Diving in the Maldives

A selection of places Visit Maldives and official protected-area listings highlight — not a ranked list, and not every dive site in the country.

Baa Atoll

Hanifaru Bay and the biosphere reserve

Baa Atoll was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011. Its best-known site is Hanifaru Bay, on the eastern side of the atoll. During the southwest monsoon, roughly May to November, currents trap plankton in the bay and reef manta rays — and sometimes whale sharks — come in to feed.

Hanifaru is a marine protected area and is managed as a snorkelling site, not a scuba dive: scuba diving is not permitted, visitor and boat numbers are limited, and groups must be accompanied by certified guides, with rangers on site. The rest of Baa still has reef and manta diving outside the bay itself.

South Ari Atoll (Alif Dhaalu)

Whale sharks, year-round

Visit Maldives describes South Ari Atoll, including the South Ari Marine Protected Area, as one of the best-known areas for whale shark encounters, with sightings possible throughout the year. A Visit Maldives marine-life guide notes a peak from August to November. Encounters are usually done as a snorkel with a trained guide, and responsible-interaction rules should be followed.

The same guide names Dhigurah as a well-known base for whale shark trips, and notes that the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme is based there. Manta rays in South Ari are more often associated with the northeast monsoon, from around October to May.

Channels and shark diving

Vaavu, Ari, Malé, Rasdhoo and the south

Channels (kandu) connect the open ocean with the inner lagoons. Currents moving through them attract fish, sharks and rays, which is why channel dives are among the more exciting — and, in stronger current, more advanced — dives in the Maldives. Visit Maldives points to atolls such as Vaavu, Ari and Malé for this style of diving, and names sites such as Miyaru Kandu as examples.

Shark encounters vary by atoll and season. In the central atolls they are often linked to channels, reef edges and cleaning stations; Visit Maldives mentions areas around Rasdhoo, Vaavu and Malé Atoll, and some sites near Hulhumalé for larger shark species. Further south, Fuvahmulah is especially known for tiger sharks and other pelagic life. Shark dives should be done with a licensed operator.

Reefs, thilas and other atolls

Pinnacles, coral gardens and more manta sites

Thilas — submerged coral pinnacles — are a distinctive Maldives dive, with reef fish, overhangs, caves and swim-throughs. Visit Maldives gives Maalhos Thila, Kudarah Thila and Fish Head as known examples, and notes marine protected areas that help look after some of these reefs.

Manta rays also gather at cleaning stations and feeding sites outside Baa. The official Visit Maldives manta map highlights, among others, Lhaviyani Atoll (especially in the northeast monsoon, roughly October to April), North Malé Atoll’s Lankan Manta Point (around May to November) and Rasfari North (snorkelling in the northeast monsoon, December to April), and Raa Atoll, where mantas are present year-round but tend to use the west in the northeast monsoon and the east in the southwest monsoon. Visit Maldives also flags Addu Atoll in the far south as a strong scuba destination.

Photos, in order: Photo: Tchami / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); Photo: Tchami / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); Photo: Aneta p / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) (Vaavu Atoll); Photo: Aullere (a school of snappers; not a named dive site). Images are illustrative of the marine life or, where named, the atoll or reef in the caption.

Visit Maldives says travellers can dive through resort dive centres, guesthouse-based operators or liveaboards. The right choice depends on how you like to travel, not on a single “best” option.

• Many Maldives centres teach internationally recognised entry-level courses, including PADI and SSI Open Water programmes. Requirements, medical forms and exact in-water exercises are set by the training agency and the centre. See the official PADI Open Water Diver and SSI Open Water Diver pages.
• No prior scuba certification is needed to start an entry-level course. You should be comfortable in the water and medically fit to dive; some people need a doctor’s clearance.
• Visit Maldives notes that beginners can start with calm reef dives, lagoon-based training and guided introductory dives, while stronger currents, deeper thilas, shark dives and channel dives are generally better for more experienced divers. Always follow the local instructor’s advice on the day: current, visibility and tide can change the difficulty of a familiar site.
• For manta and whale shark encounters, never touch, chase or feed the animals, keep the distance your guide sets, and choose operators who follow local protected-area rules. At Hanifaru Bay, that includes snorkelling only, with a certified guide.