How to Scuba Dive in Maldives

The beautiful Maldives has secured a reputation as an outstanding holiday destination. It is also regarded as a remarkable place for scuba diving, offering many marvels beneath the surface of the waters. Whilst this destination features some fine coral reefs, what makes the waters surrounding the islands truly remarkable for scuba diving would be the abundant marine creatures that you will encounter. Provided below is some useful information about scuba diving in Maldives.

Take note of the undersea features

Because there are numerous passages and channels between the various atolls of the Maldives, the ocean currents play and sweep throughout the chain of islands; therefore, nutrients will be constantly moving, attracting a multitude of fish such as Napoleon wrasse, snappers, parrotfish, fusiliers, sweetlips, jacks and so on. Two features that you will encounter whilst diving in the Maldives would be the channels which are swept by currents as well as the pinnacles which draw many interesting kinds of sea creatures. Another attraction would be the cleaning stations at which creatures like shrimps and cleaning wrasses clean the bodies of larger marine denizens.

Select the time at which to visit

You will find that it will be quite possible to enjoy a rewarding diving experience in the Maldives at any time of the year. However, you will find that during the time of the northeast monsoon which extends from the latter part of December through May, the skies will be blue while the sea will be calm. At this time, reef sharks will be drawn to the entrances of channels at the atolls’ eastern flanks, whereas manta rays will be attracted to the western flanks. On the other hand, during the southwest monsoon which occurs from June through November, the reverse will take place, with the mantas heading east and reef sharks moving towards the west.

Consider diving at Ari Atoll and North Male Atoll

You will have the opportunity to spot large schools of fish and bigger sea creatures at many of the atolls of the Maldives including Ari Atoll where marine denizens abound. Several large sea creatures like mantas, whale sharks, eagle rays and hammerheads are often seen here, along with residents such as Napoleon wrasse, sharks and schools of batfish and barracuda.

Meanwhile, the North Male Atoll has the distinction of featuring some of the earliest dive sites to have been discovered in the Maldives, one of them being the famed Banana Reef. At the dive sites of North Male Atoll, you can expect to encounter stunning undersea scenery and entrancing marine creatures too.

Try South Male Atoll and the Northern Atolls

Another interesting locality for diving would be the South Male Atoll which features several large channels containing abundant numbers of marine creatures. This atoll is noted for its schools of appealing fish as well as larger pelagics such as whitetips, grey reef sharks, manta rays and eagle rays. An accommodation choice to consider that offers diving to easily explore South Male Atoll dive sites would be Embudu Village which may be regarded as an appealingly located beach resort in Maldives.

Meanwhile, while diving in the dive sites of the Northern Atolls you can expect to encounter many more kinds of fish, and at some sites, abundant coral coverage as well. It is here you will also find the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve home to Hanifaru Bay that attracts manta rays and whale sharks from May to November; while you can only snorkel at Hanifaru Bay, there are many other sites in this atoll for diving and marine life encounters.

Don’t overlook the Far North Atolls, Southern Atolls and Deep South

You will find that the Maldives’ Far North Atolls are infrequently visited, which means that you will have the opportunity to dive in seclusion here; you could encounter spectacular coral reefs in addition to various kinds of sharks, giant trevallies, manta rays and so on.

On the other hand, at the Southern Atolls, you will have the chance to dive amidst engrossing undersea scenery and creatures like tuna, jacks, rays and sharks. Meanwhile, the Maldives’ Deep South is greatly renowned for its abundant sharks, including tiger sharks, oceanic whitetips and thresher sharks, as well as mantas and sizable varieties of fish.