Maldives Liveaboard Diving

Male Atoll is the main and most populated atoll in The Maldives. It's home to the country's capital city (Male) and main international airport. It's also known locally as Kaafu Atoll. Actually it's four atolls, which are North Male, South Male, Gaafaru, and Kaashidhoo. They are all located in the centre of The Maldives archipelago, on the eastern side. Many of the atolls' islands are uninhabited or resorts and most are on the eastern side, where the sea and weather conditions are better during high season. There's a wide range of different dive sites around Male Atoll, with something for every type of scuba diver.

Possibly the best place to dive in The Maldives is Ari Atoll. It's split up into two areas, which are North Ari & South Ari Atolls. This area is near to the centre of The Maldives, but on its western side, and due to the makeup of the atoll, it gets plenty of large species. Most of Ari's islands are on the eastern side, and there are large sandbars on the western side, created by winds and currents over thousands of years. Inside are dozens of thilas (undersea pinnacles) separated by channels (kandus) where nutrient-rich water flows through all year and attracts marine life of all shapes and sizes. The healthy reef life is in turn an attraction for large filter feeders and predatory sharks. Many locals and dive professionals consider Ari Atoll to be the best place for diving in The Maldives.

At the southern tip of The Maldives archipelago, Addu Atoll is the only part of the country that lies south of the equator. It is well known for year-round Whale Shark & Manta sightings, requiem sharks, and the largest shipwreck in the country. You can get there by landing at Addu City, but it's better to cruise on a Maldives diving liveaboard trip departing from Gan (Laamu) or Koodoo. February and March are the best months to dive at Addu Atoll (formerly known as Seenu Atoll).

Vaavu Atoll is the easternmost point of The Maldives, and just south of South Male. It is considered to be the least developed of all the Maldives atolls, and home to possibly one of the best diving reefs (Fotteyo Falhul) in the world. Add to this that there are almost no diving resorts there, and your liveaboard group will probably have each dive site to yourselves. Some stronger currents through the channels ensure for lots of action from large predatory sharks, plus Manta Rays and Whale Sharks are common visitors. Vaavu Atoll is excellent for scuba divers, especially those who are certified to 30 metres and have more than 50 dives' experience.

Meemu Atoll (known locally as Mulaku Atoll) is on the eastern side of the southern part of The Maldives. It's famous for its Manta Ray cleaning stations, in addition to being a great place to dive for all levels of certification and experience. The sheltered lagoons inside the atoll are home to lots of healthy marine life because the nutrient-rich water is pushed through the channels from the Indian Ocean. Lots of marine life but not many resorts or development make for a wonderful Maldives scuba diving location, particularly on a liveaboard diving safari.

Scuba diving at Rasdhoo Atoll is among the best in the Maldives. This doesn't just mean 'the most exciting,' and includes easier dive sites for new or novice scuba divers. There are almost twenty great dive sites within a small area, and the dive sites vary from wrecks to blue-water early-morning shark dives. The location is ideal for logistics & travel, while still giving the feeling that you're away from it all. There are only a few small islands at Rasdhoo, and the main island has several dive centres. But Rasdhoo Atoll is best to visit on a Maldives liveaboard diving safari.

Thaa Atoll is near the southern end of The Maldives and has very little development, one resort and a few guesthouses. It's quite a large atoll and not many liveaboard diving itineraries include it. Therefore it is a very quiet place to visit. And with approximately 30 dive sites, it's never crowded and most boats will have a dive site all to themselves. Marine life is varied and can sometimes include large sharks & rays. Liveaboard cruises which include Thaa Atoll may begin at Male and end in Laamu, or vice versa.

Lhaviyani Atoll is in the central-north area of The Maldives and visited by liveaboards during the high season. There are 50 or more dive sites to explore, including reefs, wrecks and drift dives. The atoll is quite large, and most of its channels and dive sites are in the northern corner. There are more than 50 islands, but nearly all are uninhabited. A few resorts are there, but the best way to visit is on a Maldives liveaboard diving safari, departing from & returning to Male.

Baa Atoll is best known for its huge congregations of Manta Rays in Hanifaru Bay. However, you can only snorkel in this bay (no diving) and the best months for Manta Rays are during the low season, when the weather's not so good. It's a popular destination for Maldives diving liveaboard safaris which visit the north or north-central atolls. There are more than sixty dive sites to visit, and there's something for everyone, regarding certification level, experience and marine life, large & small.

Noonu is the southern part of The Maldives' largest natural atoll, which is located in the north of the country, on the eastern side. Islands here tend to be more spread out than at other Maldives atolls, but there are still plenty of excellent dive sites. Maldives diving liveaboards do not visit Noonu as much as the central and southern atolls, meaning that if you come here you are almost guaranteed to be on the only liveaboard at each dive site.

Raa Atoll is quite large & in the northwest of The Maldives. It's a popular area for diving, due to there being so many islands, thilas, giris & farus. Maldives liveaboard diving boats visit Raa Atoll as part of their Northern & North Central trips. Being exposed to the open ocean on its western side, plenty of healthy marine life lives & visits here. Most of the dive sites are in the middle & southern parts of the inside of the lagoon, and there are plenty of kandus that offer strong currents & the life that they feed.