Diving in Maldives
There are many stunning diving spots in the Maldives. You can enjoy a wide variety of exotic fish too, as a country deep in the Indian Ocean and on the edge of the Arabian Sea, there is a lot of variety. The location, quite close to the Sri Lanka coast, makes for some very favourable conditions.
Holidays in the Maldives feature many activities including scuba diving, but the many resorts are popular with tourists with preferences for relaxing luxury beach holidays. The best time to travel to the Maldives for diving is late February or early March.
Here we will explore in more detail some of the best diving spots in the Maldives, the fish or marine life you can find and the water conditions. We have a liveaboard trip available for February 2022, which will focus on exploring the many sharks of the area. Places fill up quickly so make sure to book your place today.
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When is the Best Time to Go to the Maldives?
The best time of the year to visit the Maldives for a diving and snorkelling…
Luxury Maldives Liveaboard Holidays
The best way to experience the Maldives’ incredible dive sites is on one of our luxury liveaboard holidays. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, handpicked itineraries and superb-value packages for all experience levels. Dive in the care of PADI-certified instructors or relax on the sundeck in warm, tranquil Maldivian waters teeming with marine life.
Choose a boat and secure your place on a Maldives liveaboard for a fun, friendly experience at some of the best dive sites on the planet.
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Places fill up well in advance so please contact us to book your place today. Here we will explore in more detail the best scuba dive sites available, the types of fish you can expect to see and the water temperatures and conditions you are likely to experience.
Diving spots of the Maldives
As an intricate archipelago, the Maldives has atolls and small islands that are ideal for diving. Much of the diving in the country takes place in the Southern Maldives, which contains many uninhabited islands.
Top diving spots in the Maldives include the following:
- Fuvahmulah atoll: If you are a shark fan then this is the spot for you, with tiger sharks being a particularly famous feature and a key part of its appeal. There are also many colourful reefs, and as the closest atoll to the equator conditions can be very comfortable for people still trying to learn to dive.
- North Malé Atoll: If you are keen on reef diving then this is easily one of the best diving spots in the whole world. The warm waters host corals bursting with colour and marine life. It is also one of the best wreck diving sites with the Maldives Victory Wreck, a cargo ship, lying at 12 meters under the sea.
- South Ari Atoll: This atoll has many fantastic sharks and reef dives, including at Broken Rock, Five Rocks and Sun Island. This is one of the richest atolls for marine life and will provide ample opportunities for extensive diving, there are several spectacular night dive trips possible too.
Other popular spots include the Baa atoll, which contains over 75 islands. The sheer abundance and diversity of scuba diving spots in the Maldives keep divers going back over many years to explore the best sites. To guide our 2022 trip we have the expertise of marine biologist Elke Bojanowski PhD to help successfully navigate towards all the many shark species in the area.
For an idea of what some of the best spots will be like please view the video below:
Species of fish and marine life in the Maldives
Whether you are a shark enthusiast or prefer reefs, turtles or any other types of fish, there is a lot of marine life to see in the Maldives. Not only can you see a plethora of exotic species, but they also swim in some of the most visible waters under excellent diving conditions.
Types of marine life you can see in the Maldives include the following:
- Tiger Sharks
- Grey Reef Sharks
- Manta Rays
- Whale Sharks
- Eagle Rays
- Dolphins
- Turtles
- Leopard Sharks
- Black Tips
- Whitetip Reef Sharks
- Fan Corals
EVEN MORE..
- Stingrays
- Red-tooth Triggerfish
- Hammerhead Sharks
- Napoleon Wrasse
- Nurse Sharks
- Cowtail Stingrays
- Eagle Rays
- Tuna
- Stone Fish
- Barracuda
It is arguably the best place to go diving for marine life, with such a big selection in and around the same place. Our luxury liveaboard trip is taking place in February 2022 and will cruise from Malé to the farthest southern parts of the Maldives, to make sure you see as much as possible.
Living aboard on the Blue Voyager, you will have the opportunity for extensive marine diving with the modern comforts of a luxury boat that accommodates 26 people. Non-divers, snorkelers or those still trying to learn to dive can still enjoy the extensive marine life and will feel part of the group experience.
Diving conditions in the Maldives
The Maldives attracts people from all over the world because of its clear waters and favourable conditions. Temperatures are generally mild, due to the position of the country just over 200 miles north of the equator. The air temperature can easily range from 25°C to 31°C at any time of year.
General condition information includes the following:
Water temperature: Divers can expect to enjoy warm conditions, at around 26°C to 29°C – possibly even over 30°C at times and in some more southern diving spots.
Visibility: Visibility is excellent, anything from 15 meters to 40 meters. This makes the Maldives great for marine dives. The rainy season takes place during the summer months, so the best time of year to go is during winter.
Currents: There is a range of currents depending on locations, open water dives tend to have stronger currents whereas many calmer lagoons will have virtually no current at all.
The Maldives has something for almost every level of diver, from people who have just begun to learn to dive recently to intermediate and advanced levels. Arguably, it has some of the most favourable conditions in the world, and as we will be visiting at the best time of the year during late February conditions will be ideal.
Maldives diving holidays and luxury scuba trip experiences
Not only does the Maldives have some of the best diving spots, marine life and conditions on the planet, but it is also intensely beautiful. There are many options for liveaboard only trips and extensions to the country’s luxury resorts.
We are experts in providing life-changing diving experiences in the best diving locations in the world, and our next Maldives diving trip takes place in February 2022. Places will fill up quickly, so book now at a competitive price.
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FAQs and useful information
The following are some common questions and further details about diving in the Maldives and the services we provide:
How much is diving in the Maldives?
Our diving trips to the Maldives include many options, add ons and extras that can influence the price. An 11-night trip will start from a price of £2,296 per person, not including flight costs. You can pay this balance with a low initial deposit and then pay the remaining amount in instalments during 2021, and in full by 13 weeks before the trip.
Is diving in the Maldives dangerous?
Scuba diving in any location carries a level of risk, but the Maldives is generally a safer place to dive thanks to its favourable conditions. With proper precautions, divers can avoid any issues quite simply. Things to be aware of include sharp coral and anemone stings. Stonefish also commonly dwell on coral in the Maldives and will camouflage themselves very convincingly, but with proper protective footwear and proper caution it is unlikely to be an issue. The highly poisonous lionfish is also present in Maldivian waters and divers should keep a very safe distance.
Which month is the best month to visit the Maldives?
The best time of year to visit the Maldives is during the winter months, which begins in early November and ends in early April. The reason that this is the best time of year to visit is that the summer months are the rainy season, which will negatively affect conditions for diving and reduce the quality of the trip. When visiting the Maldives in December seasonal increases in tourism at certain resorts may make it a less desirable time to travel.
Can unmarried couples go to the Maldives?
The Maldives is an Islamic country and holds up many conservative laws over its population, however tourists in resorts or upon liveaboard boats are not subject to the same stringent practices of the religion. Unmarried couples can share rooms and there are exemptions to non-Maldivians in practical terms, meaning visitors can enjoy the freedoms of their home countries without having to worry. Visitors should remember to exercise caution, especially if they happen to leave their resort for an excursion.
Are there any shark attacks in the Maldives?
There is no history of shark attacks in the Maldives. You can expect peaceful swims with sharks, many of which are completely harmless in the first place. Sharks can look fearsome, but keeping a safe distance is the most simple way to avoid any contact while still providing a fantastic diving experience.
I want to come on my own, will I be welcome?
Absolutely. We provide friendly group dives with experienced guides and make sure that all guests have a pleasant and social experience on a liveaboard boat. You will get plenty of chances to meet people and interact with top-class instructors who are keen to provide you with a great experience, no matter how many people are in your party.
Do you need injections to go to the Maldives?
There is no legal requirement for injections to travel to the Maldives, but it is recommended everybody have their basic inoculations as a matter of general health and to minimise any risk. Mosquitos can be an issue during the summer months, because of the rainfall and moisture in the air, but they do not carry disease.
Why is the water in the Maldives so clear?
The location of the Maldives is quite remote, with the Indian Ocean being perhaps the most significant body of uninterrupted water in the world. This results in lower levels of pollution, particularly when you consider the distance the country has from any other location. The result is clear water that attracts a multitude of different varieties of life, and great visibility while diving.
Contact us today for more information and to book your Maldives diving trip.