MALDIVES DIVING
It is fair to say that diving in the Maldives has something for everyone, with a variety of habitats and topographies where sightings of reef sharks, mantas and even whale sharks can be considered commonplace. Throw in the some of the best night diving, with hunting nurse sharks and huge rays, some excellent Indian Ocean corals and impressive smaller creatures such as leaf fish and ghost pipefish and you have a great mix for a dive trip.
Diving is mainly in exhilarating passes where big pelagics hunt in the racing currents and submerged pinnacles and sheltered atolls with manta cleaning stations, so there really is something for everyone in these tropical turquoise jewels. This stunning group of atolls is host to an underwater environment brimming with marine life. Located south west of Sri Lanka in the warm, tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are made up of over 1200 tiny, low-lying coral islands surrounded by white sand. The abundance of marine life in the Maldives can be attributed to the ideal growing conditions the waters provide for coral reef. These coral reefs are home to more than 700 species of fish, many of which are sadly endangered. In the lagoons you can find whale sharks, turtles, octopus, manta rays and the giant Napoleon Wrasse to name just a few.
The Maldives is tropical all year round and water temperatures range from 27°C to 29°C. Visibility is not season dependent and ranges between 10-30m. Currents vary but are usually manageable by all standards when diving within the atolls, rather than in the channels.Divers have the opportunity to see a huge range of beautiful hard and soft corals as well as the famous manta rays, whale sharks, sharks, turtles, barracudas, jacks and tuna.
Whilst the prices of resorts has come down with hotels opening on islands inhabited by locals (alcohol is not sold on these islands) providing a better-priced land-based alternative to the luxury private atoll resorts, the best way to dive the Maldives is on a liveaboard trip. The value for money on Maldives liveaboards is hard to beat, and you get to dive the best spots of the season, and to dive . a larger area. The boat is a moving hotel in reality, as each liveaboard in the Maldives has a "dhoni", basically a separate, floating, engine-powered dive centre boat with the compressor on board. The back deck of the main boat is all yours for relaxing between dives, and the dhoni goes out of eat shot to fill cylinders.
Diving is mainly in exhilarating passes where big pelagics hunt in the racing currents and submerged pinnacles and sheltered atolls with manta cleaning stations, so there really is something for everyone in these tropical turquoise jewels. This stunning group of atolls is host to an underwater environment brimming with marine life. Located south west of Sri Lanka in the warm, tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are made up of over 1200 tiny, low-lying coral islands surrounded by white sand. The abundance of marine life in the Maldives can be attributed to the ideal growing conditions the waters provide for coral reef. These coral reefs are home to more than 700 species of fish, many of which are sadly endangered. In the lagoons you can find whale sharks, turtles, octopus, manta rays and the giant Napoleon Wrasse to name just a few.
The Maldives is tropical all year round and water temperatures range from 27°C to 29°C. Visibility is not season dependent and ranges between 10-30m. Currents vary but are usually manageable by all standards when diving within the atolls, rather than in the channels.Divers have the opportunity to see a huge range of beautiful hard and soft corals as well as the famous manta rays, whale sharks, sharks, turtles, barracudas, jacks and tuna.
Whilst the prices of resorts has come down with hotels opening on islands inhabited by locals (alcohol is not sold on these islands) providing a better-priced land-based alternative to the luxury private atoll resorts, the best way to dive the Maldives is on a liveaboard trip. The value for money on Maldives liveaboards is hard to beat, and you get to dive the best spots of the season, and to dive . a larger area. The boat is a moving hotel in reality, as each liveaboard in the Maldives has a "dhoni", basically a separate, floating, engine-powered dive centre boat with the compressor on board. The back deck of the main boat is all yours for relaxing between dives, and the dhoni goes out of eat shot to fill cylinders.
where to dive in the maldives
The Maldives islands, all 1,192 of them, are grouped into a double chain of 26 atolls, run north to south and cover 870 kilometres on the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean, the highest point of which is just five metres above sea level. Each atoll is made of a coral reef encircling a lagoon, with deep channels dividing the reef ring. A string of islands take their place among this atoll ring; with each island encircled by its own lagoon and coral reef. The islands are small, low-lying, and have no rivers or mountains. The capital, Malé, is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll in the central area. Some atolls can be reached by speedboat from Male whilst others require a flight transfer. Nearly all of the 70-odd liveaboard dive boats are based here for most of the year. Some of them run seasonal trips to the southern atolls between February and April, and a few occasionally venture to the far northern atolls.
Central Atolls - channels, caves, drop-offs & superb pelagic action
Not far from the capitol, Male, is where most of the diving has traditionally been done, North Male, South Male & Ari Atolls. Without venturing far from your arrival point, you find channels & caves, massive coral tables & drop-offs, plus a great variety of marine life. manta rays & a variety of sharks, including whale sharks & hammerheads in season, are regular visitors, Most of the best liveaboards offer the Central Atolls for the majority of their cruises. The most popular areas include North Male (Kaafu), South Male (Dhaalu), Ari for its whale sharks, Alimaty for a crazy night dive with tons of nurse sharks and ribbon-tail rays, & Felidhoo Atolls.
Not far from the capitol, Male, is where most of the diving has traditionally been done, North Male, South Male & Ari Atolls. Without venturing far from your arrival point, you find channels & caves, massive coral tables & drop-offs, plus a great variety of marine life. manta rays & a variety of sharks, including whale sharks & hammerheads in season, are regular visitors, Most of the best liveaboards offer the Central Atolls for the majority of their cruises. The most popular areas include North Male (Kaafu), South Male (Dhaalu), Ari for its whale sharks, Alimaty for a crazy night dive with tons of nurse sharks and ribbon-tail rays, & Felidhoo Atolls.
Northern Atolls - coral gardens, critters and mantas
There are few boats that venture to the Northern Atolls and you are likely to be the only divers on a dive site. The draw here is the abundance and variety of marine life plus the equally interesting topography. Along with swim-throughs and overhangs and large schools of fish, you also get some very beautiful soft corals. While sharks are rare in the north, at Noonu Atoll you should have exciting encounters with large numbers of grey reef sharks. Baa Atoll, a submerged pinnacle, is exceptional for its incredible overhangs covered with splendid coral gardens with scintillating colors. You will swim directly beneath this amazing ceiling of glowing coral life. This is where the UNESCO biosphere site of Hanifaru Bay is, famed for hundreds of mantas between June and November.
There are few boats that venture to the Northern Atolls and you are likely to be the only divers on a dive site. The draw here is the abundance and variety of marine life plus the equally interesting topography. Along with swim-throughs and overhangs and large schools of fish, you also get some very beautiful soft corals. While sharks are rare in the north, at Noonu Atoll you should have exciting encounters with large numbers of grey reef sharks. Baa Atoll, a submerged pinnacle, is exceptional for its incredible overhangs covered with splendid coral gardens with scintillating colors. You will swim directly beneath this amazing ceiling of glowing coral life. This is where the UNESCO biosphere site of Hanifaru Bay is, famed for hundreds of mantas between June and November.
Far South - sharks, rays, plentiful fish & a great wreck
With superb visibility, the deep south offers warm waters & healthy corals, including hard corals & scads of anemones. The big draw, however, is the large quantity of ocean predators which are attracted into the channels to feast on the schools of smaller reef fish hanging out on the walls & submerged thilas: black tip, white tip, grey reef sharks, leopard & nurse sharks are common. Trips to the Far South, to the remote & unspoiled atolls of Huvadhoo, Gan and other smaller atolls straddling the equator, are a relatively recent phenomenon in the Maldives. It was the opening of the international airport at Gan, which made access to this alluring region so much easier. Large pods of dolphins are not unusual at certain sites and you almost always have whale sharks at some as well as tiger sharks, hammer heads, giant hammerheads, eagle rays, sting rays and mobula rays. Even sailfish appear for the really lucky divers.
With superb visibility, the deep south offers warm waters & healthy corals, including hard corals & scads of anemones. The big draw, however, is the large quantity of ocean predators which are attracted into the channels to feast on the schools of smaller reef fish hanging out on the walls & submerged thilas: black tip, white tip, grey reef sharks, leopard & nurse sharks are common. Trips to the Far South, to the remote & unspoiled atolls of Huvadhoo, Gan and other smaller atolls straddling the equator, are a relatively recent phenomenon in the Maldives. It was the opening of the international airport at Gan, which made access to this alluring region so much easier. Large pods of dolphins are not unusual at certain sites and you almost always have whale sharks at some as well as tiger sharks, hammer heads, giant hammerheads, eagle rays, sting rays and mobula rays. Even sailfish appear for the really lucky divers.
climate and weather
The Maldives has a tropical-monsoon climate, with typically sunny days and a constant average year round temperature between 28°C to 32°C.
The Wet Season (southwest monsoon) - May to November
This is the season to dive on the western side of the atolls. Regular encounters with large schools of pelagic fish like sharks, eagle rays and tuna are common. This is the best time of year to see manta rays and whale sharks on the eastern side of the atolls, although visibility is lower. It is also a good time to see grey reef sharks and hammerheads. The congregation of manta rays feeding at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is best seen between June and November. The water is slightly cooler during the southwest monsoon (around 26-27°C). June and July tend to be the wettest months. The winds are stronger and the seas are a little rougher.
The Dry Season (northeast monsoon) - December to April
From December, fast currents begin to flow from the northeast. Visibility is excellent, the seas are calmer and the action on the eastern side of the atolls consists of sharks and other pelagic species. The currents are strongest in January then start to ease into February and wind and wave action slackens. March and April are the doldrums making diving easier in these two months. Manta rays and whale sharks will only be found on the western side of the atolls throughout the dry, summer season. Water temperature averages around 28-29°C except in the far south where the water temperature can drop to 24°C.
The Wet Season (southwest monsoon) - May to November
This is the season to dive on the western side of the atolls. Regular encounters with large schools of pelagic fish like sharks, eagle rays and tuna are common. This is the best time of year to see manta rays and whale sharks on the eastern side of the atolls, although visibility is lower. It is also a good time to see grey reef sharks and hammerheads. The congregation of manta rays feeding at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is best seen between June and November. The water is slightly cooler during the southwest monsoon (around 26-27°C). June and July tend to be the wettest months. The winds are stronger and the seas are a little rougher.
The Dry Season (northeast monsoon) - December to April
From December, fast currents begin to flow from the northeast. Visibility is excellent, the seas are calmer and the action on the eastern side of the atolls consists of sharks and other pelagic species. The currents are strongest in January then start to ease into February and wind and wave action slackens. March and April are the doldrums making diving easier in these two months. Manta rays and whale sharks will only be found on the western side of the atolls throughout the dry, summer season. Water temperature averages around 28-29°C except in the far south where the water temperature can drop to 24°C.