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The Maldives is renowned for being a top choice for relaxing and luxurious escapes, but it's also one of the world's best destinations for diving holidays. If you're looking for the next place to head for a diving, scuba or water sports break - or are simply browsing for an unforgettable adventure holiday - the Maldives might be just the place for you.
Scattered amongst the 1,200 islands of this Indian Ocean country you'll find countless dive sites offering incredible sites and unbeatable experiences. This is also one of the best places for spotting marine life, with Maldives diving holidays offering visitors the chance to spot tropical fish, manta rays, sea turtles, whale sharks and plenty more.
The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to scuba dive, snorkel, swim and take part in myriad other water sports. A wide variety of island resorts, many with house reefs and access to private beaches, mean there's plenty of choice for different types of holiday. The warm Indian Ocean climate, sunny skies and exceptional facilities make this a dream holiday destination for any traveller, though divers and water sports enthusiasts will find plenty dedicated just to them.
Whether you're a seasoned expert or a complete beginner, you'll find a range of resorts and dive centres here to suit your needs. Beginners to diving can find a dive centre with qualified instructors to get their bearings, while more experienced divers can head out on liveaboard or boat trips to explore some of the best dive sites in the world.
Lots of the Maldives dive resorts in our collection have their own house reef - a dedicated dive site that's either right on the beach or a short swim away. One of the major benefits of staying at a resort with a house reef is that you can virtually roll out of bed and head straight out on your dive every morning, without having to wait for the transport to get you to the site. Plus, because there's only one resort per island, you won't find the reef overcrowded when you do dive in.
There is a huge variety of dive sites and destinations spread across the Maldives, and choosing the 'best' will depend entirely on when you're visiting, the type of diving you want to do, and what you want to see.
The Baa Atoll is an official UNESCO Biosphere Reserve made up of 75 islands, and offers a fantastic array of marine wildlife to spot - including hawksbill turtles, green turtles, leatherback turtles, whale sharks and manta rays. Because of the protected nature of the Biosphere, diving is banned at certain sites across the atoll, though you can still snorkel from a purpose-built vessel (a liveaboard).
On excursions at Lhaviyani Atoll divers might spot everything from grey reef sharks and eagle rays to coral-encrusted shipwrecks. This is renowned as one of the most diverse and challenging atolls for diving, and is recommended for experienced and advanced divers.
With dive sites like Girifushi Thila (known as the Rainbow Reef) - and Manta Point, renowned for the amazing sight of manta ray cyclone feeding cycles, it's no surprise the North Male Atoll is one of the most popular destinations for divers.
One of the most popular areas, the North Ari Atoll is home to Maaya Thila, one of the very best wildlife spots - keep an eye out here for reef sharks, guitar sharks and eagle rays. There's also the incredible Fesdhoo Lagoon, famous for its population of manta rays.
The South Ari Atoll offers two quintessential Maldives diving sights - whale sharks around Maamigili Reef, and the incredible sunken shipwreck at Machchafushi. The wreck, known as the Kudhimaa shipwreck, can be explored, and also offers unbeatable underwater photography.
If you're thinking about learning to dive, need a little help, or want to get some official learning under your wetsuit - there's no better place than the Maldives. Plenty of space, varied sights, and warm water to get used to - the perfect conditions. Plus, many of the major resorts and islands have PADI Dive Centres within a short walking distance or even onsite, with experienced divers and instructors ready to lend a hand. Some of the resorts with a PADI Dive Centre onsite include:
Because all Maldives resorts and hotels are island-based, you’re never far away from world-class diving. Maldives resorts that don't have access to an onsite house reef will often organise transfers to the nearest dive sites and dive centres, and it's easy to arrange liveaboard experiences or boat trips with pick up from your resort.
The Maldives is a year-round diving destination, thanks to pleasant temperatures that generally sit around 28°C. However, for the best diving visibility underwater, the dry season during the Maldivian summer (December to April) is generally best.
However, if you're particularly keen to to spot whale sharks or manta rays, the more rainy season between May and November is probably a better option.
An amazing variety of marine wildlife is one of the main reasons the Maldives is such a popular location for diving holidays. Depending on the time of year and location of your dives, some of the marine life you might spot could include:
A general packing list for Maldives diving holidays includes:
