Tag: diving in the maldives

Don’t Miss These Spots for Snorkelling and Diving in the Maldives – Enter a Magical Kingdom Beneath the Waves

When it comes to the Maldives, the view under the water is just as jaw-dropping as the one above it! This is exactly why snorkelling and diving are so popular here, especially at the destinations mentioned below.

South Male Atoll
An ideal place to be based for underwater adventure is the South Male Atoll, home to colourful fish, turtles, and reef sharks; come at the right time (especially April to October) and you can see manta rays too. Stay at a resort like Naladhu Private Island Maldives, with a thriving house reef, and don’t miss dive sites like Coco Thila and the hauntingly beautiful Kuda Giri Wreck.

North Male Atoll
Just a short boat ride from the south, North Male Atoll also offers thrilling diving in the Maldives. Swim through colourful coral caves, meet friendly sharks (the non-biting kind!), and float past sea fans that add to the allure of this ethereal world. Favourite sites include Banana Reef, HP Reef, and the sunken Maldives Victory ship, now teeming with sea life for some unique underwater selfies.

snorkeling
Image by J. Ketelaars from Pixabay

Baa Atoll
Further afield lies the Baa Atoll, offering more marine marvels to encounter. It’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means you can expect plenty of diverse sightings. Visit Hanifaru Bay from July to October to snorkel with graceful manta rays and maybe spot a gentle whale shark if luck is on your side. Dive sites like Nelivaru Haa and Dhigali Haa, with their caves and overhangs, have plenty of ‘reef drama’ too.

Lhaviyani Atoll
For those who like a little thrill with their dive, Lhaviyani Atoll serves it up, along with encounters with manta rays and sharks. Drivers (with experience) can zoom along the strong currents of Kuredu Express (it lives up to the name!) or explore two iconic wrecks at the Shipyard. Meanwhile, some reefs are easy to reach from the shore, perfect for laidback snorkelling or spur-of-the-moment turtle encounters.

Diving In The Maldives

There is no doubt that Maldives contains some of the finest diving spots in the world and scuba diving is a highly popular activity on the island. The warm waters off the island’s coast are home to an amazing variety of aquatic life and provide a rich and rewarding experience. While one is guaranteed to come across numerous colourful creatures while diving, different diving spots host different marine fauna. So when choosing one’s diving spot it is always best to keep in mind the types of fish one wishes to see.

Although small colourful fish are fascinating in their own way most people wish to see the large fish such as the whale shark. The Ari Atoll is a terrific place to not only spot whale sharks but also other shark species such as the hammerhead shark, the grey reef shark and the white tip shark. It is also home to a sizeable manta ray population. It is also possible to see sharks at the Vaavu Atoll but they are not as common a sight as they are in the Ari Atoll. However, Fotteyo Kandu, considered by many to be the country’s best diving spot, is a part of this atoll. It contains quick currents, a variety of fish such as barracuda and tuna, and a series of exciting underwater caves that can be explored.

Some of the first diving scuba diving spots were discovered in the North Male Atoll and they remain popular to this day. Known for their awe inspiring underwater topography, the most popular spots are Kuda Haa and Banana Reef. While there is no particular diving season, the active period runs from November to May. The period between April and June maybe the warmest in the calendar, but they are also best time to observe whale sharks and manta rays.

To enjoy a variety of facilities with a minimum of hassle, tourists can try a Maldives resort such as the Cocoa Island Maldives which contains the infrastructure for a number of water related activities such as scuba diving and surfing. The Maldives luxury hotel is situated on a private island and is ideal for tourists who want to escape the crowds.