Diving Maldives

Maldives Activities

Water lovers and beach goers come to the Maldives to enjoy the ideal snorkeling conditions along the reefs besides the calm, clear blue lagoons. Magnificent diving opportunities abound with the possibility of seeing whale sharks, manta rays and hammerheads. A highlight is snorkeling with the manta rays and whale sharks at the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at Hanifaru Bay on Baa Atoll which has become one of the world’s largest manta ray feeding destinations. Up to 200 manta rays and dozens of whale sharks feed on the plankton blooms between the months of May and November.

Surfers come to get their stoke on in the Maldives. Other watersports include windsurfing, catamaran sailing, parasailing, kite surfing, kayaking, water skiing and jet skiing.

Resorts can arrange excursions to the villages on inhabited islands to experience the Maldivian lifestyle and culture, night fishing excursions and trips to uninhabited islands and sand banks by traditional Dhoni (Maldivian motor boat).  

Many resorts have relaxing spa and wellness treatments to indulge in and offer romantic, magical and memorable honeymoon packages.

When to Travel to Maldives

The Maldives has a tropical-monsoon climate, with typically sunny days and a constant average year round temperature between 28°C to 32°C.

Maldives has two distinct seasons:

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 August 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.

Surf Season

Maldives is also a popular surfing destination. The surf season runs from mid February to November. Early in the season has the most stable weather with light winds. March, April and May have very clean conditions. In March and April, conditions are best in the Southern Atolls whilst from May to October the best surf is in the Northern or Central atolls. The biggest waves with offshore wind conditions occur from June to August, although tropical storms may occur in these months. September and October have consistent swell with less variable winds and storms whilst November has small to medium size waves.

Scuba Diving in Maldives

A complex formation of reefs has evolved from a huge volcanic mountain range. Ocean currents have eroded the atolls’ rims creating Channels or “Kandus” that allow water to flow in and out of the atolls to the open ocean. The Channels are deep and narrow, home to larger species feeding on smaller reef life and plankton which is swept through the channels by the ocean currents. The main attractions on Channel dives are the pelagics such as Eagle Rays, Dog Tooth Tuna, and schooling Grey Reef Sharks.

Small areas of coral rising up to the shallows, known as “Giris”, and mountainous pinnacles rising from 35 metres to 5 metres,  known as “Thilas”, can be found inside the atolls. Thila’s are hotspots for schooling pelagics coming up the steep pinnacles to hunt for reef fish. Dog-tooth tuna, jacks, eagle rays, grey reef sharks, trevally and thousands of red-tooth trigger fish, blue striped snappers, and fusiliers bombard the Thila’s when the currents are running.

Circular Reefs or “Farus”, normally located in the ocean channels, rise up from the ocean floor. Usually between 1 – 30 metres deep, these reefs generally offer the easiest diving in the Maldives and is where you will find fan corals with macro life such as moray eels, nudibranchs, frog fish, leaf fish and glass fish.

The Maldives is also known for its Manta Cleaning Stations. Here you will find sometimes up to 20 manta rays gracefully hovering over the cleaning station, while cleaning wrasse nibble away at unwanted parasites.

In the immediate vicinity of Male the diving is very good but visibility and encounters with large pelagic fish increase in the outer atolls. Liveaboards are an excellent option.

Inside the atolls the currents are weak but on the side facing the open ocean currents can be very strong. Reef life is most prolific on the point of the current and the possibility of spotting macro life is high. There are a few wrecks but Maldives is most famous for its pelagic life - manta rays, whale sharks, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks and turtles are found in the Maldives year round.

Maldives Liveaboards

	MV Orion	Budget: $$-$$$$ (depending on season & cabin) Length: 41 metres  Max # of guests: 24 No. Cabins: 12	Approx dives per day: up to 17 dives on a 7nt trip Nitrox: complimentary Tech Dive: Rebreather friendly
	MV Leo	Budget: $$-$$$ (depending on season & cabin) Length: 35 metres  Max # of guests: 20 No. Cabins: 10	Approx dives per day: up to 17 dives on a 7nt trip Nitrox: complimentary Tech Dive: Rebreather friendly
	MV Virgo	Budget: $$-$$$ (depending on season & cabin) Length: 32 metres  Max # of guests: 15 No. Cabins: 8	Approx dives per day: up to 17 dives on a 7nt trip Nitrox: complimentary Tech Dive: Rebreather friendly
	Maldives Master Ex Male / Gaafdhal / Kaadedhdhoo	Budget: $$$ Length: 37 metres Max # of Guests: 26 No. Cabins: 13	Approx dives per day: up to 4 dives Nitrox: Yes (extra cost) Tech Dive: No