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Diving the Maldives
Twenty-six atolls of channels, thilas and lagoons, with manta rays, whale sharks and reef sharks on almost every dive.
3.2° N · 73.2° E
Maldives: culture & experiences
The Maldives is more than overwater villas. Local islands now welcome travellers in small guesthouses, giving a real taste of Maldivian life, food and hospitality.
We combine liveaboards or resorts with local-island stays, sandbank picnics, sunset fishing on a traditional dhoni and a walk through Malé's fish market.
Off the beaten track
- Stay on a local island in a family-run guesthouse
- Sandbank picnic and snorkelling
- Sunset fishing on a traditional dhoni
- Malé fish market and Old Friday Mosque
Best-known dive spots
South Ari Atoll
Whale sharks all year along the outer reef of the atoll.
Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll
A UNESCO biosphere reserve where mantas gather to feed from June to November (snorkel only).
Fuvahmulah
Tiger sharks, thresher sharks and oceanic mantas off a single isolated island.
North & South Malé channels
Current dives where grey reef sharks, eagle rays and napoleon wrasse gather.
Marine life & encounters by season
Conditions and sightings vary year to year. We plan each trip around the best window for what you want to see.
- Jan – AprNorth-east monsoon: calm seas, the best visibility and sharks in the eastern channels.
- May – JunSeason change; mantas begin to move to the western reefs.
- Jun – NovSouth-west monsoon: manta season on the western side and at Hanifaru.
- All yearWhale sharks in South Ari and tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah.
Channel dives can have strong currents; Advanced certification is recommended for most liveaboards.
Plan your dive trip to the Maldives
Tell us your dates, group and level, and we’ll design a trip combining the best diving in the Maldives with local culture and experiences.