Maldives Diving
Maldives Diving is amongst the best in the world!
Maldives diving is heralded by scuba diving enthusiasts around the globe as one of the world’s most spectacular spots.
The Republic of the Maldives is an island nation that possesses twenty-six atolls, which comprise an area of 1,192 islets. Maldives diving is so marvelous because just two hundred of the Maldives’ islands are inhabited, which allows the marine flora and fauna to florish without an excessive amount of human intervention.
Furthermore, an atoll is an island of coral that partially or completely surrounds a lagoon, yet another reason why Maldives diving is such a treat. The massive lagoons are perfect for Maldives diving since they possess varying depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise. The high visibility while diving in the Maldives, often as high as 50 meters, coupled with the warm waters and dazzling underwater coral gardens make it a prime location for scuba dive devotees.
The Best Way to Experience Maldives Diving
In order to truly appreciate Maldives diving, shy away from dive resorts and check out a liveaboard cruise. Some of the Maldives’ best dive sites are located inside and outside the atolls’ lagoons and in the channels between, making a liveaboard the only way to reach them.
On a Maldives diving liveaboard, divers can relax to their hearts’ content, which offer casual comfort, plenty of space, exciting activities and a great atmosphere. The excellent cooks, well-stocked bars and attentive staff make for an unforgettable holiday. CHECK OUT THE LIVEABOARDS HERE!
Maldives Diving Liveaboards
The following Maldives diving liveaboards are the best in the Maldives:
- Adventurer 2 – Sophisticated and comfortable, the Adventurer 2 motor yacht offers all the comforts of a high-quality resort.
- Black Pearl – Black Pearl offers seven cabins, each with air conditioning, en-suite bathroom and one double bed plus one single bed.
- Carina – Under the professional management of long-time diving instructors Shaahina and Gert, this ship attracts many repeat bookings from all over the world.
- Dream Catcher II – Dream Catcher II is the ultimate dream safari that will ensure you travel in comfort and ease to your many destinations throughout this marvelous country.
- Galileo – Certified according to the strict guidelines of German Lloyd, this oceangoing ship can venture further afield than the usual dive cruise routes.
- Island Safari 2 Royal – Launched in 2007, this ship boasts 8 deluxe rooms and 2 suites for a maximum of 20 guests – plenty of space and comfort for an unforgettable cruise.
- Nautilus One – You will enjoy the harmonious combination of tradition and modern features on board of this cozy ship.
- Nautilus Two – Launched in 2008, Nautilus Two has already established itself as one of the best ships and dive destinations in the Maldives.
- Pretty Tombilli – Pretty Tombilli is no luxury destination and doesn’t want to be. Free from chichi gimmicks, this ship offers a homely atmosphere, exclusive access to an uninhabited island and a whole range of amenities.
- Stingray – An expertly run ship offering great value for money, Stingray can rightly be proud of her many regular guests.
- Theia – Theia was launched in 2009 and offers abundant space for up to 18 guests. The ship is run by a young team of Maldivian dive safari experts.
Maldives Diving Marine Life
Maldives diving is world-renowned for it’s rare underwater beauty. Coral reefs, often referred to as “rainforests of the sea,” are home to a quarter of all marine fish species, making the Maldives a true mecca for marine biologists and scuba divers.
While diving in the Maldives, you can expect to see:
- Green Turtles
- Hawksbill Turtles
- Whale Sharks
- Boxfish
- Garden Eels
- Manta Rays
- Napolean Wrasse
- Remora
- Stingrays
- Nudibranchs
- Nurse Sharks
- Stonefish
- Stone Coral
Maldives diving is the best way to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitats.
Best Dive Sites for Maldives Diving
Maldives diving features hundreds of unique dive sites for avid scuba divers to explore. Check out a few of our favorites:
- Banana Reef – Banana Reef was the first dive site to ever be discovered in the Maldives and is still among the best for Maldives diving.
- Broken Rock – Apart from Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock is probably the most well-known for Maldives diving site in the South Ari Atoll.
- Cocoa Corner – Cocoa Corner is a Maldives diving site that can be explored in several different ways and with the right current and conditions, it’s is the best shark show around Male Atoll.
- Fish Head (Mushi Mas Mingili Thila) – Fish Head, or Mushi Mas Mingili is every diver’s favourite dive and one of the most prominent Maldives diving sites in Maldives.
- Fotteyo Kandu – Many scuba divers consider Fotteyo Kandu to be the best site for Maldives diving and it is also rated among the top 5 dive sites in the world.
- Gangehi Kandu – Gangehi Kandu is one of the longest channels for Maldives diving in the Ari Atoll, with a drift of more than 2.5 km from the channel’s entrance to the end of the dive at the inside of the Atoll.
- Guraidhoo Kandu – Guriadhoo Kandu, also known as Guraidhoo Corner, is famous for its notorious incoming current during Maldives diving.
- HP Reef – If you were asked to choose the best dive site between HP Reef and Nassimo Thila, the wise thing to do would be vote for both and rank them both equally as they are two of the most spectacular sites for Maldives diving.
- Kalhahandhi Kandu (Pannettone) – Kalhahandi Kandu, also known as Pannettone, can be subject to some strong currents at times, creating washing machines and underwater turbulence, so it is only suitable for novice divers when there are no currents.
- Kandooma Thila – Shaped like a teardrop, Kandooma Thila is one of the most spectacular Maldives diving sites in the South Male Atoll, for scenery as well as for prolific fish life.
- Kuda Haa – Kuda Haa is definitely considered as one of the highlights of Maldives diving.
- Kudarah Thila – Kudarah Thila is subject to strong currents and a quick descend is necessary here.
- Lion’s Head – Lion’s Head is one of the oldest shark point dive sites in the Maldives. Schools of Grey Reef Sharks as well as some excellent soft coral formations and heaps of colourful reef life can be found here while diving.
- Malhoos Thila – The caves and overhangs at Maalhos Thila are filled with blue color soft coral and extra cloud of yellow brought by the Blue Striped Snappers (Lutjanus Kasmira) while diving in the Maldives.
- Maaya Thila – Maaya Thila is one of the best Maldives diving sites for a night dive. The dive boat is usually fixed to the mooring and a line is used for the ascent and descent for safety reasons.
- Maldives Victory Wreck – The Maldives Victory Wreck is 110 metres long and lies at a depth of 35 meters on a sandy bottom. The bow points to the north.
- Nassimo Thila – Nassimo Thila is an oval-shaped Maldives diving Thila displaying a good variety of colourful, soft corals. The most interesting aspect of Nassimo Thila is the randomly scattered pinnacles.
- Okobe Thila – Okobe Thila is one of the most uniquely shaped Thilas in the North Male Atoll and it comprises three large coral heads.
- Rangali Madivaru – Madi in the local language of the Maldives, means “Ray”, hence the name Madivaru for this site, which is also known as Hukrueli Faru. During the North East Monsoon, Madivaru is a superb Manta Ray cleaning station.
Maldives Diving Seasons
Maldives diving is exceptional all year round, though seasons do slightly differ from one another with regards to availability of liveaboard departures, manta ray and whale shark sightings and visibility.
November to May are the best months to find suitable liveaboard deparatures. Though liveaboards operate all year round, the departure dates and potential for Maldives diving may not be as flexible as they are from November to May.
April, May and June are the hottest months of the year and, since the plankton are booming during these long, lazy days, they are also the best months to see manta rays, whale sharks and other large pelagics while diving in the Maldives.
December to March are usually the best months for high visibility. Maldives diving may experience reduced visibility from May to August due to the rainy reason.
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