Diving in the Maldives

Diving in the Maldives is superb, exclusive diving in a unique location.

The Maldives is 1000 islands, many uninhabited spread over an area four hundred and seventy five miles by eighty miles in the Indian Ocean. The islands are where a vast underwater mountain chain reaches the surface and outside of the coral atolls the sea plunges to depths of four thousand meters. Cooler current up swells is what aides the superb diving as it brings nutrients and large pelagics up from the depths.

Male, the capital and island of the same name is the only true city in the Maldives. Even the airport is on a small island near to Male. Transport from the airport to your island resort is via sea plane or boat.

Most of the islands are at sea level and comprise sand, coral and palm trees. For the tourist ones with hotels they are often no shoes' resorts with bedroom suites on stilts over the sea or with private pools and a beach and view of the sea straight out from your room. A true paradise setting. Note though some islands are small, have no television and little entertainment, for some this is ideal for others there are larger islands with more entertainment. Check out your Maldives Island before you book.

Diving in the Maldives takes three forms; for most resorts 24/7 unlimited shore diving; day boat diving in addition and thirdly a Maldives liveaboard holiday.

The liveaboard boats alternate their itineraries between north and south Male Atoll and Ari Atoll depending on the season and can be combined with a second week on an island, a popular choice by many. Check where your boat will be going and why before you book.

You are likely to encounter large pelagics including sharks, manta rays, sting rays, guitar rays; turtles, grouper, grunts, snapper and all the other usual suspects but the Maldives are often noted for its large pelagics.

Dive sites are often drift dives and deeper outside of the reefs or shallower drift dives in the channels in between the islands. Often a dive will combine both starting at either the inner or outer edge of a channel and ending at the opposite end.

Examples of great Maldives dive sites are Digalihaa Thila at Baa Atoll, Kureddu Express at Lhaviyani Atoll, Felivaru at Lhaviyani Atoll or Banana reef at Male North Atoll. I know though that as soon as I write this many divers will so no', my favourite is, have you not heard of..or that is better than that because there are so many spectacular dive sites.

The many islands with the sea plunging to great depths and swift currents provide fantastic drift, deep, night diving, wreck diving and underwater photography; all with significant prospects of seeing large pelagics, turtles and fish. Go on, dive the Maldives.

Diving in the Maldives

By: Bruce Sawyer

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