Diving In The Maldives

The Maldives Islands is a paradise for the divers, every week new diving sites are discovered,(actually there are more than 250 referenced Dive sites) each with its own life and fish species: coral reefs (naturally) emerging from the deepest of the Ocean in thila, caves, wreck .... are the biotope of coral fishes like surgeon fish, Napoleon, Eagle Ray, Manta Ray, turtles, white tipped and hammer head sharks (inoffensive in the Maldives). And you might even be lucky enough to observe the biggest of the fishes the Whale Shark 10 m (33 ft) long majestuous and surprising.

Diving

The Maldives Islands are a paradise for the divers, every week new diving sites are discovered, (actually there are more than 250 referenced Dive sites) each with its own life and fish species: coral reefs (naturally) emerging from the deepest of the Ocean in thila, caves, wreck .... are the biotope of coral fishes like surgeon fish, Napoleon, Eagle Ray, Manta Ray, turtles, white tipped and hammer head sharks (inoffensive in the Maldives). And you might even be lucky enough to observe the biggest of the fishes the Whale Shark 10 m (33 ft) long majestuous and surprising.

Some of the best Scuba dive sites in Male' atoll

Maldives Victory

Type of dive ....................Wreck dive, ascent & descent on a rope.
Depth Range .................16m - 30m
Photography ..................Wide angle lens (14mm-28mm) is recommended. Although some good opportunity for macro shots.
Special Feature ............Sunk on Friday 13th 1981, a 110m steel cargo ship. All cargo rooms are all open for easy penetration. Teeming with fish; even some of the pelagic variety. Limited to experienced divers due to the great depth and strong currents sometimes found in the area. Good opportunity for Photographers.

Banana Reef

Type of dive .....................Drift dive
Depth Range ...................5m - 25m
Photography ...................Use a moderate wide angle to standard lens 20mm - 35mm for landscape and napoleon.
Special Feature ..............Drift dive along a steep slope with overhangs and nice soft and hard coral. Napoleon wrasse and white tip reef sharks are sometimes seen in this area where the lobsters sleep between the rocks and the overhangs. The beautiful site is well suited for beginner and less experienced divers.

Maagiri Caves

Type of dive .....................Drift dive
Depth Range ...................5m - 30m
Photography ...................For the landscape and eagle rays the use of a wide angle lens (14mm-28mm) is recommended. Although with a 50mm-100mm lens you will get some good images of the honeycomb morays.
Special Feature ..............A nice wall reef with a huge rock in front of it creates an impressive canyon, making it an exciting dive. Beautiful soft oral in greater depth with small caves up to 6m. Schooling yellow snapper, fusilier, giant and honeycomb moray eels as well as occasional eagle rays can be seen here.

Potato Reef

Type of dive .....................Anchor dive, descent and ascent on a rope.
Depth Range ...................5m - 25m
Photography ..................This is a place for macro photographs. Use a 50mm - 100mm for the moray eels, stonefish and gobies.
Special Feature .............Myriad of color glaze this beautiful reef where the marine life is abundant. Only about 100m in diameter, it provides excellent opportunities for keen uw-photographers. The reef is covered mainly in hard coral and crustacions. Massive moray eels are found here, as well as the extremely rare ghost moray. The dense lionfish population is really amazing and if you have good eyes, this is your chance to spot some stonefish. Surrounded by soft white sand.

Some of the best Scuba dive sites in Ari atoll

Manta Point

A fantastic dive spot at the north west side of Ari Atoll.
You will see Manta Rays, Napoleons and other big fish here.

Maga Thila

A breath taking coral garden starts at 3m. At the north side, the reef is one big overhang with lots of small canyons going through the reef. If you are lucky you can meet deep-sea fish, like the deep sea White Tip Shark, Sailfish and Dolphins. Recommended for beginners.

Maaya Thila

A small dive-spot, just 25 min away from the island with lots of fish and black corals. Here you can see Grey Reef Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks, Batfish, Barracudas and Eagle Rays. Also you will find turtles and Sepias.
It is an easy dive spot. Recommended for beginners. The reef top is at 7m.

Fish Head (Mushimasmingili Thila)

A must for all divers as this is the most famous dive spot in the Maldives . Grey Reef Shark, big Napoleon fish and lot of small swarm fish will be seen here. It is a very small Thila and you can swim around in one dive.
The reef top starts at 10m and it falls down to 35m in a 75 degree angle with lots of caves and overhangs. Recommended for beginners.

Bodu Thin Thila

In a channel between two Farus in the south of Bathala there are three Thilas. This is the largest of these three Thilas. The corals, the Anemone garden, the cleaning station and also the formation and the great overhangs here makes the divers enthusiastic. Recommended for beginners.

Kandholhudhoo Thila

This reef is top secret. Diving instructors call this "Surprise Thila" This is a small reef with colorful soft corals and sponges. Stone Fish and Scorpion fish are more in number than corals. If you are lucky, a Manta or Dolphins will guide you under water. Turtle and Black-Coral-Trees are seen here.
The reef top starts at 3m. Therefore you could relax at a safety spot after the dive and view the scenery. Recommended for beginners.

Ellaidhoo Thila

A wonderful reef in the middle of the channel, in front of Ellaidhoo. The formation of the reef is like a terrace, which falls down from 8m to 40m, with lots of overhangs and beautiful Gorgonias.
Sleeping Nurse Shark, Frogfish, Grey Reef Shark and Batfish are the attractions here. Recommended for beginners.

Bathala Maga Kan Thila

From the reef Bathala Maga Faru, comes out this Thila, long and narrow. Here you can see Napoleon, White Tip Shark, Eagle Ray, Grouper, lots of coral fish and if you are lucky even Mantas and Mobulas.

Malhos Thila

The reef starts at 12m with big overhangs that fall down at 35m grown over with white blue soft corals. You will get the impression of being in an ice cave. Swarms of blue strip Snappers and Sweet Lips will make your dive unforgettable. Recommended only for experienced divers, as there might be strong current sometime.

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