The Maldives is a dream destination for divers worldwide. This tropical paradise offers some of the planet’s most spectacular experiences. From gentle manta ray encounters to thrilling shark dives, the Maldives has something for every diver. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or looking to take your first plunge, these 1,200 islands promise unforgettable adventures beneath the waves.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the top Maldives scuba diving spots. We’ll also share everything you need to know to plan your perfect diving trip.
1. Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay
Photo by inusuke from Getty Images
Depth: 5 to 15 meters
Skill Level: All levels
Hanifaru Bay is pure magic for divers and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that hosts one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Between May and November, this shallow bay transforms into a feeding frenzy where dozens of manta rays perform incredible barrel rolls while eating concentrated plankton blooms. Whale sharks often join this underwater feast, creating encounters where you might see 50+ manta rays alongside these gentle giants in a single dive.
- Best Time to Dive: May to November, during the southwest monsoon, increased plankton attracts megafauna.
- How to Get There: Accessible by liveaboard or from resorts like Anantara Kihavah, which offers direct access to this incredible dive site.
2. South Ari Atoll, Maaya Thila
Photo by Mlenny from Getty Images Signature
Depth: 6 to 30 meters
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Maaya Thila is an underwater mountain or “thila” that showcases incredible biodiversity in a compact area. This site features steep walls dropping into deep blue water while the shallow plateau bursts with soft coral gardens in every imaginable color. The reef comes alive after sunset with nocturnal predators like hunting moray eels and foraging stingrays, while bioluminescent plankton creates a stunning display. By day, white-tip reef sharks patrol deeper waters, and schools of barracuda swirl into silvery tornadoes, making it a spectacular site for both day and night diving.
- Best Time to Dive: Maaya Thila is great year-round, with the best visibility from December to April during the dry season.
- How to Get There: Located near Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort, it’s easily accessible by boat.
3. North Male Atoll, Banana Reef
Photo by Digital Vision from Photo Images
Depth: 5 to 30 meters
Skill Level: All levels
Banana Reef was the Maldives’ first marine protected area, and its name comes from its distinctive curved shape. This historic site features an intricate network of caves, swim-throughs, and overhangs that create a three-dimensional diving experience with incredible underwater architecture. The reef features massive Napoleon wrasse over 100kg, golden schools of bannerfish along coral walls, and various reef sharks using deeper channels. Its unique formation creates natural amphitheaters for observing marine life behavior.
- Best Time to Dive: For the best visibility, visit when the weather is calm between November and April.
- How to Get There: Banana Reef is a short boat ride from Male, making it easy to visit from resorts around the island like Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
4. Fuvahmulah Atoll
Photo by Zephyr18 from Getty Images
Depth: 15 to 40+ meters
Skill Level: Advanced only
Fuvahmulah is a unique single-island atoll sitting in deep oceanic waters, creating conditions that attract some of the ocean’s most impressive predators. This is the only place in the Maldives where you can reliably encounter tiger sharks, often multiple individuals in a single dive, making it legendary among advanced divers. The nutrient-rich waters of this isolated atoll attract hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and large oceanic manta rays. Dramatic underwater topography includes steep drop-offs into the abyss, but strong, unpredictable currents require advanced diving skills and proper drift diving techniques.
- Best Time to Dive: Visit from November to April, when shark sightings peak during the northeast monsoon.
- How to Get There: Fuvahmulah is accessible by domestic flights from Male and services from resorts like Tiger Shark Retreat.
5. Shaviyani Atoll, Maroshi Thila
Photo by richcarey from Getty Images
Depth: 8 to 25 meters
Skill Level: Intermediate
Remote Maroshi Thila offers an intimate diving experience far from crowds, showcasing what pristine Maldivian reefs looked like before tourism development. This pristine site showcases effective marine conservation, with hard coral coverage over 90% and a thriving ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife. Its isolation has preserved rare species like leopard sharks resting in sandy channels, graceful guitarfish over reef flats, and a wide range of invertebrates from tiny basslets to large groupers.
- Best Time to Dive: This site is accessible year-round, with the dry season from November to April offering the best conditions.
- How to Get There: Avail Multi-day liveaboard trips or stay at luxury northern atoll resorts like Sirru Fen Fushi.
6. Vaavu Atoll, Alimatha Island
Photo by Dionisio Iemma from Getty Images
Depth: 10 to 20 meters
Skill Level: Intermediate (night diving experience recommended
Alimatha Island transforms into one of the Maldives’ most thrilling night diving spots after sunset. Its unique geography creates a natural amphitheater where the resort’s lights and feeding draw grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, and large stingrays. Night dives reveal a different underwater world, with bioluminescent plankton creating stunning displays, hunting stingrays patrolling reef flats, and schools of jacks forming bait balls. The shift from day to night brings entirely different marine life and behaviors, while calm conditions make it an accessible and exciting night diving destination.
- Best Time to Dive: November to April during the dry season for the best night diving conditions.
- How to Get There: Alimatha Island is accessible by boat from Alimatha Island Resort or day trips from nearby properties.
7. Rasdhoo Atoll, Rasdhoo Madivaru
Photo by Arkadij Schell from Getty Images
Depth: 12 to 30 meters
Skill Level: All levels
Rasdhoo Madivaru offers a serene diving experience in Rasdhoo Atoll, featuring healthy coral gardens and excellent visibility. It’s ideal for underwater photography and observing marine life, particularly at manta ray cleaning stations where oceanic manta rays sit still as cleaner fish remove parasites. This dive site also attracts eagle rays and colorful anthias, providing a peaceful atmosphere for newer divers or those refining their photography skills. The gentle reef slope and abundant marine life ensure scenic encounters.
- Best Time to Dive: For the best visibility and calmest conditions, visit from December to April.
- How to Get There: Rasdhoo Madivaru is a short boat ride from Maafushivaru Maldives Resort.
8. Addu Atoll, The British Loyalty Wreck
Photo by mbbirdy from Getty Images Signature
Depth: 15 to 33 meters
Skill Level: Advanced Open Water minimum
The British Loyalty is a World War II British oil tanker that sank in 1944. It is now a remarkable artificial reef in the Indian Ocean. This 140-meter wreck lies on its side, creating stunning swim-throughs and attracting diverse marine life, including massive schools of fish, hawksbill turtles, groupers, batfish, and jacks. Advanced divers can explore its interior spaces, such as the engine room and cargo holds, making it both a haven for marine life and a piece of living history.
- Best Time to Dive: Year-round diving is available, with the best visibility from November to April.
- How to Get There: Southern atoll liveaboards or resorts like Equator Village arrange trips to this remote wreck site.
9. Laccadive Atoll, Kuredu Express
Photo by Christian Edelmann from Getty Images
Depth: 20 to 40+ meters
Skill Level: Advanced
Kuredu Express offers thrilling drift diving in the Maldives, where powerful currents create underwater highways teeming with marine life. These currents, reaching 2 to 3 knots, require advanced buoyancy control and drift techniques. Divers can expect encounters with massive tuna, schools of grey reef sharks, and vast walls of fusiliers, especially during monsoon transitions. Safety protocols include dive guides with surface marker buoys and boats monitoring divers throughout the drift and mandatory briefings for all participants.
- Best Time to Dive: Best visited from November to April, during the dry season, with the strongest currents and best marine life during monsoon transitions.
- How to Get There: Kuredu Express is easily accessible from Kuredu Island Resort and Spa.
10. Dhigurah Atoll, Dhigurah Corner
Photo by DavorLovincic from Getty Images Signature
Depth: 15 to 35+ meters
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Dhigurah Corner boasts steep walls that lead into the ocean, creating nutrient-rich upwelling currents that support diverse marine life. This site acts as a corridor for pelagic species, where manta rays glide with the currents and nurse sharks rest in sandy channels. Its unique topography features environments, from shallow coral gardens to deep waters, ensuring diverse experiences in one dive. The reliable upwelling currents make it ideal for manta ray sightings, while the drop-off offers great chances to observe passing pelagic species and marine behavior.
- Best Time to Dive: The best time to visit is from December to April for optimal visibility.
- How to Get There: Easily accessible by boat from nearby resorts like TME Retreats Dhigurah.
Scuba Diving in the Maldives: What You Need to Know
Scuba diving in the Maldives is a thrilling adventure, but there are a few things you need to know before you dive into the crystal-clear waters. From the cost of scuba diving in the Maldives to safety and the requirements for different types of divers, here’s everything you need to plan your dive trip.
What Does Scuba Diving in the Maldives Cost?
The scuba diving price in the Maldives varies depending on where you dive. Here’s what to expect for different options:
- Single dives: ₹4,100 to 8,200
- Multi-dive packages offer better value
- Discover Scuba Diving: ₹8,200 to 16,400 (half-day)
- PADI Open Water certification: ₹32,800 to 49,200
Most operators provide quality rental equipment. Serious underwater photographers should consider bringing personal gear.
Is Scuba Diving Safe in the Maldives?
Yes! The Maldives is one of the safest diving destinations in the world, with professional dive operators adhering to international safety standards. The key is to choose certified operators, check equipment, and follow all safety guidelines.
Can Non-Swimmers Do Scuba Diving in the Maldives?
While swimming skills are helpful, non-swimmers can still enjoy scuba diving with the support of an experienced instructor. Introductory dives are available for those who want to explore without being confident swimmers. These programs include:
- Pool or shallow lagoon training
- Maximum 12-meter depths
- Direct instructor supervision
- Buoyancy helps to minimize swimming
What is the Scuba Diving Age Limit in the Maldives?
The scuba diving age limit in the Maldives typically starts at 8 years old for introductory dives and 10 years old for certification courses like PADI Open Water. There is no upper age limit for diving, as long as you’re in good health.
What is Liveaboard Diving?
Liveaboard diving is an excellent way to explore multiple dive sites across the Maldives. These floating hotels offer divers access to remote locations not reachable by day trips. Most liveaboards operate year-round, with the best conditions during the dry season (November to April). Benefits of Liveboard Diving include:
- 3 to 4 dives per day typically
- Dawn and dusk diving when marine life is most active
- Night diving at pristine locations
- Access to seasonal phenomena
Takeaway
From manta ray hotspots to thrilling wreck dives, the Maldives offers some of the best scuba diving. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, this tropical paradise has something for everyone. Dive into the Maldives’ stunning underwater world and experience the best diving spots in the world.
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*Banner photo by Maahid Photos on Unsplash
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