How to Pick the Best Spots for Diving in Maldives

The enchanting Maldives is counted amongst the world’s finest holiday destinations. The waters surrounding the islands are also regarded as being an outstanding environment full of coral and marine life, with many visitors taking the opportunity to go diving here. You will find that the Maldives offers an array of excellent diving locations that will appeal to enthusiasts at various atolls, as described below.

Consider diving at Ari Atoll

The distinctive Ari Atoll which is situated in the Maldives’ western region happens to be popular with divers. Within these waters, you will encounter creatures such as whale sharks, manta rays and hammerheads. One of the popular diving spots here would be Broken Rock which features an undersea canyon and marine life such as corals, humphead wrasses, fugu fish and moray eels. Also, check out Maaya Thila, an outstanding site where you will encounter white reef sharks, turtles, moray eels, stonefish, octopuses, nudibranchs and toadfish. Another fine site would be Fishhead, a much-frequented location that contains extensive coral growth. You may also head to Gangehi Kandu, a dive location suitable for experienced divers that features a long channel and different kinds of sharks, ocean perches, triggerfish, rays and more.

Check out North Male Atoll

Many visitors frequent North Male Atoll due to its nearness to the Maldivian capital; you will find some outstanding diving locations here. A well-known diving site would be Manta Point, which is situated towards the atoll’s southeast area. This locality would be a great choice for encountering manta rays, turtles, barracudas and humphead wrasses. Another renowned dive site would be Banana Reef which is so-called due to its distinctive curved banana-like shape; this dive site features undersea caves and variable depths which means that it will be suitable for both experienced and novice divers. Here, you will find vast schools of butterflyfish as well as ballan wrasses, ocean perches and sharks.

Experience the dive locations at South Male Atoll

Some excellent diving locations may be found at South Male Atoll, including Cocoa Corner. You will see that this site boasts captivating underwater features such as caves and ledges in addition to a wonderful collection of marine life. Cocoa Corner is also renowned for being the dwelling place of large sea creatures like eagle rays, barracudas, tunas, grey reef sharks and trevallies. Other interesting marine life to be seen here would include perches, sweetlips and cods in addition to a diverse selection of gorgonians and sponges. After a dive at Cocoa Corner, some divers move on to Kandooma Thila, another recognised diving spot featuring rare fish.

Explore the reefs at Gaafu Alifu Atoll

Also referred to as the Northern Huvadhoo Atoll, the Gaafu Alifu Atoll is another great destination for diving. Apart from thriving inner and outer reefs, the atoll features drop-offs, channels for drift diving and caves ideal for divers to explore. The waters here are home to diverse marine species such as surgeonfish, turtles, barracudas and various shark varieties like hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. Amongst the best things to do in Maldives is to head to some of the atoll’s top dive sites; these include Maareha Kandu home to eagle rays and grey reef sharks, the pristine Coral Garden and Villingili Kandu with its 30-metre descent more suited for experienced divers. An accommodation choice to consider from which you could go diving at the Gaafu Alifu Atoll would be The Residence Maldives Dhigurah by Cenizaro.

Dive with reef sharks at Addu Atoll

You will find that Addu Atoll happens to be the home of large fish, turtles and manta rays. At this atoll’s north-eastern border, close to Holhumeedhoo island, you will find what is known as a ‘shark hotel’; a location where large numbers of grey reef sharks may be spotted at one time. Interestingly, this atoll happens to be the sole area within the Maldives that remained unaffected by the worldwide coral decolouration that took place in 1998.