Maldives Liveaboard Diving

Dive around the jewels of the Indian Ocean

We can all picture the topside images of the Maldives with sun-drenched white sand beaches, gently lapped by the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. For divers however, there is another equally alluring world waiting to be discovered beneath the waters' surface.

Diving in the Maldives means discovering dense populations of fish, exploring caves and caverns festooned with colour, investigating wrecks teeming with marine life, and diving over pristine coral landscapes as good as you will find anywhere.

Although the Maldives is a very popular destination for honeymooners, the diving is not ideally suited to absolute beginners since many of the world class dives tend to be drift dives. However, those with a few dives under their belt, a reasonable amount of buoyancy control, and a level of comfort with current, can enjoy some of the most breathtaking sites imaginable.

The current that prevails at many dive sites in the Maldives exists thanks to the unique geography of the country. The island chain is in fact a series of volcanic craters rising just above sea-level. This means that water is diverted in and around the atolls, sometimes squeezing through narrow channels and gathering pace in the form of currents. The currents bring in nutrients which nourish the abundance of marine life in this oceanic oasis such as parrotfish, snappers, Napoleon wrasse, sweetlips, barracudas and jacks.

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• Maldive Islands

Ari Atoll

Ari Atoll is widely accepted as being the leading atoll for diving in the Maldives. There are dive sites scattered all around Ari Atoll and they provide the full range of underwater adventure, meaning there is something for everyone. The innumerable underwater pinnacles that typify the diving here are hotbeds of marine life, and you can expect to see greater fish density in this location than other parts of the Maldives.

Often the first thing people think of when they consider diving the Maldives are dive sites full of sharks and manta rays and, although there are many good sites for these elsewhere in the island chain, it is Ari Atoll that can lay claim to many of the best. Maaya Thila is one of Ari's typical pinnacles surrounded by an outrageous amount of marine life. Diving here is like jumping into the most populated aquarium imaginable. Fish Head is another populous pinnacle where sharks can be present in big numbers; and if sharks are your thing then an early morning dive at Hammerhead Point simply must be on your agenda.

Other Ari Atoll dive sites you can visit by liveaboard include Broken Rock, Fesdu wreck and Kudarah Thila. For more detailed information, visit our Ari Atoll diving website section.

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• Ari Atoll

North Male Atoll

North Male is an area of the Maldives that is quite sparsely populated but has a great concentration of dive sites. However, as with the country generally, the sites are well spread and best visited by liveaboard.

Dive sites in this area tend to have topographical features such as caves, drop-offs and reefs. It is also one of the areas that can boast dive sites which feature pristine coral coverage; something that thanks to El Niño cannot genuinely be said of certain other parts of the country. Manta point is a cleaning station not to be missed, while the famous Girifushi Thila is a visual assault of riotous colour and marine life.

Other sites you are likely to enjoy in North Male include The Maldives Victory, Lion's Head and Okobe Thila. For more detailed information, visit our North Male Atoll diving website section.

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• North Male Atoll

Northern Atolls

While the majority of Maldives liveaboards tend to focus on the areas around North Male, South Male and Ari Atoll, there are some excellent liveaboard diving opportunities further north in the atoll chain. The northern atolls of Lhaviyani, Baa, Raa and Noonu promise a very different experience from further south and one that is considered by many to be superior.

The most obvious benefit of diving in the north is the lack of other boats. There is no competing for space here or rushing to be first on a popular dive site. Instead you are often the only liveaboard dive boat in sight.

Underwater you can expect giris and thilas teeming fish. Most sites feature swim-throughs and overhangs sheltering schools of fish and some beautiful soft corals. You will be in one of the best places for diving with manta rays when the cruise takes in Baa Atoll. Elsewhere you can expect many other rays and at least one excellent shark dive. For more detailed information, visit our Northern Atolls diving website section.

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• Northern Atolls

South Male Atoll

South Male is considered to be one of the best diving areas in the Maldive Islands due largely to the currents which gush through the channels and therefore support an astonishing number of marine creatures.

Divers do not come to South Male to look for pristine hard corals but rather to investigate colourful caves and overhangs, be surrounded by vast schools of reef fish, spot large pelagic fish and marvel at the variety of colourful soft corals. Cocoa Thila is quite a typical South Male dive site where you can hover in an overhang, sheltered from the current, and check out the rays, sharks and schools of fish enjoying the current. Guraidhoo Kandu South is a site that supports the great abundance and variety of life that makes South Male a great area to dive.

Other sites you will explore when your liveaboard cruise takes you to South Male include Kuda Giri Wreck, Vadhoo Caves and Medhu Faru. For more detailed information, visit our South Male Atoll diving website section.

Visit our liveaboard section here to explore your options for Maldive Islands liveaboards.

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• South Male Atoll

Diving Season

The Maldives can be dived year round, with our recommended periods being from November to May for most divers. If you have a particular desire to see whale sharks and mantas then April to June might be the best time for you. Outside of these times, it may be difficult to get a confirmed departure.

Water temperatures vary from their lowest level of 24°C in February and July, to their warmest of 27°C in April, May and September; other times of the year being between these 2 temperatures.

Whenever you decide to come, please note that liveaboard trips in the Maldives are very popular and you need to plan ahead to make sure you get the trip you want. We recommend that you book at least 6 months in advance. The best boats become fully booked many months prior to the departure date and late availability is very rare.

Reef Summary

Great for: Large animals, drift diving, underwater photography, value-for-money, beginner and advanced divers
Not so great for: Non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 40m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Usually calm but can be choppy
Water temperature: 24 - 27°C
Experience level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >200
Recommended length of stay: 1 - 3 weeks

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