The Maldives
Due to the abundance of various
species of marine life, the Maldives have earned the reputation of being one of
the best diving destinations in the world. Probably, because only 0.4 % of the
900 square km are land, and the rest belongs to the Indian ocean. The variety of
this blue country has been fascinating divers since the Maldives were discovered
as a diving destination - and it keeps them coming back since years. But also
above sea level it doesn't matter what you are looking for, in one of the about
90 resorts you will find it. The typical island offers white beaches and a
turquoise lagoon that invites anytime for a bath. The island itself is covered
by tropical vegetation with tall coconut palm trees, mangroves and a mix of
flowers. Many of these islands have a house reef just a few meters away from the
beach inviting you to explore the magnificent under water world. There is
probably no easier and nicer way to start diving, than in the constantly
excellent conditions of the Maldives. And most probably you will be hooked after
your holidays and come back to Maldives year by year.
South Male Atoll
In the South Male Atoll divers find all kinds of characteristic Maldivian
dive sites like Giris, Thilas, Farus, Channels, Corners and Outer Reefs in a
very short distance to Biyadoo. Who likes to watch sharks should go to the
channel of Guraidhoo, who wants to experience challenging drift dives enjoys
definitely the legendary reef of Kandooma Thila and who likes it less thrilling,
but not less interesting goes to the Manta-Point: a cleaning station where
during the right season many manta rays can be seen. And for the diver
preferring a calm dive with a lot of time to look around, dive spots like the
outer reefs or giris are great destinations. While, for example, exploring the
wreck at Kuda Giri (a Japanese cargo, sunk specially for divers) there are blue
fin jacks, batfish and lionfish as well as different types of shrimps and moray
eels to find. The reef itself is covered with lots of different corals and many
small creatures call it their home. In other dive sites the diver has almost the
guarantee to see grey reef and white tip sharks, eagle rays or in the vicinity
of Kandooma Island, green turtles. In the dive sites of the South Male Atoll you
find a abundance variety of all common reef fishes of the Maldives - sometimes
too much to count them all. Exploring the dive sites in this area, means
exploring every day a different environment: relaxing easy dives, gentle drift
dives and of course thrilling, exciting dives in the channels or on the Thilas.
Some Dive Spots in South Male Atoll are offering not the easiest dives but
certainly some of the most spectacular ones.
North Male Atoll
Many of the dives in North Male
Atoll are drift dives. This can be an easy and relaxing stroll along the reef,
but also a challenging, thrilling experience. No matter, which dive spots you
choose - diving here is always a wonderful adventure. If you want to see
beautiful corals in symbiosis with a great variety of reef fish in all colors
certainly Blue Canyon is the place to go. If you want to observe the huge, but
gracious manta rays, choose Manta Point, one of the best in entire Maldives.
Grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, sting rays, eagle rays, manta rays,
green turtles, hawksbill turtles, leaf fish, surgeonfish, big eye and blue fin
trevallys, blue striped snappers, napoleon wrasse, barracudas, tunas... the list
is endless. North Male Atoll offers a great variety of dives, for beginners and
experienced divers, for the photographer and for the diver loving fast drifts,
small fishes and big fishes, common and rare fishes. No other area offers so
many different types of dives in a distance not too far to go for a half day
trip by Dhoni.