The Maldives is a low-lying nation with dreamy white sand beaches and excellent reefs with an abundance of marine life. → The Best Scuba Diving BCDs For Every Budget 2020. Tiger and whale sharks can also be seen. We like Kuda Giri because it’s an accessible dive that suits beginners and those looking for a respite from the big currents on most Maldivian dive sites. The dive usually ends at a colorful reef where smaller crevices hide macro critters, the perfect place for a safety stop. The PADI Scuba Diver Course is ideal if you don’t have a lot of time and want to get your first diving certificate. Thanks to the Alimatha Resort kitchen’s practice of cleaning fish on the jetty, local marine life now congregates under the planks hoping for an effortless feed. The captain, anticipating a safe passage decided to follow another vessel but made a critical error. Divers generally drop to 30m/98ft on the south side to shark watch. Along the northern wall, a series of caves and crevices are open to divers as the current pushes them along. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to spot manta rays and whale sharks; this should be more than enough to convince anyone to travel there, but there is more. Expect drop-offs, stunning anemone corals, moray eels, mobula rays and colorful gobies. Raa Atoll’s scuba is popular for its unspoiled thilas (submerged islands) and is suitable for beginners and advanced divers. The Maldives are hidden in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This pinnacle stretches to a whopping 400m/1312ft and slopes down to a drop-off 30m/98ft deep. It’s also one of those bucket-list dives that many scuba travelers have on their must-dive list. If you’re feeling adventurous, Fuvahmulah, a single-island atoll in the far south of the Maldives will reward your efforts with some unparalleled shark diving. On the reef’s edges, leaf fish can be seen. Best Time to Dive in the Maldives The season for diving in the Maldives really runs throughout the whole year, but the months most recommended are from November to May. Diving in Maldives … Drop us a comment below and let us know why you love diving in the Maldives! Its scuba is suited to beginners and advanced divers; expect overhangs, colorful reefs, manta rays and whale sharks. Diving Resorts in Maldives: Find 80286 traveller reviews, candid photos, and the top ranked Diving Resorts in Maldives on Tripadvisor. Tropical, hot and humid with loads of sunshine and temperatures around 24-33°C/75-91°F year-round. The Maldives are a photographer’s dream, so take the PADI. Corals, sponges, nudibranchs, fish, stingrays, dolphins, mantas, sharks - you name it. Tiger sharks, mola mola, oceanic whitetips, threshers, hammerheads, reef sharks, and much more much this island a pelagic lover’s dream. If you wish to … Because the sharks were once fed here (thankfully, a tradition that has now ended) up to 20 grey reef sharks patrol the reef at any one time. Although this pinnacle is small and reaches down to just 36m/118ft, the walls are encrusted with corals and sport enough overhangs and caves to warrant several dives here. Like many sites in the Maldives, you can expect a few sharks, maybe a manta or two in the blue and eagle rays. The reef itself is excellent as well, so there’s something for everyone. It really depends on the resort, but most will try to go to the best spots. Dive by: Jetty Dive - Boat Dive - Includes: Guide - *Full Equipment Package (Regulator - Wet Suit - BCD - Computer) ... *DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING USD 120. 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. Floating Resort by Scubaspa is a new and unique concept combining exceptional spa experiences with unforgettable scuba diving. You experience your first view of the Maldives … Your email address will not be published. Look for tuna, white-tip reef sharks and bannerfish in addition to the healthy coral. This site is best reserved for divers with excellent buoyancy control. Also known as HP Reef and Girifushi Thila, this famous drift dive in the northern Maldives is named for the vibrant soft corals that adorn the walls. While one has to question the validity and eco-credentials of this, it must be said that being under the jetty at night is spectacular. The unspoiled reefs, stimulating channel dives, and frequent manta sightings make this a perfect atoll. The current can be strong but beginners with a high comfort level should be easily capable of making this dive. Wondering which sites to tick off your Maldives bucket list? The Thila in the middle of the channel entrance is a good place to do the safety stop. You'll see pretty corals, mantas and reef sharks. Thank you. Look out for unicornfish, soldierfish, and turtles in the overhangs and keep an eye on the entrances as tuna, white-tip reef sharks, and eagle rays often swim past. In the channels, there are swim-throughs, caverns and overhangs festooned with colorful sponges, invertebrates and gorgonians to explore. Lying 400 miles southwest of India, the Maldives is an island nation of 26 natural coral atolls (over 1,000 islands) spread over nearly 35,000 square miles. Part 1: Overview of Scuba Diving in Maldives The Maldives is a chain of Islands and atolls approximately 700km South West of Sri-Lanka. With so many different atolls and islands, the Maldives offers excellent year-round diving – you just have to know where to look. Meant especially for the advanced divers, this site is a haven to a large variety of … As you might have guessed from the name, Kuredu Express is a fast drift dive. They offer dive trips to a world-renowned coral reef system that’s home to over 200 species of hard and soft coral. Because the wreck is located in a channel, the currents can be kicking. Male Airport is located there. Like the Galapagos and Cocoa, this island near the equator is swarming with large pelagic life. Fuvahmulah Atoll, located in the Maldives’ far south, is a unique and uncharted adventure that promises pristine reefs, oceanic mantas and rare sharks – tiger sharks, thresher sharks, scalloped hamme…. We suspect that will change soon as more and more divers discover how epic the diving is. Unique luxury spa and diving experiences in the Maldives. For many, Rainbow Reef is a site that requires more than one dive to properly explore all the overhangs, swim-throughs, and caves. Our travel consultants are available 24/7 to help you plan your next trip. The occasional turtle cruises past, too. Scuba Diving in The Maldives Known for its crystal clear waters and picturesque water bungalows, the Maldives is a unique coral-based archipelagic haven that’s popular with travelers, honeymooners, and … Here’s our pick of the bunch. The fast-flowing Maldivian waters house grey sharks, dog-tooth tuna, and Napoleon wrasse. Come to Maldives and experience its amazing underwater world … Diving doesn’t get much better. Required fields are marked *, → The Best Scuba Diving BCDs For Every Budget 2020 Reviewed by our Scuba Instructors. Scuba diving is done at a leisurely drift pace as the Indian Monsoon Current sweeps along the island chains, moving nutrients and divers along. A narrow but deep channel on the eastern side of Vaavu Atoll, Fotteyo Kandu is a favorite among dive guides and instructors working in the Maldives because it’s always a people pleaser. Male is a popular destination due to a variety of sights and activities. Scattered pearls in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives’ warm waters are a great place to see mantas rays, whale sharks and an incredible rich array of colourful reefs and fish. Summer has been teaching scuba for the last 10 years. Like Maaya Thila, this site on Vaavu Atoll is a great spot for a night dive. Here, divers can explore Jack’s Corner, a well-loved cave at 24m/78ft carpeted in soft corals. Okobe Thila, North Male Atoll – This site consists of three main pinnacle sections ranging from 10 metres/30 feet to 50 metres/165 feet in length. What divers really come to Bathala for though is the smaller stuff. Income disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn affiliate commissions when you buy via links found on DIVEIN.com: If you find a good deal on our site, you click to the retailer and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. We’ve included Hanifaru Bay because between December and May is really is a magical place to visit. Scuba diving is done at … DIVEIN.com is an online Scuba Diving, Water Sport and Outdoor Guide where you can read articles, reviews and guides. Large potato and coral groupers lurk in the dark overhangs or sit in the current looking for a meal. Scuba Diving Maldives: the Maldives is a tropical island nation in the heart of the Indian Ocean, with more than 1,190 small, coral islands stretching over approximately 2000 kilometers. I would like to do a dive resort. Scuba diving in the Maldives is a dream. Create an account to set your preferences, save items to your wishlist and manage your bookings from any device at any time, Our scuba travel experts are available 24/7 to assist you in planning and booking a fantastic scuba diving vacation. That said, the absolute best time … Want to combine a drift dive with an exploration of deep overhangs and a large cave? 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