The Maldives is well known for its stunning beaches and clear waters, but it's the abundance of fish life that sets it apart from other dive destinations. As you might expect, the atolls that make up the Maldives offer
excellent reef diving. Most of it is done at a leisurely drift pace. The Indian Ocean current sweeps along the island chains, moving nutrients - and divers - along. That means most drift divers get a free ride and are treated to the prolific fish life along the way.
In the channels, divers can explore swim throughs, caverns and overhangs where soft corals dominate among a riot of colorful sponges, invertebrates and gorgonians. There are also plenty of cleaning stations where wrasse and shrimp service the larger marine species.
Inside the atoll lagoons, you'll frequently find rock pinnacles - known as Thila - vaulting up from the bottom to just about scratch the water's surface. During tidal changes, deep, nutrient rich water flows up along the walls, feeding the sponges and soft corals clinging to the rock sides. These same nutrients also create an environment supporting a plethora of crustaceans and resident fish schools.
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Dive Summary
Depth: 4-30 meters/13-100 feet
Visibility: 15-40 meters/15-130 feet
Currents: Variable from calm to strong depending upon dive site.
Water Temperature: 27-29˚ C/80-84˚ F
Dive Season: Year-round
Weather: 26-32˚ C/79-90˚ F
Access: Boat and limited shore entry
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Recommended
Length of Stay: 8 - 14 days.
Scuba Gear: Tropical scuba equipment and underwater photography equipment
Recommended Courses:
Drift Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Enriched Air Nitrox
AWARE - Fish Identification
Digital Underwater Photographer
Featured Creatures
In the open ocean near the reefs, you're likely to spot the pelagic animals - including manta rays, eagle rays, tuna and a variety of sharks (including whale sharks) - that frequent the Maldives. But, for many,
the shallows are where they find the best action. The clear, bright water plays host to massive amounts of sweet lips, parrotfish, groupers, snappers as well as the frequent turtles and moray eels. It's an ideal dive environment - especially for underwater photographers.
Famous Dive Sites
Kandooma Thila, South Male Atoll
Average Depth: 16-30 meters/50-100 feet
Kandooma Thila is shaped like a 250-metre/820-foot teardrop and, with it's dramatic scenery and prolific fish life, is considered one of the atoll's most spectacular dives. The underwater realm off the west and north coasts are covered with soft corals and patrolled by schools of red bass and big-eye trevally. From the top of the reef at 20 metres/65 feet, the reef boasts some outcrops and overhangs with lush soft coral growth, but much of the excitement is off the north east end where divers can frequently meet up with grey sharks, whitetip sharks and eagle rays. Divers can blow off nitrogen at the reef 
top by mingling with green turtles and the occasional school of batfish.
Kuda Rah Thila, South Ari Atoll
Average Depth: 14-28 meters/46-92 feet
The most famous dive site off south Ari Atoll is a valuable one - as evidenced by its 1995 designation as a Protected Marine Area. This delightful, petite reef has the expected soft corals and abundant fish life, but be sure you bring a dive light as the arch on the west side and pair of large overhangs on the east make the dive unique.
Okobe Thila, North Male Atoll
Average Depth: 13-30 meters/43-100 feet
This advanced dive site consists of three main sections ranging from 10 metres/30 feet to 50 metres/165 feet in length. Because there is always some current, dives profiles normally spiraling up around the reef to balance out the effects. Divers often spot tuna, whitetip sharks and banner fish in addition to the healthy coral life and sometimes encounter nurse sharks and spotted stingrays among the overhangs scattered from 18-30 metres/60-100 feet of depth.
Embudhu Express, South Male Atoll
Average Depth: 10-30 meters/33-100 feet
One of the most exciting channel dives is Embudhu Express, which starts facing Embudhu Island on the south side of the channel. Advanced divers with good drift diving skills frequently start their dives off the reef closest to the corner towards the channel and drift across to the Thila. Use the drop off as a reference point while drifting with the current. When crossing the channel with a relatively strong ingoing current, divers are nearly guaranteed to see whitetip sharks, grey reef sharks, big eye trevally, barracuda and tuna.
But reaching the Thila doesn’t mean the dive is over - there's plenty to see, including giant sea fans and prolific butterfly fish and oriental sweet lips. Divers can experience the ride on a small ingoing current, but to get the full adrenaline rush of the Embudhu Express, you'll want to take the ride on a strong ingoing current.
Getting to these Dive Sites
You can reach dive sites by traditional dhoni and travel times range from five to 50 minutes, depending upon the reef destination and departure resort. Some dive centers offer special full-day, speedboat dive excursions while others offer house reef dives from a jetty or beach access.
Topside Treasures
Boat excursions, spa treatments and water sports.
Fast Facts
Language: Dhivehi, English
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa
Transportation: Dhoni, speedboat or seaplane
Related Resources
Maldives Tourism Promotion board (MTPB): mtpb@visitmaldives.com
Travel reports and hotel ratings: www.tripadvisor.com, www.maldives.com
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