Beautiful spectacle
One of the main reasons to travel to the Maldives is the colorful and diverse underwater spectacle. The resort islands are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, making it possible to snorkel from the beach in crystal clear and warm sea water. The best dive sites are outside the house reef. Take a dhoni or liveaboard boat to various locations for a drift dive, drifting with the current and gliding past the vast diversity of marine life. Almost all resorts in the Maldives have a certified diving school where you can take a course and rent equipment.
Underwater life
Most of the pristine Maldives consists of coral islands. A habitat of over 2000 species of fish and 200 different corals provides spectacular marine life. Spot rays, sharks, turtles, dolphins and the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. The currents between the atolls provide a variety of beautiful colored coral formations, colored fish and large sea creatures. All islands are suitable for snorkeling and diving. The best chance of spotting whale sharks and manta rays is around Ari Atoll . At Shark point, schools of white tip reef sharks and gray reef sharks gather. Near the South Male Atoll are coral reefs, sharks and barracudas and the North Male Atoll is popular for its shallow water reefs
Best diving and snorkelling season in the Maldives
Due to the warm sea water, you can dive all year round. The best underwater visibility is in the dry season from January to April. In October and November, large fish species migrate to the waters of the Maldives due to the increase in plankton. Visibility is reduced, but the chance of encountering a manta or benign whale shark is very likely.
