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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 yet unexplored by scuba divers, although some expeditionary liveaboard-trips have explored dive sites of Noonu. The Maldivian government have 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. It is well known for its dive sites,
for instance 'boat yard' offers divers the unique oppurtunity to visit the wrecks of two Japanese fishing vessels in one dive.
This Atoll with its many excellent channels is quite narrow at its northern end, so dives can be planned on both the east and west sides. Renowned sites include the Kuredu Express, Fushifaru Thila and the Shipyard.
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 3 kilometre wide channel, with big dropoffs into deep water. There are many channels on the Eastern side with excellent Coral growth. Here again there is a huge potential for discovering new dive sites as this Atoll is still relatively unexplored.
The reefs of this atoll are in pristine condition, and whether you are a diver or snorkeller their unspoilt natural beauty
of the atoll is readily apparent. The Atoll is divided by a 3 kilometre wide channel, with big drop-offs into deep water.
There are many channels on the eastern side with excellent coral growth.
Here again there is a huge potential for discovering new dive sites as this Atoll is still relatively unexplored.
One of the secrets of Baa Atoll is the large numbers of mantas and whale sharks that visit the atoll,
during the southwest monsoon especially from May to July.
Gaafaru Falhu
A small Atoll, almost enclosed by the fringing reef with three channels. There are three known wrecks on the North side. Lady Christine, a survey vessel sunk in 1974, The Erlangen, a German cargo vessel sank 1894, and the SS Seagull, sunk in 1879.
Noonu Shaviyani and Haa Dhaal
The large most northerly Atoll of the Maldives is divided into four areas: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviani and Noonu. Most
has not yet been explored by divers, although some exploratory trips have ventured to parts of Noonu. The Maldivian
government have 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 the West side and some remarkable Thilas. Famous scuba dive sites would include Lankan Finolhu, where Mantas are reliably found in the SW monsoon season, Nassimo Thila one of the prettiest soft coral dive sites in the islands, Banana Reef teeming with fish, and HP reef, a beautiful nutrient rich Thila, situated on the south East side of Male.