Diving In The Maldives

Diving in the Maldives is on the bucket list of most divers. Dive sites in this island nation are among the most beautiful in the world.

The Maldives is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, located South of India and North of Sri Lanka. It consists of 1,192 islands and atolls and is home to over 400 species of fish and 500 species of corals. The Maldives vibrates with aquatic wildlife and scuba diving experiences to make for a great diving holiday.

It is common to for divers see turtles, whale sharks, and manta cleaning stations. There may be shark action on the reefs and in the channels.

Scuba diving enthusiasts will love the Maldives because of its warm waters, white sand, and clear underwater visibility.

Diving In Maldives . Diving Maldives . A Diver Swims Over Coral Reef In Raa Atoll Maldives

Scuba Diving In The Maldives

Our PADI dive shops in the Maldives offer scuba diving courses for beginners and professionals. PADI Specialty courses, diving excursions, and free diving are available.

Divers with certification can choose from a wide range of daily diving trips. Divers can participate in a variety of activities for the best scuba diving in the Maldives.

Shark dives, reef dives or night dives – or special fluorescent dives — full-day diving, wreck dives and special trips are available.

Service is a pleasure for the team. On board, you’ll find your diving equipment and tanks. Certified Enriched Air divers can get unlimited free Nitrox at all of our dive shops in the Maldives.

For amateur divers, advanced divers and professional divers, the maximum depth for diving in the Maldives is 30 meters for all scuba diving activities.

Can beginners dive in the Maldives?

Young Diving Student In Maldives

If you’re a beginner and you want to dive in the Maldives, we have some good news for you! Yes, beginners can definitely dive in the Maldives.

Diving in the Maldives as a beginner can be an exciting and unique experience. From whale sharks to hammerheads, turtles and mantas, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the deep ocean like never before.

But even though it might seem intimidating at first, diving in the Maldives is an extremely safe and controlled activity. You will be carefully guided by experienced instructors who will make sure you are fully prepared for each dive site’s specific requirements.

The Maldives’ calm and friendly atmosphere makes it an excellent place for beginners to scuba dive. With private and remote dive sites available, you can discover new depths without feeling overwhelmed or rushed.

Come and discover what it feels like to be part of the amazing marine life that calls these waters their home – you won’t regret it!

Learn To Dive In The Maldives

If you want to learn to dive in the Maldives you can get certified or gain more diving experience. We provide PADI diving courses at every dive shop we operate in the Maldives. From beginner to more advanced diving skills. We’ll help you to find the best diving courses and trips to suit your needs and wishes.

You will find qualified multilingual PADI Instructors and Water Sports Guides who will give you a personal and friendly service.

Marine life and photography in the Maldives

A Great Opportunity For Under Water Photography As A Manta Ray Swims Over The Coral Reef In Maldives

Many underwater photographers agree that the Maldives is among the best places to photograph marine life. Because of the variety of fish and coral species.

The Maldives offer blue water early in the year, which is ideal for wide-angle photos.

There is small (macro) life in the Maldives and they are worth taking the time to look for them.

Most underwater photographers prefer to use a wide-angle lens to capture corals and reefs, whale sharks, mantas, eagle rays, and schools of fish.

What is the price for scuba diving in the Maldives?

The price for scuba diving in the Maldives is specific to the diving experience you are looking for. Prices vary depending on the number of dives you want to do, the type of equipment needed, and the type of dive itself.

Prices start around $50 – $80 per person and that price can increase if you need to rent diving gear. Dive trips will have additional boat fees different for each type of trip: single tank dive, two tank dive and full day excursions. To several hundred dollars for dive trips by speedboat. That being said, it’s easy to find packages that include multiple dives.

If you are looking to get PADI certified it will cost more than the diving. The courses come with an instructor who is there to guide you through the course and study materials.

Online bookings offer great packages on scuba diving and PADI courses.

To get a “dive centre specific” cost estimate of your dive trip or diving courses, it is best to contact us for more detailed information about prices and packages available.

Diving in Maldives prices – Book online scuba diving packages

Best Time To Dive In Maldives

A Whale Shark Swims Over A Reef In Maldives

November to May is the most pleasant time to dive in the Maldives.

During this period, the Maldives enjoy fantastic sea conditions and clear visibility, making scuba diving one of the best activities.

At many dive spots, you will find several types of fish and marine life.

Turtles visit every dive site in the Maldives. The clear water and blue-green sea are home to hawks bill and green turtles.

There are barracudas, Napoleon wrasse and reef sharks. White tip and black tip sharks; spotted eagle rays and large marbled rays.

The strong currents bring in much large pelagic fish such as sharks, mantas, and tunas.

From May to July, the weather can be unsettled and the visibility may be less than in the high season. As the southwest monsoon currents increase plankton, manta rays and whale sharks are more common.

No matter what you like to do, you will fall in love with the Maldives.

The Maldives house the best luxury resorts in the world. White sand beaches and crystal clear water are sourced from the local desalination plant. The island resorts are quiet and peaceful for a diving holiday.

A great place to dive with big fish like whale sharks, reef sharks and manta rays.

Get a month-by-month description of the weather in the Maldives.

Watch: Diving in the Maldives South Ari Atoll

The Best Atolls In Maldives For Scuba Diving

We have dive centers located in some of the best atolls in the Maldives for scuba diving. Grab your gear and go on a fantastic adventure through one of these spectacular Atolls!

South Ari Atoll

Most pinnacles and channels in Ari Atoll are unprotected against the tidal currents. This creates ideal conditions for drift diving and pelagic encounters with manta rays and whale sharks, to name a few.

Some of the top dive sites in South Ari Atoll include:

  • Kuda Rah Thila
  • 7th Heaven
  • Broken Rock
  • Fish Head

A world-class dive site in the area is Fish Head. A towering pinnacle decorated with black corals dominates this marine-protected area. The pinnacle drops from 10 to 35 meters and is home to a healthy population of reef sharks.

Best time to dive:

The most pleasant time to dive at Ari Atoll is January and April. Divers can expect clear blue skies, hot sunny days, calm seas and great visibility.

Between May and October, you can expect more rain, waves and less visibility on the dive trips. And a higher chance of manta rays and whale shark sightings.

Our dive centers in South Ari Atoll at:

Bird'S Eye View Of Lux* South Ari Atoll Maldives

Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll

At its widest point, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll’s central lagoon extends 65 kilometers and its depth is up to 85 meters. The outer reef protects from the tidal currents, offering varied topography, like caves, steep drop-offs, and pristine reefs.

You will find excellent diving opportunities at Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. The water is crystal clear and full of life. There are many species of marine life found in this area, from eagle rays to barracudas.

Best time to dive:

January to April is a great time to visit as the strong currents bring in a frenzy of fish for divers to enjoy. White-tip reef sharks, stingrays, tuna, turtles and grey reef sharks are regular sightings in this atoll.

Divers can enjoy night diving and encounter white-tip reef sharks, stingrays, tuna, grey reef sharks, and manta rays.

Our dive center in Gaafu Dhalu Atoll at:

Diving The House Reef At Havodda Maldives - Beautiful Anemonies And Clown Fish

Raa Atoll

The Maldives evoke images of quiet beaches, a remote wonderland free of tourists’ hustle and bustle. You’ll get that on a trip to Raa Atoll and add scuba diving to your list.

There are channels for drift diving. But most diving in this area is at the thilas (pinnacles), as the visibility can be up to 20 meters.

The most impressive dives are Vandhoo Thila and Labyrinth. Take a giant stride into these dive sites and you will feel you are diving in your private aquarium!

You will see colorful reef fish along with occasional appearances of mantas or grey reef sharks. The ocean floor is covered with soft corals and hard corals that are less common in the northern Atolls of the Maldives. Learn more about the top 5 dive sites of Raa Atoll.

Best time to dive:

Raa Atoll offers diving throughout the year, but the calmest seas come with the northeast monsoon between January and May. During the southwest monsoon (from August to November), you have the best chance of spotting mantas.

Our dive centers in Raa Atoll at:

Bird'S Eyeview Of Dhigali Maldives In Raa Atoll

North Malé Atoll

North Malé Atoll is one of the most popular diving destinations in the Maldives.

There’s something for every diver in North Malé Atoll. Okobe Thila, Banana Reef and Nassimo Thila have shallow water for beginners.

Nassimo Thila dive site is a photographer’s dream with its huge array of fusiliers, eagle rays, bannerfish and huge overhang covered with soft corals. The Maldives Victory Wreck promises more surprises for experienced divers. Learn more about the top 10 dive sites in North Malé Atoll.

Best time to dive:

The best time to dive in North Malé Atoll is between May and October. This is during the southwest monsoon (wet season) and offers memorable sightings of manta rays. Between December and April, the northeast monsoon (dry season), showcases calmer sea conditions, good visibility and pelagic life.

Our dive centers in North Malé Atoll at:

The Maldives Underwater Topography

The unique underwater topography of the Maldives makes it a great place to scuba dive. When diving in the Maldives, you should know three local words: thila, giri, and kandu. They are local terms for the local underwater formations and dive sites.

A thila is a mountain that lies at eight metres or deeper from the syrface. It can be explored in one single dive. Thilas are in atolls or in the channels (kandu).

Giris are similar to thilas, but they are closer to the surface and can be exposed at low tide. They offer protection from the currents and are good dive sites to explore for beginners.

Kandus are channels between islands. They can have strong currents which attract big fish. Drift diving is popular with kandus.

Dive The Maldives With Euro-Divers

Buddy Divers Pose For A Picture Near A Reef In Maldives

Euro-Divers started scuba diving activities in the Maldives since 1972. We are dedicated to providing fun and memorable scuba diving and water sports experiences while maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

Our experienced team of divers will help you explore the wonders of the Maldives’ underwater world. From colourful coral reefs to majestic manta rays, you can experience it all with us! We also ensure that our activities are conducted in a way that respects and protects the ocean.

Dive Boats – The Maldivian Dhoanis

Dhaoni Is A Traditional Boat Used For Diving In The Maldives

The best diving day trip boats in the Maldives are Dhoanis. With wide sundecks, these traditional diving boats are comfortable and spacious. There is any safety equipment needed to keep your diving safe and enjoyable onboard.

Some of our dive centers offer private speed boats for diving and snorkeling excursions. Between dives, you can enjoy refreshments.

Diving Safety

To keep high safety standards, we service our diving equipment every year for your best comfort and safety.

We believe prevention is the best medicine, we recommend calling a specialist in diving medicine before participating in scuba diving activities.

There are decompression chambers in all diving areas. We care about you and want to make your diving holiday a safe, fun and unforgettable scuba diving experience.

Water Sports By Euro-Divers Maldives

Jet Ski In Maldives

In addition to diving centers located in some of the best resorts in the Maldives, water sports centers are available at selected island resorts.

Euro-Divers has opened water sports facilities to let our guests take advantage of this unique location.

You can spend your day sailing a catamaran or exploring the water surface with a kayak.

Awaken your inner thrill seeker with jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, flyboarding, or windsurfing around the crystal-clear blue lagoon.

The Maldives is a perfect environment for the most popular water sports. Suitable for solo, couples or families.

More Diving Holiday Destinations to discover with Euro-Divers Worldwide