses pick parasites and dead skin particles off their bodies. It’s a symbiosis that is mutually beneficial – the cleaner wrasses get a steady delivery of food, while the manta rays have better chances of avoiding skin irritations and potentially dangerous infections caused by parasites.

Responsible Tourism in the Maldives – An Economic Necessity

While it seems that mantas in the Maldives are adept at taking care of themselves in terms of food and skincare, they need our help to protect their habitats from the negative impacts of human activity around them.

Their playful behavior and seeming indifference – even curiosity – for human visitors is remarkable and plays a big part in the tourism industry of the Maldives. The question is: how to balance economic development and mass tourism with the protection of the manta ray habitats of the Maldives?

The answer lies in a responsible approach to economic opportunities. Unlike commonly assumed, tourism can play a vital role in conservation efforts. The logic is simple – the manta ray population Maldives is of crucial importance to the economy and, as such, must be protected.

Stevens explains: “The more people who visit the Maldives in search of an encounter with manta rays the better; tourism really is important for the long term survival of manta rays in the Maldives and elsewhere around the world. However, tourism needs to be managed so that it is truly sustainable. As specific sites, such as Hanifaru, become overwhelmed with tourists there is a growing need for effective management to ensure that this site does not become degraded.”

Close-up shot of a manta ray in Maldives

The great challenge that lies ahead is to find a solution on how to manage sensitive manta ray feeding sites and how to enforce existing laws. The wheels of policy and bureaucracy have been notoriously slow in the Republic of the Maldives over the last decades. However, the new government’s commitment to environmental issues provides hope for responsible tour operators and scuba divers alike.

As always, Maldives Dive Travel is fully supportive of marine conservation efforts in the Maldives. We do our best to educate our staff and guests about the importance of responsible diving. It is our aim to help ensure that the magnificent marine life of the Maldives remains as breathtakingly beautiful as it is now for the next generations of scuba divers.

Want to experience the thrill of diving with manta rays in the Maldives? Our experienced booking agents and dive guides are at your service.

Contact us now to get the best deals on diving holidays in the Maldives.

About us: Maldives Dive Travel looks back on more than 15 years of excellence and our Best Price Guarantee ensures that you get the best rates available anywhere!

As this idyllic island getaway destination continues to soar in popularity, we all know there are many reasons to travel to the Maldives, and each individual traveller will have his own list of wishes and priorities, but here are a few of the best reasons we know of to travel to Maldives.

1. Maldives Beaches

Beautiful Maldives Beach

Travel to Maldives will give you the chance to come face-to-face with some of the most incredible beaches in the world. The Maldives comprises hundreds of islands, each surrounded by perfect white sand, swaying palm trees and incredible turquoise blue sea.

All travel in Maldives is done either by boat or plane, both of which give you plenty of time to soak up the amazing beach views. When you’re not dashing about the islands, you’ll enjoy lounging around on these incredible Maldivian beaches or enjoying the view of the Maldives beaches either from your hotel room, swimming pool or scuba diving liveaboard.

2. Maldives Scuba Travel

Maldives scuba travel is widely considered to be some of the best dive travel in the world. The Maldives have been known as a scuba diving destination for many years now so you will find all dive crews and boat captains to be extremely experienced and knowledgeable about Maldives dive travel. There are many Maldives travel books and Maldives travel websites that will give you a good idea of what to expect from your Maldives scuba travel experience before you leave home and that will help you find the best deals and learn about the best time to visit. Just to give a quick overview of what to expect from Maldives diving travel, here are a few pointers.

The best Maldives dive travel experiences, and one of the main reasons people travel to Maldives is the liveaboard diving concept. A Maldives liveaboard trip involves divers living aboard a cruising yacht for any length of time (usually 1 – 2 weeks) and doing a couple of dives a day from the liveaboard. When you’re not diving, you can enjoy other aspects of Maldives travel, including sunbathing, going to the beach, island hopping, fishing and generally relaxing. Maldives liveaboards come in a range of styles; you’ll find that whatever your budget and personal preference, there’ll be a scuba diving liveaboard waiting for you in the Maldives.

Diving with a Whale Shark in the Maldives

Of course, there are opportunities to simply dive or snorkel from a resort’s dive centre, and that might be the right choice for you, but however you decide to discover the underwater world of the Maldives, one thing’s for sure – you won’t be disappointed!

A quick glance in any Maldives travel book will tell you that the Maldives is home to an amazing array of marine life, ranging from more than 15 varieties of shark, 2 types of turtles, several ray species and many types of eel, wrasse and tuna. The list is really endless, but a couple of the real “stars” of the Maldives dive travel world are the whale shark and the manta ray – definitely the country’s biggest aquatic attractions.

3. Aerial Views from Maldives Air Travel

One of the most enjoyable aspects of travel to the Maldives is the incredible views when travelling from the airport to your hotel or liveaboard, if you have the chance to travel by air. When researching your Maldives holiday on any Maldives travel blog, you’re sure to see many aerial photos of the islands, taken during Maldives air travel, which are simply spectacular. Aerial views of the islands really put into perspective how remote of a destination each of the islands really are and just how the colour of the ocean contrasts perfectly with that of the land. It really is the quintessential image of the tropical “islandscape”.

Check out this stunning aerial video shot whilst approaching the Maldives.

4. Visiting Secluded Maldives Islands

Following on from the idea of the quintessential island image is the opportunity to visit some of the Maldives’ desert islands. Many of the islands are completely uninhabited, or perhaps inhabited only by very small villages of people, who are only to happy to show you around their pristine island and introduce you to their way of life. Villagers will treat you to dances, feasts and other shows of their individual culture and visits to these islands are a very common part of Maldives cruise travel.

5. Incredible Maldives Marine Life

Fascinating Coral Formations and Marine Life

As you would expect from a world-class diving destination, the marine life in the Maldives is nothing short of spectacular. Expect to see brilliantly coloured coral formations, vibrant shoals of reef-dwelling fish, incredibly large pelagic species and, of course the magnificent whale shark. The Maldives is one of the few places in the world where you can expect to glimpse a whale shark throughout the year, which means that travel to Maldives is possible 365 days a year.

When it comes to planning travel in Maldives, there are thousands of resources to help you make the best decisions. Online you will find a selection of Maldives travel agents all offering a wide variety of travel deals to Maldives. It can be difficult finding the best travel agent to book holiday to Maldives, so in these days of social media, the best advice is to ask around, check out blogs on Maldives travel and ask fellow travellers their own experiences and opinions.

Rare Lion Fish Spotted in the Maldives

One of the biggest issues to consider is the price of your Maldives dive safari, which can vary wildly depending on the type of diving cruise you wish to embark upon. With both the resorts and the liveaboards in the Maldives, there is an extensive range of accommodation available. As far as Maldives liveaboards are concerned, you should expect to pay anywhere from USD $150 to USD $300 per person per night, plus the cost of your flights. This will include all scuba diving, meals and accommodation, but not alcoholic drinks. If you’re looking for a resort, the prices vary enormously – it would be unfair to put a price, but you can definitely find everything from mid-range hotels to absolute luxury. There are also many packages available, especially from the UK, but again these vary wildly in price.

Maldives Dive Travel, a travel agent specialising in Maldives scuba travel, maintains the interesting and informative Maldives dive travel blog, which highlights important information about scuba travel in the Maldives, tells you when is the best time to travel to Maldives and updates you with news of special travel deals to Maldives. You can find out more on our website www.maldivesdivetravel.com.

Maldives Dive Travel proudly introduces the MV Aquarius, the latest addition to our fleet: A majestic high-tech vessel offering rebreather diving, double-tanks and a thrilling sense of adventure, the Aquarius offers unparalleled recreation and scuba diving features. Starting in August, this 101 foot liveaboard ship will be cruising the waters of the Maldivian islands, enabling scuba divers and dive safari enthusiasts to reach much greater distances than the current norm.

Maldives Liveaboard - MV Aquarius

Refurbished in 2011 with the most modern on-board technology and diving equipment, it is for this very reason the Aquarius can reach destinations not usually attainable with other ships, and state-of-the-art technology like underwater stabilisers and rebreather diving facilities allows divers to explore the stunning depths of the Maldives in greater detail.

The MV Aquarius will without a doubt become a frontrunner for liveaboard dive safaris in the Maldives, so be sure to reserve your spot for a unique dive experience of a lifetime.

MV Aquarius Details

The Aquarius measures an impressive 101 ft. in length and is 25.5 ft. wide, providing ample space for generous interior and exterior facilities. Constructed in the year 1998 it was fully refurbished in 2011; it holds up to 16 guests at a time, excluding the crew of 10. With two turbo-diesel engines, the cruising speed lies at 12 knots, and with Lloyd Standard certified security features like a 48 mile radar, autopilot, 3 independent steering systems, auto-inflating rescue rafts and strong search spotlights, this vessel is supremely equipped for high waters. Further features of the Aquarius MV at a glance:

The MV Aquarius on a Maldives Dive Safari

• Water Supply: 2 desalination plants on board
• Power: 220V / 50Hz supplied by 2 diesel generators
• Dhingy: Zodiac with outboard engine
• Extra Diving boat (Dhoni): 60 ft. dive dhoni, fully equipped for scuba diving
• DAN first aid box, oxygen, fire extinguishers, life vests
• 2 auto-inflatable rescue rafts
• Yacht-Control-System
• Bord Radio System
• Automated fire extinguishing system in engine room
• Fire hose connections on all decks
• Life vests and signal lights in every room
• First aid equipment in ship and Dhoni
• Rope cutter on propellers

But the Aquarius doesn’t just score high on safety, she also offers a great range of top recreational facilities; with sound systems on all decks, DVD player, wide-screen projector, satellite TV and internet access, the MV Aquarius guarantees you will find your time both on and off board a pleasant and enjoyable experience. And to make sure you keep those vivid memories for the future, all rooms are equipped with power sockets, and there are docking stations for cameras, video recorders and the like available on the main deck.

Diving Information

Imagine gliding along deep in the Maldivian waters when you see hundreds of sharks approaching close to you, yet you remain undetected due to the absence of water bubbles from your rebreather scuba tanks. The rebreather involves using oxygen and recycled exhaled air from the diver. As a closed circuit system this is more space efficient, as well as making the diver lighter and more compact. You can last for longer underwater, and sink to much deeper regions thanks to this sophisticated technology, and not worry about time while you admire the underwater marine life.

Check out the following video of a scuba diver swimming alongside a Maldives grey reef shark.

Liveaboard dive safaris aboard the MV Aquarius are sure to be popular along the south where there is an abundance of deep drop offs and ship wrecks. The diving equipment on this ship is remarkable; following are a few of the exclusive perks of travelling with the Aquarius:

• Twin Tanks with Isolated Manifolds on board
• Haskel Booster Pump for O2 and Helium, allowing easy and hassle free filling of mixed gases
• Evolution & Inspiration Rebreather bottles on board so clients don’t need to bring their own, thus saving weight
• Softner Lime for Rebreathers available for sale on board
• O2 cleaned Stage bottles and Stage rig kits

Dive Cruise Info

The MV Aquarius is active this season from 1st July 2011 – 30th April 2012. Starting July, the Aquarius will be sailing Monday through Monday at following cost:

p/p/n $ 185
Single occupancy $ 259
Full charter 16 guest max. $ 2.590

There is currently a special offer for travellers in large groups; with a group of 16 guests, number 15 and 16 are free of charge.

The price includes accommodation in air-conditioned cabins with windows, en-suite showers (hot water) and toilet. Bath towels provided along with full board, meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tea, coffee and water are available free of charge at all times. Soft drinks and liquor can be purchased at the well-stocked bar. There are 17 dives during a seven night safari (including check dive and a special night dive, tanks with DIN/INT, lead belts, and the use of the extra diving boat. Guidance is provided by a qualified and highly experienced English-speaking dive guide, helping you to feel relaxed and secure in the care of a seasoned professional. You can also enjoy the use of fishing gear – local style, including hook, fishing line, weight and baits. Also on the agenda is a picnic on an uninhabited island (depending on weather and route), where you can enjoy some delicious local cuisine and if you are lucky, even experience a spontaneous traditional drum and dance session.

Sunset Beach Picnic

Not included in the price is bed tax: US$ 8 per person, per night and only payable on board. The fuel surcharge, that is to say if the crude oil price on the international markets reaches USD 100/barrel, US$ 6 p/p/n will be charged on board. Any domestic flights, air fares and/or airport taxes are also not covered in the package price. You can bring your own dive/snorkel equipment, or you can choose to hire them on board. Bear in mind the use of US Dollars is widely accepted, along with the local currency the Rufiya. Dive & travel Insurance is also excluded.

Cruise Details

Currently there are three liveaboard cruise offers running on the Aquarius from August 2011 to April 2012. Each cruise is tailored to a different route around the Maldives, and benefits from seasonal perks with regards to the very popular and unique marine life.

Scuba Divers Catch Sight of a Manta Ray

1. August – October: “Manta Madness”

Male, Baa, Rasdhoo, N. Ari Atoll. There is an abundance of Manta Rays at this time of year along this exact route. For all scuba divers interested in this fascinating creature, don’t miss out on a chance to witness phenomena like the manta feeding frenzy. You can read more about manta rays on our page on Maldives marine life.

2. November & December: “Best of Maldives”

Male, Rasdhoo, Ari, South Male Atoll. This liveaboard cruise encapsulates all that is fascinating about the Maldives. With dives at various world-renowned dive spots populated with whale sharks, turtles and clownfish to name a few, this cruise is perfect for exploring the Maldives both above and under water.

3. January – April: “Southern Sharks”

Addu, Foammulah, Huvadhoo (Guests Fly to Addu (Gan), and fly out from Huvadhoo (Kaadedhdhoo). New guests fly into Huvadhoo, out from Addu, alternating each time. Addu is notorious for boasting an abundance of manta rays and ship wrecks. Foammulah is the home to numerous tiger sharks and silver sharks, and along the entire route you may even spot several whale sharks. Diving amongst these imposing creatures is definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

For more info about cruise schedules and reservations contact us right here. We look forward to hearing from you!

When planning a Maldives dive safari, scuba divers usually have a lot of different questions that they need answering. So, we’ve put together this Maldives diving safari question and answer list. It should come in very handy when planning all the details of your diving safari in Maldives.

Dive Safari Maldives

What is a Maldives Dive Safari?

A Maldives dive safari is a holiday spent living on a dive boat known as a liveboard with a group of scuba divers. Maldives safaris tend to last anywhere from five to 21 days and will take you to some of the best dive spots in the country. On a typical diving safari in Maldives, you can expect to do two or three dives each day.

What Can I Expect to See on a Maldives Safari?

Think of a Maldives dive safari as you would of an African safari in the Serengeti. Only underwater! There are many varieties of marine animals and fish that you can expect to see, which range from small reef-dwelling fish to enormous rays and sharks. The waters of the Maldives are some of the most exciting in the world from a scuba diver’s point of view, but there are a handful of animals that have people flocking to the Maldives in the hope to catch a glimpse or – even better – dive alongside with.

Manta Ray Hovering Over Divers

Much like the ‘Big Five’ of an African safari, divers in the Maldives really hope to see whale sharks, manta rays, moray eels, grey reef sharks and turtles. The really great thing about a Maldives safari is that spotting the ‘Maldivian Big Five’ is somewhat easier than the African equivalent and all these species can be found in the Maldives throughout the year. In fact, there are very few scuba divers who complete a Maldives diving safari without spotting at least four of the ‘Big Five’.

In order to see the ‘Big Five’, you will need to visit plenty of different dive sites, all of which are interesting and visually stunning in different ways. Each dive site is renowned for a different kind of fish or animal and your crew will design a Maldives safari route that is sure not to disappoint. The exact route you take will depend largely upon what time of year you visit the Maldives, but the experienced divemasters and boat captains know these waters like the back of their hands and do their best to take you to the best spots, taking into consideration the season and the precise weather conditions. Currents in the Maldives can be strong and have a significant effect on the movements of the marine life, so this local knowledge is truly indispensable.

What is the best Maldives dive safari boat?

It’s impossible to say which is the best dive safari boat in Maldives because every person has different requirements and tastes. There really is a live-aboard cruising safari in Maldives to suit every budget and taste, from the utterly glamorous MV Orion and the Island Safari 2 Royal Maldives to the beautiful and comfortable Black Pearl Maldives safari liveaboard.

Panoramic Suite - Dream Catcher II

All liveaboards are equipped with private bedrooms, each of which has an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and external windows. The more luxurious ships sometimes offer private balconies, bathtubs and even Jacuzzis! All liveaboards offer a further selection of common areas, including lounge rooms, restaurants and bar areas, outdoor sunbathing areas, television rooms with selections of movies on DVDs and internet access. Of course, every ship is different, so make sure that your liveaboard offers the facilities you need before making your reservation.

Can I learn to dive on a Maldives diving safari?

Most diving safaris in the Maldives are designed for experienced scuba divers, so you definitely need to check this in advance with the individual dive boat. Nearly all dive safari boats in the Maldives offer a selection of PADI courses, but most of them are designed for people who are already qualified as Open Water Divers and simply want to further their studies. Be sure to ask in advance!

Stunning Marine Life Seen on Maldives Dive Safari

Is it possible to book a last-minute dive safari in Maldives?

Definitely! In fact, this is probably the best way to book your Maldives diving safari as long as you don’t mind waiting until the last minute. By booking a last minute dive safari in Maldives, you’ll probably get the best possible price. The other time you’ll find a real bargain on your Maldives safari is if you book your dive holiday quite some time in advance.

How much does a Maldives dive safari cost?

Maldives safari prices vary with the time of year, the Maldives safari boat you choose to stay on and how long you go for. Typically, one of the more basic boats will cost around USD $150 per person per night, while one of the more luxurious boats will cost USD $250 per person per night. Maldives safari prices are inclusive of accommodation, transfers between the airport and the boat, all meals and all dives (2 or 3 dives per day). Extra costs include equipment rental in case you don’t have your own and alcoholic drinks: all liveaboard safari boats have a full bar, offering a wide variety of international spirits and draught beers, but these are charged at an additional cost.

How do I book a diving safari in Maldives?

The best way to book a Maldives diving safari is online. Maldives Dive Travel is a leading provider of diving safaris in the Maldives and has plenty of information on its website, including online Maldives brochures for safari, news and information about special offers and deals on last minute diving safaris. The site is regularly updated and offers a great variety of background information to get you ready for your trip. When you are ready to book a safari cruise in the Maldives, contact Maldives Dive Travel through their website, indicating which safari dive in Maldives you’re interested in and we’ll get back to you quickly with confirmation of prices and availability.

It’s really simple and we can have your dive safari in the Maldives booked within minutes! Contact us now to book your scuba diving trip of a lifetime.

One of the biggest attractions of the Maldives to scuba divers and other holdiaymakers is the sheer quantity of fish found in the Maldives. There are thousands of types of fish in Maldives, from large pelagic species to small, reef-dwelling fish and everything in between. Indeed, the largest species of fish in the world, the whale shark, can be found living in the Maldives throughout the year, attracted by the immense amount of plankton that also inhabits the stunning waters of the Maldives. Of all the fish found in Maldives, the whale shark is probably the species that attracts the most visitors to the island nation.

Fish in the Maldives

Common Fish of the Maldives

It would be impossible to mention all the Maldives fish species in this article, so we’ll focus on the most common fish of the Maldives. To the scuba diver, the most frequently-spotted fish are the parrotfish, triggerfish, clownfish, sweetlips, wrasse and sharks.

Parrotfish in the Maldives

The parrotfish is a brightly coloured fish that is drawn to the Maldives’ coral reefs. The parrotfish is a common inhabitant of coral reefs throughout the tropical oceans and is one of the most popular fish in the Maldives thanks to its bright attractive colours and interesting markings.

Check out this breathtaking clip of a scuba diver amongst a huge wall of fish.

Triggerfish in the Maldives

The triggerfish is another of the most frequently seen marine fish in the Maldives and, just like the parrotfish, the Maldives trigger fish is colourful and fascinating to look at. There are several species of triggerfish in the Maldives, including the Titan triggerfish, which is commonly seen around the Madives islands. However, unlike the parrotfish, triggerfish are not the friendliest of marine life and can be extremely territorial, especially when guarding their eggs.

The Titan Triggerfish would seem to be the most aggressive variety of triggerfish and when feeling threatened by intruding scuba divers, they will respond by ramming the diver and sometimes even resorting to biting. They have powerful jaws and can reportedly bite chunks out of a diver’s suit or fins. If you see a triggerfish in the Maldives while scuba diving and the fish begins to approach you quickly, the best advice is to move away calmly and quickly in a horizontal line. In most cases, divers inadvertedly come too close to a Titan triggerfish’s nest and they stop their aggressive behaviour as soon as they are left alone.

Clownfish in the Maldives

Clown Fish

The colourful clownfish, made famous by the movie Finding Nemo, is another favourite Maldives fish among scuba divers and is one of the most common types of fish in Maldives. The bright orange and white fish is also known as an anemone fish because of its symbiotic relationships with sea anemones and there are plenty of varieties of this fish in the Maldives.

Generally speaking, the clownfish is a friendly, harmless fish, but can become quite protective around sea anemones, even occasionally biting people. This is most likely to happen to people who are trying to capture the clownfish for their aquariums – the only real threat to the clownfish population.

Sweetlips in the Maldives

At many dive sites in the Maldives, you are likely to come across massive schools of sweetlips fish around the Maldives reef. The most common variety of sweetlips in the Maldives are the oriental sweetlips, characterised by blue/black and white stripes along its body and yellow facial markings. When swimming in a school, these Maldives marine fish make a simply breathtaking sight. One of the best dive sites in the Maldives for spotting oriental sweetlips is the Manta Point in North Male Atoll where divers are also likely to enccounter bullseye fish, napoleon wrasse and manta rays.

Wrasse in the Maldives

Napoleon Wrasse

There are many different species of wrasse in the world, and several species are present in the Maldives. The most common pelagic fish in the Maldives is the napoleon wrasse which can be found at many different Maldives dive sites and is quite an impressive looking Maldives fish. The napoleon wrasse, which is also known as the humphead or maori wrasse, can reach the enormous size of 2.5 metres (6 feet) and is generally blue/green in colour with some spots and interesting markings.

The size of the napoleon wrasse is often under-appreciated and until you see one of these impressive Maldives marine fish in person, or see a photo or video of a napoleon wrasse alongside a human, it is difficult to appreciate how large they actually are.

Sharks in the Maldives

There are many different types of sharks in the Maldives which make it a very attractive scuba diving destination, especially since the types of sharks in the Maldives are generally considered to be non-agressive. For scuba divers, the most commonly sighted sharks in the Maldives are the grey reef shark and white tip reef shark.

The whale shark, the largest fish in the world, is another special fish found in Maldives and is seen on the surface, making it a popular sight among both scuba divers and snorkelers. You can find out more about sharks in the Maldives at www.maldivesdivetravel.com.

List of Fish in Maldives

It’s difficult to find a comprehensive list of fish in Maldives because there are simply so many. Nevertheless, there are books available and you will find key information about the most common types of fish in the Maldives on the many scuba diving and Maldives-related websites. The best way to get a feel for the varieties of Maldives marine fish is to look at pictures and information about reef fish in Maldives.

By watching plenty of videos before you book your diving holiday in the Maldives, you’ll begin to get excited about the kind of things you can expect to see underwater here and if its a diving destination that interests you. For most scuba divers, the Maldives represents the ultimate diving destination thanks to the stunning coral reef formations, and seemingly endless types of fish in the Maldives.

Busy Fish Life in Maldives

Conserving the Fish of the Maldives

All the types of fish in Maldives are in some way threatened. While most of them are not on any endangered species list, with the exception of the sharks, there are significant threats to their habitat and subsequent existence. Growing concerns over climate change and increasing water temperatures, the Maldives’ coral reefs, home to many of the fish of the Maldives are under more pressures every day. There are many conservation projects underway in the Maldives to protect not only different Maldives marine life species, but also the coral reef itself.

When in the Maldives, you will most likely come into contact with people working on initiatives to protect the coral reef and keep the Maldives fish’ habitat clean and safe. Clean-up dives are often offered to tourists and there are always plenty of opportunities to get involved and volunteer. So, why not make you next trip to the Maldives a truly unforgettable experience by giving something back to the ocean and the many fish around the Maldives.

There are an enormous number of dive sites in the Maldives; enough in fact that you could dive here every day for months on end and never need to visit the same dive site twice. Some are more exciting than others, and which Maldives dive sites you visit will depend largely on what you are hoping to encounter while under water as well as your experience level. Many of the best dive sites in Maldives are centered around quite deep reefs and as such, a PADI Advanced Open Water qualification (or equivalent) is often required.

Stunning Marine Life at Maldives Dive Site

Best Dive Sites in the Maldives

It’s difficult to say exactly which are the best Maldives dive sites because there are so many and it depends a lot on what time of year you come to the Maldives and of course on each diver’s personal preferences, but the following are a good selection of the best Maldives dive sites in the major atolls. On the whole, these dive sites are well-known and often visited by the various resort dive centres and liveaboard boats. Once you get to the Maldives, you’ll find out about plenty more top dive sites in Maldives and end up with your own collection of favourite Maldives dive sites.

Maldives Dive Sites in Ari Atoll

There are plenty of amazing dive sites in the Ari Atoll, which are highly recommended Maldives dive sites thanks to their marine life and are known for their populations of sharks and rays. Hammerhead Point, one of the dive sites to see hammerhead sharks in Maldives, is located in the North Ari Atoll and is sometimes known as Big Blue. The best time to dive this site is in the early morning, just before the sun rises, which is when the hammerheads are most likely to visit.

Whale Shark Sighting in Maldives

Maaya Thila, also in the North Ari Atoll is best known for its amazing congregations of grey reef sharks. Maaya Thila makes for a great dive during the day, but is best known for its spectacular night dives when the sharks can be seen hunting the reef. Being one of the Maldives top dive sites, Maaya Thila is included on many liveaboard routes, some of which stay in the area for a whole day to allow divers enjoy a morning, afternoon and night dive at Maaya Thila. Incredibly, each of these dive experiences is totally different, but equally exciting.

Kudarah Thila is found in the South Ari Atoll and is one of the many wonderfully colourful sites in Ari Atoll . Here, you will find greater concentrations of reef fish like angelfish and soldierfish as well as moray eels, pufferfish and the occasional turtle. White tip sharks have also been spotted at this Maldives dive site.

Fish Head – also known as Shark Point – is another of the famous dive sites in Maldives, mainly because of the large numbers of sharks that gather here. This is an interesting “thila” dive site and is one of the best Maldives dive sites for seeing sharks. Particularly common here are the white tip reef shark and grey reef shark and thanks to a government ban, Fish Head dive site is actually protected from fishing; a move executed by the Maldivian government to prevent overfishing of the sharks. Fish Head is also one of the top dive sites of the Maldives because of its large numbers of pelagic including napoleon wrasse and its curious caves and overhangs.

Maldives Dive Sites in South Male Atoll

The South Male dive sites are top Maldives dive sites in terms of seeing some really varied Maldives life and great diving conditions.

Pink Anemone and Fish

While divers are often hampered by the strong currents, it’s definitely worthwhile visiting Cocoa Thila dive site because the rewards are immense. The interesting overhangs, pinnacles and other formations mean there are plenty of places to shelter from the current and enjoy the views of the oriental sweetlips and fusiliers in their droves and where the reef drops off you should be able to spot tuna and eagle rays as well as a number of grey reef sharks. This is one of the most stunning dive sites in Maldives.

Guraidhoo Kandu, is definitely one of the most spectacular dive sites in the Maldives and such is the extensiveness of the site, it is often split into two and visited twice. Many say that the marine life at Guraidhoo Kandu is unrivalled: here you will spot squirrelfish, moray eels, eagle rays and grey reef sharks. Like many of the best dive sites in South Maldives, Guraidhoo Kandu displays a wide variety of colourful coral formations and interesting topography.

Manta Hovering Over Divers at Dive Site

Kuda Giri is one of the best wreck dive sites in the Maldives and is a good spot to see napoleon wrasse, feisty triggerfish and some batfish. The actual wreck is only small and has only been there for around 10 years, but that seems to have been long enough for some interesting and attractive corals to grow. Sightings of turtles and reef sharks are not uncommon here.

Embudhoo Kandu, like many other of the Maldives best dive sites is well known as a place to see sharks. Here you are likely to find many grey reef sharks and white tip sharks and thanks to a shark fishing ban in the area, this dive spot should remain a good place for sighting reef sharks for years to come. It’s also one of the top dive sites in the Maldives for underwater photographers as there is a stunning pinnacle frequented by morays and groupers.

Maldives Dive Sites in North Male Atoll

North Male Atoll dive sites are known and loved for their beautiful coral formations and the best dive sites in this Atoll are almost synonymous with the best dive sites in the Maldives.

Lion’s Head, named after the lion-shaped coral formations here, is considered one of the most beautiful Maldives dive travel sites in the Maldives and is a common playing ground for many different reef-dwelling types of marine life, including rainbow fusiliers and napoleon wrasse.

Sighting of Oriental Sweetlips

Lankan Manta Point is one of the Maldives famous dive sites, known particularly for sightings of manta rays. The key with visiting Lankan Manta Point is to go at the right time of year. It’s also one of the few places where you can expect to see mobula rays.

Check out this fascinating underwater clip shot at the Lankan Manta Point in the Maldives. The divers were plunged amidst a large group of manta rays, peacefully gliding through the water.

Banana Reef, another top Maldives dive site is named for the curved, banana-shaped reef here and is one of the most colourful dives you will find in the Maldives. This is a great place for seeing vivid reef life like the angelfish, blue-lined snapper and bannerfish. The reef itself is gorgeous here and the only precaution you really need to take is to mind the swirling currents known as “washing machine currents” that can really take you by surprise.

Okobe Thila, one of the most interesting “thila” or “pinnacle” dives in the Maldives, is a definite favourite with scuba divers here. The three coral heads at this dive spot are frequented by schools of eagle rays, tuna, bannerfish and much more, but is perhaps most famous for its barracudas – so much so, in fact, that the site is often known as Barracuda Giri. Reef sharks have also been seen at this dive site on regular occasions.

Underwater Landscape in the Maldives

Maldives Dive Sites Information

There is plenty of information surrounding the many dive sites of the Maldives online and you’re sure to find Maldives dive sites maps and many underwater photos taken at the hundreds of dive sites. The best way to find out more, of course, is to get out there and start scuba diving – the dive guides in the Maldives and experienced liveaboard crew members are the ones who really know all about the Maldives top dive sites.

Get in touch with us now to get the best deals on diving safaris in the Maldives!