Maldives – North & Central Atolls

The central atolls around Malé are where most Maldives diving happens. North and South Malé, Rasdhoo, Ari and Vaavu are linked by short crossings, so a one-week liveaboard from Malé can combine shark-filled channel (kandu) drifts, coral-covered thilas, manta cleaning stations and night dives with nurse sharks. South Ari is known for year-round whale sharks, and in the south-west monsoon Baa's Hanifaru Bay draws large manta feeding aggregations – a snorkel-only protected area. Resort dive centres, local-island guesthouse shops and dozens of liveaboards operate here, under a national 30 m depth limit.

Facts

Best season: Diving is year-round. North-east monsoon (Iruvai, roughly Dec/Jan–Mar, with April as transition; onset varies by year): calm seas and the best visibility; reef sharks gather at the eastern channel mouths on the incoming current and mantas feed on the western sides. South-west monsoon (Hulhangu, ~May–Nov): rougher seas, mantas and plankton move to the eastern sides; Hanifaru Bay in Baa peaks roughly Jul–Oct (operators time trips to new and full moon). South Ari has year-round whale shark sightings. Seasons have become less predictable — check current
Water temperature: About 26–30 °C year-round (operators quote 27 °C in the wet season to 30 °C in the dry season); a 3 mm suit is usually enough
Visibility: Best December–March: often 20–30+ m on the eastern sides and 15–20 m on the western sides in the north-east monsoon; can drop to about 10–15 m in places during the south-west monsoon plankton season
Currents: Many signature dives are channel (kandu) drifts and thilas swept by tidal current; in the north-east monsoon currents run east to west through the channels and are at their strongest, in the south-west monsoon they flow eastwards. Expect negative entries and reef hooks; some routes recommend Advanced certification and 30–50+ logged dives
Getting there: International flights land at Velana International Airport (MLE) on Hulhulé next to Malé, where central liveaboards board. Resorts in Ari, Baa, Lhaviyani and Vaavu are reached by Trans Maldivian Airways seaplanes (Twin Otters) or domestic flights to Maamigili (VAM, South Ari), Dharavandhoo (DRV, Baa) and Madivaru (LMV, Lhaviyani)
Hanifaru Bay rules: Hanifaru Bay (Baa) is a Marine Protected Area and part of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: scuba diving is banned and visits are snorkel-only through licensed operators and guides, with caps on visitors and boats (reported: max 20 snorkellers and 8 boats at once, 45 minutes in the water) and an entry fee. Diving continues at other Baa sites — check current
Depth & decompression limits: Under the Maldives Recreational Diving Regulation (2003) the maximum depth for all recreational diving is 30 m, also on liveaboards; entry-level divers are limited to 20 m until trained in deep diving. Only no-decompression diving is allowed, and diving less than 12 hours before a flight is prohibited. A technical/research-diving amendment allowing deeper dives was announced in 2026 after a fatal cave accident — check current
Dive computer & night-dive kit: The 2003 regulation requires a time/depth device, alternate air source, SMB-style signalling device and 'highly recommends' a dive computer; in practice operators treat a computer as mandatory (e.g. a resort price list states it is compulsory in the Maldives). Night dives require every diver to carry a torch and a night signalling device, and the boat must have a search light. A 3-minute safety stop at 5 m is required after every dive
Marine Protected Areas: Activities harmful to Marine Protected Areas and protected species are banned under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act (4/93); many classic dive sites are protected. Typical decree bans include anchoring, removing coral or sand, feeding wildlife, harming or catching marine life (only traditional bait fishing allowed) and lighting the area at night; anchor only in sand or use moorings. Rules differ site by site — check current
Shark protection & feeding: Shark feeding by divers and dive staff is prohibited by the diving regulation. Shark fishing has been banned since 2010; in October 2025 a licensed gulper-shark fishery was reopened outside the atolls, but catching any other shark species remains prohibited — check current
Manta & whale shark etiquette: Manta Trust-based code: enter the water quietly at least 10 m away, never approach closer than 3 m, no touching or chasing, let the manta come to you, no flash. Whale sharks: no touching, keep your distance and do not block the shark's path; boats should go slowly near sharks
Green tax: Since 1 January 2025: USD 12 per guest per night at resorts, hotels, guesthouses with more than 50 rooms and tourist vessels (liveaboards); USD 6 at guesthouses on inhabited islands with 50 rooms or fewer (the rates doubled in 2025). Liveaboards usually collect it on board — check current

Season

Best months: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Acceptable: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Water temperature: 27–30 °C

The northeast monsoon (about December to April) brings calm seas and better visibility, especially on eastern atoll sides. The southwest monsoon (May to November) is manta season: Hanifaru Bay (peak July–October, snorkel only), Dharavandhoo Corner and Lankan Manta Point.

Dive sites (106)

Lhaviyani Atoll

Ahga Giri – advanced
Aquarium – beginner
Candice Thila – 5–30 m, beginner
Faadhoo Beyru – intermediate
Faadhoo Kandu – advanced
Felivaru Beyru – intermediate
Fushifaru Thila – 10–30 m, intermediate
Kuredu Caves – 20–25 m, intermediate
Kuredu Express – 10–30 m, advanced
Madivaru Thila – intermediate
Maduvvari Irumathi Kandu – intermediate
Meyyafushi Kandu – 12–30 m, advanced
Miyaru Gaa – 2–7 m, beginner
Naifaru Beyru – intermediate
The Shipyard – 30 m, advanced

South Ari Atoll

Aiyabe Thila – 30 m, beginner
Broken Rock – 12–30 m, intermediate
Dhigurah Arches – 30 m, intermediate
Dhigurah Beyru – 5–30 m, intermediate
Five Rocks – 12–30 m, intermediate
Hudu Thila – 6–30 m, intermediate
Kudadhoo Corner – 32 m, intermediate
Kudarah Thila – 12–30 m, advanced
Kudhimaa Wreck – 12–30 m, intermediate
Maamigili Beyru – 5–30 m, intermediate
Moofushi Manta Point – 8–30 m, intermediate
Omadhoo Playground – 3–29 m, beginner
Panettone – intermediate
Rangali Madivaru – 8–30 m, intermediate
Seventh Heaven – 15–30 m, intermediate
Vilamendhoo House Reef – 25 m, beginner
Vilamendhoo Thila – 10–30 m, intermediate

Vaavu (Felidhoo) Atoll

Alimatha Jetty – 3–15 m, beginner
Coral Garden (Fulidhoo) – 1–20 m, beginner
Devana Kandu – 5–30 m, advanced
Farukolhu Kandu – 8–30 m, beginner
Fotteyo Kandu – 8–40 m, advanced
Fulidhoo Caves – 15–40 m, intermediate
Kashaavaru Kandu – intermediate
Kunaavashi Kandu – 10–30 m, intermediate
Miyaru Kandu – 5–30 m, advanced
Rakeedhoo Corner – 6–30 m, advanced
Vattaru Kandu – 12–30 m, advanced

Baa Atoll

Amilla Fushi Blue Hole – intermediate
Anga Thilas – 10–30 m, intermediate
Dharavandhoo Thila – 6–30 m, beginner
Dhigali Haa – 8–35 m, advanced
Dhigu Thila – 8–35 m, intermediate
Dhonfanu Thila – 5–30 m, advanced
Fares Thila – 10–30 m, intermediate
Hanifaru Bay – 0–24 m, beginner
Hanifaru Thila – 10–30 m, intermediate
Kihaa Rock – 19–35 m, advanced
Maalhos Manta Point – intermediate
Nelivaru Thila – 14–30 m, intermediate

North Malé Atoll

Aquarium (Lhohifushi) – 2–30 m, beginner
Back Faru – 30 m, beginner
Banana Reef – 4–30 m, intermediate
Bodu Hithi Manta Point – 25 m, intermediate
Bodu Hithi Thila – 7–30 m, intermediate
Furana North – 10–30 m, advanced
Giraavaru Caves – 5–25 m, beginner
Hans Hass Place – beginner
HP Reef – 12–30 m, advanced
Kani Corner – 30 m, intermediate
Kuda Haa – 6–30 m, beginner
Lankan Caves – 5–30 m, intermediate
Lion's Head – 3–40 m, intermediate
Maldive Victory – 12–37 m, advanced
Manta Point (Lankan) – 9–28 m, intermediate
Nassimo Thila – 8–30 m, advanced
Okobe Thila – 8–30 m, intermediate
Rasfari Corner – 2–30 m, intermediate
Sunlight Thila – 17 m, beginner

North Ari Atoll

Bathala Maagaa Kan Thila – 30 m, intermediate
Bathala Thila – 10–30 m, intermediate
Ellaidhoo House Reef – beginner
Fesdu Wreck – 12–30 m, intermediate
Fish Head – 10–40 m, advanced
Gangehi Kandu – 20–30 m, advanced
Halaveli Wreck – 20–28 m, intermediate
Maalhos Thila – 10–30 m, advanced
Maaya Thila – 6–30 m, intermediate
Ukulhas Thila – 15–30 m, advanced

South Malé Atoll

Cocoa Corner – 8–30 m, advanced
Embudu Express – 5–31 m, advanced
Embudu Thila – 12–30 m, intermediate
Guraidhoo Kandu – 5–35 m, advanced
Kandooma Caves – 10–30 m, intermediate
Kandooma Thila – 12–40 m, advanced
Kuda Giri Wreck – 15–30 m, beginner
Manta Point (Guraidhoo) – 18 m, beginner
Medhu Faru – 5–30 m, intermediate
Rihiveli Wreck – 22 m, beginner
Vaadhoo Caves – 7–40 m, intermediate
Velassaru Caves – 10–30 m, intermediate

Rasdhoo Atoll

Hammerhead Point – 40 m, advanced
Kuramathi Caves – 5–30 m, intermediate
Kuramathi House Reef – 20 m, beginner
Kuramathi Queen – 20 m, beginner
Madi Gaa (Rasdhoo) – 12 m, beginner
Madivaru Beyru – 40 m, intermediate
Rasdhoo Beyru – intermediate
Rasdhoo Channel – 20–30 m, advanced
Rasdhoo Madivaru – advanced
Reef Explorer – 12–16 m, beginner

Operators (11)

Emperor Divers Maldives (Emperor liveaboards) – liveaboard, Malé
Maldives Aggressor II – liveaboard, Malé
Blue Force Fleet (Maldives Blue Force One & Blue Force 3) – liveaboard, Malé
Scubaspa (Yin & Yang) – liveaboard, Malé
Euro-Divers Niva Kurumba – resort, Kurumba (Vihamanafushi), North Malé
Euro-Divers LUX* South Ari Atoll – resort, Dhidhoofinolhu, South Ari
Prodivers Kuredu – resort, Kuredu Island Resort, Lhaviyani
Prodivers Lily Beach – resort, Lily Beach Resort (Huvahendhoo), South Ari
TGI Maldives – resort, Constance Halaveli, North Ari (also OBLU Helengeli & OBLU Sangeli, North Malé)
Liquid Salt Divers – dive centre, Dharavandhoo, Baa
Maafushi Dive and Water Sports – dive centre, Maafushi, South Malé

Routes (5)

Site positions are approximate unless marked otherwise and are for orientation only — never for navigation. Maldivian channel dives can have strong currents: dive within the 30 m legal limit, carry a surface marker buoy and always dive with a local guide.