When it comes to great destinations for diving, I think you can’t do much better than the Maldives. Home to colourful coral reefs and amazing marine life aplenty, this archipelago offers great visibility, lots of dive centres for tuition and gorgeous weather – not to mention luxury hotels that provide the ultimate in relaxation.
Below is my guide to diving in the Maldives – I hope it inspires you to do it!
What makes the Maldives so perfect for diving?
So, exactly what makes the Maldives such a mecca for divers? It’s a combination of factors, really; first of all, there’s the high visibility, which means you can see fish swimming as far as 50 m away.
Secondly, the Indian Ocean waters are warm, which always makes for a more pleasant dive. The tides of the monsoon have a hand in it too, since they help create microscopic plant sells and small marine creatures alike.
With over 3,000 coral reefs, the Maldives is a place where you can see the tiniest sea creature to large predators, and everything in between. Plus, it’s got sites that are suitable for total novices as well as experienced divers, which means there’s something for everyone.
In fact, I think this is part of what makes the archipelago such a great destination for diving. Each island is home to a dive centre, where professionals are as ready and willing to help newcomers as they are PADI-certified visitors – something that gives the Maldives a brilliant atmosphere for learning.
And of course, as it’s so well set-up for the sport, it’s absolute heaven for keen divers. The house reefs that some of the hotels boast are really convenient, since they’re usually just a few minutes’ swim away, while you only need to hop on a boat for 15 to 60 minutes to reach somewhere new and exciting.
A note on night diving
Just as a quick tip, if you get the chance to go night diving during your trip, make sure you do it. It gives you a totally different experience to daytime diving, with the lights you take with you accentuating the gorgeous colours of the marine life. Plus, you get the chance to see creatures you’d likely otherwise miss.
Where to dive in the Maldives
Let’s take a quick look at some of the top places to go diving.
Banana Reef: Situated off the North Male Atoll, Banana Reef was the first dive site in the Maldives to become internationally renowned. What makes it so special is the fact that it has a little bit of everything, including reef fish like morays and jackfish, amazing coral growths, sharks and gropers, as well as caves, cliffs and overhangs.
Mushimasmingali Thila: Also known as Fish Head (much less of a mouthful, don’t you think?), Mushimasmingali Thila is another world-famous dive site. This one’s located off the Ari Atoll and is particularly well-known for its abundance of grey reef sharks.
Kudarah Thila: Also part of the Ari Atoll, Kudarah Thila is accessible all year round and is a great place to see triggerfish, barracuda and reef sharks. It’s home to some fantastic caves and is best tackled by experienced divers.
Maaya Thila: Last on my list is Maaya Thila, which is tipped as a great spot for diving at night. Come here to see all kinds of exciting creatures, like octopus and turtles, lurking in caves.
