diving tour maldives

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

DIVE Magazine

Scuba Diving Luxury Travel Magazine

10 best dive resorts in the Maldives

5 May 2022 8 minutes

More than 120 resorts and hotels are dotted on tiny islands the length of this vast archipelago straddling the equator in the Indian Ocean. Here’s our pick of 10 of the best for divers 

Barefoot eco hotel, haa dhalalu atoll, kuredu resort & spa, lhaviyani atoll, komandoo, lhaviyani atoll, soneva fushi, baa atoll, vilamendhoo island resort, south ari atoll, mirihi island resort, south ari atoll, oblu helengeli, north male atoll, rasdhoo island, rasdhoo atoll, filitheyo resort, faafu atoll, fuvahmulah city.

Most Maldives resorts are on small uninhabited islands and can range from the most opulent luxury to more simple barefoot beach villas. We have also included three options of staying in local communities on inhabited islands which are increasingly popular and where you can experience local life as well as awesome diving, including Fuvahmulah, which is fast becoming one of the world’s hottest new dive destinations for big pelagic action.

Our choices have been based on performance in our annual DIVE Travel Awards and recommendations by our network of correspondents.

See the real Maldives – this is one of the few hotels based on an inhabited island. Hanimadhoo in the far north of the Maldives has a population of more than 2,000 farmers and fishers. The simple but chic and very environmentally friendly (no single-use plastic & solar power) hotel is in the middle of a traditional village, complete with a school and mosque.

Alcohol is banned on local islands, so you have to take a  five-minute boat ride out to a floating bar if you are desperate for a beer. It seems as if all the village’s families come down to the beach to hang out and relax in the early evening — a totally different experience than the hermetic luxury of being pampered on a resort island.

The dive centre has everything you will need, and you will dive from a traditional dhoni.

The island sits just below the Eight Degrees Channel which separates the Maldives and India’s Lakshadweep Islands and, sadly, has been brutally overfished in the past – today they have clamped down on illegal fishing and the pelagics are slowly returning. The diving is gentle with few of the highs you would find further south – but on the plus side there are very few divers and you will have the reefs to yourself.

From  £2,295 pp for seven nights, including UK flights.   DIVE WORLDWIDE

Website WWW.THEBAREFOOT.COM

Lhaviyani Atoll which lies about 100 kilometres north of the international airport has less tourist development than other atolls. Kuredu was one of the first resorts in the area and has been popular with divers for more than 20 years.

It is in Maldivian terms a relatively large island nearly 2km long and up to 325m wide, and there are more than 380 rooms. The diving in the atoll is excellent and includes the Shipyard site with two very diveable wrecks and Madivaru Kandu is a high-energy channel pulsing with pelagics.

The resort is all-inclusive and the diving is run by the very professional and award-winning Prodivers – good chance of seeing manta rays from May to November.

From   £1,788 pp for six nights, including UK flights. BRITSH AIRWAYS

Website WWW.KUREDU.COM

This resort is one of the more recent developments in the Lhaviyani Atoll and lies just to the south of the far larger resort of Kuredu. You stand a very good chance of being the only dive boat at any site – there are more than enough to go round for the handful of resorts sitting on the northern end of this large atoll. Some all-action drift dives in sites such as Felivaru Kandu.

The area is so unspoilt new dive sites are being regularly found.  To date, 15 species of shark have been seen in the atoll and divers regularly encounter six of them. The dive centre is another run by the excellent Prodive. The island is a luxury resort for adults only – small, romantic and wonderful diving.

From £2,090PP pp for seven nights, including UK flights. KOUNI

Website WWW.KOMANDOO.COM

This resort sets the bar for Maldivian luxury and environmental standards – not always things that go together. For more than 20 years, this luxury hotel out in the remote Baa Atoll has been lavishly pampering its guests in 57 extremely stylish villas.

The diving is equally bespoke – the resort even has its own tiny solar-powered liveaboard for small groups to go off exploring for a few days complete with glass-bottomed Jacuzzi ( insert photo ). The hotel adds a two per cent levy on each room donated to its foundation which supports environmental, social and economic causes.

From £5,625 pp for seven nights, including transfers but not international flights. ELEGANT RESORTS

Website WWW.SONEVA.COM

A long-standing favourite with serious divers, this resort in South Ari Atoll is a 25-minute seaplane trip from the international airport and has a total of 194 rooms. The dive centre is one of the 11 in the Maldives run by the extremely professional Euro Divers – guaranteeing a very high standard of instructors and guides.

There is an excellent house reef and more than 40 good sites to explore including Vilamendhoo Caves and the Khudarah Thila which explodes with vibrant soft corals. From June to October, there is a good manta ray dive. Day trips are frequently scheduled to nearby Mamigili, designated a whale shark national park. One other treat is the night ‘fluo’ dives – an experience not to miss.

From  £1,676 pp for seven nights, including UK flights. TUI

Website  WWW.VILAMENDHOO.COM

You may also be interested in:

• The best places in the world for scuba diving
• Ten of the best places to scuba dive in Egypt
• Ten of the best places to dive in Indonesia
• The best places to dive in the Philippines
• Eight of the best places to scuba dive in Mexico

This small gem of an island tucked into an isolated corner of South Ari Atoll was the most popular dive resort in the Maldives in DIVE’s 2021 Travel Awards . With only 38 rooms, this luxury resort offers five-star peace and quiet with some of the best diving in the Maldives, not only on nearly six kilometres of barely touched house reefs, but on more than 40 top sites within an hour’s boat journey.

A 25m-long transport ship was sunk as an artificial reef in 30m more than 20 years ago just 50m from the house reef and is now a thriving marine environment. The resort runs its own Project Hope growing coral to restock bleached or damaged reefs – in February it planted more than 200 corals across its house reef, which had been raised in supervised nurseries.

From  £2,250 pp for seven nights, including UK flights. TROPIC BREEZE

Website MIRIHI.COM

This resort was the most popular in the Maldives in our first DIVE Travel Awards five years ago and came second overall in the world’s top dive resorts – quite an achievement for one that had only been open a couple of years. 

Its excellent position on the quiet northeastern fringes of the archipelago’s busiest atoll (home to the most resorts, the capital and the international airport) bang in the middle of one of the main channels linking the interior lagoon to the Indian Ocean helps make the diving superb. Plenty of pelagics and a dream house reef. The laid-back sophistication and good value all-inclusive packages attract a growing band of loyal and discerning divers.

From  £2,141 pp for seven nights, including UK flights. BRITISH AIRWAYS

Website   WWW.OBLU-HELENGELI.COM

Rasdhoo is the only inhabited island on this small atoll just off the far larger Ari Atoll and about 50km from the international airport in North Malé Atoll. It has a population of just under 1,500. It has plenty of bed & breakfast and small hotels and a handful of good dive centres, one of which came second in our readers’ DIVE Travel Awards poll in 2021 for dive centres in the Maldives – Big Blue Divers (find them on Instagram @big_blue_divers_rasdhoo). You can reach the island by twice-weekly public ferries from Malé (three hours) or regular speed boat connections (one hour). This is a fascinating place for independent travellers. The diving is excellent, with hammerheads regularly seen between January and April and more than 20 good dive sites to explore. Or perhaps you could add on a short stay after a liveaboard trip in the region.

Filitheyo is the only island resort in out-of-way Faafu Atoll and has a Werner Lau dive centre which has long been a favourite with discerning divers. It is a 35-minute seaplane trip from Malé Airport and has some exceptional diving.

The house reef has multiple entry and exit points allowing you to explore the outer wall at your leisure – many regulars spend all their time honing their photography skills on this rich and extremely healthy reef. It is not unusual to see both manta rays and whale sharks on the house reef. There are also two scuttled wrecks a short swim from the beach. Don’t miss out on trying a ‘fluo’ night dive where you can marvel at the wonders of marine fluorescence.

From £1,489 pp for seven nights, including UK flights.   DESTINATION2

Website FILITHEYORESORT.COM

This small atoll is dominated by one largish island (the third biggest in the Maldives) and sits at the far south of the archipelago just beneath the Equator nearly 500km from the capital Malé. The 13,000 inhabitants speak a distinctive variation of the Dhivehi language known as Fuvahmulaki baha . The population has more than doubled in the past 10 years, putting increasing pressure on its limited arable land.

For the past 1,000 years, it has been famed for its tuna fishery, and over time this has built up a sizeable population of tiger sharks feeding on the scraps from the trade dumped in the ocean. Unlike most Maldivian islands it is not surrounded by a lagoon and the diving is unique.

The main attraction is 300 odd tiger sharks but you also encounter thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, mola mola, whale sharks and there are more than 20 known excellent dive sites. This is some of the best diving the Maldives offers.

This is some of the best diving in the Maldives, high-energy and exciting. The island is fast gaining the reputation of one of the best dive spots for large fish in the Indian Ocean, if not the world.

Fuvamulah Dive School only got going in 2017 and its team are making stunning discoveries nearly every day! If you want adventurous diving check this stunning diving experience out.

From  US$1,999 pp for seven-night dive packages with Fuvamulah Dive school, including travel from Malé but not international flights

Website FUVAHMULADIVE.COM

FOLLOW DIVE

Want to access DIVE on your tablet or smartphone? Press the Apple, Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device

More from DIVE

• Advertise with DIVE Magazine
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

The Maldives

Home > Destinations > The Maldives

Top The Maldives Resorts / Liveaboards

Blue Force One

Scubaspa Yang

Medhufushi Island Resort with Werner Lau Diving

The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia by population and land, but spread over 90,000 square kilometres of ocean, and dotted with countless atolls and reefs, diving the Maldives is probably on every divers’ bucket list.

An island nation of 26 coral atolls scattered with 1192 islands, it’s obvious that in the Maldives diving is the top tourism activity. Only 185 of these islands are reported to be inhabited, but it seems that everyone is home to one or more luxury resorts. The Maldives features postcard-like vistas of white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and clear blue water. However, the Maldives best features are found underwater on its rich coral reefs, which abound with marine life both large and small, and the best way to get around as many of these as possible is by liveaboard.

Maldives scuba diving offers endless adventures for all levels of scuba diver. For the inexperienced diver there are shallow coral gardens in the lagoons, home to a wide variety of reef fish and invertebrates. More experienced divers can explore walls, pinnacles, shipwrecks and enjoy fast-paced drift dives through reef channels. At these sites divers will encounter pelagic fish like barracuda, trevally, mackerel, batfish and snapper, plus turtles, sharks, rays, moray eels and a wide variety of schooling fish.

The Maldives is probably best known for is large marine life. While numerous shark species are seen on most dives, it is also a great place to encounter whale sharks. In most parts of the Maldives, they are seasonal, but South Ari Atoll has a population of juvenile whale sharks, year-round.

The Maldives is home to the world’s largest population of these massive rays. Manta rays gather at numerous sites throughout the Maldives, hovering over bommies to get cleaned or swarming in lagoons to feed, sometimes in plague proportions at Hanifaru Bay. And during your stay there is a good chance you will see whales and dolphins, with 21 species of cetaceans in the area.

There are literally hundreds of dive sites to explore in the Maldives, and several ways to explore them. You can stay at a resort, or several, during your stay and dive the nearby sites, which is perfect if you have a non-diving partner or young children. However, the best way to explore the Maldives scuba diving is to join one of the many liveaboard vessels that ply these waters, allowing you to explore four or more atolls during a week-long trip.

The Maldives is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The atolls of the Maldives are located between 1 degree south and 8 degrees north of the equator.

Indian Ocean

Getting There

Malé International Airport is the gateway to the Maldives and is serviced by flights from many countries. Coming from Australia, or the nations of the Pacific, the most popular route is via Singapore, but flights are also possible through many major airports in South-East Asia, India and Sri Lanka. Divers coming from Europe will find that many airlines offer direct flights or will transit via Dubai and Doha. The airport is located on Hulhule Island, adjacent to the capital Malé.

Filitheyo Island Resort with Werner Lau Diving

Fulidhoo Dive

Aveyla Manta Village with Liquid Salt Divers

Oceanholic Dive

Most resorts in the Maldives have a dive centre attached, which are ready to take you to the nearby dive sites. The country also has over 150 liveaboard vessels.

Where to Stay

If staying at a resort your choices will be endless, but look for one that has a dive centre attached or advertises itself as a dive resort. Choosing a liveaboard can be just as difficult with over 150 plying the waters of the Maldives. There are basic budget liveaboards and luxury liveaboards, plus everything in between. We have selected just five modern and comfortable liveaboards, all of which we can vouch for, with a variety of itineraries to choose from, which include some special ‘dive with a purpose’ trips.

If arriving a day or two before your liveaboard trip you can either stay in Malé or close to the airport on Hulhule Island. Hulhule Island is more convenient, as the liveaboards depart from here, with most pickups done from the airport.

Blue Voyager

Emperor Explorer

Emperor Voyager

Scubaspa ying.

Make sure your hotel, resort or dive operator knows your flight details for your arrival in Malé, as there are no taxis from the airport. If staying in Malé or near the airport the hotel should organize a pickup, otherwise, staff from your resort or liveaboard boat will greet you for a transfer to your boat or seaplane.

Liveaboard trips in the Maldives are a little different to other countries, with the vessel having no dive deck. Instead, all diving is done off a tender boat known as a Dhoni. This boat, which can be 20m long, houses all the dive gear and the compressor. The beauty of this system is that it frees up space on the main boat, so larger cabins, and also no noisy compressor and no smelly wetsuits.

Diving regulations in the Maldives limit divers to a maximum depth of 30m. This may sound a little restrictive, but most dive sites are above 30m. This depth limit also makes the Maldives the perfect place to use nitrox, with many of the liveaboard boats providing it free of charge. So if you haven’t done a nitrox course it is highly recommended before a trip to the Maldives.

The Maldives enjoys a tropical monsoon climate, with the average daily temperature throughout the year around 30°C and the night time temperature rarely dropping below 25°C. The country experiences two main seasons, the dry season associated with the northeast monsoon from December to May, and the wet season from June to November during the southwest monsoon. Water temperatures vary from 26°C to 29°C, so a 3mm wetsuit is comfortable year round.

Power Sockets

The Maldives has a standard voltage of 230V and a standard frequency of 50Hz. There are two types of power sockets in use in the Maldives, the type G (as used in the UK) with 3 rectangular pins and the type D with 3 round pins.

Banks and Banking

The currency of the Maldives is the Rufiyaa (MRF), and it is not generally traded outside the country so is difficult to get prior to arrival. ATMs and currency exchange outlets are located at the airport. However, many tourists to the Maldives never have to use the local currency at resorts, on liveaboards or at tourism-related business as most payments are generally made via credit card or with US dollars. The most widely accepted credit cards are Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club, JCB and Euro Cards.

Tipping is not expected in the Maldives, but it is appreciated, especially on a liveaboard boat with the money spread evenly between the hard-working crew.

Telecoms and Postal Services

There are 3G and 4G networks in the Maldives, with the largest phone company Dhiraagu, reported to offer 100% coverage of the islands and atolls. If you don’t have international roaming, you can purchase a SIM card at the airport, however, WiFi is widely available at resorts and on liveaboard boats.

For those that still like to write letters and send postcards, Maldives Post provides postal services to the rest of the world.

Visa and Immigration

All visitors to the Maldives are issued with a free 30-day visa upon arrival. However, please ensure your passport is valid for the time of your visit and doesn’t expire within the 30 day visa period.

Health and Medical

No compulsory vaccinations are required for the Maldives. The country is free of malaria, however during the wet season, there is an increased risk of dengue fever. Medical services in the Maldives are limited, with Medical Clinics found on most islands, but there are only two hospitals in Malé.

There are two recompression chambers in the Maldives for the treatment of decompression sickness. One is located at Bandos Island Resort, North Malé Atoll and the other at Kuramathi Island Resort, Rasdhoo Atoll.

Culture and Language

The Maldives is a Muslim country and being on the major seafaring route between Asian, Africa and Europe it has a very rich culture with influences from all these regions. It was a British protectorate for many years and since independence in 1965 it was a member of the Commonwealth until it withdrew in 2016. The Maldivian people are very friendly and welcoming to visitors, but expect tourist to respect their customs, by dressing modestly in public.

Being a Muslim country, alcohol is banned. You cannot bring alcohol into the country. Fortunately, alcohol is widely available to tourists at resorts and on liveaboard boats.

The national language of the Maldives is Dhiveli, however English is widely spoken, especially in the tourism industry. Local and expat dive guides work at resorts and on liveaboard boats, with many speaking French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.

Where to Eat

You will be a captive audience for meals at your resort or on your liveaboard, with both offering a great mix of western and Asian cuisine. If you can, try some traditional Maldivian food. Heavily influenced by Indian cuisine, Maldivian food is generally made up of three elements – fish, coconut and rice, and mixed with some wonderful spices their curries are fabulous.

How to Get Around

There are only two ways to get around the Maldives, by boat or seaplane. Ferries operate between the islands, which are great for short runs between Malé and the airport, but not so good for a journey to your resort if it is several hundred kilometres away.

Most resorts operate seaplanes, with the Maldives home to the world’s largest fleet of seaplanes. The views from the seaplane are spectacular and there is no better way to arrive at a resort than via one of these flying boats.

Other Activities

With the Maldives, 99% water, watersports are the main activity that most tourists enjoy. The diving is naturally first class, and snorkeling can be enjoyed at many locations. However, many resorts also offer kayaking, water skiing, windsurfing, jet skiing, kite surfing, sailing, parasailing and fishing.

A visit to Malé is highlight recommended to soak-up Maldivian culture and to experience the most densely populated island on earth. A tour ofMalé is offered at the end of many liveaboard trips as a surface interval before your flight home. You can stroll along the waterfront and marvel at the crystal clear water, or visit the fish or vegetable markets. For more culture, visit the Grand Mosque, the National Museum or the monument to the victims of the 2004 Tsunami.

Alimatha Faru, Maldives

Embudhoo Express, Maldives

Fesdu Wreck, Maldives

Golden Wall, Maldives

Kanduoh Giri, Maldives

Maamigili, Maldives

Miyaru Kandu, Maldives

Moofushi, Maldives

Mulah Kandu, Maldives

Rakeedhoo, Maldives

Rangali, Maldives

Vanhuravalhi Kandu, Maldives

With 26 atolls spread over a wide area of the Indian Ocean, there are literally hundreds of dive sites in the Maldives. Located atop the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a 960km long submarine mountain range, the atolls of the Maldives rise from deep water and are a haven for a wide variety of marine species. The reefs of the Maldives are home to 187 species of coral, over 1100 species of fish and countless species of invertebrates. Divers can explore shallow coral gardens, gentle sloping reefs, shipwrecks, artificial reefs, coral walls, pinnacles and reef channels.

Currents are very common in the Maldives and are used to do drift dives, especially through reef channels, known locally as a kandu. These dives generally start on the outside of the reef, drifting to the channel opening. Then, using a reef hook, divers clip onto a piece of dead coral and watch the passing parade of sharks, pelagic fish, reef fish and sometimes dolphins, marlin and other spectacular marine life. After twenty minutes divers unhook and glide along the channel into the safety of a sheltered lagoon, exploring ledges and caves on the way. Drift dives are also done along coral walls and reef slopes where divers will see pretty corals, abundant reef fish, turtles, sharks and rays.

Pinnacles, known locallyas a thila, are also very popular dive sites. Most of these are found in lagoons, so often have weaker currents, depending on the tides. These rise from 30m or 40m and terminate around 5m to 10m from the surface. These pinnacles act like a beacon for marine life and attract schooling fish, sharks, rays, turtles and many reef species.

For those into wrecks, there are a number of shipwrecks to explore, and also many purposely sunk vessels that are fun to dive.Most of these wrecks are now wonderful artificial reefs, covered in pretty corals and home to a wide variety of marine life.

While every atoll in the Maldives could be a complete destination, the country is generally split into three zones based on liveaboard itineraries. The most popular, and easiest area to explore, are the Central Atolls . Located close to the capital of Malé, the atolls in this central region contain some of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives. The most popular Central Atolls include North and South Malé, Vaavu, Meemu, Rasdhoo and the legendary North and South Ari Atoll. On a 7-day liveaboard trip through the Central Atolls divers will see schooling fish, pelagic fish, sharks and many manta rays. The Central Atolls can be dived at any time of the year, but are at their best from December to May.

Currents are very common on the Central Atolls, and the main reason these reefs are so rich with marine life. It is possible to avoid currents when diving sheltered sites in lagoons, but to experience the best sites you will have to contend with the currents. These currents are generally strongest on the outer reef, the channels between reefs and in the narrow channels feeding into the lagoon. All the dive guides are very knowledgeable about these currents and use them to do drift dives.

These current dives on walls and channels are the best way to see sharks, barracuda, trevally, mackerel, batfish, Maori wrasse, groupers, eagle rays and other ocean wanderers. But some of the best dives in this area are on the pinnacles and coral gardens. These are home to a wide variety of colourful reef fish, numerous invertebrates, rays, reef sharks, morays and turtles. Some are also visited by manta rays and don’t be surprised if you also see a whale shark or a pod of dolphins.

The Southern Atolls are generally only explored between February and April, with this area renowned for sharks. Liveaboard trips to this area often start in Malé and include a few Central Atolls on the journey south, but some trips start in the south, requiring a flight to one of the small airports in the southern region. Popular Southern Atolls include Foammalah, Huvadhoo, Laamu, Gaafu and Thaa. Sharks are the big attraction in this area, especially in the fast flowing channels, with grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, whale sharks, silky sharks, hammerheads and even tiger sharks to be seen. This area also has nice corals and good fish populations, plus the dive sites are far less crowded than the Central Atolls. Unfortunately with strong currents and deep water this area is only for experienced divers.

The Northern Atolls are reputed to have the best corals and macro critters found in the Maldives, but most divers head to this area to see manta rays and whale sharks. The atolls in this region are generally only dived between July and October when the new moon creates large tidal flows and soupy plankton blooms, food for ocean giants. The main attraction is the squadrons of feeding manta rays in Hanifaru Lagoon at Baa Atoll. Dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of manta rays, gather in this lagoon and are often joined by several whale sharks. You can only snorkel this location, but liveaboard vessels visit other sites where the manta rays get cleaned. The Northern Atolls also have many wonderful pinnacles and channels to explore, and the best cave dives in the Maldives. The most popular atolls visited in this region are Baa and Lhaviyani, but some also explore Raa and Noonu, plus a few of the Central Atolls on the journey to or from Malé.

Diving conditions in the Maldives are dictated by two monsoon seasons. The northeast monsoon runs from December to May, bring calm seas and clear water (20m to 40m visibility) to the eastern atolls, but often stirred up conditions on the western atolls (8m to 15m visibility). This is generally the most popular time for diving. From June to November the southwest monsoon brings clear water to the western atolls, but also rougher seas across the island nation. Less liveaboard options are available at this time of the year. Water temperatures in the Maldives vary from 26°C to 29°C, so a 3mm wetsuit is ideal.

The coral reefs of the Maldives have been hit by several coral bleaching events, the most recent in May 2016. This coral bleaching is reported to have affected up to 60% of hard corals on some reefs, with much of the coral later dying. I dived the Central Atolls in February 2017 and saw lots of dead hard coral. It was sad to see, but it didn’t detract from the diving, as the marine life was rich and plentiful. Over the next few years, it is hoped that much of this hard coral will come back, returning these reefs to their former beauty.

Request a Callback

Aquaventure Scuba Diving Maldives

Scuba Diving Maldives, Addu the most southern atoll is a truly unforgettable experience that stands out from the rest in the Maldives. In Addu we have several top diving sites; Addu Manta Point, where you can see Manta rays year round, Addu SharkPoint where you can dive with hundreds of sharks including tigersharks and silvertip sharks. The second world war wreck the British Loyalty and diving sites with the best hard corals you can find in Maldives. Addu Atoll is the best place in Maldives, if you like to dive with giant manta rays, tigersharks and more pelagic species.

Whether you’re a novice or an experienced scuba diver, the Maldives are just one part of the world that offers a large number of diverse dive sites, that cater to every individual scuba diver’s needs and desires for underwater adventure and beauty. Scuba diving in Maldives is in warm, clear waters and abundant marine life have made the Maldives one of the top scuba diving destinations on the planet. Turquoise lagoons that are full with life, colorful coral reefs that rival some of the best in the world.

Addu Atoll in Maldives is home to an array of dive sites, all with their own unique features. From wreck dives to drift dives and reef dives. There are plenty of things to see and enjoy, no matter what level of diving experience you have gained thus far in your scuba diving career.

About Aquaventure

Our guest house.

We work close with several partners together to accommodate our divers, the guesthouses we offer are "True South" and "Equatorial Divers Lodge".  You can choose between Equator Divers Lodge with a fresh water pool or True South at Maradhoo with a private beach, True South is a 15 min walk to the dive center.

OUR COMPANY

Enoy your scuba dive vacation with us, great dives and a relaxed stay with a lot of fun with our Aquaventure Team, with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and since 1998 operating Dive Centers in the Maldives we have the know-how to provide you with the best possible dive vacation in Addu.

OUR DIVE CENTER

PADI 5-STAR DIVE CENTER - Is fully equipped with S80 Alu tanks and 15L Steel tanks. At our compressor room we have 3 BAUER K14 compressors . Our rental equipment brands are Aqualung, Cressi and Mares. With our  diving boat "Dhoni" we can reach the most dive sites in less then one hour.

At our Guest House, the dive boat we will make you feel welcomed. Our team of International PADI Dive Instructors and Dive Guides with thousands of dives in Maldives will show you the best dive spots in Addu Atoll. Our Dive Center PADI Instructors can teach in Dutch, German,  English, French and Dhivehi.

Why choose us

Scuba diving Maldives for a reasonable price, stay at our Guest House enjoy the international kitchen in one of our local selected restaurants and make your unforgettable dives with Aquaventure Dive Center.

If you have just finished your Open Water Diver course or you are a Tec Diver a Professional, Aquaventure Dive Center offers diving for all levels, in small groups with personal guides so you can dive, within your own limits.

Mission statement

The primary objective of Aquaventure Maldives is to provide a safe, friendly and fun environment. Where our guests can "learn to" scuba dive and enjoy Addu's amazing marine life.

No mass tourism

Exciting and exclusive diving, no mass tourism! Addu Atoll is in the far South of the Maldives. The domestic flight from Male to Gan takes about one hour and 20 minutes.

Scuba Diving in the Maldives

When you are planning to book your next diving holiday to the Maldives, then Addu is the right place: exciting and exclusive diving, and no mass tourism! Addu Atoll is in the far South of the Maldives, at about one hour and twenty minutes by domestic plane from the capital Male or you can fight directly to (GAN - Addu) from Colombo with SriLankan Airlines.

Dive the last unexplored paradise of the Indian Ocean and let Aquaventure Maldives organise the complete Scuba Diving Maldives package. Aquaventure can book one of our partner guest house in Addu City. 

Just book your International flight to Male and we will book for you the domestic flights, accommodation and scuba diving package.

If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it starts.

Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI® Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world through this course. 

As a certified scuba diver you’ve already experienced the thrill of exploring parts of the underwater world, but know there’s more to discover. Whether you’re looking for new dive adventures, to improve your scuba skills, or both at once, taking another PADI dive course will help you gain more confidence and meet more dive buddies. Your Aquaventure Team

JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Google Maps. However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. To view Google Maps, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, and then try again.

Social Media

Aquaventure app.

Narjis "JiJi" 🤙 Your Diving Instructor

Hey there I'm here, so let me know what's up and I will be happy to help you.

Start a chat with me

• $ 0.00 0 items

Maldives Diving Tours (w/ Price & Itinerary)

The Maldives is almost synonymous with diving as this island nation enjoys the abundance of the Indian Ocean. With almost 1,200 little islands that form this archipelago, the country has just as many dive sites and underwater exploration avenues. A smart way to uncover the undersea marine diversity is to sign up for one of the countless Maldives diving tours from Samudra Maldives.

Thanks to its dispersed layout, The Maldives is located across both the sides of the equator, making it one of a handful of countries in the world that are part of the Northern Hemisphere as well as the Southern Hemisphere. Maldives’ weather remains rather pleasant all through the year, although the dry months of November to January are the best for sightseeing.

The country can either be experienced through its culture and cuisine or through its nature and marine life. About 200 local islands offer insights into the Maldivian lifestyle through walking tours , Island hopping tours and eco excursions . However, most of the other islands out there are private isles, each with a luxurious resort with overwater villas , beach bungalows and other relaxing accommodation options.

Diving in The Maldives is not only for the experienced but also for beginners. An established dive centre can provide you with a lot of information on what to expect under the ocean and how to dive responsibly. You will also be able to collect the appropriate gear and get on a diving tour to see the famous barrier reefs of The Maldives. There is a lot more than coral columns you can look forward to on any dive though.

#1 Madivaru Outreef Maldives Diving Tour

With a top reef that begins as early as 5 metres, Madivaru Outreef is perfect for a first-time diver. The dive site also offers a sharp drop of 30 metres and more on its outer reef, a great opportunity for intermediate and advanced level diving enthusiasts. When you go further down from 18 metres, you tend to see some intriguing caves with nudibranchs enhancing their beauty.

Also watch out for the overhangs and the profusion of moray eels that fill the space. The ceilings are particularly interesting as this is where you can spot soldier fish that weirdly swim upside down. Be sure to motion to your scuba diving instructor in case you feel disoriented after looking up. Other fish you can sight are scorpionfish, eagle rays and tuna.

The nearest island to this dive spot is Madivaru which is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll . At a distance of 45 minutes from Komandoo Island and 60 minutes from Kuredu , the Madivaru Out reef is certain to fascinate you.

#2 Hani Kandu Maldives Diving Tour

Not all dive sites in The Maldives are placed close to islands. Some sit exclusively in the middle of the ocean. One such site is Hani Kandu. A small channel located between the North Male Atoll and Kaafu Atoll Gaafaru , Hani Kandu can be easily reached from Malé, the capital city of The Maldives .

If diving is what you wish to do right after you land at the Velana International Airport , you should go on a diving tour of the shallow channel of Hani Kandu. Ideally suited to those who have prior diving experience, this site drops to 30 metres. Keep your eyes peeled for soft corals that cling to the tips of the channel overhangs. Vibrant in blue and yellow, these corals hide plenty of ghost pipe fish.

One can spot different species of fish at different parts of this dive site. While the sandy bottom is full of feather tail rays and whiptail rays, the edges of the channel are home to garden eels. The presence of currents make it possible for a diverse set of underwater life to flourish here. The currents are also why one must be experienced to do this dive.

Sting rays are generally found at the bottom of the ocean. However, if you are interested in other types of rays, you can catch eagle rays at various depths. If you are a fan of wrasses, you will not be disappointed as napoleon fish are common in Hani Kandu. Mesmerising coral gardens beneath the Indian Ocean create a setting that is perfect for making your Maldives Honeymoon package exciting and adventurous.

#3 Fun Giri Maldives Diving Tour

If you thought islands only exist over water, think again! Fun Giri is an underwater island that basically looks like a patch of sandy earth in the depths of the sea. This small island falls in the path of a channel. While the island surface has depths ranging from 7 metres at the top reef to 12 metres, its edges tend to drop sharply, forming walls on either side.

The steep walls are at least 14 metres deep and slope further down to 30 metres and more as you move away from Fun Giri. The slopes are home to 3 giant coral blocks. Intertwined in the corals are groupers. It is “fun” to watch the shrimps and cleaner wrasses cleaning up the groupers. You can go opt for a full day trip or half day trips depending on your available free time.

As you waft about in your scuba gear, you will mostly be able to see glass fish that seem to be stuck to the small overhangs along the walls. However, as you gently shove them aside, you will be able to spot cleaner shrimps and moray eels that are otherwise hidden. The walls are also the place to search for small nudibranchs which are gastropods with a soft body.

#4 Latheef Maldives Diving Tour

Located in Faadhippolhu Atoll , Latheef is a must-visit dive site for photography enthusiasts. It is highly recommended to carry an underwater video or photo device to capture the marvels that you will find at Latheef. Easily reachable by boat, this diving tour is ideal for beginners as well as intermediate level divers and advanced professionals.

Latheef has low currents, making it easily navigable, yet ideal for spotting marine life. The visibility in this part of the Indian Ocean is quite good, going as far as 30 metres. The reef starts as early as 5 metres in the depth, but drops steeply to 30 metres and more. There are a bunch of caves and overhangs that can be expected at Latheef.

The ceilings of the overhangs are quite beautiful at this diving site as they are covered with soft corals in different hues. The colour of the corals vary depending on the depth of the overhang, the shallower ones having bright yellow shades while the deeper caves have bright purple and blue coloured corals.

If you are on the search for leopard sharks, you will find some at the bottom of the deep caves. The sandy seabed is a resting place for these exotic sharks. The caves also house a variety of moray eels, nudibranchs and shrimps. Latheef is an exciting place to be, as you will be able to watch schooling fish such as bat fish here.

Turtle watchers should look out for green turtles at Latheef. If you can be patient, you will also be rewarded with a glimpse of the elusive large hump head parrot fish which feed in this region. You can include this diving trip as an add-on to your Maldive tour package .

#5 Kuredu Caves Maldives Diving Tour

Often called Turtle Airport, Kuredu Caves are located between Latheef Reef and Kuredu Corner. This dive site in The Maldives has earned this moniker due to the prominence of green sea turtles. The population of these amphibians is so large that one does not even have to wait long to spot one.

Scuba diving at Kuredu Caves is possible for divers of all experience levels as the top reef begins just at 3 metres. The maximum depth of the site is 30 metres, but most of the action can be seen till 25 metres, making the remaining depth indispensable on any diving tour. The overhangs start at 8 metres and can be found until 20 metres deep.

Soldier fish are commonly sighted near the soft corals on the ceilings of the overhangs. Since the corals drip downwards, the fish swim upside down, offering a strange sense of semblance deep in the ocean. Big napoleon fish and stingrays are commonly found at the sandy bits of the reef. This is one such trip that you should not miss to include with your Maldives vacation package .

There are many other types of fish one can find at the overhangs. Some of these are scorpion fish, porcupine fish, leaf fish, lion fish and moray eels. Located off the Kuredu Island , Kuredu Caves make for a great dive, with plenty of sites waiting to be explored alongside on a day-long excursion.

Even though diving is a preferred activity for many travellers in The Maldives , the country offers umpteen other pursuits to fill your time. You can explore shallow water snorkelling , active water sports such as wakeboarding or surfing, light activities like canoeing, or even fun activities like banana boat rides.

The sparkling blues of The Maldives are also popular for the sunset tours on dhonis – traditional Maldivian wooden boats . There are many ways to reignite your romance on these islands, from private sandbank picnics , to luxury yacht tours , to candlelight dinners to floating breakfasts on the private pool of your overwater villa . Add island hopping tours to the mix, and you stand no chance to get bored for even a second in this Asian paradise!

• Kochi to Maldives Packages
• Maldives Honeymoon Packages from Kochi
• Greece Tourism from India
• Where is Turkey Located?

• Things to do in Maldives
• Water Sports in Maldives
• Maldives Day Tours
• Activities to do in Maldives
• 7 Days Maldives Tour Packages

• Where is Maldives Located? Maldives Islands Location on World Map
• Best Time to Visit the Maldives
• Activities & Things to do in Maldives
• Malé – Capital City of Maldives
• Maldives Velana International Airport in Malé
• International Airports in the Maldives
• Maldives Weather
• Atolls in Maldives
• Geography of the Maldives
• Maldives History & Culture
• Maldivians – People of Maldives
• Dhivehi – Language of Maldives
• Where is Malé?
• Maldives Arts & Crafts
• Dhonis – Traditional Boats
• Places to Visit in Malé, Maldives
• Floating Bars in Maldives
• Places to Visit in Maldives for Honeymoon Couples
• Underwater Restaurants in Maldives
• Underwater Shipwrecks in Maldives
• Glowing Bioluminescence Beaches in Maldives
• Dolphins in Maldives
• Manta Rays in Maldives
• Sharks in Maldives
• Whales in Maldives
• Fishes of The Maldives
• Turtles in Maldives

• Islands of Maldives
• Hotels in Malé, Maldives
• Maldives Water Villas & Overwater Bungalows
• How many days are sufficient to visit Maldives?
• Maldives island Packages
• Weather in Maldives in January
• Weather in Maldives in February
• Weather in Maldives in March
• Weather in Maldives in April
• Weather in Maldives in May
• Weather in Maldives in June
• Weather in Maldives in July
• Weather in Maldives in August

Scuba Diving the Maldives: Ultimate Guide (2023)

Scuba diving and snorkeling with manta rays, whale shark spotting, diving along with black and white-tip  reef sharks, grey reef sharks and turtles are only a few of the activities you can do in the Maldives.

If you are into big marine life, drift diving, fluo night diving, luxury and relaxing, then Maldives is definitely the right destination for you. Maldives is also one of the perfect scuba destinations if you are planning to learn to scuba dive.

Table of Contents

With more than 1,200 islands and idyllic islets, the Maldives is host to 159 active resorts as of January 2023. We usually associate the Island Nation with ultimate relaxation and tranquility, pristine waters, and unspoiled beaches combined with the ultimate luxury experiences.

Besides luxury experiences, what makes the Maldives such a sought-after holiday destination is for the most part the immaculate beauty offered to us by mother nature. Crystal clear water inhabited by endless colourful fish, coral reefs and palm tree leaves gently caressed by the sea breeze would simply not be there had human speculation fully taken over.

When it comes to diving, the Maldives is famous for its insane variety of marine life, particularly of large species such as manta rays, eagle rays, sharks and turtles. It is definitely a paradise for scuba divers of all levels given also the varied underwater landscape.

However, given the huge number of islands and islets, organizing a scuba vacation in the Maldives can be quite confusing. This is why, after having visited the whole country over five trips, I have decided to draft this ultimate guide.

Before planning your next scuba trip to the Maldives, scroll through this post to get an idea of the best way to dive the Maldives, best regions, prices and practical tips. If you still have some questions, feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment down below.

How to Dive The Maldives

Given the crazy amount of dive sites, diving the Maldives on a liveaboard is definitely one of the best possible options. A liveaboard is a large boat equipped with a diving deck (or support boat, called Dhoni in the Maldives) and onboard accommodation.

Liveaboard diving is usually one of the best options for a diving focussed holiday, particularly if you are interested in all inclusive diving packages with 3 to 4 dives per day (including night dive).  There currently are 56 Liveaboards operating in the Maldives with several one, two, or three weeks itineraries available .

With such a wealth of liveaboard options available, you will be able to choose the best option that accommodates your timing, wallet, and diving preferences. Some liveaboards such as Scuba Spa offer mixed packages for divers and non divers alike, whereas some others offer itineraries that are better suited for advanced divers (e.g. with many drift dives) . In terms of costs, Liveaboards in the Maldives are generally cheaper than resorts.

Before booking your Liveaboard holiday in the Maldives, you should pay special attention to the required minimum number of dives. Liveaboards are often not the best solution for newbies as most of them require a minimum number of logged dives (usually 30 or 50 logged dives).

If you are interested in exploring the Maldives on a Liveaboard, check out my post on the  15 Best Liveaboards in the Maldives . 

If you are planning a family, honeymoon, or water sport holiday that includes relax and diving, then a resort stay in the Maldives is definitely for you.  With more than 150 resorts spread across 17 Atolls, I am sure you will be able to find the solution that best fits your needs.

Needless to say, Maldivian resorts are generally on the high-end in terms of costs but at the same time offer a wealth of activities, relax opportunities and exploration experiences. Many resorts are located on private islands and feature secluded white sand beaches, blue lagoons, spas, gyms, workstations, meeting venues and water sports centers. 

While staying at a resort, you can lounge around on pristine white sand beaches and embark on extra activities like surfing, day tours, water sports and yoga and meditation classes. Most of the resorts have a dive center, this is therefore one of the best options if you are a diving newbie and would like to take your open water diver certificate.

Many resorts are designed explicitly for divers with world-class dive centers and operations offering shore diving, boat diving, night diving, wreck diving and much more!

Note that while staying at a resort, diving is considered as an extra activity and is usually not included in the “all-inclusive” resort packages. You will read more on this in the costs section.

Local Islands

Although both liveaboard and resort diving are the most common forms of diving in the Maldives, diving from local islands has recently started to gain traction and is becoming increasingly popular.

Staying on a local island (usually in a guesthouse) is a great opportunity for a full immersion into the Maldivian culture and traditions and can be an amazing experience. It is also one of the best ways to discover the Maldives if you are on a budget. 

Note, however, that Maldives is an Islamic country and that contrary to resorts and liveaboards, local islands are subject to strict requirements in terms of nudity and alcohol consumption for example.

Before booking a diving trip to a local island you should make sure that there is a dive center available as this is not always the case, and island hopping is not so easy in the Maldives.

Diving Regions in the Maldives

This amazing Island Nation has 17 main atolls, that can be split into 5 geographical regions. Most liveaboards will use this terminology to describe their itineraries.

Note that, unless you are visiting the Maldives on a liveaboard, switching from an atoll to the other will require a private boat or private seaplane trip which can be quite expensive. If you are planning on doing some island hopping via seaplane, you will need to factor in additional transfer time as most seaplane itineraries require a stopover in the Male Seaplane terminal. 

From a landscape point of view, the five Maldivian regions are pretty much similar. On the surface you have small islands with pristine sandy beaches and blue lagoons, and underwater you have pinnacles, walls, overhangs, some caves, and plain open water. In most of the regions you may find turtles, manta rays, black and white tip sharks as well as whale sharks.

You should however pay attention to the fact that some of those species may visit some of the regions only seasonally. For example, if you plan to snorkel with Manta Rays in Hanifaru Bay, you will need to plan your trip in the Baa Atoll between late Jue and October. This is the best time to have greater chances of spotting the Maldives’ gentle giants. 

In terms of unique characteristics, the central region is the easiest to reach. This is where the capital city Malé is located, together with the Velana International Airport. It should come as no surprise that the  central region is the most populated and touristic . Most of the liveaboards start from Malé and most of the resorts in the central region are reachable via a quick speed boat ride from the airport’s harbour. There are some exceptions for resorts located in the North Male Atoll, that will offer you the possibility of a seaplane transfer. 

The  southern regions (south and deep south) can be reached either by internal flights or by seaplane and are more off the beaten track . They host amazing marine life and are most famous for big species such as black oceanic mantas, 12 species of sharks and ocean sunfish (mola mola).

The  northern regions (north and far north) are even less off the beaten track than the southern regions . From a scuba diving point of view those regions offer the highest amount of unexplored dive sites, caves and wreck diving.

Let’s take a closer look at the atolls in each different region.

Maldives Central Region

Maldives’ central region includes the atolls of Kaafu, Alifu Alifu, Alifu Dhaalu, Vaavu. Some of these names might sound uncommon. Here below you will find the most used alternatives:

• Kaafu Atoll = Male Atoll  (includes North Male and South Male)
• Alifu Alifu = Northern Ari or North Ari Atoll
• Alifu Dhaalu = Southern Ari or South Ari Atoll
• Vaavu Atoll = Includes the natural atolls of Felidhu and the Vattaru Reef.

The North and South Ari Atolls are often referred to as the “Ari Atoll”.

The central region of the Maldives is surely the most well known and touristic. This is because most resorts within this region are easily reachable via a short speedboat or seaplane ride.

The Male, Ari and Vaavu Atolls combined offer 82 resorts ranging from normal luxury to uber luxury resorts.

In terms of diving, although the central region of the Maldives is the most populated and touristic, there are some amazing dive sites where you will be able to spot Manta Rays, Whale Sharks (particularly in the South Ari Atoll), plenty of reef sharks and sea turtles.

If you are keen on spotting Mantas and Whale Sharks, you should aim at a resort or liveaboard reaching the South Ari Atoll. The central region is also home to two more secluded atolls: Rasdhoo and Vaavu. The Rashdoo Atoll is mostly famous for its Hammerhead Point, one of the best places in the Maldives where you can spot Hammerhead Sharks. The Vaavu Atoll is instead famous for its drift diving in strong currents.

Maldives Southern Regions

The Southern Regions includes 8 atolls which are evenly split between  Maldives’ South and deep South Regions . Both regions are way more calm and quiet as compared to the Central Region. This means less crowded resorts, fewer liveaboards, and less boat traffic in general. In the Southern region you will generally encounter less divers and dive sites have the chance of being less crowded as there are fewer resorts.

Maldives’ Southern Region is made of four main atolls: Faafu (aka Nilandhoo), Laamu (aka Hadhdhunmathee), Thaa (aka Kolhumadulu) and Meemu (Malaku).  They host 6 resorts in total, with an overall capacity of 542 rooms. Smaller resorts are in Laamu and Thaa.

In terms of diving and dive sites, the Southern region is second to none. Although it is famous for its strong currents, there are quite some beginner friendly dive sites where you can learn how to scuba. It is also plenty of current-free dive sites in case you are not into drift diving (the ideal spot if you are not into drift diving is the the Laamu Atoll).

Marine life is quite varied in Maldives’ Southern region and besides amazing soft corals you will be able to spot napoleon fish, grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, and several moray eels species. Given the abundance of current-free dive sites, the Laamu Atoll is also a good location for macro diving and for spotting green turtles. Note that this region of the Maldives is still being developed in terms of diving. This means that despite the abundance of known dive sites, there are many more to be discovered!

If you are looking for an even more remote area of the Maldives, and think the Southern Region is still too crowded for your tastes, then you should definitely head to Maldives’ Deep South.

The Deep South Region is made of 4 main atolls . Also in this case, the same atoll might be called in different ways:

• Addu Atoll = Seemu Atoll
• Huvadhu Alifu = Huvadhoo Alifu = Gaafu Alifu
• Huvadu Dhaalu = Huvadhoo Dhaalu = Gaafu Dhaalu  

Maldives’ Deep South Region is more developed in terms of resorts than the Southern Atolls. This is due to the presence of the Gan International Airport which is expected to become the country’s second international airport after the Velana Airport in Male. Note however that to date, there are no international flights flying to Gan.

The Deep South Region hosts a total of 11 resorts, with an overall capacity of 1316 rooms. Given that the region is relatively large and far from the city of Male, you will still find less crowds than both the Central and the Southern Regions.

If you are into diving with big pelagic species and all sorts of sharks, the Deep South region of the Maldives is definitely for you.

Among the different species you will be able to encounter here you have mantas, mola mola, grey reef sharks, black and whitetip reef sharks, tiger sharks, thresher sharks, whale sharks, nurse sharks, hammerhead sharks, and leopard sharks. This region is also an amazing spot to encounter black oceanic mantas, which are becoming an extremely rare species.

Although the region is most famous for its large pelagic species, lots of macro and soft and hard corals diving is available as well.

Maldives Northern Regions

If you are really not into crowds and would like to have the chance to explore recently discovered dive sites, then the North Region of The Maldives is the perfect spot.

Maldives’ Northern Regions are the least explored to date and least frequented by tourists and travellers, leaving plenty of room to discover unspoiled white sandy beaches, blue lagoons and sandy coral islands. Reaching the Northern Regions of the Maldives is relatively easy, or at least not harder than reaching the Southern Regions.

Most resorts are less than an hour of seaplane or commercial flight away from the Velana International Airport.

Diving the Northern Regions is simply great. Besides some iconic places such as Hanifaru Bay (famous for snorkelling and swimming with mantas), you have a wealth of dive sites and marine life available for all tastes. 

Maldives North Atolls

The Maldives Northern Region can be split into North Atolls and Deep North Atolls.  Northern Atolls are relatively closer to the Velana International Airport and include:

• BAA Atoll,  aka Goidhoo (home to the Unesco Biosphere reserve)
• RAA Atoll,  aka Maalhosmadulu
• Lhviyani Atoll , aka Faadhippolhu

All of them can be reached with a short seaplane ride from Velana or with a commercial flight and speedboat ride.

Diving the North Atolls is amazing, this area of the Maldives is particularly famous for soft coral gardens, canyons, caves, and thilas. In the North Atolls you will have also some great opportunities to spot manta rays as there are several cleaning stations.

If you are keen on visiting Hanifaru Bay, make sure you book a resort in the BAA Atoll as this is the closest point to the bay. Almost all resorts in the BAA Atoll organize daily snorkelling or swimming excursions to Hanifaru Bay. If you are not into strong currents and drift diving, both the BAA and RAA atolls offer plenty of dive sites that are not exposed to currents. I have been in both atolls twice and never had a drift dive.

Maldives Far North Atolls

Maldives’ Far North Atolls are the least explored of all the Island Nation and definitely worth a visit if you are into diving expeditions and exploration.

The Far North region hosts 12 resorts that are spread across areas with strong to zero currents. It is therefore one of the perfect spots both for adrenaline junkies and for newly certified divers.

Maldives’ Far North is made of four main Atolls: 

• Haa Alifu,  aka North Thiladhunmathee
• Haa Dhaalu,  aka South Thiladhunmathee
• Shaviyani,  aka Miladhunmadulu

Haa Alifu is almost at the edge of Maldives’Deep North, and is abundant in drift dive opportunities. Given the strong currents, the Atoll is the perfect place to spot large pelagic species such as manta Rays and Sharks. In the Haa Alifu Atoll, you will also be able to spot leopard sharks, which are quite rare in the Maldives.

The Haa Dhaalu Atoll is instead characterized by an amazing underwater geology, with plenty of wall dives, pinnacles, and underwater caves. The abundance of caves makes the Haa Dhaalu a perfect place to spot nurse sharks.

The Shaviyani Atoll, also known as Northern Miladhunmadulu Atoll or Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi is one of the least explored areas of the Maldives. I think this is because there are few liveaboards doing this route and resorts are generally on the uber luxury side. That said, there are also quite some homestay opportunities for the divers that are interested.

Being one of the least explored sites of the Maldives, the Shaviyani Atoll has quite a lot of dive sites that are still to be discovered. The area is famous for its resident guitar sharks population (also known as bowmouth guitarfish).  

Lastly, the Noonu Atoll is a small Atoll in the Maldives’Far North that is considered the best place in the Maldives for Luxurious Resorts. The Atoll is in fact hosting some of the uber luxury resorts in the Maldives such as Soneva Jani and the Velaa Private Island.

Best Season to Dive The Maldives

Diving the Maldives is possible all year round. I have been there in April, May, August, and December and always experienced an amazingly nice weather.

Most pelagic species are visible all year round, but they might move across atolls based on temperatures and water currents. This is why if you are planning a trip to the Maldives and want to see some specific marine life, you should check which season is the best for a given specie.

In fact, despite the proximity to the equator, the Maldives do experience some seasonal weather fluctuations (including currents and visibility). Before we look further into the details, you should also take into account that most islets in the Maldives are affected from local microclimates. This means that in some of the island you can have a rainy season with little to no rain.

Also note that the Maldives’ Deep South lies on the equator. This means that the area is less affected by seasonality and that you will experience High Season like conditions throughout the year.

High Season to visit the Maldives

Maldives’ high season, also called Northeast Monsoon Season runs from December to May.

The Northeast Monsoon Season is also known as Maldives’ dry season and is characterized by calm waters, low wind and clear skies. Water visibility is at its best during this season, and can reach 35 to 40 meters or 115 to 131 feet.  

Needless to say, prices of resorts and liveaboards are at their highest. Note that although water is calm at the surface, currents are at their highest during this season, resulting in plenty of opportunities for drift diving. Strong currents also mean more plankton present in the canals and therefore more opportunities to spot large pelagic species, manta rays and whale sharks.

Low Season to Visit the Maldives

Maldives’ Low Season, also known as the Southwest Monsoon Season runs from June to November. Although this is supposed to be rainy season, from personal experience, I can tell you that rain is actually scarce (couple of minutes per day or even at night). The sky tends to be more cloudy than in high season and overall water visibility is lower.

Bear in mind that low water visibility in the Maldives still means 15 to 20 meters or 40 to 66 feet. In the Southwest monsoon season you will actually be able to find quite some good deals as resorts and liveaboards are generally cheaper. This is why I actually recommend visiting the Maldives during low season. 

Prices of Diving in the Maldives

If you are wondering how much it costs to dive the Maldives, you have come to the right place. Maldives is generally an expensive destination, with extremely high-quality standards and diving is no exception.

Many resorts have a diving butler that will prepare all your equipment before each dive. In most cases if you are diving from a boat, your equipment will anyways be set up by your instructor or dive guide. When looking at the prices of diving in the Maldives there are several factors you should be looking at.

First thing to know is that not all resorts will offer the possibility to do shore diving. This is because not all resorts have a house reef. In such case you will need to add to the cost of diving the cost of the boat which ranges from USD 20 to USD35 per dive. If you do 3 boat dives per day, you will therefore need to pay from USD 40 to USD 70 for the whole day (two morning boat dives are usually considered as a single dive in terms of boat pricing).

Besides the boat diving price you will be charged on average between USD 40 to USD 60 per single dive. This includes a guided dive and a full tank of air. Most resorts will offer Nitrox for free, in some cases you might be charged an additional USD5 per dive.

Almost all resorts will offer diving packages with increasing discounts for a higher number of dives. In the following table you will see a comparison of the average cost of diving in the Maldives as a single dive and as part of a package.

Yes, diving in the Maldives is quite expensive. On the flip side, the overall quality of the infrastructure – including dive boats – is extremely high.

Quality of rental equipment is also generally high in the Maldives. If instead of a resort you decide to travel locally, the price of a single dive is generally lower and is around USD50 (including boat ride). However, the quality of the rental equipment might differ from the rental equipment you will find in a resort.

How to get to the Maldives

Reaching the Maldives is relatively easy as the country has a single international airport. The Velana International Airport is located in the capital city Male. Note that the Male international airport is also know as Naris International Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, you will generally be greeted by a representative of your resort or liveaboard that will take care of guiding you through the transfer process (either via boat, seaplane, or commercial flight).

For an overview of all the local airports in the Maldives, check out my post on the  Must Know Facts about the Maldives .

How to get to the Maldives from the US

If you are traveling to the Maldives from the US, you should be aware that there are no direct flights from the US to the Maldives. The quickest way to reach the Maldives from both the East or West Coast is via a stopover in Europe.

You will find direct flights to the Maldives from London, Frankfurt, Rome, and Paris. Those flights are generally more expensive than flights from the Middle East. If you want to save some money I suggest you to check direct flights to Male from Dubai, Doha or Muscat.  

How to get to the Maldives from the UK

Getting to the Maldives from the UK is super easy as there are daily direct flights with British Airways. 

Once you have planned your trip to the Maldives and booked your flights, liveaboard or resort, there are some Maldives specific terms you need to be aware of.

Keep reading the FAQs below for further details.

Maldives FAQs

Do i need a wetsuit to dive in the maldives.

Water temperature in the Maldives has an average of 28°C or 82.4°F. A shorty or a 3mm thick wetsuit would be sufficient. A shorty or full body thin wetsuit is recommended in the Maldives also while snorkelling to protect your body from the sun.

Do Reef Sharks bite in the Maldives?

There has not been any single reef shark related accident in the Maldives since tourism has developed. Reef sharks do not bite in the Maldives as long as they are left undisturbed in their natural environment.

How Deep are Dives in the Maldives?

The maximum legal depth limit for scuba diving in the Maldives is 30 meters. This is a local regulation, irrespective of your level of certification (including technical diving certifications).

Can Non Swimmers do Scuba Diving in the Maldives?

This is definitely possible. Most resorts organize discover scuba diving experiences where swimming is not a requirement.

How much does it cost to scuba dive in the Maldives?

Scuba diving in the Maldives costs on average from USD 70 to USD 95 including boat ride, tanks and weights.

For additional details on pricing and equipment rental, check out the dedicated section in this post.

How many days is enough for Maldives?

Four to five days are enough for a short teaser holiday. However to experience Maldives at their fullest you should plan between 10 to 15 days. A single trip will not be sufficient to discover all the underwater world wonders the Maldives has to offer.

Is Snorkelling safe in the Maldives?

Yes, snorkelling in the Maldives is safe. Each resort will give you some advice on the local water conditions to ensure you have a safe experience.

If you want to go snorkelling from your water villa or beach bungalow, make sure you book a resort that has a house reef.

Does Maldives Ocean Have Sharks?

There are more than 12 shark species in the Maldives. The most common ones are grey reef sharks and black tip sharks.

Other species include whale shark, white tip sharks, tiger sharks, leopard sharks, hammerhead sharks, lemon sharks, thresher sharks and of course manta rays.

Maldives Diving Terminology

An Atoll in the Maldives denotes a ring shaped coral reef, island, or series of islets. 

When referring to Atolls as single islands in the Maldives it is important to know that they might or might not have a lagoon. In the same spirit, not all atolls in the Maldives have a reef. Some Atolls are made purely of sandy beaches.

Additionally, when referring to Atolls in the Maldives one can also mean one of the Administrative regions that are actually made of many smaller atolls. For example the BAA Atoll is not a single island but a grouping of many small islands and islets.

If you will be diving from a boat in the Maldives, you will most likely be diving from a Dhoni.

Dhonis are locally made boats that have a peculiar shape. They are relatively large for grater stability and their length may vary.

When scuba diving a Thila, you will be scuba diving the peak of an underwater mountain that has a top reef at a relatively shallow depth (5 to 25 meters).

Kandu is the Maldivian name for channels between reefs, islands or atolls. This is where you will be doing drift diving and encounter some of the large pelagic species. 

Consultant turned banker, turned scuba diving instructor. Travel and exploration addicted, I have traveled to more than 100 countries and always managed to find some mind blowing dive spots. Passionate about everything about scuba diving, I enjoy scuba in the most breathtaking exotic locations as well as in muddy and cold lakes.

Recent Posts

Best Scuba Diving Destinations In April 2024

Whether you are planning a weekend escape or a longer break, April is a great month to organize a scuba diving holiday in many destinations around the world.

Scuba Diving Certification In Utah: Ultimate Guide (2024)

Whether you are based in Utah or just planning a visit and want to get scuba certified, you will be surprised at the number of dive centers that are in the Beehive State. Don't wait further and get...

Popular Maldives liveaboards Explore all liveaboards

• Scubaspa Yang
• from ₽ 32,624 / day
• 9.6   Exceptional
• 206   Reviews

• Scubaspa Ying
• from ₽ 32,223 / day
• 9.5   Exceptional
• 123   Reviews

• from ₽ 20,215 / day
• 9.4   Superb
• 5   Reviews

• Emperor Serenity
• from ₽ 27,620 / day
• 9.3   Superb
• 165   Reviews

• from ₽ 21,015 / day
• 9.2   Superb
• 99   Reviews

• from ₽ 22,917 / day
• 9.1   Superb
• 126   Reviews

Liveaboard Diving in Maldives

Liveaboard SCUBA diving in the Maldives offers some of the world's most pristine and colourful reefs along with luxury dive boats that satisfy the choosiest of vacationers.

Diving in the Maldives by liveaboard offers the best in many must-have tropical SCUBA experiences. Deserted, white sand islands peep out of the ocean by only two meters, stretching seamlessly into an underwater paradise of wildlife nourished by the Indian Monsoon current. The Maldives' crystal clear waters are home to mantas, whale sharks, and reef sharks, not to mention the brilliant flatworms and ghost pipefish who hide among its wrecks, coral gardens, channels, and pinnacles. Maldives liveaboards offer itineraries encompassing the world-class dive sites of North Male Atoll , Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay, Rasdhoo, and many more, including remote atolls in the far north and south where you'd be hard-pressed to see another liveaboard.

Liveaboards in Ari Atoll come for their submerged, volcano-shaped pinnacles, which attract immense amounts of big marine life. Diving in and near Ari Atoll can bring you face to face with manta rays, pelagic fish, and even hammerhead sharks at Rasdhoo Atoll to the northeast. Within Ari Atoll's 40 km length and 105 small islands, dive sites like the premier Maaya Thila, overflowing with reef life, or Donkalo Thila, one of multiple manta cleaning stations, are only accessible to liveaboards. The most dependable Maldives dive sites for whale sharks and manta rays are located in this area. Experienced divers will be best able to navigate the strong currents that bring the giants to Ari Atoll. Maldivian liveaboards to Ari Atoll are mostly MV luxury yachts.

The length of most liveaboard itineraries to Ari Atoll ranges from 7 to 12 nights. The best time to dive in Aril Atoll is the calm-sea season of December to May. The water temperature usually remains between 26-29 C, and visibility is at 15-20 meters. Budgets for liveaboards in Ari Atoll range between 200 to 400 euros per. day. Ari Atoll liveaboards depart from Male, reachable by short flights from nearby Singapore, Dubai, and Colombo, as well as longer flights worldwide. Places to dive in and around Ari Atoll are North and South Male Atolls, Rasdhoo Atoll, and sometimes Baa Atoll. Ari Atoll's liveaboard itineraries will often include a combination of the above.

Baa Atoll , in the Maldives' Northern Atolls area, offers an array of famously beautiful underwater landscapes and plentiful marine life. At Maavaru Kandu, you can dive below huge rocky overhangs festooned with luminous pastel gardens of blue, yellow, and green soft corals. Dhonfanu Thila and Dhigali Haa dive sites are underwater pinnacles known for their scenic whip corals, bushy black corals, and sea fans, as well as schools of snapper and regular manta rays. Hanifaru Bay even enjoys world-famous manta and whale shark aggregations during the plankton-rich months from August through November. Some diving in Baa Atoll is suitable for beginners with moderate currents. Liveaboards in Baa Atoll are mostly MV yachts and luxury yachts.

Nilandhe Atoll , on the western border of the Maldives' Southern Atolls, is a great destination for liveaboard diving. It comprises two atolls - the northern atoll is known for its big schools of fish, sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and eagle rays. The southern atoll is home to an abundance of protected areas teeming with marine life, including grey reef sharks, schools of fusiliers, snappers, sweetlips, and even tuna, turtles, and mantas. No matter your interests, Nilandhe Atoll will surely have something for you.

Fuvahmulah , in the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, offers an unparalleled diving experience. Diving into the crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant coral reefs, exotic marine life, and the chance to spot elusive species like tiger sharks and oceanic manta rays. Fuvahmulah's most popular dive sites include Gahaa Kandu and Thoondu Point; divers are often surrounded by schools of colorful fish and vibrant coral formations. 

The length of most liveaboard dive cruise itineraries to Baa Atoll ranges from 7 to 10 nights. Baa Atoll dive sites can be visited year-round, though the southwest monsoon from May to November can make the seas a bit choppy. The water temperature stays stable at 27-30 C. Budgets for Baa Atoll liveaboards range from 200 to 400 euros per day. Many liveaboards bound for Baa Atoll depart from Male. However, some depart from Hanimadhoo in the north and spend their whole itinerary in that area. Hanimadhoo can be reached by domestic seaplane from Male. Some itineraries on a Baa Atoll-bound liveaboard include North Male and Ari Atoll. Other itineraries may spend more time among Baa's uncrowded neighbors in the north: Lhaviyani, Noonu, and Raa Atolls.

Longer dive safaris include Lhaviyani, Felidhoo , Vaavu , and Meemu atolls, whilst, during January-March, several Maldives dive liveaboards focus their attention on Huvadhoo Atoll in the Deep South close to the Equator. No matter which dive trip you choose, you can be sure to see healthy corals surrounded by colorful reef fish and plenty of pelagic fish action on every dive.

More about the Atolls of Maldives

• Jump off the plane and hop on a boat for a classic Maldives dive trip in the Central Atolls.
• Grab your bunk on an exclusive Far North Atolls liveaboard for untouched, pristine diving.
• Drift dive the Southern Atolls in serenity and witness Maldives' marine life with exceptional visibility.
• Crack the Maldives' best-kept secret- tiger sharks and oceanic whitetips in the Deep South.

Tips for Travellers

The best time to dive in the Maldives is all year. However, some people prefer to avoid monsoon season, which hits the area in April and continues to rain through October. The water temperature typically ranges between 26 to 30 degrees Celsius (80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), with visibility from 20 meters (65 feet) to as far as the eye can see. Water depths include shallow reefs, deep walls, and everything in between, ensuring every diver can find their perfect dive. For the more intrepid diver, there are slow currents in many areas, and extremely strong currents jetting through the atoll pass for the more experienced thrill seeker. Whatever your tastes, Maldives has the diving suited just for you, which can be enjoyed in mild outside weather ranging from 24 to 33 degrees Celsius (75 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit).

In the Maldives, additional liveaboards fees usually include gear rental (not covered by your trip price), which can be in the vicinity of 40 USD per person per night. Every diver must also independently purchase dive insurance before getting in the water. Some other fees like extra alcoholic drinks and special gear such as torches may incur additional charges. In the Maldives, a new Green Tax of 6 USD per person per night applies for every tourist in the country. Some islands and marine parks have national park fees that are not included in liveaboard packages, like Hanifaru Bay's park entrance fee of 20 USD per person. Nitrox is offered on virtually every Maldives liveaboard- some as a complimentary service, and some for a fee. Depending on the route, a fuel surcharge per person per night may be added. This surcharge usually ranges from 10 to 15 USD per night. If you have any questions about extra fees in the Maldives, don't hesitate to contact us directly. We are here for you.

Minimum logged dives are required by many Maldives diving liveaboards, Scubaspa Yang and Ying being the exceptions. Ocean Divine requires 20, MV Orion and Amba require 50, and Carpe Vita requires 100. Safety briefings on boats like Scubaspa Yang and Ying are conducted on day one. Check dives on Maldives liveaboards are often held in Male on the first day.

The official language of the Maldives is Maldivian or Dhivehi.

A free 30 day visa is issued on arrival to all tourists in the Maldives. However, tourists must possess a valid passport, a valid outbound ticket and either a reservation confirmation in a hotel or enough funds to cover expenses for the duration of their stay (30 USD per. day).

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to the Maldives unless you have been in a country with increased yellow fever risk sometime in the nine days previous to arrival. In such cases, you must have proof of a yellow fever vaccination. We recommend standard protection against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, influenza, typhoid and hepatitis A. There is no endemic malaria risk in the Maldives. However, the rainy season (May through September) elevates the risk of dengue fever. For advice on Malaria and Dengue, seek professional medical advice before travelling.

Electricity voltage runs at 220-240 volts ; the standard socket is UK-style three-pin, but many resorts have universal sockets to accommodate non-UK tourists.

The Maldives is the smallest Asian country by land area (300 square kilometres) and population, but its underwater offerings are comparatively huge- 90,000 square kilometres of ocean . Fewer than 300 of its roughly 2000 islands are inhabited, leaving the rest of the white-sand paradises to sharks and corals, and the lucky divers who visit them. At a maximum height of about 2.5 meters above sea level, the Maldives is at incredibly high risk from global warming, which contributes to its activism for carbon-pollution reduction worldwide. Thirty one protected areas exist in the country, and incredible coral restoration projects are common.

Ports of Departure and how to get there

Male is the main liveaboard departure location in the Maldives, and the country's capital city, located on the southern edge of North Male Atoll (also called Kaafu Atoll). The main Male departure port is Hulhule, next to the Male airport. Liveaboards diving in the Central Atolls set out from here. North Male Atoll is the best known and explored dive area in the Maldives, long recognized as a world-class manta and reef shark destination with many longstanding, beloved dive sites of pinnacles, wrecks, coral gardens, and cleaning stations. Entry level divers can find offerings around Male, even though currents can be strong. Standard liveaboards departing from Male may visit North Male Atoll, Ari Atoll and Rasdhoo Atoll, and sometimes Baa Atoll as well. Other liveaboards may head south of Male Atoll to include Meemu (Malaku), Vaavu (Felidhu), and Thaa (Kolhumadulu) atolls.

Travellers bound for Male can take direct flights from Dubai, Singapore, and Colombo. Longer international flights from Europe, America, China, India, and Australia are all readily available, often connecting through the airports mentioned above. Flights to the Maldives are available on multiple airlines, such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines, among others. From the UK, expect at least a 13 hour trip. From Germany or Australia, the flight duration is at least 12 hours. Divers arriving from the USA can fly first to Singapore, with a flight duration of 20 hours from Los Angeles.

Maldives Diving Reviews

• 898 Verified Reviews
• 9.6 Exceptional

I loved the diversity of the diving. We were lucky to get whale shark interactions one day. The mantas were beautiful and abundant. Reef life is very healthy. Loved the shark wall dive, even with the very strong current! DM did a fantastic job briefing it for real expectations.

Diving Maldives in December on the Carpe Novo

• 6.0 Review score

We love diving in Maldives, but it has changed due to climate change. Less fish and corals bleached

Diving Maldives in November on the Amba Liveaboard

• 8.8 Fabulous

Very beautiful country, we enjoyed our time in the Maldives.

Diving Maldives in May on the Carpe Novo

Overall, scuba diving in the Maldives is an incredible experience that offers divers the opportunity to explore a breathtaking underwater world. With its warm waters, abundant marine life, and stunning coral reefs, it's no wonder the Maldives is considered one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world.

Diving Maldives in August on the Maldives Aggressor II

• 8.0 Very good
• Alejandro G

Dives where great although water was a little bit murky hence visibility was reduced

Diving Maldives in January on the Emperor Leo

Much better deep south then central atolls

Half our dives were below average, the other half were good dives - we expected more from the Maldives. Visibility was ok, reefs weren't pristine, pelagic life was average.

Diving Maldives in January on the Emperor Explorer

Loved seeing whale shark at back of boat. Disappointed we didn’t see any Mantas which the Maldives is famous for

Diving Maldives in February on the Emperor Serenity

Sometimes challenging but impressive

Diving Maldives in February on the Princess Sara

• 10.0 Exceptional
• Christina I

Nice especially with current

Diving Maldives in February on the Emperor Leo

We dived from Malé & 7 days South. We saw & experienced more than we could ever imagine. The only thing we didn't come for & see much were the large sharks, but we saw schools of 100-200 smaller sharks, whaleshark, mantas & SO much more.

Diving Maldives in February on the Sachika

• 6.8 Review score

Very nice, although some coral reef bleaching going on sadly

Diving Maldives in February on the Soleil 2

There was something interesting to see on EVERY dive!

Diving Maldives in February on the Sunseeker

Very nice. Lots of small fishes or several big ones depending on the dive. Not the most colorful coral gardens I have seen but most dives were great. Only a few were of little interest.

Diving Maldives in February on the Emperor Virgo

Maldives is the best. Simple as that... you get to see everything possible in 1 single trip. Amazing.

Diving Maldives in March on the Sachika

About half the dives were great. disappointed that we did not get more variety or some of the other locations originally listed in the itinerary. Enjoyed the new friends and the good dives.

Diving Maldives in March on the Orca M7

• 8.4 Very good

Maldives offers a lot of amazing diving but timing is everything and flexible dive plans will make it a wonderful experience

Diving Maldives in March on the Duke of York

All diving in the maldives was a real treat. Lucky with big fish as well! Highlight was a big bull shark on the very last dive. Amazing experience overall with sometimes very strong currents though!

Great beach time on beautiful sand banks and small islands.

Diving Maldives in March on the Scubaspa Ying

Excellent overall. Some of the channel dives can be tricky with the currents but the guides really do their best to find the best routes and keep you relaxed and safe. Vis was great for the majority of sites. But sometimes some extra plankton can be worth it when the mantas make an appearance. The second boat (dhoni) is a god send.

Amazing diving and great variety

Diving Maldives in March on the Scubaspa Yang

Excellent. Water temps great and mostly good visibility. Plenty of varied fish species.

Diving Maldives in March on the Blue Force One

Our favourite sites were the most southern ones. We lucked out with tigers and hammerheads.

Diving Maldives in March on the Carpe Novo

Good marine life, not a lot of healthy corals, need some experience diving with current

Diving Maldives in April on the Carpe Vita

• luis fernando R

Overall, Maldives is a place to visit at least 1once. Unique opportunity to see big mantas, medium whale shark and grey sharks. Reefs are not as well preserved nor impresive as in other areas. Diving in kandus is exciting and rewarding, but many people will feel stressed. Diving out of kandus is quite crowded and not worth the travel in my opinion

Diving Maldives in April on the Blue Force One

Overall good, just worse visibility Expected more coral gardens on top of tila

Diving Maldives in April on the Emperor Explorer

Overall diving experience as outstanding. Some of the best diving we have ever done!

Diving Maldives in April on the Emperor Serenity

Varied diving with a wide range of marine encounters

Diving Maldives in April on the Sachika

Incredible! Best we’ve done. Perfect visibility! And the wildlife all had great personalities!

Diving Maldives in April on the Scubaspa Yang

There was at least a soft to medium current on every dive, and several dives involved swimming into a strong current for a time which was quite tiring. But worth it to see the sights we experienced

Diving Maldives in April on the Blue Voyager

Nice drifting experience. White tips black tips Nurse Sharks. Manta Rays. Dolphins. Whale shark. String Rays. Eagle Rays.

Diving Maldives in April on the Emperor Leo

very good. Some challenging dives, as expected, but our dive guides and boat crews helped prepare us for them and made sure the dives were excellent all around.

Enjoyed most of my dives, and we were able to see a lot, despite the weather not always cooperating. The staff always had an alternative plan if the current was to strong or doing in the opposite direction

Excellent, great mix of relaxed diving with some tougher current to spice it up

Great / but underwater world is a little bit damaged and needs lots of care

Of all the places I have been diving, Maldives rates in the top 2, with Komodo National Park being the other. The team on this boat this week made this trip an especially wonderful week.

Diving Maldives in May on the Emperor Leo

Good experience. First time close counter of whale shark, many manta ray at cleaning station, big hammer head shark, 4 guitar shark circle around. Also hundred of stingray circle around.

Diving Maldives in May on the Carpe Diem

Exciting and one of a kind! Learned a lot of new things! on board, as well as, off board!

We loved the trip and the diving. You get to see all of the maldives classics.

Diving Maldives in June on the Scubaspa Yang

Little to no current

Diving Maldives in June on the Horizon 3

Easy diving, some fun currents, unbelievably diverse and always something new to see

Diving Maldives in June on the Scubaspa Ying

The weather is great on the first day and the last when we departure, however the rest days are raining unfortunately. It somehow affect the visibility under water. Coral is quite stunning at FIVE ROCKS, that's the most vast and beautiful corals that I have seen in my life.

I really enjoyed my time in the Maldives. The abundance of different fish, the sharks, rays, shrimp, and nudibranch. Also the different types of coral. Diving with the use of a Dhoni makes the experience so much easier and better.

Diving Maldives in July on the Emperor Voyager

Snorkeling was great but the reefs were all dead but one here. There was no information about the reasons. When asked the crew said it’s due to humans touching the reef and not warmer waters. The weather here is the same year round. Global warming is not the reason but over doing human contact is the reason. Team leaders said it’s due to global warming. More information should be provided to build awareness on the health of marine life with credible resources. This is far more important!!!!

Diving Maldives in July on the Princess Dhonkamana

Decent. Unfortunately we didn't get the best visibility and some feedback that our diveguide took really poorly soured the last dives.

Diving Maldives in July on the Horizon 3

The diving is done from the Dhony, so no dive equipment on the main boat, which makes diving very comfortable and easy. The only small downside is the 45 mins maximum dive time.

Diving Maldives in August on the Sachika

Zur richtigen Zeit an den richtigen Orten. Mantas ohne Ende

Diving Maldives in August on the Carpe Novo

good, though not extraordinary - dive spots were the most famous ones, maybe there woukd have been better ones off the beaten track

Diving Maldives in August on the Sunseeker

Snorkeling was nice! Choppy waters probably due to the season but who doesnt love the Maldives!!

Diving Maldives in August on the Scubaspa Ying

Excellent whale sharks, mantas and other sharks. Nice warm water 😊

Diving Maldives in September on the Blue Force One

First time in this period of year (out of the peak season) and again really good and enjoyable.

Diving Maldives in September on the Felicity

Lot‘s of stuff to see, great fish life and corals. Highly recommend to do a dive safari rather than diving in resorts as you can see much more different dive sites and it‘s a better value for money deal.

Diving Maldives in September on the Carpe Novo

Can not wait for the next trip in Maldives for more sharks in different season and areas.

Diving Maldives in September on the Carpe Diem

Whether you are diving or snorkeling, the Maldives is an incredible place to experience the beauty of the ocean.

Diving Maldives in October on the Princess Dhonkamana

Very good! Some dives with a lot of current

Diving Maldives in October on the Blue Voyager

One of the top spots in the world. Always plenty of life around and a huge variety of sea creatures.

Diving Maldives in October on the Blue Force One

Exactly what I was expecting

Diving Maldives in October on the Sachika

Ok just not as colourful as i thought it may be

Diving Maldives in October on the Emperor Leo

Loved it. Was some of my best dive experiences. Loved the variety of life. Good place to see mega fauna. Currents are present and might be something to consider

Diving Maldives in October on the Princess Sara

It was excellent. Already planning my next trip here (still on the islands as I type this). The visibility varies quite a bit across dive sites (generally, I’d say a little shorter than in the Caribbean), but the temperature is consistently high (85-86F) — good enough to not need a wetsuit, even with 3 dives a day.

Diving Maldives in October on the Princess Haseena

All sites where up to my expectations, with special emphasis to the ones we dove with Whale Sharks Vaavu Atoll and Manta S.Ari Atoll

Diving Maldives in October on the EcoPro Moonima

Amazing for pelagic life!

Diving Maldives in October on the Carpe Novo

Some of the best diving of my life! Incredible encounters with sharks and manta rays.

Diving Maldives in November on the Blue Voyager

• Christian F

Sehr sehr gut, viele "Großfische", viele unterschiedliche Haie, Mantas, Schildkröten, aber auch Schnecken, Clownfische und schöne Korallen

Diving Maldives in November on the Princess Sara

Diving the Maldives was excellent. The visibility was good, water was warm and sea life incredible

Diving Maldives in November on the Emperor Serenity

Lovely experience, except for all the plastic trash in the ocean around some populated islands and specifically Male.

Diving Maldives in November on the Carpe Novo

Every trip to Maldives has something new to offer

Diving Maldives in December on the EcoPro Mariana

Plentiful sharks, Mantas, Eagle Ray's, Whalesharks. Mostly strong currents with the need to descend quickly. Sometimes not so good visibility.

Diving Maldives in December on the Ocean One

Diving in the Maldives is world-class for the amount of life and the variety of dives. Should be on the bucket list for all serious divers. If you love sharks, come to the Maldives.

Diving Maldives in December on the Princess Sara

Great. Lots of sharks on most dives, Mantas, whalesharks fun current.

Diving Maldives in December on the Princess Dhonkamana

The best diving so far. Great for Pelagic as well as reefs.

Diving Maldives in December on the Ocean Divine

Small current, different species of sharks and rays That's awesome to see whale shark!

Tne water was nice and warm. Visibility could be hit or miss. On a bad day you are looking at about 40ft and on the best day we probably had 150+ft. But we saw almost everything there is to see. Mantas, whalesharks, eagle and sting rays, big fish, small fish, turtles incl. a giant one that was easily 6ft long from head to tail and much more. Ofc some of the rare species like leopard sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads etc. are just pure luck and very rare to see. Don’t count on it.

Really nice! A place to came back!

Diving Maldives in December on the Blue Force One

Very poor visibility, South Ari was boring

Diving Maldives in December on the Emperor Virgo

Incredible amount of fish and pelagic

Diving Maldives in December on the Blue Voyager

Overall, amazing! Some dives the visibility was questionable and we couldn’t see far into the blue.

Diving Maldives in December on the Carpe Vita

10 out of 10 for its amazing sightings, abundance fishes. Highly recommend to have 40-50 dives before coming to Maldives, for your own safety sake.

Diving Maldives in December on the Theia

Very good. Variety of fish. Large fish: mantas, sharks, turtles,

As expected with strong currents and many pelagic animals. Visibility in late Dec was not as ideal as imagined.

Diving Maldives in December on the Sachika

Great trip - even with pretty crappy weather

Diving Maldives in December on the Amba Liveaboard

wonderful, unforgettable, amazing

Surprised to see trash floating whenever we were sailing or anchored

Diving Maldives in January on the Blue Force One

At least half of the dives had at least some current, with a couple having some strong currents that I was not used to. Recommend bringing a reef hook (but you can rent them). The reefs are gorgeous and have a lot of life. You'll see at least one pelagic on every dive <3. Also, it rained on nearly half the days, even during the "dry" season.

Diving Maldives in January on the Princess Sara

Great experience! Currents were more than expected but quite tolerable. Would have liked to have visited more reefs with micro but that's being picky.

5 star still one of the best places to dive and see the big ones (W/shars / Mantas / Sharks

Diving Maldives in January on the Emperor Serenity

Overall it was great! Great dive masters also. Expected better visibility. Lots of new fish to see.

Amazing for shark and manta lovers. Challenging for less experienced divers.

Diving Maldives in January on the Amba Liveaboard

Sea temperature is warm. Around 29 degrees in January so no wetsuit was needed certainly for divers from the UK. Visibility in generally very good although there was some murkiness is the mouth of the channels. Some beautiful corals were seen on a couple of the dives. Some pretty fish life around too. The sea needs extra respect in the Maldives. Currents can be very strong and unpredictable in direction

Diving Maldives in January on the White Pearl

Overall the experience was very good but must note the following: I found many dives with different current grades. Few were probably not appropriate for beginners. The development didn't go always as planned. Visibility was another issue. I was expecting greater visibility in this part of the world and came back a bit disappointed.

Diving Maldives in January on the Princess Dhonkamana

Visibility was bad but the marine life was amazing

Diving Maldives in February on the Top Class Cruising - Sunseeker

It was disappointing tbh - the outgoing currents meant the vis was bad.

Diving Maldives in February on the Infinity X

Good diving, good visibility, nice corals & decent fish life. Sharks, Mantas and a few whale sharks (at night by the boat)

Diving Maldives in February on the Horizon 3

Did not expect such poor visibility n poor coral conditions. Mantas, whale sharks and sharks were impressive.

Diving Maldives in February on the Ocean One

The overall diving was at a satisfactory level. I thought there were more diving sites suitable for advanced dives than beginners because there were some places with some current.

Dive sites are very good to excellent. Currents are medium to strong most of the dives. Use of reef hooks is highly recommended. Water temperature is stable at about 29C most of the time.

Diving Maldives in February on the Emperor Explorer

Definitely good for large sharks, Mantas etc. Would like a few coral reef dives interspersed with the shark dives.

Diving Maldives in February on the Amba Liveaboard

Would like to have dived more sites without only focusing on sharks

Diving Maldives in February on the Conte Max

The water wasn’t always as clear as expected, but overall it was an amazing and inspiring experience

Warm water, good visibility, amazing variety of life, small and large, great coral reefs

Diving Maldives in March on the Scubaspa Yin

We’re here to help, 24/7.

Find available liveaboards.

• AUD Australian Dollar
• BRL Brazilian Real
• CAD Canadian Dollar
• CHF Swiss Franc
• CNY Chinese Yuan
• CZK Czech Koruna
• DKK Danish Krone
• GBP British Pound
• HKD Hong Kong Dollar
• HUF Hungarian Forin
• ILS Israeli New Sheqel
• INR Indian Rupee
• JPY Japanese Yen
• KRW Korean Won
• MXN Mexican Peso
• MYR Malaysian Ringgit
• NOK Norwegian Krone
• NZD New Zealand Dollar
• PHP Philippine Peso
• PLN Polish Zloty
• RON Romanian Leu
• RUB Russian Ruble
• SEK Swedish Krona
• SGD Singapore Dollar
• THB Thai Baht
• TRY Turkish Lira
• TWD New Taiwan Dollar
• USD US Dollars
• ZAR South African Rand

Connect with our expert travel consultants to plan your next trip.

• Call us +44 1341 555033
• Email Us Send us a message
• About us Read more
• Cayman Islands
• Dominican Republic
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Solomon islands
• Turks and Caicos
• Virgin Islands
• Admiralty Dream
• Adriatic King
• Adriatic Princess
• Adriatic Queen
• Akomo Isseki
• Alaskan Dream
• All Star Cuan Law
• All Star Red Sea
• Amadeus Thailand
• Amalia Indonesia
• Amaya Explorer
• Amba Liveaboard
• Aqua Tiki II
• Aqua Tiki III
• Archipell I
• Atlantis Azores
• Azalea Philippines
• Bahamas Aggressor
• Bahriyeli C
• Bahriyeli D
• Baranof Dream
• Belize Aggressor III
• Belize Aggressor IV
• Black Pearl
• Blackbeards Morning Star
• Blackbeards Sea Explorer
• Blue Dolphin
• Blue Force One
• Blue Horizon
• Blue Maldives
• Blue Melody
• Blue Shark 2
• Blue Voyager
• Burc-u Zafer
• BVI Aggressor
• Cachalote Explorer
• Caledonian Sky
• Calico Jack
• Calipso Cruise
• Calipso Dive
• Captain Bota
• Captain Sparrow
• Caribbean Explorer II
• Carpe Diem Indonesia
• Cayman Aggressor IV
• Chichagof Dream
• Christianna VII
• Cocos Island Aggressor
• Coral Adventurer
• Coral Discoverer
• Coral Geographer
• Coral I and II
• Coral Sea Dreaming
• Cormorant II
• Crucero Amazonas
• Cruisenautic
• Deep Andaman Queen
• Dewi Nusantara
• Discovery Alaska
• Discovery I
• Discovery II
• Discovery Palawan
• DiveRACE Class E
• Dolce Vita Egypt
• Dolphin Dream
• Dolphin Queen
• Duke of York
• Duyung Baru
• EcoPro Mariana
• EcoPro Moonima
• Elite Galapagos
• Emperor Asmaa
• Emperor Elite
• Emperor Explorer
• Emperor Harmoni
• Emperor Leo
• Emperor Raja Laut
• Emperor Superior
• Emperor Virgo
• Emperor Voyager
• Expedition Antarctica
• Fascination
• Fiji Princess
• Freedom III
• G Adventures Canary Islands
• G Adventures Croatia
• G Adventures Greece
• G Adventures Thailand
• Galapagos Aggressor III
• Galapagos Horizon
• Galapagos Legend
• Galapagos Master
• Galapagos Sea Star
• Galapagos Sky
• Galaxy Diver
• Galaxy Diver II
• Gaya Baru Indah
• Gemini Explorer
• Gentle Giant
• Ghazala Explorer
• Golden Dolphin
• Golden Dolphin II
• Golden Dolphin iii
• Golden Dolphin IV
• Grand Majestic
• Hammerhead II
• Harmony G Cape Verde
• Heaven Saphir
• Heritage Explorer
• Hondius Antarctica
• Hondius Arctic
• Humboldt Explorer
• Idriva Comfort Plus
• Idriva Deluxe
• Idriva Premium
• Indo Master
• Infinity Galapagos
• Jardines Avalon Fleet
• Jaz Crown Jewel
• Jelajahi Laut
• Katarina Line Deluxe
• Katarina Line Deluxe Superior
• Katarina Line Premium Class
• Katarina Line Premium Superior
• Katarina Line Traditional En-Suite
• Kimberley Quest II
• Komodo Sea Dragon
• Lucky Marine Liveaboard
• Maldives Aggressor II
• Maldives Blue Force 3
• Maldives Legend Sea Pleasure
• Mama Marija
• Mama Marija II
• Manta Queen 1
• Manta Queen 2
• Manta Queen 3
• Manta Queen 5
• Manta Queen 7
• Manta Queen 8
• Merit Dahabiya
• Mikumba Dua
• Mutiara Laut
• MY Odyssey Liveaboard
• Natural Paradise
• Nautilus Belle Amie
• Nautilus Explorer
• Nautilus Gallant Lady
• Nautilus Two
• Nautilus Under Sea
• Neptune One
• Nile Queen II
• Northern Dream
• Ocean Albatros Antarctica
• Ocean Albatros Arctic
• Ocean Divine
• Ocean Hunter 3
• Ocean Lovers
• Ocean Quest
• Ocean Sapphire
• Ocean Spray
• Ocean Victory
• Odyssey Dive
• Okeanos Aggressor II
• Ombak Putih
• Ortelius Antarctica
• Ortelius Arctic Diving
• Pacific Master
• Palau Aggressor II
• Palau Siren
• Palau Sport
• Panorama Greece
• Panorama II Polynesia
• Pearl of Papua
• Philippine Siren
• Philippines Aggressor
• Plancius Antarctica
• Plancius Antarctica Diving
• Plancius Arctic
• Plancius Arctic Diving
• Plataran Phinisi Ambasi
• Polar Pioneer
• Princess Aloha
• Princess Dhonkamana
• Princess Haleema
• Princess Haseena
• Princess Rani
• Princess Sara
• Princess Ulua
• Putri Papua
• Queenesia II
• Quino el Guardian
• Raja Ampat Aggressor
• Raja Ampat Explorer
• Red Sea Aggressor II
• Red Sea Aggressor IV
• Red Sea Blue Force 2
• Reef Endeavour Diving
• Reina Silvia Voyager
• Rembrandt van Rijn Arctic
• Roatan Aggressor
• Rocio del Mar
• Rock Islands Aggressor
• Royal Evolution
• Royal Evolution - Saudi Arabia
• Running on Waves
• Safari Endeavour Alaska
• Safari Explorer
• Safari Explorer Hawaii
• Safari Quest
• Safari Voyager Mexico
• San Spirito
• Saudi Explorer
• Sawasdee Fasai
• Scubaspa Zen
• Sea Bird Cruise
• Sea Pearl Cruise
• Sea Safari 8
• Sea Safari VI
• Sea Safari VII
• Sea Scorpion
• Sea Serpent
• Sea Serpent Contessa
• Sea Serpent Excellence
• Sea Serpent Grand
• Sea Star Alaska
• Seafari Explorer 2
• Seahorse II
• Seaman Journey
• Seawolf Dominator
• Seven Seas Egypt
• Shore Thing
• Situju7 Cruise
• Smiling Seahorse
• Snefro Love
• Snefro Pearl
• Snefro Spirit
• Snefro Target
• Solitude Adventurer
• Solitude One
• Solomons Master
• Southern Sport
• Spirit of Freedom
• SS Glorious Miss Nouran
• SS Serena Dreams
• Steigenberger Legacy
• Steigenberger Minerva
• Steigenberger Regency
• Steigenberger Royale
• Stella Maris
• Stella Maris Explorer
• Stella Oceana
• Sunshine Egypt
• Thailand Aggressor
• The Phinisi
• Thunderbird
• Tiare Cruise
• Tiburon Explorer
• Tranquility
• Treasure of Galapagos
• Turks and Caicos Aggressor II
• Turks and Caicos Explorer
• Vita Xplorer
• Water And Wind
• Westward Alaska
• Westward Mexico
• White Manta
• White Pearl
• Wilderness Discoverer
• Yasawa Princess Cruises
• Zephyria II

Polar Regions

• New Zealand

Ask a question

Fill in the form below and LiveAboard’s customer service will get back to you as soon as possible.

Maldives Diving | Your Ultimate Diving in the Maldives Guide

With warm, crystal clear waters beckoning divers worldwide, the Maldives is nothing short of a diving paradise. Boasting some of the best spots for heading underwater, this is your ultimate Maldives diving guide.

A sprawling collection of over 1,200 islands dotting the Indian Ocean, many come to the Maldives for an unforgettable island getaway. Offering that and so much more, thousands come to experience the thrill the islands’ almost otherworldly diving opportunities showcase.

So, if you’re questioning when is the best time to dive in the Maldives , which spots are the best, and what to expect, we’ve got you covered. Welcome to an unparalleled underwater nirvana that instantly makes you fall in love.

Read on to dive into the adventure of a lifetime.

Scuba Diving in the Maldives | Insider’s Guide

Home to some of the planet’s most breathtaking marine life, the coral reefs, drop-offs, and sandy banks of the Maldives is an aquatic paradise. However, blindly diving in (pun intended) could lead to potential disappointment.

With an extensive range of pre-planned diving packages and tailor-made adventures, any and every type of diver will enjoy the Maldives. And when you’re envisioning your ultimate island escape, knowing what is available and on offer is crucial.

Although it caters to the entire world’s diving enthusiasts, some aspects of heading on a dive trip to the Maldives make it unique. As a primarily Islamic country, each island resort in the Maldives offers diving experiences per Muslim religious and cultural ideals.

You’ll find this influence in almost every aspect of a getaway to the Maldives, and equally as much when it comes to diving. So, let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from the Halal tourism and diving culture of the Maldives.

Halal Tourism & Maldives Diving

Combining its heritage as an Islamic nation with a massive boom in international Muslim tourism numbers, the Maldives is now a premier destination globally. At the forefront of Halal tourism, the island resorts of the Maldives aim to satisfy Islamic tradition while welcoming a global audience.

You’ll find facilities and specialized services at every luxury Maldives resort that cater to the needed privacy and conservatism of Muslim culture. Prohibition on serving alcohol, pork, or non-Halal products; this reverence extends to even more than just these aspects.

When it comes to diving especially, you’ll find that the vast majority of diving institutions or services offered uphold the principles of Halal tourism. On-site, you’ll find both male and female diving instructors and facilities that provide privacy for women and children.

Beyond the various diving schools and institutions, most Maldives diving resorts offer private beaches for their guests. Add to this the extensive attention paid to providing world-class dive experiences, and a memorable time is guaranteed for all.

Tip: Read our guide to the mosques in the Maldives to help you plan the perfect Halal vacation in paradise.

Luxury Resorts & Diving in Maldives

Of the more than 1,000 islands that comprise the Maldives, roughly 200 of them are inhabited. Amongst these, 88 have been designated and turned into leading luxury resort attractions. So, when deciding which luxury resort to book for your vacation, numerous elements come into play.

To maintain the principles of Maldives Halal tourism, a modest dress code is required in all public spaces. However, once at your luxury resort, you should always inquire about the resort-specific rules surrounding this.

As for offering an authentic Halal experience, you can expect certain facilities and amenities at each resort to be focused on Islamic practices. As one of the most Muslim-friendly destinations in the world, you can expect both male and female butlers, receptionists, and other staff at your resort.

Resorts offer private villas, some with either a private beach or swimming pool, and included in diving packages, gender-specific instructors. If you’ve never visited before, it’s best to check which resorts offer and include services you and your family might need.

Experiencing the best water sports in the Maldives , combined with fine dining at the best restaurants , all features focus on being completely Halal. Luckily, when choosing the ultimate luxury tours in the Maldives, attentiveness and premier service are non-negotiable.

The Essentials | Diving in the Maldives

Combining unique attractions in the Maldives , from its almost surreal beaches that glow to a nearly limitless amount of things to do, diving ranks as one of its best. When you head out on a dive adventure in the Maldives, you’re in for some of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Beyond its Halal tourism and influence on diving, here is every bit of essential information you’ll need on your trip.

Scuba Diving Maldives – When Should You Dive

Probably the most straightforward question to answer is when is the best time for diving in the Maldives. With its tropical climate that dictates pleasant year-round weather, you can expect temperatures that range from 80 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit.

As for actual diving conditions, the months from January to April provide the best underwater visibility. However, should you visit from May to July, some days see unsettled weather during the Maldives diving season.

For divers looking to get up close with spectacular (and big) marine life, the best time to dive in the Maldives is from August to November.

Scuba Diving in the Maldives – Where to Stay

Another major planning point of your ultimate diving excursion to the Maldives is the decision on where to stay. With numerous fantastic Maldives resorts for snorkeling , many of them also offer excellent diving opportunities.

The best choice for an unforgettable trip is an all-inclusive luxury resort . The benefits of these are in their level of service, aiming to meet not just diving needs but any others you and your family might need.

However, the Maldives also offers magical resorts on the water if you’re looking for the most sought-after accommodation. Often described as ‘floating villas’, these premier properties provide a unique experience.

Aimed at privacy and luxury, they provide direct access to water activities like snorkeling and diving. When looking for properties that meet Halal tourism needs, these offer private overwater decks and remote access to the ocean surrounding you.

Lastly, you can also opt for staying on a live-aboard dive vessel in the Maldives. These are specifically ideal for a diving-focused vacation as they allow you to maximize your time spent underwater.

Having the added benefit of getting you to areas that are more remote and not accessible via day trips, these are a diver’s dream staycation. There are currently quite a few of these to choose from, and you can expect to pay from $150 to $1,500 per night.

Maldives Scuba Diving – The Best Spots

The final question most eager visitors have when heading to the Maldives to go diving is where the best spots for this activity are. While each diving school or resort offering dive excursions might have a favored location, the following are considered the best in the Maldives.

Widely considered a pelagic haven; the Ari Atoll draws thousands of divers annually. Its superb blend of epic pinnacles (thilas) and channels (kandus) meets exposed ocean currents. These attract the widest variety of marine life, including manta rays and schooling hammerheads.

Maaya Thila and Fish Head are some of the best diving spots in the Ari Atoll. Maaya Thila showcases extraordinary aquatic life, such as zebra morays, eagle rays, and the occasional guitar shark. Maaya Thila is a suitable starting spot if you’re a beginner diver.

Fish Head sits in the mid-eastern part of the atoll within a protected marine area. It’s one of the best spots for shark sightings, with numerous caves and overhangs popular with grey reef sharks. Fish Head is considered to be more aimed at intermediate to advanced-level divers.          

Baa Atoll was awarded a coveted UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status in 2011 and is characterized by its brightly colored reefs and overhangs. The most popular diving sites here include Horubadhoo Thila and Nelivaru Haa.

To explore glorious macro marine life and seemingly endless hard and soft-covered corals, Horubadhoo Thila is a stunning diving site. From May to November, manta rays use the area as a cleaning station for those eager to spot this fantastic scene.

In the southeast of the atoll, the massive star-shaped canyons and overhangs of Nelivaru Haa are home to more shy and elusive marine life. You might spot a friendly batfish, curious stingray, or wandering manta ray during a dive here.

North Malé Atoll

Thanks to its easy access from the main island of Malé, the North Malé Atoll is a wonderland for divers with varied topography and marine life. It’s one of the most visited diving sites in the Maldives and offers unique underwater adventures.

Most noteworthy is the Okobe Thila, with its three towering pinnacles and spiraling current that attracts giant tuna, white-tip reef sharks, and the always friendly bannerfish. Of course, its colorful corals also make for some buzzworthy photography opportunities.

If you’re planning to dive at one of the Maldives’ most visited spots, the Maldives Victory Wreck , the remains of a massive Singaporean cargo ship, sits at 115 feet below sea level. A bit of history and encounters with turtles await when diving here.

Final Thoughts on Diving Maldives

All that’s left to be said is that a Maldives scuba diving adventure is something you’ll remember forever.

With the inclusion of unique Maldives Halal tourism aspects, such as male and female diving instructors and guides, and resorts aimed at offering the ultimate diving excursions, you’re in good hands.

So go ahead and book your perfect journey to the Maldives and get ready for the dive of your life.

Recent Posts

• Snorkeling in the Maldives
• Exploring the Depths: Maldives Underwater Restaurants and Rooms
• Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Go Ocean is a travel agency based in the Maldives that offers amazing holiday packages at great prices. With years of experience in the tourism industry. We know how to create unforgettable holidays for our guests.

Quick Links

• Search for a Resort
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• +960 7573983
• [email protected]

Follow us on:

ZuBlu Tips & Articles

An expert guide to liveaboard diving itineraries in the maldives.

March 27, 2023

The Maldives is one of the world’s best liveaboard diving destinations and promises some truly unparalleled itineraries. Learn more about classic voyages with our expert overview of liveaboard itineraries in the Maldives.

Why the Maldives is ideal for liveaboard diving

The Maldives is renowned for being one of the world's top destinations for liveaboards. Perhaps the most obvious reason to choose a liveaboard is a simple case of logistics, as the Maldives is made up of hundreds of islands spread across dozens of atolls. This spectacular landscape is what makes the Maldives so tempting to divers, but it means that travel within the country is a little tricky at times, often requiring multiple boat trips or plane journeys.

Liveaboards combine both accommodation and transportation, allowing divers to wake up to new dive sites each morning feeling well rested. It also means they are seeing more of the country – and its exceptional diving – without losing time to domestic travel.

What’s more, the Maldives’ iconic one-island-one-resort experience doesn’t necessarily appeal to everyone. Liveaboards can offer a unique perspective to this island nation and liveaboards often work out at great value for money when compared to many of the luxury resorts, with meals, accommodation and dives all together.

The best liveaboard itineraries in the Maldives

If you’ve never been to the Maldives, it can be difficult to know which liveaboard itinerary will be right for you - particularly when you’re not sure what each atoll offers underwater. The good news is, while liveaboards often call similar trips by different names, the vast majority of itineraries follow several standard routes. 

Looking for the perfect liveaboard itinerary?

Search, compare and book from all liveaboards

Classic central atolls liveaboard itinerary

This circular loop around the Maldives’ central atolls is not only one of the most accessible options, it also includes iconic underwater experiences. From multicoloured reefs and marine megafauna to drifts and world-class wrecks, the central atolls have it all. These atolls also offer plenty above water as well, including luxurious island excursions and exceptional surf breaks.

Safari boats operating this itinerary embark and disembark in Hulhule, North Male, within easy reach of the international airport, making it a great option for an easy liveaboard dive holiday in the Maldives. Trips tend to last around a week, although longer and shorter variations can sometimes be found, and can travel in either direction around the circular route.

During these voyages, divers will get to experience some of the best scuba diving in the Maldives. Highlights include the manta cleaning stations of North Male, shark-filled channels of Vaavu and the near-guaranteed whale shark encounters of Maamigili, South Ari. Other world-famous experiences include Guraidhoo Corner, Alimatha Jetty, Fesdu Lagoon and the Machchafushi Wreck. 

• Likely stops: North and South Male Atoll, Vaavu Atoll, South Ari Atoll, North Ari Atoll, Rasdhoo Atoll
• Highlights: Manta ray cleaning stations, near-guaranteed whale sharks, simple logistics
• Best season: Year-round

Maldives’ northern highlights liveaboard itinerary

Separated from the central atolls by the Kaashidhoo Kandu, the Maldives’ northern atolls offer the same appeal, with a slightly more secluded atmosphere. Despite lying closer to Male than the remote southern sites, few liveaboard itineraries venture to the Maldives’ most northerly atolls. In fact, vessels operating this itinerary only rarely visit the atolls of Noonu and Shaviyani, and virtually never venture beyond into Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu. Instead, the diving focuses on the more accessible atolls of Baa, Raa and Lhaviyani located closer to the Kaashidhoo Kandu.

The northern highlights liveaboard itinerary is another circular route which embarks and disembarks in Hulhule, North Male. From here, vessels either head directly north, or travel west towards North Ari and Rasdhoo before crossing the Kaashidhoo Kandu. Manta rays are the main reason liveaboard vessels venture north, as they head to the cleaning stations of Lhaviyani Atoll, Raa Atoll, and the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll. Alongside the many manta ray experiences, guests also have a reasonable chance of encountering whale sharks and can explore several world-class shipwrecks.

• Likely stops: North Male Atoll, North Ari Atoll, Rasdhoo Atoll, Baa Atoll, Raa Atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll
• Highlights: Manta ray encounters, stunning shipwrecks, secluded atmosphere

Maldives’ manta ray liveaboard itinerary

If you’re hoping to encounter manta rays, the Maldives is a good place to start. And if you’re hoping to encounter more manta rays than you could ever have imagined, then this is the itinerary for you. As you have just read, both the central and northern atolls are home to some exceptional manta experiences, and this route combines the very best into one incredible expedition. Liveaboards always aim to deliver the best overall experience and crews will endeavour to get guests to the right place at the right time, meaning the exact route of this itinerary can vary slightly each week.

Departing from Hulhule, this itinerary incorporates the cleaning stations and current-swept channels of North Male, Lhaviyani, Raa and Baa. The protected Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is home to some of the world’s most impressive manta ray congregations and is a marquee stop during this voyage. With huge numbers of rays reliably returning to this bay to feed throughout the season, sometimes performing their famous cyclone-feeding behaviours, guests are in with a high chance of enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

• Likely stops: North Male Atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll, Raa Atoll, Baa Atoll
• Highlights: Unparalleled manta ray experiences
• Best season: July to October, around the full and new moons

Sharktastic liveaboard itinerary

Much like the manta ray itinerary above, this trip is focused on finding some of the best shark diving experiences within easy reach of Male. However, rather than heading north, this route combines the central atolls with one or two destinations further south, where the diving is focused on the eastern channels. For a few months at the start of each year, currents push oceanic water through the channels along the eastern edge of the atolls, attracting large numbers of reef fish and creating an irresistible opportunity for sharks.

From Hulhule, North Male, the vessels will head south stopping at sites such as Kandooma Thila in South Male where grey reef sharks roam. Vaavu is next, and is one of the best shark diving destinations in the Maldives, offering encounters with numerous grey and whitetip reef sharks at Fotteyo Kandu and Miyaru Kandu. This atoll is also home to a popular night dive at Alimatha Jetty, amongst large numbers of blacktip sharks and nurse sharks. Further south, Meemu Atoll’s Malaku Kandu drops to depths of over 100-metres and attracts whitetip and grey reef sharks, as well as hammerheads in the early morning hours. Then it's time to head back north, crossing to South Ari along the way to encounter the biggest of them all - whale sharks. 

• Likely stops: North and South Male Atoll, Vaavu Atoll, Meemu Atoll, South Ari Atoll
• Highlights: Reliable reef shark encounters, whale sharks, current-swept channels
• Best season: January to April

Maldives’ south central liveaboard itinerary

For divers looking to travel a little further off the beaten track, the Maldives’ south central liveaboard itinerary is a great way to do it. With more atolls to visit and so much to see, these voyages are often a little longer, with different operators offering trips lasting anywhere between seven and 14-days. Again, it is the eastern channels that provide much of the excitement during this itinerary, as strong currents push through the channels and into the central lagoons. The trip can be done in both directions, either starting in the north and heading south, or vice versa.

Departing from Hulhule, North Male, this route heads directly south, stopping in South Male, Vaavu and Meemu to search for reef sharks in the channels and marvel at the colourful soft coral overhangs of the outer walls. From Meemu, vessels usually head to Thaa, where hammerheads can occasionally be seen and whale sharks feed beneath the boats at night, before moving on the Laamu for fast-flowing drifts and year-round manta cleaning stations. Finally, after crossing the 97-kilometre-wide channel, this itinerary ends in the isolated atoll of Huvadhoo, known for under-explored reefs and possible encounters with a dozen different species of shark. 

• Likely stops: North and South Male Atoll, Vaavu Atoll, Meemu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll, Huvadhoo Atoll
• Highlights: Adventurous atmosphere, multiple shark species, manta rays and whale sharks
• Best season: January to March

Maldives’ deep south liveaboard itinerary

For many, it would be a source of deep regret to travel to the Maldives’ southern reaches and miss out on diving the infamous island of Fuvahmulah. Thankfully, this deep south itinerary is almost identical to the south central trip, but continues across the 49-kilometre-wide Addu Kandu to stop at both Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll. As you’d expect, these action-packed voyages require plenty of time to make the most of so many world-class dive destinations, with trips typically lasting between 10 to 14-days. As with most one-way itineraries in the Maldives, this trip can be done in both directions.

Starting in Hulhule, North Male, liveaboards embark on a long journey south, stopping at around seven or eight atolls along the way. The pelagic-packed channels of Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa and Laamu and common inclusions, followed by the remote Huvadhoo Atoll. On the way to Addu, a day will be spent at Fuvahmulah, where powerful pelagics rule and tiger shark sightings are practically guaranteed . The itinerary will finish in Addu, with the possibility of a local dive or two - inclduing on the world-famous British Loyalty shipwreck. 

• Likely stops: North and South Male Atoll, Vaavu Atoll, Meemu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll, Huvadhoo Atoll, Fuvahmulah, Addu Atoll
• Highlights: Extended adventures, powerful pelagics, unparalleled shark encounters

Southern sharks itinerary in the Maldives

This itinerary perfectly encapsulates what diving in the Maldives’ deep south is all about - sharks. These isolated southern islands and atolls act as beacons for large pelagic species venturing in from the open ocean, with Fuvahmulah and Huvadhoo in particular delivering some of the best shark experiences on the planet. Voyages generally last around a week and offer at least one full day of diving around Fuvahmulah. Of course, this trip can also be done in either direction.

Departing from the island of Kooddoo in Huvadhoo Atoll, vessels usually spend a couple of days exploring the vast lagoon and searching for the many shark species which reside here. Possible encounters include silkies, silvertips, and nurse sharks, as well as threshers and hammerheads. Then, it’s on to Fuvahmulah, one of the only places with guaranteed tiger shark encounters. The trip then ends in Addu Atoll, where sites such as Shark Point offer dozens of grey reef sharks.

• Likely stops: Huvadhoo Atoll, Fuvahmulah Island, Addu Atoll
• Highlights: Unparalleled shark encounters, remote and adventurous atmosphere

Ready to book your liveaboard in the Maldives

Contact the travel team today

You may also be interested by

Best diving liveaboards in the Maldives

Top luxury charter yachts and itineraries in the Maldives

Best places to dive with sharks in the Maldives

A guide to diving in Fuvahmulah

• Hiking Shoes
• Hiking Boots
• Hiking Sandals
• Trail Runners
• Base layers
• Hiking Shirts
• Fleece Jackets
• Softshell Jackets
• Rain jackets
• Down Jackets
• Hiking Pants
• Hiking Shorts
• Base Layers
• Rain Jackets
• Hiking Bras
• Baby Carriers
• Cookware Sets
• Water Filters
• Water Purifiers
• Sleeping Bags
• Sleeping Pads
• Hiking Poles
• GPS Devices
• Solar Chargers
• Dive Regulators

Dive Computers

Dive Watches

• Dive Wetsuits
• Dive Gloves
• Dive Lights
• Dive Knives
• Spearfishing Wetsuits
• Spearfishing Masks
• Spearfishing Fins
• Spearfishing Watches
• Freediving Wetsuits
• Freediving Masks
• Freediving Fins
• Freediving Watches
• Sit On Top Kayaks
• Inflatable Kayaks
• Fishing Kayaks
• Tandem Kayaks
• Touring Kayaks
• Kayak Paddles
• Kayak Seats
• Kayak Roof Racks
• Kayak Carts
• Stand Up Paddle Boards
• Touring SUPs
• Inflatable SUPs
• Fishing SUPs
• SUPs For Yoga
• SUPs For Surfing
• SUP Paddles
• Climbing Boots
• Belay Devices
• Climbing Shoes
• Women's Climbing Shoes
• Bouldering Shoes
• Approach Shoes
• Climbing Pants
• Bouldering Pants
• Mountain Bikes for Men
• Mountain Bikes for Women
• MTB Handlebars
• Bike Saddles
• Bike Computers
• Bike Lights
• MTB Jackets
• Bike Helmets
• Bike Packing Gear
• Fat Biking Gear
• Ski Bindings
• Ski Helmets
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Jackets
• Snowboarding Bindings
• Snowboarding Boots
• Snowboard Helmets
• Snowboard Goggles
• Snowboard Pants
• Snowboard Jackets
• Snowshoe Poles
• Avalanche Beacons
• Avalanche Probes
• Avalanche Shovels
• Ski Backpacks
• Surfboards For Beginners
• Surfboards For Kids
• Surfboard For Small Waves
• Soft Top Surfboards
• Foam Surfboards
• Body Boards
• Boogie Boards
• Kiteboarding Kites
• Kitesurfing Boards
• Kiteboarding Harnesses
• Surfing Wetsuits
• Men's Rash Guards
• Women's Rash Guards
• Board Leashes
• DLSR Travel Cameras
• Mirrorles Travel Cameras
• Point and Shoot Travel Cameras
• Fuji Travel Lenses
• Nikon Travel Lenses
• Tripods for Travel
• DLSR Landscape Cameras
• Mirrorles Landscape Cameras
• Point and Shoot Landscape Cameras
• Fuji Landscape Lenses
• Nikon Landcape Lenses
• Canon Landcape Lenses
• Tripods for Landscape Photo
• Wildlife Cameras
• Wildlife Lenses
• Wildlife Tripods
• Wildlife Monopods
• Birdlife Cameras
• Birdlife Lenses
• Surfboards For Small Waves

Best Maldives Liveaboards Trips

The 26 atolls that make up the Maldives are a scuba diver’s dream. The water is warm year around, the atmosphere is relaxed, shark and manta ray encounters are regular events and dive sites are diverse. A great option for diving is through a liveaboard and, with so many options out there, you’re probably trying to figure out what’s the best Maldives liveaboard to pick for your next holiday.

Without a doubt, the best way to experience this slice of underwater heaven is on a liveaboard. It’s easier to tour the atolls and discover the best dive spots without being anchored at one particular resort. Plus trips are all inclusive so show up then – eat, sleep, dive, repeat.

There’s lots of diving liveaboards touring the Maldives and picking just one trip can be a tough decision! Here’s a quick guide that highlights the best boats and also gives you some things to consider when it comes time to book.

QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST MALDIVES LIVEABOARD TRIPS

SCUBASPA YANG  →  Best Value

CHECK ON PADI TRAVEL CHECK ON LIVEABOARD.COM

EMPEROR VOYAGER → For Budget

BLUE FORCE   → For Groups with Non-divers

SEA SPIRIT   →  For Extended Itineraries 

CHECK ON LIVEABOARD.COM

AGGRESSOR II   → For Photographers

AZALEA   → For Luxury

BOAT REVIEWS

Scubaspa yang.

Photo Credit: ScubaSpa Liveaboard

BEST FOR → OVERALL VALUE

Scubaspa Yang is one of the most highly reviewed liveaboards in the Maldives, and for a good reason. Guests can expect three tanks a day in some of the region’s best sites, with free Nitrox for qualified divers. Snorkel trips, yoga classes, and professional spa sessions are part of the daily schedule, balancing comfort and excitement. And, if you’re looking for luxury, this vessel has you covered. Well appointed cabins, fine dining, free WiFi, an on-deck jacuzzi, and a mini gym will keep even the most spoiled guests happy.

EMPEROR VOYAGER

Photo Credit: Emperor Voyager Liveaboard

BEST FOR → BUDGET

Most Maldives liveaboards focus on luxury, but the Emperor Voyager puts diving first. Perks like free Nitrox, rebreather support, and the freedom for experienced buddy teams to dive unguided, make this a top pick for underwater photographers and veteran divers. This boat’s “best of” itineraries hit all the region’s top sites, and a flexible schedule allows for multiple tanks when sharks and rays are sighted. Not only is this one of the region’s most affordable options, but it’s also one of the highest rated, too.

BLUE FORCE I 

Photo Credit: Blue Force I Liveaboard

BEST FOR → GROUPS WITH NON-DIVERS

If you have non-divers in your group, keeping them comfortable and entertained during diving days is a top priority. Blue Force One offers snorkeling, stand-up-paddleboards, surfboards, and kayaks, all free of charge. Couch potatoes can spend their days relaxing with multiple sun decks, a spacious and modern lounge, sea-view bar, two on-deck jacuzzis, and WiFi access. Luxurious cabins and common areas ensure plenty of comfortable places to put your feet up, and dining on this boat is top rated.

Photo Credit: Sea Spirit Liveaboard

BEST FOR → EXTENDED ITINERARIES

Serious divers and underwater photographers can make the most of their trip with this boat’s extended itineraries. Voyages lasting up to 13 days explore the best of the Maldives’ northern, central, and southern atolls in one expedition. The Sea Spirit visits many remote sites well off the course of other liveaboards, and a flexible schedule allows for repeat dives in the most exciting spots. Best of all, with just 12 divers onboard, you can expect uncrowded dive sites and plenty of individual attention above and below water.

MALDIVES AGGRESSOR II

Photo Credit: Maldives Aggressor Liveaboard

BEST FOR → PHOTOGRAPHERS

The Maldives Aggressor II is one of the region’s best known boats, designed with divers in mind. And, there is no better pick for underwater photographers and videographers. Personal gear lockers, dedicated rinse bins, a three-tier camera station, and low-pressure air hoses make equipment care a breeze. Cabins are equipped with extra charging points, in case you don’t find enough room at the computer and camera table.  Like the rest of the Aggressor fleet, this liveaboard features plenty of luxury amenities like complimentary beer and wine, an on-deck jacuzzi, and some of the most comfortable cabins around.

Photo Credit: Emperor Azalea Liveaboard

BEST FOR → LUXURY

When it comes to luxury liveaboards in the Maldives, visitors are spoiled for choice. But, the Azalea takes service and style to the next level. Guests can unwind with fine dining, an extensive wine list, free WiFi, an on-deck jacuzzi, and cabins fit for a high-end hotel. Professional photographers onboard can offer coaching and guidance, or capture your most exciting moments underwater for you. To top it all off, this boat plans its itinerary to give divers uncrowded immersions at the region’s top sites.

CONSIDERATIONS – SCUBA DIVING IN MALDIVES

Beginner. While it’s possible to dive remote and challenging atolls in the Maldives, newbies will find plenty of sites suited to their skill level, too. In fact, many boats in this region offer diving instruction, beginning with Discover Scuba. If you prefer calm conditions and easy reef diving, choose a route in Ari or Male.

8 to 14 days. If you’re liveaboard diving in the Maldives, you’ll want to hit the hotspots in a few of the most impressive coral atolls. While some shortened itineraries do exist, you’ll need at least 8 days to explore the region. And, with plenty of marine megafauna like sharks and rays around, the extra time underwater won’t disappoint.

You can dive in the Maldives year-round, but the region does have distinct seasons. From November to May, the weather is at its best and visibility peaks. But, this is also the busiest time of year to visit. From June to October, daily wind and rain are typical. However, you can expect uncrowded dive sites, discounted rates, and plenty of room on dive boats.

Weather in the Maldives varies by the season but remains hot and tropical throughout the year. And, no matter what is happening above water, you can expect warm ocean temperatures ranging from 78 to 84° F (26-29° C). Most divers are comfortable in a shortie, but consider full body coverage if you tend to get cold underwater.

Water clarity in the Maldives varies, but divers can expect 65 to 165 feet (20 to 50 meters) throughout the year. Areas known for encounters with whale sharks and manta rays, like  Hanifaru Bay, will have dramatically lower water clarity. This is due to massive blooms of plankton, a favorite food for marine megafauna.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Maldives are a classic liveaboard destination, famous for ultra clear turquoise water, some of the planet’s best beaches, and thriving marine life. Divers flock to this remote stretch of the Indian Ocean hoping to come face to face with whale sharks, manta rays, and even hammerheads. These remote coral atolls boast plenty of healthy coral and macro too, making them a favorite for photographers.

Above water, this region is all about luxury. Many boats feature suite-style cabins and staterooms, hot tubs, fine dining, and over the top pampering. If you’re hoping to combine a dive trip with plenty of creature comforts, you’ve come to the right place. After all, Maldivian hospitality is some of the best in the world.

If you’re new to liveaboard diving or hoping to continue your underwater education while on holiday, the Maldives might be your best bet. Plenty of boats offer itineraries catered to newly certified divers, and courses like Nitrox, underwater photography, and Advanced Open Water. Experienced divers and current junkies will find plenty of action too, with plenty of fast-paced drift dives on offer.

HIGHLIGHTS – DIVING IN MALDIVES

Whale sharks.

These gentle giants can be spotted throughout the Maldives year-round. But, your best chances for getting up close and personal are in the sheltered waters of Hanifaru Bay, between May and December. This area in eastern Baa is a carefully controlled marine reserve. Snorkeling is permitted, but diving is not. And, a maximum of 60 people can visit at a time, so as not to disturb the sharks. 

Reef and Oceanic mantas inhabit this region throughout the year. And, your best chances of spotting them are at reeftop cleaning stations around the Ari Atoll. You can also observe their cyclone feeding behavior around Hanifaru Bay, as they compete with mighty whale sharks for their favorite meal, plankton.

HAMMERHEADS

While the northern atolls are best for spotting hammerheads, they make appearances at the cleaning stations around Ari, too. Early morning immersions are best for spotting them, as they rise from the ocean deep around dawn. But, anything can happen in the Maldives. Keep a watchful eye out in the blue, as these powerful predators can cruise by at any moment.

DRIFT DIVING

While there are plenty of sites in the Maldives that are perfect for beginners, some of the outer atolls have excellent drift diving, too. Deepwater channels funnel water in from the open ocean, creating fast-paced drifts, perfect for an adrenaline rush. If you’re hoping to get in on the action, you should carry an advanced certification and have experience diving in strong currents.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

If you want to continue your dive education while on holiday, this region is a top pick. Courses are offered on many boats, beginning with Discover Scuba. Some sites in the Maldives are best for divers with deep or advanced certification, so both are widely available. Nitrox and underwater photography are popular choices for more experienced divers looking to learn more.

ITINERARIES IN MALDIVES

Classic maldives.

With over 1,000 islands in total, the diving possibilities around the Maldives are endless. Whether you’re hoping to explore deepwater pinnacles and cleaning stations, get your blood pumping in powerful currents, or just take it easy on the reef; you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Many of the best dive sites are scattered around the most remote of the atolls and are often overlooked by quick trips. So, it’s easy to see why many divers opt for extended itineraries.

Most boats offer 8 day “best of” itineraries through the central and northern atolls. These voyages typically include time around Ari, Male, and Baa. If you’re new to liveaboard diving or don’t feel comfortable with challenging conditions, this type of trip is your best bet. And, you’re sure to encounter the region’s most famous residents along the way. Close encounters with whale sharks and manta rays make the central atolls a dream destination, even for veteran divers.

If you’re up for an adventure, longer voyages lasting up to 14 days are a great way to explore the region in depth. These itineraries stop at all the hotspots in the central and northern atolls before venturing into less dived areas. Whether you explore the far north or southernmost islands will depend on the season and operator. But, both trips are well worth the extra days at sea.

Remember, the outer atolls aren’t suitable for beginner divers. But, current fanatics and underwater photographers will delight in the challenging conditions and uncrowded dive sites well off the tourist track. No matter what your level of skill or certification, you’re sure to log some incredible dives in this region.

VIDEO – SCUBA DIVING IN MALDIVES

Best dive sites in maldives: the central atolls.

The best known Maldivian atoll, Ari, is visited by virtually every liveaboard in the region. And, while you are sure to encounter large pelagics elsewhere in the area, this atoll offers up some of your best chances. Whale sharks and manta rays are the most famous wildlife, but eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, and reef sharks are frequent visitors, too. Ari’s dive sites are a series of submerged pinnacles, rising from the ocean depths. These formations serve as cleaning stations, beckoning big fish in from the open sea. The most famous sites like Fish Head, Broken Rock, and Hammerhead Point are “can’t miss” additions to any itinerary.

Some of the most diverse destinations in the Maldives, North and South Male showcase a variety of underwater environments. Thriving coral reefs, plunging drop-offs, caves, and caverns can be explored in a single day. Gushing currents in this region, especially South Male, support a vast array of marine life, including plenty of big fish. Thanks to this surplus of food; thresher, tiger, and hammerhead sharks frequent these waters year-round. Further north, delicate soft coral gardens and cleaning stations like Manta Point are favorites for underwater photographers.

FELIDU AND MULAKU

These southeastern atolls feature deep channels and walls with nutrient-rich, fast-flowing currents. Schooling reef sharks, tuna, trevallies, and the occasional hammerhead cruise out in the blue, looking for an easy meal. You can expect to dive one of the most interesting sites in the Maldives, Fotteyo Kandu, here. Its swim-throughs, caves, and overhangs make for exciting underwater exploration. Sheltered lagoons around Medhufushi Thila are excellent for spotting whale sharks and mantas feeding in the shallows.

LAAMU AND THAA

Still relatively unexplored, Laamu and Thaa are among the least visited of the central atolls. Characterised by deepwater channels and strong currents, sites in this region attract hunting reef sharks, jacks, and tuna. Challenging drift dives like Olhugiri Kandu are perfect for spotting manta and eagle rays cruising out in the blue. And, liveaboards spot the occasional whale shark feeding on the surface here, too. The best part of visiting here is the lack of other divers. You might not see another liveaboard for days.

BEST DIVE SITES IN MALDIVES: THE NORTHERN ATOLLS

Baa and raa.

While most Maldives liveaboards focus on the central atolls, excitement awaits further north. Baa is one of the best places on planet earth to dive with reef manta rays and observe their cyclone feeding behavior. It is also home to one of the planet’s largest gatherings of breeding whale sharks, in the legendary Hanifaru Bay. The sharks are strictly protected, and only a limited number of snorkelers are allowed to visit them each day. Farther north, Raa presents a series of submerged pinnacles, well known for giant schools of colorful reef fish. These sites also feature healthy gardens of soft coral, home to some of the best macro in the Maldives.

LHAVIYANI AND NOONU

These north Maldivian Atolls are best known for steep plunging walls, and schooling reef sharks, sometimes in the hundreds. Cleaning stations like Orimas Thila are perfect for observation and photography, as the sharks hover motionless, patiently waiting their turn. It’s easy to set your sights on these impressive pelagics, but there’s plenty more to see in the area. Large schools of reef fish lure in tuna, trevally, barracuda, and jacks from open water, and eagle rays often cruise overhead. So, be sure to keep your eyes out in the blue.

THE FAR NORTH

Exclusively visited on expedition trips and long voyages, these remote diving areas are only accessible via liveaboard. The best part of diving this far off the beaten path is the lack of other dive boats. In fact, you might be the only group around. Manta rays, reef sharks, and even the shy leopard shark are commonly spotted here. And, you’ll be treated to some of the best wall dives in the Indian Ocean. But, diving in far-flung atolls like Alifu and Dhaalu isn’t for beginners. Powerful currents, challenging surface conditions, and an isolated location make this region best for experienced divers.

BEST DIVE SITES IN MALDIVES: THE SOUTHERN ATOLLS

Unlike the rest of the Maldives, the Gnaviyani Atoll consists of a single island called Fuvamulah. With no surrounding coral barrier reef, ocean depths can reach thousands of feet, just a short distance from the beach. This dropoff invites a variety of deepwater pelagics in close to shore. Thresher and tiger sharks, hammerheads, and ocean sunfish make regular appearances here, as do large groups of oceanic manta rays. But, diving in this remote area isn’t for the faint of heart. Currents are strong and treacherous, the sea is often rough, and dive sites can suddenly drop off into the abyss. Only experienced divers should take the plunge in this region.

OTHER LIVEABOARD DESTINATIONS

For more of our liveaboard recommendations, check out these popular articles: 

Caribbean  |  Bahamas  | Belize  |  Cuba  |  Turks & Caicos

North Pacific  |   Galapagos  | Guadalupe  |  Socorro |  Cocos

South Pacific  |  Australia  |  Palau  |  Fiji  |  French Polynesia  |  PNG  |  Solomon Islands

South East Asia  |  Raja Ampat  |  Komodo  |  Similan | Tubbataha  |  Burma

Red Sea & Middle East  | Egypt  |  Sudan  |  Oman  | Djibouti

Indian Ocean  |  Seychelles  | Visayas  | Truk Lagoon

For more of our top scuba diving gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides:

Scuba Diving Masks

Scuba Regulators

Scuba Diving Fins

Wetsuits for Diving

3 Responses

Uh oh, you just put too many ideas in my head

Haha… yea, diving in general will do that to you!

Maldives is such a wonderful travel destination and made up of hundreds of islands. islands are also rich in a warm and exotic culture. I’ve always wanted to stay in one of those. Looks beautiful!

Everything you need to know about scuba diving in the Maldives

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

The Maldives is an archipelago comprising some 1,200 islands, only about 200 of which are inhabited. With 26 atolls, coral reefs and coral islands in the archipelago, it's no wonder this remote destination in the Arabian Sea is famous for its world-class scuba diving .

Ready to plan that bucket-list trip to the Maldives? Visit TPG's Maldives destination hub for more stories about traveling to the region on points and miles, where to stay and what to do while you're there.

Diving is an incredible way to see an entirely different world, and it's one of those skills I think every traveler should have in their back pocket — if they're comfortable diving deep below the surface of the sea, that is. There's an incredible sense of calm that washes over you once you're floating at least 10 feet down, seeing environments and wildlife that your land-loving friends will never know. Plus, diving is a great activity for travelers who enjoy more active vacations, rather than relaxing in a lounge chair by the pool all day.

Here's what you need to know about diving in the Maldives, including when and where to go, what you'll see and where you should stay for the experience.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

When to dive in the Maldives

The Maldives have a tropical climate, and water temperatures range from 80 to 86 degrees year-round, making the diving good nearly any time of year. That said, the absolute best time to visit the Maldives for a scuba trip are between the months of January and April, when the weather is dry and warm and visibility is best.

May through July are often considered the months when the weather is most unsettled and divers could encounter reduced visibility. The period between August and November is the best time of year to see "big" sea creatures such as manta rays and whale sharks, because of an increase in plankton in the water due to currents caused by the southwest monsoon.

In December, divers can expect a fair amount of wind and rain, possibly affecting visibility.

Related: Best times to visit the Maldives

Dive environments

The Maldives is host to a variety of diverse dive environments, including reef dives, drift dives and wrecks that provide opportunities for divers at any skill level.

Diving in and around the atolls, you'll find rock pinnacles, called thila , as well as underwater structures such as caverns, overhangs and swim-throughs. Wreck diving in the Maldives is usually less about the wreck itself and more about the artificial reefs that have formed around the sunken structures .

There are a number of channels in the Maldives, too, where the atolls meet the ocean. Because of the currents that run through these areas, they are the perfect spot for drift dives where the strong currents bring in larger marine life like sharks, tuna and mantas.

Lastly, you'll find lagoon environments on the interior of the atolls. They're mostly protected from the current and are usually fairly shallow, making them good locations for practice dives and diving classes.

Related: Where to stay in the Maldives using points and miles

Where to dive in the Maldives

There are dozens and dozens of dive sites in the Maldives, these are a few of our favorites:

Known for its clear blue waters and accessibility, the Ari Atoll is home to many of the best dive sites in the Maldives. Maaya Thila, for example, located on the southern end of the atoll, consistently ranks as one of the best sites in the area. The pinnacle starts about 20 feet deep and stretches down to 100 feet, and the area is home to marine life such as barracuda, stingrays and more. Those diving after sundown will likely get to experience a reef shark feeding frenzy.

The Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with dive sites for both beginners and advanced divers. Divers should have the opportunity to see the ever-popular manta rays and whale sharks, as well as marvel in the atoll's overhangs and swim-throughs.

The Dhonfanu Thila site is one popular swim-through. Around 82 feet deep, divers can enter the narrow swim-through and ascend to its exit just under 60 feet below the ocean's surface. Hanifaru Bay is one of the few places in the world where whale sharks congregate to mate and where divers can dive with masses of manta rays.

Fuvahmulah Atoll

This particular atoll is known for the rare shark species that frequent the area. Lucky divers may have a chance to encounter tiger sharks, thresher sharks, whale sharks and even hammerheads.

Being one of the Maldives' most southerly atolls, many of the dive sites here are still being explored and are better suited for more advanced divers.

The Male Atoll is divided into two sections: the North Male Atoll and the South Male Atoll. The North Male Atoll is one of the most visited dive areas in the country, while the South Male Atoll tends to be slightly less trafficked.

On the South Male Atoll you'll find Cocoa Thila, a pinnacle that stretches over 1,000 feet long and nearly 100 feet deep. Due to the area's strong currents, this site is better suited for experienced divers but offers a wide variety of marine life.

Vaavu Atoll

The Vaavu Atoll offers excellent channel diving for divers of all levels. One of the most notable sites in the atoll is Fotteyo Kandu, a channel with a number of large overhangs and caves (often referred to as one of the best dive sites in the world).

For a more in-depth look at dive sites in the Maldives, check out the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) travel site.

What you'll see

Due to the consistent water temperatures, larger marine animals such as turtles, reef sharks, mantas and whale sharks can be found throughout the year. In fact, spotting many of these (somewhat) elusive creatures is usually more dependent on factors like the tide, sunrise and sunset.

Here's a calendar from PADI that indicates the best viewing times for many of the popular marine life:

Basically, you're likely to see common dolphins; turtles (hawksbill and loggerheads); manta and eagle rays; and whitetip reef sharks every month of the year.

Hammerhead sharks are most likely to be seen between December and April, with some sightings possible between May and November. Leopard sharks can be seen every month except June and July.

Your best chance of seeing whale sharks is between February and November, and stonefish sightings are possible between December and April.

The best Maldives resorts for diving

With over 130 resorts to chose from, there's no shortage of places to stay in the Maldives . But not all of the hotels cater to divers, so you'll need to plan accordingly.

Popular resorts with dive packages include properties like Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli , the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru . The good news is there are accommodations to fit nearly any budget, as these dive resorts from the super basic (from $150 per night) to the extremely extravagant (costing upwards of $5,000 per night).

Even if the resort you chose doesn't provide diving opportunities, you should be able to arrange dive excursions through nearby resorts and dive shops.

Liveaboard dive vessels

You may also choose to stay on a liveaboard dive vessel during your trip. Liveaboards offer divers the ability to maximize their time below the surface and to experience more remote locations that aren't accessible as day trips.

Well-rated liveaboards include the Ocean Divine, Nautilus One and Maldives Grandezza. Depending on the boat, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 per day to over $1,200 per day.

Related: Guide to hotel transfer fees in the Maldives

While this might sound expensive, consider that traveling around the different islands in the Maldives can get quite expensive given the distances and modes of travel, including seaplane and speedboat. If you'd like to visit a variety of dive sites and travel to more remote areas, a liveaboard is the way to go.

Be sure to check out the PADI site for more information on both dive resorts and liveaboards .

Where to stay with points

There's no question that visiting the Maldives is an expensive endeavor -- whether you're paying cash, using travel rewards or doing a combination. Luckily, there are plenty of chain hotels to choose from where you can use points to help offset the cost of your trip, including hotels from Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG.

There are, of course, plenty of nonchain hotels, too.

If you'd rather book with an independent hotel, consider using a card with a purchase eraser like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Or, take advantage of a pay-with-points redemption option like those you'll find on the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Related: Where to stay in the Maldives using miles and points

Snorkeling, fishing and surfing in the maldives

Much like the dive sites in the area, some snorkeling excursions can be done right from the shore, while others require a boat ride.

If you're visiting the Maldives and want to do a lot of snorkeling, be sure to choose your accommodation accordingly because not all of the islands in the Maldives have easy access to snorkeling. The W Maldives is one good choice, as it's known for its house reef and you can snorkel right from your villa.

Surfers will also find a lot of fantastic opportunities to catch a wave (or 10). The Huvadhoo Atoll is known as the spot with the best surf conditions. Although conditions will vary throughout the archipelago depending on the time of year, in general, surf conditions are best April through October.

Lastly, the Maldives is known as one of the best big game fishing destinations in the world. Thankfully, the country enforces strict fishing regulations in order to maintain the fish populations that support the livelihood of the locals, but there's still an abundance of fishing charters and tour operators to take tourists out to try their hand at an impressive tuna, wahoo, barracuda or swordfish catch.

Regardless of what your favorite activity might be, if you do decide to plan a trip to the Maldives, there's no doubt you'll fall in love with this incredible island nation.

Diving In Maldives | Best Spots And Seasons

The Maldives is a dream destination for many scuba divers. With crystal clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life, it’s no wonder why! Whether you’re an experienced diver or just getting started, the Maldives has something for everyone.

For experienced divers, the Maldives offers some of the best diving in the world. With over 1,000 coral reefs, the Maldives is home to a wide variety of marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles.

The visibility is also excellent, making it easy to spot the vibrant colors of the coral and the abundance of fish. There are also plenty of wrecks and caves to explore.

For those just getting started, the Maldives is a great place to learn.

With its warm waters and shallow reefs, the Maldives is the perfect place to get your feet wet. There are plenty of dive centers that offer courses and guided dives, so you can get comfortable before taking on the more challenging dives.

No matter your experience level, the Maldives is a must-see for any diver. With its stunning coral reefs and abundance of marine life, it’s no wonder why it’s one of the world’s top diving destinations. So grab your gear and dive in!

Table of Contents

Common Marine Life Sightings For Maldives

Diving in Maldives is a truly unique and incredible experience.

With its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life, the Maldives offers the best diving in the world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, you’ll be sure to find something that will amaze you.

Common marine life sightings in the Maldives include a variety of colorful fish, sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, and whale sharks.

The vibrant coral reefs are home to a variety of fish and invertebrates, including clownfish, parrotfish, and moray eels. You may also spot a variety of crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters. The Maldives is also home to a variety of sharks, including the iconic whale shark. Whale sharks are the largest species of fish in the world. And they can often be seen swimming in the waters of the Maldives.

They are filter-feeders, so they are harmless to humans and can be observed from a safe distance. In addition to the incredible marine life, the Maldives also offers a variety of sunken shipwrecks and artificial reefs that are perfect for exploring.

These wrecks and reefs are home to a variety of fish and invertebrates. And they provide a unique opportunity to explore a different side of the underwater world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, the Maldives has something to offer everyone.

With its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life, it’s no wonder that the Maldives is one of the top destinations for diving in the world. So if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, make sure to add the Maldives to your list of must-see destinations.

When To Dive In Maldives

When it comes to diving in the Maldives, there are few places more beautiful and unique as this island nation. Located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is home to some of the most stunning coral reefs and marine life in the world.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, the Maldives is the perfect destination for an unforgettable diving experience. The best time to dive in the Maldives is from November to April, when the water temperature is warm and visibility is at its best. During this time, the waters are usually calm and clear, making it easy to spot the vibrant corals and marine life.

This is also the peak season for whale sharks, manta rays, and other large marine creatures, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!

If you’re looking for an even more unique experience, consider a night dive. The waters of the Maldives are filled with fascinating nocturnal creatures, such as sea turtles, octopuses, and moray eels. The night dives also offer a chance to see bioluminescent creatures, such as plankton and jellyfish. No matter when you decide to dive, the Maldives is sure to provide a memorable experience.

With its breathtaking beauty and abundance of marine life, the Maldives is a must-visit destination for any diver. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to dive in and explore the wonders of the Maldives!

Best Dive Spots

The Maldives is home to some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. From shallow coral gardens to deep wrecks, there is something for every diver. The warm, crystal clear waters of the Maldives are home to a variety of marine life, including colorful reef fish, turtles, dolphins, and even whale sharks.

Addu Atoll – Addu Town

Addu Atoll – Addu Town is an ideal location for diving in the Maldives. Located in the southern part of the country, Addu Atoll is home to some of the best diving spots in the world. With crystal-clear waters and an abundance of marine life, it’s no wonder why so many divers flock to this paradise.

The Addu Atoll is made up of several islands, each of which has its own unique diving opportunities. From the shallow waters of the lagoon to the deep reefs of the ocean, there’s something for everyone.

The variety of marine life is also impressive, with a range of colorful fish, corals, and other sea creatures. For those looking for an adventure, there are plenty of opportunities for wreck diving and exploring underwater caves. The Addu Atoll is also home to several shipwrecks, which are perfect for exploring and discovering the secrets of the past.

The best way to experience the beauty of the Addu Atoll is to take a boat tour. These tours typically take you around the islands, allowing you to explore the reefs and underwater caves.

You’ll also get the chance to spot some of the local wildlife, including dolphins, turtles, and even whales. If you’re looking for a more relaxed experience, there are plenty of opportunities for snorkeling and swimming. The waters are so clear that you can often spot the colorful fish and coral without having to get your feet wet.

Whether you’re looking for an adventure or a more relaxed experience, Addu Atoll – Addu Town is the perfect spot for diving in the Maldives. With its abundance of marine life and stunning scenery, it’s a must-visit destination for any diver.

So, if you’re looking for a unique experience, make sure to add Addu Atoll – Addu Town to your list of destinations.

Mudakan Called Manta Point

Mudakan called Manta Point is one of the most popular diving sites in the Maldives. Located in the North Male Atoll, the dive site is rich of marine life and its abundance of manta rays.

The dive site is situated in a shallow lagoon, making it ideal for both beginner and experienced divers. The reef walls are home to a variety of corals, sponges, and other invertebrates, while the sandy bottom offers plenty of hiding places for small fish. The visibility is usually excellent, and the water temperature is usually comfortable. Manta rays are the main attraction of the dive site.

These graceful creatures can often be seen swimming gracefully in the water, and divers are able to get up close and personal with them. The manta rays are also known to come close to the divers, offering a unique and memorable experience.

The dive site is also home to a variety of other marine life, including turtles, reef sharks, and barracuda. The reef walls are home to a variety of colorful tropical fish, and the sandy bottom is home to a variety of crustaceans and eels. The dive site is easily accessible from the nearby resorts, and is a popular spot for divers of all levels. It’s a great place to explore the underwater world of the Maldives, and to get up close and personal with the majestic manta rays. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, Mudakan called Manta Point is a great place to explore the underwater world of the Maldives.

If you like mantarays, you may would like to read our article: Manta Ray, a giant of the ocean

Makadu Outsider – Diving Outside The Atoll

When it comes to diving, the Maldives is a paradise for underwater explorers. From the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean to the diverse array of marine life, the Maldives is a must-visit destination for any diver. And with Makadu Outsider, you can experience the best of the Maldives without ever leaving the atoll.

Makadu Outsider is a diving tour company based in the Maldives. They specialize in taking divers to the outer atolls of the Maldives, where the waters are even clearer and the marine life is even more diverse. Their experienced guides will take you to the best dive sites in the area, and provide you with all the necessary equipment and instruction you need to ensure a safe and enjoyable dive. The Maldives is home to some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world, and Makadu Outsider will take you to the best spots. From the vibrant colors of the coral to the exotic fish and other marine life, you’ll be able to explore the underwater world in all its glory.

And if you’re looking for a more adventurous experience, Makadu Outsider also offers night dives and drift dives, allowing you to explore even further.

No matter what type of diver you are, Makadu Outsider has something for you. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, they have the perfect dive package for you. And with their experienced guides and top-notch equipment, you can be sure that your dive will be a safe and enjoyable one. So if you’re looking to explore the beauty of the Maldives, look no further than Makadu Outsider. With their experienced guides and top-notch equipment, they’ll make sure that your dive is an unforgettable one. So don’t wait – book your dive today and explore the beauty of the Maldives from the outside of the atoll.

Royalty British – The Largest Wreck In The Maldives

The Royal British is a former British Royal Navy vessel that was sunk in the early 1940s. It is located off the coast of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and is now home to a variety of marine life. The wreck is approximately 120 meters long and 25 meters wide, and is covered in coral and other marine life.

The Royal British is a popular dive site, as it offers divers the opportunity to explore the wreckage and observe the abundant sea life that has made the wreck its home. Diving in the Royal British is an experience like no other. The wreck is filled with fascinating artifacts, as well as a variety of fish, crustaceans, and other marine life. Divers can explore the decks and cabins of the wreck, as well as the engine room and other areas.

The Royal British is also home to a variety of coral formations, making it a great place to observe the diversity of marine life in the Maldives.

The Royal British is a great dive site for both experienced and novice divers. It is a relatively shallow dive, with depths ranging from 15 to 25 meters, making it a great spot for beginners. Experienced divers can explore the deeper areas of the wreck, as well as the surrounding coral formations. No matter what your experience level, the Royal British is an amazing dive site that offers something for everyone. With its abundance of marine life and fascinating artifacts, the Royal British is a must-see destination for any diver or snorkeler visiting the Maldives.

Vaavu Atoll – Felidhu Atholhu

Vaavu Atoll – Felidhu Atholhu is a great place to visit for divers who are looking for an exciting experience in the Maldives. Located in the South Ari Atoll, it is the smallest atoll in the Maldives and is made up of two separate islands, Felidhu and Vaavu.

The atoll is known for its abundance of marine life and stunning coral reefs. It is one of the most popular dive sites in the Maldives. And, it is also home to some of the most spectacular coral formations in the country.

The waters around Vaavu Atoll are crystal clear and teeming with marine life. There are plenty of colorful fish and corals to explore, and the visibility is excellent. Divers can explore the shallower reefs and enjoy the vibrant colors of the corals and fish.

For those who are looking for a more adventurous dive, there are also deeper reefs and wrecks to explore. The wrecks are home to a variety of marine life, including sharks and other large fish. The coral formations are also incredible, and divers can enjoy a spectacular view of the atoll from the depths.

The best time to visit Vaavu Atoll is between November and April. When the waters are the clearest and the visibility is at its best. The atoll is easily accessible by boat, and there are plenty of resorts and guesthouses located nearby.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Vaavu Atoll – Felidhu Atholhu is a great place to explore. With its abundance of marine life and stunning coral formations, it is a must-visit destination for any diver visiting the Maldives.

Bodu Miyaru Kandu – Big Shark Channel

Bodu Miyaru Kandu, or the Big Shark Channel, is one of the most popular dive sites in the Maldives. Its Location is in the North Ari Atoll, Bodu Miyaru Kandu has numerous species of sharks and other marine life.

The dive site is in a channel between two islands, and its visibility and abundance of marine life are incredible. The waters are usually crystal clear, and visibility is usually between 20 to 30 meters. The site is home to a variety of sharks, including blacktip, grey reef, and whitetip reef sharks. There are also plenty of other marine life, including moray eels, stingrays, and a variety of colorful reef fish. The best time to dive at Bodu Miyaru Kandu is between April and November. During this time, the water temperature is usually between 26 to 28 degrees Celsius. The currents can be strong, so it is important to be aware of the conditions before diving. Diving at Bodu Miyaru Kandu is an unforgettable experience. The abundance of marine life, the crystal clear water, and the opportunity to see so many different species of sharks make it a must-visit destination for any diver. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, Bodu Miyaru Kandu is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.

Alimathaa – Night Diving

If you’re looking for an adventure, night diving in the Maldives is the perfect way to experience the beauty of the Indian Ocean. The waters around Alimathaa has crystal clear visibility, making it an ideal spot for night diving.

The marine life in the Maldives is abundant and diverse, and you can expect to see a wide variety of sea creatures during your night dive. From colorful coral reefs to the vibrant sea creatures like manta rays, sea turtles, and even whale sharks, you’ll have plenty to explore.

The best time to go night diving in the Maldives is during the months of May to October when the visibility is at its highest. During this time, the water temperature is also at its warmest, making it a comfortable experience for divers.

When night diving in the Maldives, it’s important that you prepare yourself. Make sure to bring a flashlight and a dive computer to help you navigate the depths. You’ll also want to bring a buddy to keep you safe and to help you identify the marine life you encounter.

For the more experienced divers, the Male Atoll is a great destination. This atoll is home to some of the best dive sites in the Maldives, with its colorful coral reefs, abundant sea life and wide variety of underwater terrain. From wrecks to wall dives, there is something for everyone at the Male Atoll.

The atoll is also home to some of the best drift dives in the Maldives. With the currents taking you through the stunning coral gardens and past large schools of fish. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a whale shark or two!

The Male Atoll is also known for its manta rays and whale sharks. Which can often be seen in the waters around the atoll. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to spot a hammerhead shark or a mola mola!

Banana Reef (Banana Reef)

Banana Reef (Banana Reef) is a popular dive site located in the Maldives. It has incredible coral formations and vibrant marine life. The reef is located at the northern tip of North Male Atoll and is approximately 10 meters deep.

Diving in Maldives is an unforgettable experience. The waters are crystal clear and the visibility is excellent. There are a variety of marine life that you will see, including sharks, turtles, manta rays and a variety of colorful fish. The coral formations are spectacular and you can explore the many nooks and crannies of the reef. Banana Reef is a great spot for both novice and experienced divers. The dive site is relatively shallow so it is suitable for all levels of divers. The dive site is also accessible from the beach so you don’t need to take a boat out to the reef. The best time to visit Banana Reef is between April and October when the water temperature is at its warmest. During this time, the visibility is at its best and the marine life is most active.

Victory Wreck

The Victory Wreck is located in the North Male Atoll, and it is an ideal spot for divers of all levels. The wreck is located at a depth of 30 meters, making it easily accessible for most divers. The ship itself is an impressive sight, with its bow and stern still visible.

The wreck is also home to a variety of marine life, including colorful corals, sea anemones, and a variety of fish. Diving the Victory Wreck is an unforgettable experience. A variety of colorful coral formations surrouns the wreck, and the visibility is usually excellent. The wreck is also home to a variety of marine life, including eels, stingrays, and even the occasional shark.

Divers can explore the wreck and its surrounding areas, and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding reef. The Victory Wreck is an ideal spot for divers of all levels. Beginner divers can explore the shallow parts of the wreck, while more experienced divers can explore the deeper parts. The wreck is also an ideal spot for night dives, as the visibility is usually excellent.

( Click here to see the Maldives location map)

The Maldives is an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands. It is located in the Indian Ocean, and it is one of the most popular destinations for scuba diving. With its warm waters and abundance of marine life, the Maldives is a paradise for divers of all levels.

Experienced divers can explore the many coral reefs and wrecks. While beginners can take advantage of the shallow waters and gentle currents. There is something for everyone in the Maldives, from the vibrant coral gardens to the colorful fish and sea turtles.

Whether you are looking for a relaxing dive or an adventure, the Maldives has it all. So if you are looking for an unforgettable diving experience, the Maldives is the place to be.

Take a look at these cool articles!

• +91 9932088858
• [email protected]

• Nalaguraidhoo
• Uttarakhand
• Northeast India
• 100 - 10,000
• 10,000 - 40,000
• 40,000 - 1,00,000
• Above 1,00,000
• Customised Tour

Scuba Diving in Maldives

Are you an adventurous Indian woman who's just finished college and looking for an unforgettable experience? Picture this – you, diving into the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives, surrounded by lively coral reefs and fascinating marine life. It's a thrilling journey that empowers you, breaks norms, and connects you with nature like never before. Meet Anjali, a recent college graduate from India, who took the plunge into scuba diving in the Maldives. With excitement and a touch of nerves, she dived into the serene depths, only to emerge with awe and wonder at the beauty she discovered below. Now it's your turn! Book your scuba diving adventure in the Maldives and create your own incredible story. 

Let’s Learn About Scuba diving in Maldives

Scuba diving is an exhilarating underwater adventure that allows you to explore the mesmerizing marine world like never before. With specialized gear like a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), you can breathe freely and glide through the depths, encountering a kaleidoscope of colorful coral reefs, fascinating fish, graceful rays, and even majestic sea turtles. It's an experience that transcends the ordinary and engages you in a realm of tranquility and wonder.

Now, why choose the Maldives for your scuba diving escapade? Well, this tropical paradise offers some of the most extraordinary dive sites on the planet! With over 1,200 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives boasts crystal-clear waters with incredible visibility, making it a diver's utopia. 

Did you know that the Maldives is home to a rich marine biodiversity, with over 1,000 species of fish and 2,000+ array of vibrant corals? Not to mention, it's one of the few places on Earth where you can swim alongside gentle giants – whale sharks and manta rays! 

Whether you're a seasoned diver or a curious beginner, the Maldives caters to all levels of expertise. The warm tropical climate and calm waters offer ideal conditions for comfortable diving throughout the year.

But it's not just the underwater world that's captivating. The Maldives offers luxurious overwater bungalows, pure white-sand beaches, and breathtaking sunsets that paint the sky in hues of pink and orange.

How to Get To Maldives?

If you're planning an exciting trip to the Maldives, getting there is easier than you might think! The Velana International Airport, situated on Hulhule Island in North Male Atoll, is where you'll land for your Maldives adventure. It's the primary airport that receives international flights from various destinations.

You'll find many carriers offering direct flights to Velana International Airport, ensuring a convenient journey for travelers. Just be mindful that schedules may vary during peak seasons, so it's a good idea to plan ahead.

If you're coming from India, there's a direct flight option from Thiruvananthapuram to Hanimaadhoo International Airport on Haa Dhaalu Atoll. Meanwhile, travelers from Sri Lanka can take advantage of the direct flight to Gan International Airport on the picturesque Gan Island in Addu Atoll.

So, whether you're coming from India, Sri Lanka, or any other international destination, your dreamy getaway to the Maldives awaits you at Velana International Airport. Get ready to dive into paradise!

What is the best time to go to the Maldives?

The Marine Life On The Maldives

Oh, you won't believe the incredible marine creatures you can encounter on a scuba diving excursion in the Maldives! Picture this: the striking red tooth triggerfish gracefully swimming by, while majestic white tip reef sharks glide elegantly in the distance. And if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of hammerhead sharks cruising through the deep blue waters. But that's not all! You can also be charmed by the playful clownfish dancing around their anemone homes, and the impressive Napoleon wrasse strolling past like underwater royalty. Oh, and keep an eye out for the elegant cow tail stingrays gracefully gliding along the sea floor. To experience this underwater wonderland, make sure you dive with a certified PADI dive center at one of the local or private island resorts. It'll be a marine adventure you'll never forget!

Scuba Diving in Maldives on a Budget

Tips For Scuba Diving in Maldives

Ah, the Maldives! An enchanting paradise nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean. For an adventurous person like yourself, scuba diving in this aquatic wonderland is an experience like no other. As you prepare to take the plunge into the vibrant depths, let me share some captivating tips to make your scuba diving journey in the Maldives truly unique.

You're standing at the edge of the boat, salty breeze caressing your cheeks, and your heart pounding like a tribal drum. The world beneath the waves beckons, and you feel a mix of exhilaration and jitters. But guess what? It's time to seize the moment, my fellow adventurer! Don't let those nerves dampen your spirits; let them fuel your fire! Enjoy this thrilling journey with a heart full of courage and curiosity. As you descend into the blue abyss, you'll discover a whole new world of wonders waiting to unravel. Let's dive right in! 

When it comes to scuba diving, we've got your back! Safety is our top priority, and we take pride in being one of the most reputable dive centers in the Maldives. Our experienced instructors are not just experts in diving; they understand your needs as an adventurous person. They'll be your underwater buddies, guiding you every step of the way. From the moment you take that deep breath and dive in, we'll ensure you feel comfortable, confident, and ready to explore the mesmerizing world beneath the waves. Get ready for a scuba adventure you'll treasure forever with us!

Visualize this: You dip below the ocean's surface, and suddenly, you're in a whole new realm of vibrant hues! The coral reefs in the Maldives are nature's artistry at its finest, splashed with an artist's palette of red, orange, and blue. It's like swimming through a living, breathing kaleidoscope of colors. And the fish! Oh, they're like glimmering jewels, gracefully dancing with the currents, their scales catching the sunlight like a dazzling display. The underwater world is a mesmerizing spectacle that'll leave you utterly awestruck, feeling like you've stepped into a painter's wildest dream.

You will be gliding gracefully through the turquoise waters of the Maldives, surrounded by a myriad of marine life. It's a surreal experience, but amidst all the excitement, it's crucial to remember one golden rule: be mindful of the underwater residents. Treat them with the respect they deserve, like the graceful dancers they are. Resist the urge to touch or disturb these beautiful creatures, for this is their home, and we are merely guests. Instead, observe from a distance, letting them carry on with their natural behaviors, and you'll witness the true magic of the underwater world.

As you break the surface, a surge of exhilaration rushes through you. It's time to celebrate your scuba diving triumph! You ventured into a mesmerizing realm, a world where dreams meet reality. Amidst colorful corals and graceful marine life, you conquered any lingering fears. How incredible is that? You've delved into the heart of nature, feeling a deep connection that words struggle to describe. Cherish this moment, for it's not just a dive; it's an adventure that has transformed you. So, raise your fins, give a triumphant cheer, and bask in the glow of your achievement! You deserve it!

LET US CALL YOU BACK

Get the Best Holiday Planned by Experts!

Animals Around the Globe

10 Best Places to Swim With Sea Turtles – A Complete Guide

Posted: December 2, 2023 | Last updated: December 2, 2023

Wold with turtles spots, Chris, Animals Around The Globe

Would you love to swim with sea turtles? We collected the 10 Best Places to Dive or Swim with Sea Turtles.

Photo by Brocken Inaglory.

There are seven species of sea turtles -six of which are found swimming in every ocean except for the Arctic and Antarctica. The seventh species of sea turtle, the flatback, lives only in the waters around Australia .

Sea turtles grow 2 – 7 feet long in length and weigh 70 – 1500 pounds. Given that there are seven species of sea turtles, the leatherback is the largest sea turtle and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. In addition, sea turtles are omnivores. 

It should be known that sea turtles make long migrations between feeding and breeding zones.

For instance: the leatherback turtle travels around 3,500 miles each way between feeding and breeding. Regarding gestation, sea turtles will mate at sea, and then on the beaches, they lay their eggs. After digging a hole in the sand to deposit their eggs, they cover the hole back up and return to the waters. Learn more about baby turtles here .

Around 60 days later, the eggs hatch, and tiny turtles make their way to the water – often at night time in order to avoid any potential threats to the young turtles. 

Did you know that the leatherback sea turtle is the heaviest reptile in the world?

7 different kinds of turtles © Chris, Animals Around The Globe ®

We gathered data for a comprehensive comparison of the most common turtles.

Photo by P. Lindgren.

Coastal Development comprises a number of human activities that threaten the existence of this species. For instance: the development and construction of homes, hotels and roads. In addition, oil platform construction, as well as seawall construction, can all threaten the habitat for sea turtles and their hatchlings.

The increased level of human activity over the last years has meant increased levels of pollution, objects on the beach as well as unnatural erosion of beaches. 

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

• ABC Scuba Diving 
• Blue Dive Port Douglas
• Mike Ball Dive Expeditions 

Multiple tour operators are offering sea turtle encounters. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and TripAdvisor for sea turtles swimming/diving):

Best Operators near the Great Barrier Reef for swimming with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: May – October (Green Sea Turtle, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Flatback, Olive Ridley, Leatherback)

Specifically, though, you can find six species of sea turtles within this marine formation. Also important to know is that there are 18 nesting sites of green turtles at the Northern and Southern ends of the reef, meaning that you can find turtles to swim with here. 

In one of the largest marine ecological systems in the world , you can find the Great Barrier Reef . Known to be the largest coral reef in the world, it is visible from space. There are an abundance of plants and animals that you could find swimming around in this area.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

• Guiding Galapagos Expeditions 
• Scuba Iguana 
• Perfect Destiny 
• Eagleray Tours
• Galapagos Underwater 

Multiple tour operators are offering sea turtle encounters. Here are the most reliable ones (Rated on Google Maps and TripAdvisor):

Best Operators near the Galapagos Islands for swimming with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: December – March (Galapagos Green Turtle)

Therefore, this provides a unique experience for any turtle lover. These turtles can be found swimming through the tropical waters of the Pacific Island. 

People come from all over the world to these islands because they are known for their large number of endemic species. One of the main reasons why the Galapagos Islands feature so high on our list is because the Galapagos green sea turtle is a subspecies of green turtle that can only be found in the waters of the archipelagos of these islands.

Sipadan, Malaysia

• Scuba Junkie 
• Pulau Mabul 
• Sipadan Water Village 
• Borneo Divers Mabul Resort 
• Pom Pom Island Resort 

 Best Operators near Maui Sipadan, Malaysia for diving with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: April – November (Green sea turtle, Hawksbill turtle)

This rich ecological area, mixed with the warm tropical temperatures of the water, makes it another great place for sea turtle enthusiasts! There are other species of animals, including sharks , manta rays as well as barracuda. 

Situated as a small island in Malaysia in the Celebes Sea, Sipadan is a top destination for divers coming from all over the world. There are more than 3,000 different species of fish and many different types of corals which are unique to the area. Great location from the list of The 10 Best Places to See Sea Turtles.

Ari Atoll, Maldives

• Lets go Excursions Maldives 
• Miyaru Folhudhoo Divers Maldives
• Rasdhoo Scuba Divers 
• Dive Worldwide
• Dive Blue Maldives 

Best Operators near Ari Atoll, Maldives for diving with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: January – April  

Not only are the white sandy beaches so beautiful for anyone to visit, but also the incredible marine formation here makes it another stunning destination for animal lovers. If you do decide to make the journey here, you will find sea turtles, as well as different species of fish, dolphins, and starfish in the clear blue waters. Find Green sea turtle, Olive Ridley sea turtle, and Hawksbill sea turtle here.

The Maldives is a beautiful location composed of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. Ari Atoll specifically is one of the natural atolls of the Maldives. It is one of the biggest atolls and is located in the west of the archipelago.

Akumal, Playa del Carmen, México

• Dressel Divers 
• Go Natural Explorers 
• All Tour Native 
• Cancun Adventure 
• Total Snorkel Cancun 

Best Operators near Playa del Carmen, Mexico for snorkeling with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: May – August (Green sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle )

This combined with the rich historical aspect of Akumal (it is one of the Yucatan's oldest coastal resort areas) as well as the sublime beaches makes it a great place to consider. Not only is it possible to swim with sea turtles, but also there is a turtle night watch where at 21:15 pm, the guide will be able to guide you through their knowledge and expertise in the field of sea turtles. This is part of a conservation project which you can read more about here .  

Locals call Akumal the Place of the Turtles. This in itself should be reason enough to consider this beautiful location as a perfect destination for looking for and swimming with these graceful creatures.

Cook Island Marine Reserve, Australia

• Watersports Guru 
• Gold Coast Dive Adventures 
• Kirra Dive 
• Cooly Dive 
• Experience Oz 

Best Operators near the Cook Island Marine Reserve for swimming with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: May – October  (Discover Green sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle here)

It is important to remember that you should avoid touching or disturbing sea turtles, but it is possible to interact with them from a 15 feet distance. Furthermore, in yet another beautiful spot on this planet, you will be able to spot other varieties of species, including shrimps, parrotfish and molluscs. 

This reserve is a marine protected area located in the South Pacific Ocean, around 600m from the Fingal Head mainland of New South Wales. Consisting of waters around the island within a radius of 500 metres, it is possible to spot turtles all year around as the place is actually a sanctuary for marine life.

Marsa Alam, Egypt

• Coraya Divers 
• Marsa Alam Tours 
• Diving Marsa Alam 
• Emperor Divers 
• Liveaboard 

Best Operators near Marsa Alam for snorkeling with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: June – September (Green sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle)

But it gets even better, as the area is home to many species of sea turtles, and you can encounter them. In particular, Abu Dabbab Bay is known as a beautiful sandy beach where you are able to swim with different sea turtles. A particularly amazing aspect of visiting Marsa Alam is that you can snorkel not too far from the beach and are able to view some sea turtles. Of course, you can go and snorkel or dive further away from the shore as well! Another great spot from The 10 Best Places to See Sea Turtles.

The clear visibility in the Egyptian Red Sea, with its colorful corals and the many species of fish, is actually almost enough to make any underwater enthusiast happy.

Gili Islands, Indonesia

• Blue Marlin Dive 
• Conservation Diver 
• DPM Diving Gili Air
• Gili Air Divers 
• Gili Island Divers 

Best Operators near Gili Islands for diving with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: April – November 

There are crystal clear waters meaning that turtle watching is a real attraction here. You are able to spot the turtles, and they are easily approached and observed because it is quite a popular location! Loo out for Hawksbill sea turtle and Green sea turtles here.

The Gili Islands are an archipelago of three small islands in South East Asia . Due to the abundance of marine life and attractive coral formations, divers and snorkeling enthusiasts from all over the world flock to the Gili Islands to spot life.

Tobago Cays, Caribbean

• Indigo Dive 
• Bequia Dive Adventures
• Serenity Dive 
• Dive Bequia 
• Jean-Michel Cousteau Diving Caribbean 

Best Operators near Tobago Cays, Caribbean for swimming with Sea Turtles 

Best travel time: January – June 

Regarding swimming with sea turtles, the area is well known for the green sea turtles that gather right under the water’s surface, making it a fun way of seeing the animal glide through the water. You can see Green sea turtle and Hawksbill sea turtle here.

The Tobago Cays are an archipelago located in the Southern part of Saint Vincent comprising five small islands are a myriad of coral reefs. The area is one of natural beauty where there exists many varieties of coral reefs as well as extensive marine flora and fauna.

More for You

The Exact Time to Quit Your Job, According to Chief HR Officer

Teen ends up with stoma after period pain worry

How To Identify And Get Rid Of Dangerous Brown Recluse Spiders

Top Democrats Hope Sotomayor Learns Lesson From Ginsburg's Death: Report

Doctor shares what happens to our bodies moments before we die

I did 50 standing toe touches every day for a week — here’s what happened to my abs

Casualties reported during N. Korea's military drills involving paratroopers last month

Solar Eclipse 2024: Full List of Places That Won't See It After Path Change

Virtual colonoscopy lets you skip the scope. Here’s what to know about the colorectal cancer screening Mark Cuban says saves time and money

20 Personal Things You Should Never Share With Others

Nebraska’s proposed transgender athlete bill is constitutional, state AG says

I'm a Swede who used to work with Americans. These are the main differences I saw in our working cultures.

What do a top-secret CIA mission and the Maryland bridge wreck have in common? Well, the same crane

At 17, she found out she was autistic. It's a story that's becoming more common. Here's why.

Netflix Nightmares: 15 Horror Movies Guaranteed to Give You Chills

15 Mistakes People Make When Living Alone That Put Their Safety in Danger

19 Easy Ways to Fall Back Asleep After Waking Up in the Middle of the Night

Space Rock Slammed Into Moon - The Explosion Was Seen From Japan

32 Cult Favorite Items From Costco

What is May-Thurner Syndrome, the condition that sent Lauren Boebert to the hospital with a blood clot?

ON THE PALAU SIREN!

Search form

Best scuba diving in the world.

• Best Diving in Asia
• Best Diving in Africa
• South Africa
• Zanzibar, Tanzania & Kenya
• African Land Safaris
• Tanzania Land Safari
• Australia Best Diving
• Great Barrier Reef
• Caribbean Best Diving
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominican Republic
• Jardines de la Reina
• Roatan, Utila & Guanaja
• Saba, St Kitts & St Eustatius
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tiger Beach
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turks and Caicos
• Best Diving in Costa Rica
• Cocos Island
• French Polynesia Best Diving
• Galapagos Islands
• Andaman Islands
• Indonesia - Top 10 Areas
• Cenderawasih Bay
• Derawan Islands
• Lembeh Strait
• Manado and Bunaken
• Raja Ampat Area
• Wakatobi National Park
• Best Scuba Diving in Mexico - Top 9
• Baja California
• Cabo San Lucas
• Guadalupe Island
• Isla Mujeres
• San Ignacio Gray Whales
• Sea of Cortez
• Socorro Islands
• Micronesia Dive Guide
• Bikini Atoll
• Truk Lagoon
• Saudi Arabia
• Southeast Asia - Top Areas
• Philippines - Top Areas
• Cebu and Bohol
• Malapascua Island
• Puerto Galera
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands
• Thailand Best Diving
• Similan Islands
• Best Diving in the USA
• Best Scuba Diving in Hawaii
• Catalina Island
• Southern California
• All 110 Destinations
• Best Liveaboard Destinations
• All Liveaboard Destinations
• Bahamas Liveaboards
• Belize Liveaboards
• Caribbean Liveaboards
• Cocos Island Liveaboards
• Galapagos Liveaboards
• Great Barrier Reef Liveaboards
• Indonesia Liveaboards
• Komodo Liveaboards
• Maldives Liveaboards
• Norway Liveaboards
• Palau Liveaboards
• Philippines Liveaboards
• Raja Ampat Liveaboards
• Red Sea Liveaboards
• Sea of Cortez Liveaboards
• Similan Island Liveaboards
• Socorro Liveaboards
• Tubbataha Liveaboards
• Turks & Caicos Liveaboards
• 170+ Liveaboards Worldwide
• Bali Dive Resorts
• Belize Dive Resorts
• Bonaire Dive Resorts
• Caribbean Dive Resorts
• Cayman Islands Dive Resorts
• Cozumel Dive Resorts
• Fiji Dive Resorts
• French Polynesia Dive Resorts
• Indonesia Dive Resorts
• Maldives Dive Resorts
• Mexico Dive Resorts
• Palau Dive Resorts
• Philippines Dive Resorts
• Raja Ampat Dive Resorts
• Roatan, Utila, & Guanaja Dive Resorts
• Sipadan Dive Resorts
• 200+ Dive Resorts Worldwide
• All Guided Group Trips
• African Safari Trips
• swim with whales
• Intimate Gray Whale Experience
• snorkel trips
• Bluewater Travel's 50 Amazing Adventures
• All Dive Travel Specials
• Best Of Articles
• All Articles
• Top 10 Lists
• Top Luxury Liveaboards
• Top Rated Liveaboards
• Travel Search
• Travel Insurance
• Terms of Service
• Leave a review
• Learn Underwater Photography
• Buy Underwater Camera Gear
• Get Scuba Certified

Master Liveaboards Maldives Latest Special: Save Up To 20%

Master Liveaboards offers premier dive cruises on spacious and luxurious vessels. Their fleet includes modern liveaboard diving vessels that aim to provide unforgettable diving holidays in some of the most exciting diving destinations all over the world. Complete with trip itineraries that take divers to the best sites, guests are sure to experience an amazing dive adventure.

master liveaboards maldives latest Special

Save 20% on trips.

Blue Voyager

Valid for Selected departures between August and December 2024.

Maldives Dive Travel Guide

Blue Voyager: Reviews, Photos and More...

GOT QUESTIONS? READY TO BOOK?

Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 or email us   [email protected]

And let us book your dream vacation!

Latest Articles

Bluewater bucket list trips, best places to swim with whales, best shark diving in the world, best whale shark diving locations, best macro destinations, best diving in the philippines - top 9, best coral reefs in the world  , best diving in indonesia - top 10, best diving in the caribbean - top 12, top dive sites in the world, be the first to get news and specials.

Sign up for the mailing list today

310-915-6677 [email protected]

• OUR DIVE TRAVEL EXPERTS
• TERMS OF SERVICE

5 incredible destinations where travel is a force for good

Conscious travelers can help leave the world a better place when they choose to visit these incredible global destinations with eco-friendly experiences and hotels..

By Jessica Poitevien | April 3, 2024

Exploring the world often has an undeniably positive impact on travelers, but what about the other way around? Now more than ever, travelers are finding ways to leave a destination better than it was before by making conscious decisions in how they travel. From staying at hotels that prioritize sustainable practices to participating in eco-conscious activities, here are a few highly sought-after destinations around the globe where you can travel and do some good along the way.

Tulum, Mexico

With lush tropical forests, crystalline cenotes and the soothingly warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, Tulum is a paradisiacal destination for nature lovers. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is particularly worth exploring with a private guide to help you spot the thousands of species of flora and fauna. Eco-conscious travelers staying at Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya can rest easy knowing that the resort is not only stunning, but also intentional about lessening its impact on the area’s pristine environment. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya has multiple rescue and relocation programs for its mangroves, wildlife and coastal forest, as well as innovative waste management practices. During sea turtle nesting season, the resort also closes off areas of the beach where the turtles nest to avoid disturbing the newest hatchlings and ensure their safety.

Mahé, Seychelles

The Seychelles is an island destination unlike any other, known for its crystal-clear water, iconic granite rock formations and a blend of Asian, African and European influences that birthed a culture and cuisine totally unique to the archipelago. At Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts , the very essence of the Seychelles is woven into every detail in a thoughtful and eco-friendly way. This commitment to sustainability starts in your hotel room where bath products are biodegradable and made by a local small business using plant-based ingredients. Meanwhile, in the resort’s signature restaurants , much of the seafood and other ingredients are locally sourced to support local businesses and ensure freshness, while at the bars, 90% of the spirits are also from the region.

Rangali Island, Maldives

Gifted with bountiful natural beauty, the Maldives entices distinguished travelers with its white sand and turquoise water. What’s underneath the water, though, is often the biggest draw for this exclusive destination. Hire a private guide for an adventurous day of swimming alongside whale sharks or mantas. There are also prime locations for snorkeling or scuba diving among colorful fish, coral, turtles, rays and sharks. To ensure the survival of this blissful environment, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island sponsors reef cleaning and coral regeneration programs, with an in-house team, including a marine biologist, tending to a local reef. Healthy coral is also regularly replanted in the reef and guests can even adopt coral to help with the efforts.

Anguilla, West Indies

With hundreds of days of sunshine per year, Anguilla is the ultimate Caribbean destination for travelers in need of some vitamin D. Make the most of the idyllic weather with the island’s plethora of outdoor adventures . Start with a peaceful horseback ride along the white-sand shores of Cove Beach before trying the more adrenaline-pumping activities like kite and windsurfing. At Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts , Anguilla’s sunshine is more than a major vacation perk — it’s a key part of the resort’s sustainable practices. On 5 acres (2 hectares) of this award-winning hotel sits the Zemi Solar Farm, with over 2,700 solar modules producing enough energy to fully power all rooms and suites, as well as the entire hotel when the sun is at its peak.

Maui, Hawaii

For native Hawaiians, the land is considered part of the collective family— something to take care of and not exploit. Travelers are invited to respectfully enjoy the lush tropical landscapes throughout the island chain. Maui is particularly popular, where you can try traditional outrigger canoeing, snorkel with sea turtles or explore the dormant volcano crater at Haleakala National Park. At Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort , that harmonious relationship with the land means putting sustainability at the forefront of your stay. The resort is full of drought-resistant indigenous plants that decrease water usage for landscaping; 90% of produce and products come from local farmers; there’s no plastic packaging nor single-use plastic water bottles and all cooking oil is recycled as biodiesel.

Whether you leave home to rest and recharge or connect with people from other cultures, traveling can have a positive impact on your life. Return the favor by choosing eco-friendly experiences and sustainability-focused hotels to help keep the world’s idyllic destinations intact for years to come.

Jessica Poitevien is an international storyteller with more than a decade of experience in writing and editing. Born in New York, she caught the travel bug throughout multiple moves that brought her to California, Spain, Colombia and her current home base in South Florida. She has visited over 40 countries (and counting!), including several solo trips, and also considers herself an expert in destination weddings and unique honeymoons — her own was two months long. When she's not traveling, she enjoys making social media content, trying new food and acting as a travel agent for friends and family.

Find your stay