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Scuba Diving Luxury Travel Magazine
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10 best dive resorts in the Maldives
5 May 2022 8 minutes
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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.
![padi travel maldives Barefoot](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/barefoot.jpg)
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
![padi travel maldives Kuredhu](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Kuredu.jpg)
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
![padi travel maldives Aerial photo of Komandoo resort](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/komandoo1.jpg)
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
![padi travel maldives Soneva Fushi](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Untitled_design1.png)
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
![padi travel maldives Vilamendhoo](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/velamendhoo.jpg)
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
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- 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
![padi travel maldives Mirihi Island](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Mirihi-Island.jpg)
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
![padi travel maldives Oblu Maldives](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/AERIAL_-_HELENGELI_ISLAND_AND_SURROUNDING_copy.jpg)
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
![padi travel maldives Street in Rashdoo Island, the Maldives](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1687413238-1-1.jpg)
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.
![padi travel maldives AERIAL IMAGE OF filitheyo resort](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_79558321-1.jpg)
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
![padi travel maldives LARGE TIGER SHARK FUVAHMULAH MALDIVES](https://divemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1713884608-2.jpg)
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
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- Diving in the Maldives
Best Diving in the Maldives in 2024 | 12+ Top Dive Sites
![padi travel maldives hanifaru-bay-baa-atoll-rays](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133441/hanifaru-bay-baa-atoll-rays-750x500.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wlleft)
We gave our dive team one job: Find the best and most popular dive sites in the Maldives
Our writers always research and include the best diving in any destination, with a focus on site variety, biodiversity, and what makes each destination a top-tier dive location.
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The Maldives is undoubtedly a world-class dive destination. Renowned for its rich waters and home to an array of colorful marine life and vibrant coral reefs , the Maldives comprises 26 atolls, over 1,000 coral islands, and hundreds of dive sites to choose from.
What makes scuba diving in the Maldives so good?
In a word—abundance. The sheer variety of dive sites and the life they contain are enough to keep any diver returning to the Maldives time after time. Much of the scuba diving in the Maldives is along walls, so you can choose your own depth.
Mild to strong currents are pretty much a given so you’ll need experience with drift diving and good buoyancy. But it’s precisely because of the strong currents and mid-oceanic position that so many pelagics flock to the Maldives.
On any given dive site you will most likely see reef sharks, enormous moray eels, schools of jacks, colorful crustaceans, and turtles. As a general rule of thumb, the stronger the currents, the bigger the fish , such as hammerheads, manta rays, thresher sharks, tiger sharks, and even sailfish. There are plenty of cleaning stations and particular seasons where you’re more likely to see mantas feeding in calmer conditions, such as lagoons.
The Maldives’ remote location does make getting there and around a bit challenging—but doesn’t that make the diving even sweeter? Liveaboards are a popular way to travel around this island nation.
Depending on your budget, this is often a better deal than organizing your own island-hopping itinerary. No matter how you experience the Maldives, it is definitely worth the trip. Read on for our picks of the best diving in the Maldives.
Northern Atolls
Kuredu island, lhaviyani atoll.
The Shipyard, northeast of the atoll
Around Kuredu Island there are two sites, Kuredu Express —an intense drift dive, and Shipyard — home to two wrecks.
At Kuredu Express there’s a sandy channel that starts at 15 feet (5 m) and slopes down to 115 feet (35 m). The strong current here attracts a variety of sharks and rays, including gray reef sharks and eagle rays . Hanging out under the overhangs there are schools of larger jacks and smaller reef fish.
At Shipyard, there are two shipwrecks , one uniquely breaking the surface. Whether you snorkel or dive, the wrecks have diverse corals and sponges with a large variety of life. Anthias, gobies, angelfish, stingrays, and Napoleon wrasse are all resident on or near the wrecks.
Type: Drift, wreck, rays
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Access: Boat
Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll
![padi travel maldives hanifaru-bay-baa-atoll-rays](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133441/hanifaru-bay-baa-atoll-rays-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
Mass feeding of manta rays at Hanifaru Bay
The Maldives is known for its manta ray population, and seeing them is pretty common on a dive. However, at Hanifaru Bay, mantas come for a feeding frenzy and it’s one of the few places in the world to see so many so close.
Hanifaru Bay has so much worldwide importance for the mantas that it’s recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The best time to visit is from June to November, when the plankton blooms that draw in the mantas are at their highest. To protect the mantas, only five boats are permitted in the bay at a time, and visitors can only snorkel .
Type: Rays, shallow
Skill level: Beginner
Central Western Atolls
Maaya thila, north ari atoll.
![padi travel maldives central-western-atolls-clownfish](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133439/central-western-atolls-clownfish-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
Maaya Thila in North Ari Atoll is one of the most famous dive sites of Maldives —and for good reason. The top of the pinnacle is at approximately 25 feet (8 m) and generally, the currents and conditions are calm .
Living on this underwater tower are all kinds of residents, from macro crustaceans and nudibranchs to larger moray eels and turtles. Gray reef sharks patrol the base of the pinnacle, or thila as it’s called here, which ranges from 80 to 115 feet (25 to 35 m). Due to the easier conditions and variable depths, Maaya Thila is often offered as a night dive , when there is the opportunity to see the sharks hunting.
Type: Reef, pinnacles, sharks, night
Hammerhead Point, Rasdhoo Atoll
Hammerheads near Rasdhoo Atoll
For a more challenging dive, Hammerhead Point is just off Madivaru. This is a bluewater dive so you’ll need good buoyancy . Typically the dive is done early in the morning, with a quick boat ride just off from the reef.
Hammerheads have a reputation for being shy, so try to remain still for closer and more comfortable encounters. Depending on the day’s current, you might drift back to the reef , where predators like reef sharks and rays are hanging out, finishing breakfast before the day begins.
Type: Bluewater, deep, current, sharks
Skill level: Advanced
Central Eastern and Malé Atolls
Rainbow reef, malé atoll.
![padi travel maldives central-western-atolls-corals](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133438/central-western-atolls-corals-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
Almost like a scene out of “Finding Nemo,” there is a constant hustle and bustle of fish life in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors at Rainbow Reef . Located between a few islands, Rainbow Reef features strong and consistent currents, which feed the bushes of soft coral dotting the site.
This rich coral kingdom supports a diverse variety of fish life, including gigantic moray eels, schools of elegant eagle rays, and reef fish of all shapes and sizes. An underwater photographer’s paradise , you won’t know where to look.
Type: Reef, macro, current
Skill level: Intermediate
Lankan Manta Point, Malé Atoll
Mantas coming to the cleaning stations
Located around 9 miles (15 km) as the crow flies from the capital Malé, Lankan Manta Point is a popular stopover for many divers . Lankan is a collection of cleaning stations located around pinnacles just off from a shallow plateau.
A current is to be expected, but nothing a simple reef hook can’t help you with. During the summer monsoon season (May to November), divers are pretty much guaranteed to witness rare cyclone-feeding behavior .
Type: Reef, rays, pinnacles, current
Embudu Express, South Malé Atoll
![padi travel maldives embudu-express-south-male-atoll-sharks](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133437/embudu-express-south-male-atoll-sharks-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
There are several dive sites dotted around Embudu Island, including calmer and shallower sites inside the lagoon and the more advanced drift dives to the east.
The most exciting dive is perhaps the Embudu Express , where divers drop to 80–100 feet (25–30 m) outside of the reef. With the incoming tide, you’ll have a high-energy drift dive through the channel and into the lagoon.
As you pass through you can see schools of eagle rays, tuna, gray reef and nurse sharks all enjoying the ride. Lucky divers may also spot elusive hammerheads and the bizarre guitarfish.
About halfway through the passage, there is a small pinnacle with an impressive display of soft corals and colorful reef fish . The dive ends as you pop out the other end of the channel, with a calm safety stop hovering over the serene reef of the inner lagoon.
Type: Reef, wall, current, sharks
![](http://odontopartners.online/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
Cocoa Corner, South Malé Atoll
![padi travel maldives cocoa-corner-south-male-atoll-fishes](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133435/cocoa-corner-south-male-atoll-fishes-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
Cocoa Corner is at the edge of a reef connected to Cocoa Island. This dive site’s topography is a multi-leveled plateau, so beginners can hang out at the shallower levels and the more advanced can descend to the sandy bottom at 100 feet (30 m).
Within the channel itself, there are numerous rocky outcrops, several overhangs, and swim-throughs along the wall. There is only a slight current, so it’s a good place to get acquainted with drift diving .
Throughout the site, schools of jacks and seabreams are hanging around the wall. Enjoying the reef and its corals are turtles, moray eels, emperor angelfish, and other vibrant reef fish. Sharks and even the stealthy sailfish have been known to pass through , so always be on the lookout.
Type: Reef, wall, macro, current
Kandooma Thila, South Malé Atoll
![padi travel maldives kandooma-thila-shark](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133108/kandooma-thila-shark-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
Further out into the passage from Cocoa Corner is a large teardrop-shaped pinnacle called Kandooma Thila. Although the top of the pinnacle is only 30 feet (10 m), it does descend to over 100 feet (30 m). Its mid-channel position creates strong currents that are harder to hide from , so divers should be intermediate to advanced and have some experience in these conditions.
There are also a few boulders scattered around the dive site, hiding little banded boxer shrimps and larger lobsters. The constant current invites all kinds of marine life, including turtles, eagle rays, nurse sharks, tuna, trevally, and even tiger sharks —all of them seemingly mocking you as they make light work of these wild waters.
Type: Reef, pinnacle, current, sharks
Alimatha Jetty, Vaavu Atoll
![padi travel maldives alimatha-jetty-vaavu-atoll-sting-rays](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133434/alimatha-jetty-vaavu-atoll-sting-rays-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
Due to its shoreline position, Alimatha Jetty is a great spot for a night dive , but the animals aren’t here by coincidence. The Alimatha Resort kitchen cleans fish on the jetty, leading to a lot of underwater action.
Because the offcuts fall between the planks on the boardwalk, the underwater scene is a bit of a feeding frenzy and waters can get murky. Loyal patrons of this jetty eatery include nurse sharks, marble rays, and giant trevally. This is a shallow dive , with a max depth of 50 feet (15 m), so it’s a suitable site for beginners. Be wary, though, of oblivious sea creatures bumping into you as they chase the night’s meal.
Type: Macro, night, rays, shallow
Access: Shore
Fotteyo Kandu, Vaavu Atoll
![padi travel maldives fotteyo-kandu-vaavu-atoll-corals](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133433/fotteyo-kandu-vaavu-atoll-corals-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
On the eastern side of Vaavu Atoll, Fotteyo Kandu is a favorite among dive guides and instructors working in the Maldives, a good indicator that it’s probably one of the best dives in the Maldives. This narrow but deep channel (100 feet/30 m) has dramatic caverns, overhangs, and swim-throughs, all decorated with flamboyant sponges and fans.
The current can be strong, but as long as you’re comfortable with that, you’ll be capable of making this dive. These currents attract large pelagic species and make the dive site dynamic and exciting. The biodiversity here is astonishing and includes coral groupers, barracudas, nudibranchs, and leaf scorpionfish. Even pelagic visitors like dolphins and hammerheads occasionally cruise by.
Type: Reef, macro, current, pelagics
Southern Atolls
Fuvahmulah, fuvahmulah atoll.
Tiger sharks are the main event at Fuvahmulah
This final dive site is an entire island that has numerous dive sites, all centered around shark diving . Fuvahmulah is one of the most southerly islands of the Maldives, and it’s this proximity to the equator that results in more stable water temperatures, which can support a diverse shark population.
Probably the best dive site here is Tiger Zoo , which is one of the few places in Asia where tiger sharks are guaranteed. Similar to Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, the sharks are drawn here by feeding with fish offcuts. Tiger Zoo is located southeast of Fuvahmulah island. Depending on your level or your operator, you may stay at 15 feet (5 m) or perhaps venture to the dropoff to see who else is passing through.
All the waters around Fuvahmulah, but especially on this plateau, are famed for their sharks and rays. Sightings of hammerheads, oceanic mantas, billfish, and even thresher sharks are pretty common. If you have a long list of pelagics to tick off, Fuvahmulah is the place to go.
Type: Sandy bottom, sharks, rays, pelagics
Access: Shore and boat
Maldivian Dive Names Explained
As you research more and more about the best scuba diving in the Maldives, you’ll most likely see the same words, like kandu or fushi, popping up again and again. Most of the dive locations use Dhivehi, the Maldivian language, to describe the sites. Thus, we’ve put together a short glossary for you:
A faru is a reef system that is on the outer edges of an atoll. Inside the lagoons, they are a popular spot for snorkelers.
Although not used to describe the topography of a dive site, fushi is the Dhivehi word for island, so you’ll encounter this one a lot.
Thilas are submerged pinnacles that typically start at around 15 feet (5m), deep enough that they do not protrude during low tide or pose any threat to passing boats. Depending on their geographical location, the currents tend to be calmer at thilas. If they are big enough you can just hide out on the opposite side, out of the current.
Giris are similar to thilas since they are also pinnacles. The key difference here is that giris tend to be exposed above the surface, or at least reach up to it. This means that snorkelers can enjoy them as well, and they’re a popular hangout for surface-bound creatures such as turtles and sea snakes.
Kandus are channels that cut through the atoll’s outer walls, created by strong currents. As the tide flushes plankton-rich waters in and out of lagoons, kandus are hotspots for pelagics and big fish—mantas, reef sharks, and schools of tuna to name a few.
![padi travel maldives Diving In The Maldives Island](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133431/diving-in-the-maldives-island-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
About the Maldives
Beyond the dramatic diving, the Maldives also features exquisite topside scenery that will leave you speechless. With its deserted white-sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and overwater bungalows, the Maldives offers an idyllic holiday for both divers and non-divers alike . It’s for this reason that the Maldives is so popular with couples, especially honeymooners.
For the most part, the Maldives is renowned for its luxury retreats , where you can indulge in world-class amenities, spa treatments, and gourmet dining. Before you decide where to stay, consider that traveling between atolls and islands can be challenging. Sometimes a costly seaplane is the only form of transportation.
However, like any place in the world, there are always budget-friendly options. In the Maldives, you can find guesthouses or dive-centric resorts that don’t include the premium extras. There are also plenty of liveaboards in a range of budgets to choose from if you want an exclusive dive holiday.
![padi travel maldives Diving In The Maldives About](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133430/diving-in-the-maldives-about-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl&width=745&height=496&quality=90)
As with any tropical destination, the best time to visit is outside of the monsoon months, which for the Maldives is November to April. This, of course, coincides with peak season and higher prices.
If you want to be a bit savvier with your spending, consider visiting in April/May or October, the transitional monsoon months. Most of the underwater wildlife is present year-round, with one notable exception. The feeding aggregations of manta rays in Hanifaru Bay take place from May to December , with the best time to visit falling from late July to early October, particularly around the full or new moon.
Maldivian culture
The main religion in the Maldives is Islam and many of the locals come from a conservative culture. If you are not in a private resort and are in a more public setting, it is normal to dress more conservatively. It’s also worth keeping a sarong handy , should you want to enter any mosques or cultural sites. This conservatism continues with drinking, and alcohol is only available in private resorts. Bringing your own is strictly prohibited.
The main currency of the Maldives is Maldivian Rufiyaa, MVR, and it’s a good idea to always have some cash handy for tips. Bring some cash with you or obtain it in Malé before leaving for a remote atoll or island, where you’ll not find many—if any—ATMs.
The bigger resorts will accept credit cards and USD, but if you want to explore small islands or local markets then local currency is a must. Although tipping is not mandatory, it’s common to give something extra to your dive guide or boat crew to show appreciation for good service and an enjoyable stay.
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A friend & I are planning to visit Maldives late March 2024 and will only have 4-5 days of diving before heading to Sri Lanka for safari & (hopefully) swimming with Blue Whales. Where is a good place to stay with good diving for such a short visit? We don’t want to travel far from Male’ International Airport, as we’d rather spend our time in the water!
Fortunately, yes there are still corals in the Maldives (or they were there last I was there). How long will you be there, can you do more days of diving or just one?
Did coral reefs survive anywhere in Maldives? Where is best in the Northern Atolls for whale shark and turtles around the full moon? Thank You!
It really depends on the resort, but most will try to go to the best spots. But, the liveaboards have the advantage of reaching spots further away and can therefore give a more unique dive experience.
Hi. Do the dive resorts take you to the same spots a live board goes to. I would like to do a dive resort. I want to know if they go to other spots or hit some of the best sites in Maldives. Thank you
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![padi travel maldives diving-in-australia-liveaboard](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701231233/diving-in-australia-liveaboard-420x280.jpg?auto_optimize=none)
Scuba Diving In Australia
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- Diving in Bonaire
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Dive Sites in Roatan Honduras
![padi travel maldives Coral Reef Diving](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701155728/fiji-diving-coral-beqa-substrate-420x255.jpg?auto_optimize=none)
- Diving in Fiji
Gallery of Diving in the Maldives review
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133441/hanifaru-bay-baa-atoll-rays-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Manta rays congregate here in a feeding frenzy
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133440/hanifaru-bay-baa-atoll-ray-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
With so many mantas you won’t know where to look!
![padi travel maldives](https://www.divein.com/wp-content/uploads/Diving/partners/info-scuba-2.jpeg)
Clownfish at Maaya Thila
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133438/central-western-atolls-corals-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Some of the vibrant and diverse corals of Rainbow Reef
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133437/embudu-express-south-male-atoll-sharks-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Whitetip sharks are seen in great numbers at Embudu Express
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133436/embudu-express-south-male-atoll-big-fishes-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
A whitetip and a jack on the reef
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133435/cocoa-corner-south-male-atoll-fishes-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Large schools of jacks are common around the Maldives
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133108/kandooma-thila-shark-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Whitetip sharks can often be found patrolling the edges of the pinnacles
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133434/alimatha-jetty-vaavu-atoll-sting-rays-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Stingrays hunting at night
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133433/fotteyo-kandu-vaavu-atoll-corals-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
These vibrant bushy Dendronephthya corals understandably have a common name of cauliflower coral.
![padi travel maldives padi travel maldives](https://cdn.divein.com/divein-media/20240701133432/fotteyo-kandu-vaavu-atoll-soft-corals-1140x760.jpg?auto_optimize=none&class=wl)
Soft corals are consistently dense throughout Fotteyo Kandu due to stronger currents.
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Dive resorts in the Maldives are an excellent option for budding and experienced underwater photographers due to the sheer beauty and varied colours of the marine-life. Baa Atoll - awarded UNESCO Reserve status in 2011 - has some of the Indian Ocean's best dives for beginner and advanced divers. Browse, compare and book 36 dive resorts in the ...
Most diving liveaboard itineraries in the Maldives are around 7-10 days. There are various options depending on your budget and taste. The MV Ari Queen and MV Stingray are perfect if you are on a budget but still want the home comforts like an ensuite shower. For those who have a non-diving partner, the Scubaspa Ying and Scubaspa Yang offer a ...
When to dive in the Maldives. With a tropical climate and warm temperatures year round, Maldives can be dived at any time. Water temperatures range from 80°F/26°C-86°F/30°C. August-November is considered the best time of year to see manta rays and whale sharks. Jan-April offers great visibility and welcomes the driest/warmest months.
For this reason, Vilamendhoo truly lives up to its title as one of the best scuba diving resorts in the Maldives. Furthermore, this resort is passionate about sustainability and marine conservation, with a Manta Trust Marine Biology Center onsite. Plus, a PADI Five Star Dive Center is located inside the resort with its own private jetty.
There are currently 72 dive sites listed around Maldives, of which 53 are Reef dives, 32 are Drift dives and 31 are Ocean dives. Explore the dive site around Maldives with the help of the filters above or the interactive map. Also checkout each dive site's detail page and cast your vote if you know the site. + −. Leaflet.
Best Luxury Liveaboard: Maldives Blue Force One Featuring a design dreamed up with both divers and non-divers in mind, the purpose-built Maldives Blue Force One has something to keep every guest happy.. For the majority of the year, aside from a select number of seasonal jaunts into the south, this 42-meter (138-foot), motor yacht explores the central atolls, where encounters with manta rays ...
Dhigurah Island, Ari Atoll. Home to one of the longest beaches in the Maldives, Dhigaurah Island has become a diving hotspot. Set at the most southerly tip of the Ari Atoll, the waters surrounding this island are perfect for the elusive whale shark. In fact, over 200 whale shark sightings are reported off this coast each year.
Welcome to AQUA Dive & Watersports Centre located at The Westin Miriandhoo Maldives in beautiful Baa Atoll. The Westin Miriandhoo Maldives is a luxury 5-star resort offering a wide array of accommodation choices in one of their 70 villas. Situated a short distance from the world-famous Hanifaru Bay. Our dive center sits within the UNESCO ...
Diving in the Maldives is defined by pinnacles and channels, which sweep in large marine life like whale sharks and manta rays. Liveaboards explore remote island chains scattered in the Indian Ocean. The string of tropical atolls that make up the Maldives sit in the Indian Ocean. These atolls are home to hundreds of small, isolated islands as ...
Find out more about diving in the Maldives with our PADI Travel Scuba Guide. Author bio. Adele Verdier-Ali is the co-owner of Fulidhoo Dive, alongside Maldivian PADI Staff Instructor Ali Miuraj. Fulidhoo Dive is a 5-Star PADI Dive Centre on the local island of Fulidhoo in Vaavu Atoll. ...
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 ...
Best Dives Crossroads is a PADI 5-star IDC centre located at Crossroads Maldives in South Male atoll. We offer comprehensive diving courses and excursions to guests at Hard Rock Hotel, Saii Lagoon by Hilton, and to day visitors to the Marina. ... With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or ...
ScubaCaribe is a PADI dive center that has been providing a complete range of diving and snorkeling all over the world since 1991. The ScubaCaribe Maldives center can be found at Hotel Riu Atoll. It offers diving and snorkeling in the Maldives - a tropical island nation, consisting of 1,190 islands grouped in 26 ring-shaped atolls.
Updated by Sarah Wormald on February 1, 2024. Situated in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives atolls and islands are a magnet for holiday makers, honeymooners and, of course, scuba divers. Nearly 1,200 islands make up this esteemed archipelago, each one framed by picture-perfect beaches and cerulean waters. Underwater, the endless walls, pinnacles ...
1. 2. Find & book dive trips in the Maldives: check out the dive center, location, duration, price, inclusions and cancellation policy. Book online.
Plan & book diving at Malahini Dive Centre in North Malé Atoll. View photos, opening hours, list of courses, local dive sites & more. PADI dive courses Dive trips 100% Fun.
PADI Travel exclusive deals. Just some of our amazing deals, from The Trusted Name in Dive Travel ®. Previous. Raja Ampat Aggressor. Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Including 26 - 28 dives. 16 May - 26 May 2025. Save 1,363 4,087. per person for 10 nights.
Maaya Thila, North Ari Atoll. Clownfish at Maaya Thila. Maaya Thila in North Ari Atoll is one of the most famous dive sites of Maldives —and for good reason. The top of the pinnacle is at approximately 25 feet (8 m) and generally, the currents and conditions are calm.
The resort and dive center are ideal for scuba divers that are looking for both, sustainable travel as well as regenerative travel options. Below we'll look at three unique eco-friendly initiatives run by the dive center. 1. A Sustainability Focus With an In-House Marine Biologist. The dive center's in-house marine biologist, Sara, is a ...
Winner of the South Asian Travel Awards Leading Liveaboard 2016 - 2018 and the only PADI 5* Maldivian vessel, offering an unbeatable experience in this pristine ecosystem. World Luxury Spa Awards Nominee 2019, with the Asian-style 300m2 spa with open-air massage space offering you the ultimate in floating relaxation.
Details. Maafushi Dive and Water Sports was established in 2011 and has matured into an industry recognized dive and water sports center. It is owned and operated by industry professionals with 15 years of experience in diving, water sports and tourism. Our aim is to create rewarding adventures for our divers through carefully crafted packages ...
Diving in the Maldives. In case it wasn't already obvious, the Maldives is one of the best dive destinations in the world.. Not only are manta rays and whale sharks regularly sighted throughout the year, whitetip, blacktip, gray, nurse and leopard sharks are also common logbook additions, too. If you're into rays, the Maldives is a great place to see both eagle rays and stingrays.
All our dive centers in the Maldives offer outstanding training, plenty of fun activities and adhere to PADI's strict quality standards. Find the best dive shops in the Maldives. All the information you need, online booking and the PADI quality seal. PADI dive courses Dive trips 100% Fun.