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Maldives Dive Sites
Maldives dive sites - Northern Atolls
The large most Northerly Atoll of the Maldives is divided into four areas: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviani, Noonu. Most is still unexplored by scuba divers, although some expeditionary liveaboard trips have explored dive sites of Noonu. The Maldivian government has recently passed legislation allowing this area to be opened for scuba-tourism, so there are expected to be tourist island resorts here in the future, but currently this huge area can only be dived from a liveaboard!
Lhaviyani Atoll
The atoll is comprised of about 50 islands out of which five are inhabited. Lhaviyani Atoll has few thilas but does have some excellent channel dives with plenty of fish congregating around the entrances. 'Fushifaru Kandu' is the main attraction as in the right conditions encounters with grey reef sharks, barracuda and eagle rays are common. Another famous dive site is 'Kuredu Express' which gives divers the opportunity to see everything the Maldives has to offer - from large fish such as trevally, black snapper, eagle rays and grey reef sharks to small leaf fish and moray eels, there is something for everyone.
The island resorts Kuredu, Komandoo which you stay at with a cruise and stay holiday, are situated in this area.
Baa Atoll
The Atoll is divided by a 3km wide channel, with big drop offs into deep water. Baa Atoll is rapidly gaining recognition as a new dive spot for enthusiasts keen to escape the crowds of the better known dive sites in the Maldives. Between May and July a large number of whale sharks and manta rays visit this area. With a few established dive sites offering healthy coral and plentiful marine life Baa Atoll has a good mix of Thila and Kandus to dive.
Here again there is a huge potential for discovering new dive sites as this Atoll is still relatively unexplored.
Gaafaru Falhu
Gaararu Falhu is a small Atoll that is almost completely enclosed by a fringing reef that has only three channels. There are three known wrecks on the north side: Lady Christine a survey vessel - sank 1974; The Erlangen a German cargo vessel - sank 1894; and the SS Seagull - sank in 1879.
Raa Atoll
This Atoll is huge and has many thilas and kandus which are generally visited only by liveaboard vessels. If the weather and visibility are good discovery dives of unexplored areas are offered adding mystery to an already exciting trip
Noonu Shaviyani and Haa Dhaal
Located in the most northerly region most of this area remains unexplored by divers, although some exploratory trips have ventured to parts of Noonu.
Noonu Atoll, has a wealth of dive sites to discover. Most of the dives are on thilas offering beautiful topography, caves and overhangs. 'Trick Thila' was one of the first officially documented sites and is well known for the grey reef sharks that patrol the area. 'Xmas Rock' is another documented site and was given its name as it is shaped like a child's drawing of a Christmas tree. This site is home to large schools of snapper and barracuda.
The Maldivian government has recently passed legislation allowing this area to open this area for Tourism. Tourist resorts are anticipated here in the future but currently this vast area can only be dived by liveaboards.
North Male Atoll
Situated centrally in the Maldives this Atoll is home to the nations' capital Male, and the international airport. The diving is varied with good channels on both the east and west side and some remarkable Thilas. Famous scuba dive sites would include Lankan Finolhu, where Mantas are reliably found during the south west monsoon season, Nassimo Thila one of the prettiest soft coral dive sites in the islands, Banana Reef teeming with fish, and HP reef which is a beautiful nutrient rich Thila, situated on the south east side of Male.