© iStock/kurmyshov
Asia • Continents

Diving in the Maldives *

462 Dive Sites67 Dive Centers2 Job Offers

The atolls that make up the Maldives have a land area approximately 298 km2 but are spread over approximately 90,000 km2. The country is so famous for these atolls that the English word ‘atoll’, was actually derived from the Maldivian word ‘atholhu’. The Maldives also has the lowest elevation of any country in the world which contributes to its hot and humid climate.

Travel Information for Maldives

Power Plug Type:C, D, G, J, K, L
Airports:MLE
Currency:MVR
Dial Code:+960
Language:en
Electricity:230 V / 50 Hz
Timezone:UTC+05:00
Network Provider:Ooredo/Wataniya

Popular Destinations

Northern Atolls © iStock/mahos

Northern Atolls

164 Dive Sites • 13 Centers The Northern Atolls’ best diving locations include Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, and Lhaviyani atolls.
Maldives
Central Atolls © iStock/Anna-Om

Central Atolls

298 Dive Sites • 50 Centers The Central Atolls are the most well known and populated region of the Maldives.
Maldives
Southern Atolls © iStock/Ingalvanova

Southern Atolls

21 Dive Sites • 8 Centers The Southern Atolls Region is made up of Laamu Atoll, the Northern and Southern Huvadhu Atoll, Fuvahmulah Atoll and, Addu Atoll.
Maldives

Popular Destinations

Northern Atolls © iStock/mahos

Northern Atolls

164 Dive Sites • 13 Centers The Northern Atolls’ best diving locations include Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, and Lhaviyani atolls.
Maldives
Central Atolls © iStock/Anna-Om

Central Atolls

298 Dive Sites • 50 Centers The Central Atolls are the most well known and populated region of the Maldives.
Maldives
Southern Atolls © iStock/Ingalvanova

Southern Atolls

21 Dive Sites • 8 Centers The Southern Atolls Region is made up of Laamu Atoll, the Northern and Southern Huvadhu Atoll, Fuvahmulah Atoll and, Addu Atoll.
Maldives
Laamu © Aqualung

Laamu Atoll

The Laamu Atoll is relatively close to the Central Atolls region and has weaker currents and better visibility than its southern neighbors
Maldives
Northern Huvadhu Atoll © Aqualung

Northern Huvadhu Atoll

4 Dive Sites The Huvadhu Atoll is broken up into a Northern and Southern region. The northern region is also known as Gaafu Alifu.
Maldives
Southern Huvadhu Atoll © Mares

Southern Huvadhu Atoll

The southern region of the Huvadhu Atoll is also known as Gaafu Dhaalu.
Maldives
Fuvahmulah © Mares

Fuvahmulah

1 Dive Sites • 1 Centers For all the Southern Atoll region offers, the Fuvahmulah Atoll is the place that brings it all together.
Maldives
Addu Atoll © Mares

Addu Atoll

3 Dive Sites • 4 Centers This southernmost Maldives atoll actually takes the country past the equator and into the Southern Hemisphere.
Maldives
North West Haa Alif Atoll © Mares

North West Haa Alif Atoll

The North West Haa Alif atoll offers some great dive sites for beginners and less experienced divers.
Maldives
South East Haa Alif Atoll © Mares

South East Haa Alif Atoll

21 Dive Sites As you go further south in the Haa Alif Atoll you will come across a great shipwreck to explore that is not that deep.
Maldives
Haa Dhaalu Atoll © Scubapro

Haa Dhaalu Atoll

13 Dive Sites • 2 Centers The Haa Dhaalu Atoll offers a great dive area with wide channels and shallower drop offs and also beautiful underwater caves.
Maldives
Haa Dhaalu Makunudhoo © Scubapro

Haa Dhaalu Makunudhoo

The Makundhoo island is the westernmost island in the Maldives and populated by humans and filled with wonderful dive sites.
Maldives
Shaviyani Atoll © Scubapro

Shaviyani Atoll

29 Dive Sites • 1 Centers If you are looking for a spot in the Maldives that is isolated, and relatively unknown and unexplored, then the Shaviyani Atoll is the area for you.
Maldives
Noonu Atoll © Aqualung

Noonu Atoll

2 Dive Sites • 3 Centers Noonu Atoll is known for its huge population of spinner dolphins as well as having the the largest concentration swarming fish in the Maldives.
Maldives
Raa Atoll © Aqualung

Raa Atoll

54 Dive Sites • 2 Centers Raa Atoll is a very popular dive spot in the Northern Atolls due to its pristine thilas.
Maldives
Lhaviyani Atoll © Mares

Lhaviyani Atoll

34 Dive Sites • 1 Centers The Lhaviyani Atoll features more than 50 dive sites including the Aquarium and Madimaru Kandu.
Maldives
Baa Atoll © Mares

Baa Atoll

11 Dive Sites • 4 Centers Baa Atoll has over 1,200 types of reef fish and over 250 species of coral, the most in all of the Indian Ocean
Maldives
Vaavuu Atoll © Mares

Vaavuu Atoll

9 Dive Sites Vaavu is the easternmost atoll of the Maldives and has diving areas for all levels of divers.
Maldives
Meemu Atoll © Mares

Meemu Atoll

30 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Mulee Island is generally considered the best diving location in the Meemu Atoll.
Maldives
Thaa Atoll © Mares

Thaa Atoll

1 Centers Thaa atoll has great coral gardens to explore with the Caribbean Garden and the Gorgonian Garden being the most famous ones.
Maldives
Thoddoo © Scubapro

Thoddoo

7 Dive Sites • 1 Centers Thoddoo is an island that is part of the Alif Alif Atoll in the Central Maldives.
Maldives
Rasdhoo Atoll © Scubapro

Rasdhoo Atoll

19 Dive Sites • 7 Centers Rasdhoo offers the most beautiful beaches in the Maldives and you have the unique chance to swim with hammerhead sharks.
Maldives
South Ari Atoll © Scubapro

South Ari Atoll

14 Dive Sites • 3 Centers The sun island in South Ari atoll has the biggest sharks in Maldives where you can spot the massive, docile whale sharks.
Maldives
North Ari Atoll © Aqualung

North Ari Atoll

10 Dive Sites • 4 Centers Considered the number one scuba spot in the Maldives, the northern section of the Ari atoll offers two very notable diving regions.
Maldives
North Nilandhe Atoll © Aqualung

North Nilandhe Atoll

1 Dive Sites • 2 Centers The most recognizable channel in the Northern Nilandhe Atoll is Filitheyo Thandu, another protected marine area.
Maldives
Southern Nilandhe Atoll © Mares

Southern Nilandhe Atoll

1 Centers A great spot for beginners to start their diving journey, the Southern Nilandhe Atoll is wider, shallower and has weaker currents than other areas of Maldives.
Maldives
Northern North Malé © Mares

Northern North Malé

26 Dive Sites • 2 Centers North Malé offers some interesting dive sites like the Lady Christine shipwreck on the northwest side of Gaafaru.
Maldives
Northern South Malé © Mares

Northern South Malé

59 Dive Sites • 5 Centers On the northern side of the South Male area is the Vadhoo Caves where you can explore the great assortment of marine life like unicornfish or turtles.
Maldives
Southern North Malé © Mares

Southern North Malé

39 Dive Sites • 16 Centers North Male has two well-known dive spots: Manta Point and the Victory Wreck.
Maldives
Southern South Malé © Mares

Southern South Malé

64 Dive Sites • 4 Centers Like its more northern counterpart, the southern piece of the South Male dive area has fast current too and is for advanced and experienced divers.
Maldives

Featured Training Centers

Featured Training Centers

This data is provided from the logbook information in the MySSI app

Dive Sites in the Maldives

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The dive spots and related content on MyDiveGuide are provided for informational and promotional purposes only. This information, including user-generated content, is not definitive advice or recommendations. Divers are fully responsible for planning their dives, ensuring adequate safety equipment, verifying diving permissions, and complying with local laws and regulations. SSI, MyDiveGuide, and affiliates assume no responsibility or liability for divers' actions, choices, or any incidents. Always dive within your training limits, prioritize safety, and confirm that diving is permitted at your chosen location.