Luxury Diving Holidays in the Maldives

Overview

For those looking for the perfect balance of world-class diving and luxury accommodation, diving holidays in the Maldives are the ideal choice. Marine life is plentiful across all the atolls, with the chance to snorkel and scuba dive with manta rays at manta cleaning stations, on coral reefs littered with reef fish whilst eagle rays cruise by in the blue and grey reef sharks circle off thilas (underwater pinnacles). Conditions are ideal for beginner scuba divers, with many of the islands being circled by house reefs and bright turquoise lagoons, meaning that pool training can be avoided all together. For experienced divers, the best dive sites are to be found in the channels with exhilarating current dives for shark action and the chance to see bigger pelagic such as oceanic manta rays. Diving holidays in the Maldives are particularly good from a luxury liveaboard for those that want to fit in as much diving as possible and experience some of the best dive sites across several atolls.

Enquire Now

A heron flying and seaplane in the South Ari Atoll

Heron and seaplane in south ari atoll

Juvenile blacktop sharks hunting in the Maldives

juvenile blacktip sharks hunting

Anemonefish

Divers with bluestipe snapper in the Maldives

Divers with bluestripe snapper

Schooling jackfish

Sailing

An aerial view of a beach in the Maldives

iconic Maldivian beach

Napoleon Wrasse in Thaa Atoll

Blenny in Thaa Atoll

Island Chain

In Depth

Whilst there are excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities throughout the atolls, at Reefscape Travel we recommend heading to the southern atolls for the best diving holidays in the Maldives. With fewer resorts, and therefore dive boats, divers will rarely share a dive with another group which has equally contributed to the pristine conditions and abundant marine life. In the Thaa Atoll, coral health is some of the best we have seen in the country, alongside the opportunity for exciting shark encounters in the channels. The Laamu Atoll has some of the country's best scuba diving, with manta cleaning station Hithadhoo Corner being regularly visited by these gentle giants so much so that the Manta Trust is located nearby, conducting vital research. Heading further south, the Huvadhoo Atoll has a vast number of world-class dive sites overflowing with marine life. Arguably the best dive sites in the Maldives are to be found in Fuvahmulah Atoll, right in the south of the Maldives, with the potential to see oceanic manta rays, tiger sharks, thresher sharks and hammerheads which is quite something for a warm-water, tropical paradise.

In the north, the Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and rightly so for the reef mantas that gather at Hani Faru Bay between June and October to feed on the plankton-rich waters. Watching 40+ reef manta rays in a feeding frenzy, performing acrobatics in an elaborate ritual, should be on every diver’s bucket-list. Whale sharks may also turn up, as if the manta spectacle was not enough. Lhaviyani Atoll has several luxury resorts with excellent dive operations and yet more dive sites with channels, thilas and outer reefs accompanied by the usual marine life suspects.

The atolls closer to Male can be busier, but there are still plenty of wonderful options for diving holidays in the Maldives as well as excellent luxury liveaboards allowing divers to experience several atolls in one trip. Some of the best dive sites in the Maldives can also be found in the South Ari Atoll, including manta cleaning stations and Maamigili where it is possible to snorkel with whale sharks. North Male Atoll is home to many excellent resorts, with over 40 dive sites being accessible from most resorts with stunning topography and a plethora of marine life. The added advantage in the North Male Atoll is that all the resorts in the atoll can be reached in just a short speedboat ride from Male Airport.

Beyond the Reef

When it comes to a postcard perfect island paradise, the Maldives is second to none and really is as good as the pictures. Powder white sand beaches are lapped by impossibly turquoise waters, ideal for wallowing in and cooling off from the midday heat. The one island, one hotel concept allows for the ultimate in service and exclusivity, with a huge range of watersports and activities to be enjoyed when not under the waves. Many of the resorts and liveaboards offer exceptional, varied cuisine so that visitors never get bored. Families, honeymooners, couples and solo travellers are all catered for and at Reefscape Travel, we will perfectly match the resort to you.

Show more Show less