A Protected Marine Area, this offers one of the best-known dives in the Maldives. There is a remarkable variety of marine life on the thila, including grey reef sharks, white tip sharks, turtles, stonefish, frogfish, zebra morays, batfish and many, many more species. At the edge of the thila, where there is a large coral overhang full of bright orange Tubastrea corals.The top of the rock, at 15m (50ft), is covered in colourful soft corals. The vertical side of the rock drops down to the atoll plate at 40m (130ft). In this channel between the satellite rock and the thila, grey reef sharks often patrol and we have seen guitar shark here on a number of occasions.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 40m

Hafza Thila is in the middle of the Atoll, 35 minutes south from Velidhu. Normally there is not a lot of current. You can easily dive around the thila two times during one dive, but take your time. There are nice overhangs on each side, in which you can find stingrays, morays and scorpion fish. Don’t stay too long in the deep area, because the top reef is not very shallow (10 - 12m) and you might run out of time! Save some time for the top reef, there are very nice hard corals!

A huge variety of marine life can be expected here. Batfish, blue striped snapper and barracudas are schooling in the blue. Big sharks, jackfish and trevallys are hunting in the current. Watch out for turtles on the top reef and try to find some scorpion fish and stonefish! You may find octopus, slugs and shrimps in the beautiful hard corals of the top reef.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth:

Two hours of boat trip in the southwest of Velidhu is Maalhos Thila, otherwise known as "Blue Caves". This is really one of the best dive sites in the Maldives! Plenty of caves and overhangs in the south part (20-30m) and the soft corals are overgrowing all! It looks like a huge cake with white and pink whip! The ceilings are covered in soft corals in a mixture of colours, mostly white but also blue and violet - the decorated caves make a surreal back drop for underwater photographers. In the south there are a few big blocks 20m apart of the main reef.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth:

The square-shaped reef is about 80 metres wide and can be circled in one dive if divers wish, providing the current is not too strong. There are ledges and caves at different depths around much of the reef and for the most part, there is a big undercut from about 25 to 30 metres before the reef tapers to the bottom slopes. The north and north west sides have a particular interesting landscape at reasonably shallow depths, making it ideal for the less experienced diver, while at depth, are caves with all the usual features including sea fans and black coral bushes. Divers tend to stay shallower at Fish Head, hovering around the reef edge at about 15 metres as this gives the best all round view of a family of about 20 resident grey reef sharks.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m

Kuredo Express is one of the most famous dive sites in the Lhaviyani Atoll. Express gets its name from the strong currents that can flow here. The Sandy channel leads to a corner where there are terraces of different depths, perfect for action encounters with grey reef sharks, eagle rays, large tuna, napoleons, stingrays and barracuda.

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Maadhoo Wreck is located on the south side of Dapparhu Island in the Haa Alifu Atoll. This beautiful 80 metres long wreck immediately presents you with 4 chimneys rising out of the water and it is easily accessible at a depth of 5 to 18 metres. As you descend to the deepest point of the dive, you'll see leopard sharks hiding from the moderate current beneath the stern.

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One of the channel dives that you don’t want to miss. With strong incoming current the list of possible encounters is impressive. Mainly grey reef sharks but also whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleons and tunas are quite common and with the visibility reaching 120 feet during the northeast monsoon it can be the highlight of the trip.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

This is considered one of the best night dives in the Maldives. Every night there is a show performed by a big number of nurse sharks, stingrays and massive jacks. Definitely not to be missed.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

This place offers one of the most incredible drift dives in the the archipelago. Unlike other atolls in the Maldives this one has no lagoon. Surrounded by depths in the middle of the Indian Ocean the site offers unique conditions to encounter species like tiger sharks, oceanic mantas, mola mola, thresher sharks, hammerheads, grey reef sharks and other big fish.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Scuba diving the Maldives' Baa Atoll is to scuba dive in one of the greatest biospheres on Earth. The region harbors significant biodiversity of reef animals, hard and soft corals, reef fish species, turtles, manta rays and any number of shark species. Baa Atoll scuba diving is also famous for offering one of the largest gathering of manta rays worldwide.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Diving in North Ari Atoll is not famous for corals, and in fact, many dive spots may seem a little dull in terms of the coral splendor. However, the main attraction of this part of the atoll is the regular encounters with big marine life including reef and hammerhead sharks.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Explore the captivating underwater world of North Male Atoll with its renowned dive sites like Lankan Manta Point and Fish Factory. Encounter vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life including mantas, sharks, and colorful reef fish, making it a diver's paradise.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

The South Malé Atoll offers thrilling dives characterized by strong currents, making it ideal for more experienced divers. This atoll features deep channels, known as kandus, which funnel nutrient-rich water from the open ocean into the inner lagoon, attracting large schools of fish, sharks, and other pelagic species. Coral life flourishes along the outer reef walls and on thilas—underwater pinnacles—while overhangs and caves within the channels provide shelter for a variety of macro life.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

The famous Hanifaru Bay, which is known locally as Vandhumaafaru Adi, is thought to be one the few places in the world where whale sharks congregate in to mate, although recent research suggests otherwise with the vast majority of the whale sharks seen there being young males. The bay also regularly sees some of the largest gatherings of Manta rays worldwide with up to one hundred individuals in the small inlet when the tide pushes plankton into the bay.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Dhigu in the Maldivian language means Long and Thila means pinnacle, and that is exactly what this dive site is, a long thin pinnacle in Baa Atoll, starting at 6m and descending down to 30m. Between 12 and 25m there are some interesting overhangs with some soft coral and Gorgonian Fan coral. Look out for Leaf Fish, Frog Fish and Stonefish, as well as nudibranchs, white tip reef sharks and perhaps the odd Manta passing in its way to it from Hanifaru Bay.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30

Also known as 'Big Shark Channel', this is another top dive site and certainly lives up to its name. Dropping in at the south eastern corner you keep the reef on your left until you reach the drop off at the channel entrance which is approximately 30 metres deep. This site features small caves and numerous overhangs, and there is a sloping section on the left side of the channel covered in hard coral and some soft coral.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30

Thaa Atoll (also known as Kolhumadulu) is among the least visited dive destinations in the Maldives. This round atoll has a combined landmass close to nine kilometres, with no single island larger than a square kilometre. The mesmerizingly beautiful series of 66 tiny islands that make up the atoll are surrounded by spectacularly clear water with underwater wonders and beauty yet to be discovered. Some dives have strong currents but this brings in the pelagic such as Hammerheads, Whale Sharks and dolphins especially at night. Expect large reefs, coral gardens, steep walls and overhangs plus action packed channels.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Laamu Atoll (also known as Haddhunmathi Atoll) is an oval shaped southern atoll. It measures 48 km in length and 35 km in width, and has some of the top dive sites in the world such as Guraidhoo and Gan; this Maldives Atoll is situated 32 southeast of Kolhumandulu Atoll and 95 km north of Huvadhoo Atoll. Laamu Atoll boasts numerous pristine dive sites with many different features like caves, steep drop offs, swim-throughs, not to mention the abundance of marine life and beautiful topography. Expect beautiful fish-filled channels with great shark encounters.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

The high concentration of plankton present in these waters gathers a large number of filter feeders, including the large manta rays. Some swim alone, but most are in groups of three, five, eight, even fifteen, twenty advancing in single file forming long undulating ribbons. Plenty of colourful coral structures can be seen with clown fish swimming between the tectacles of orange anemones. The synchronous and harmonic movement of a school of hundreds of yellow snappers is a beautiful view and you may even spot a turtle.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Dhonfanu Thila is a topographically beautiful dive site that has a pinnacle surrounded by changing currents. There are many overhangs and drop-offs around it, but the narrow swim-through is the most exciting part. It leads to a pool with a lighter current that is full of various species. This dive site is well-known for manta rays and larger pelagic fish as well as being full of cleaner wrasses, fusiliers, triggerfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, and lots of soldierfish.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 25

This is the perfect site for a night dive. Typically, Nurse Sharks, Black Tips, Marble Rays and Jacks are seen here.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 15

Expect to see Napoleons, turtles, moray eels and a lot of reef fish. In the blue water pegalics can often be seen passing by. There are caves and overhangs with walls packed full of yellow, blue, pink and white soft coral.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 32

The channel is narrow and features swim-throughs, small caves and large overhangs. The drop-off at the channel entrance is covered in colourful soft corals. Titan triggerfish are common here along with grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, tuna and barracuda. You might be lucky enough to get a glimpse of hammerhead sharks in the most outer side of the channel. This is also where eagle rays can be spotted, along with big groupers such as the potato grouper and the black saddle coral groupers. Look out for sting rays resting on the patch of sand and turtles on the channel walls.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

Situated in a channel between two islands its possible to encounter some larger species such as grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, mako sharks and even hammerhead sharks. There is also the chance of seeing manta rays, eagle rays, barracuda, travellies and groupers. The corners and overhangs that can be found along the site are nicely covered with blue and white soft corals.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 40

The top of the wheelhouse is at 24 meters and the propeller is at about 27 meters. Coral is already well established on Fesdu Wreck, and a couple of good sized black coral bushes are growing off the stern. Among the superstructure are moray eels and in the engine room are big groupers. The wreck lies at the end of a small Thila that is about fifty meters out from Viligilee Falhu reef. There is extensive soft and hard coral growth all over the Thila and plenty of fish life, few caves and little coral rock formation.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 20

This dive site is a narrow and curved reef which is situated on the northern side of the island of Dharavandhoo. You can see Napoleons, stingrays and turtles. During the South West Monsoon, manta rays can also be spotted here.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30

You can expect to spot both sharks and manta rays when diving at this site.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

This site is located opposite the similarly named island & features a slope. There are a large number of cavern-like overhangs between 20 & 40m depth from which this site is named. These overhangs are densely covered in blue & yellow soft coral as well as black coral. Nurse sharks can often be found resting here. Stingrays can often be seen on the slopes & if one looks closely, there are numerous nudibranchs also to be found.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 40

Feydhoo Caves (also known as Feydhoo Finolhu or Feydhoo Wall) is located north of Malé, Maldives. The reef is an upright wall with lots of holes, clefts, and swim-throughs. At some places, there is almost a 90-degree drop-off. There are swim-throughs and small overhangs at shallower depths, and prolonged overhangs at the deeper areas of the wall. The wall is covered with sponges and corals. This site gives the divers an opportunity to explore caves, walls, reefs, as well as lots of marine life such as fish, sharks, eagle rays, turtles, sponges and corals.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30

Divers can expect to spot both Manta rays and sharks at this dive site.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30

The island abounds with unique marine life. Divers will enjoy the chance to look at rays, dolphins, whale sharks and sea turtles at arm’s length.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30

Fuvahmulah (also known as Fua Mulaku and Poue Molluque) is the second-largest one-island atoll in the southern part of the Maldives. Visitors can get to the island by air or by sea, using the local liveaboard’s itinerary. Pristine diverse nature is represented here by tropical woodlands and wetlands, with rare birds and dense vegetation, freshwater lakes, marshland areas with thick vegetation, white-sand and pebble beaches, the biggest on the Maldives fertile lands of humus, mango, pineapple and orange trees. There are also several shrines, such as the Muslim mosque Gemmiskiy and the Buddhism stupa ruin called the Havitta. The place is also famous for a natural phenomenon known as Bissaaveli, where part of the beach sand moves away from the shore towards the edge of the reef, creating a lagoon, enclosed by sand and the shore of the island. Fuvahmulah became open to foreigners not long ago. That means it offers opportunities to dive at the barely touched reefs and stay in quite new hotels (developed starting in 2013). The most popular dive sites include Raazwa Faru (Fuvahmulah South), Thoondu (Fuvahmulah North), Rasgefannu, and the best spot for both diving and snorkeling, Neregando Fannu.

Divers can dive at Fuvahmulah throughout the year, with an average water temperature of about 26-29C/79-84F. During the hot and dry period from December to May, the water temperature falls to 24C/75F in some places. Short, heavy rains may occur from June to July.

Thresher sharks, tiger sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, turtles, dolphins, and many other smaller fish can be seen here.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 40m

The Huvadhoo Atoll is located in the far south of the Maldives just above the equator. It’s the region’s second largest atoll and is divided into two separate administrative regions – the northern Gaafu Alifu and the southern Gaafu Dhaalu.

Huvadhoo provides an escape from the developed north, and its diving is less chartered. You’ll need to use local knowledge to explore the atoll’s 1,864 square miles (3000 km²) of ocean. Due to its distance from the country’s capital, the locals speak a different form of the Dhivehi language called Huvadu Bas. After a day spent diving, you can admire the red-hued sunset from the beach.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m

South Ari Atoll, Maldives is separated from North Ari Atoll for administrative purposes, and features shallower and relatively easier dive sites compared to the sites in North Ari Atoll, where the conditions are a bit harder. Some of the great dive spots in South Ari Atoll include Broken Rock (an interesting rock formation with a canyon, covered in delicate soft corals, sponges, and big gorgonian fans), Kudarah Thila (a small underwater pinnacle with large numbers of snapper, sweetlips, batfish, and grouper in the surrounding waters, which are actually a marine protected area), Panettone (a gently sloping reef, which is a great place to see magnificent manta rays), and Thundufushi Thila (a large pinnacle around 1km/0.6mi in diameter with a steep wall and some small caves in its shallower parts, where it is possible to spot reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, and manta rays).

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m