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The Maldives are a nation of coral reefs with twenty six atolls adorned with more than 1,200 reef-shrouded islands, creating a lifetime of diving possibilities

Living Waters and Big Animals

The Maldives is a nation of coral reefs. Twenty-six atolls adorned with more than 1,200 coral-shrouded islands rise from the seabed, creating a lifetime of diving possibilities. From calm coral gardens within protective barrier reefs to fish-laden pinnacles and adrenaline-pumping drifts along steep walls, there is something for divers of all abilities and interests. Whale sharks feed on plankton carried by life-giving currents. Reefs are home to more than 1,000 species of fish and 200 varieties of coral. Divers can choose between luxury liveaboard boats and idyllic resorts on small islands, many with rooms that perch directly over the water.

Highlights

  • Best for: Fish life, big animals, drift diving, coral reefs
  • Best season to visit: Year round
  • Weather: Sub-tropical, with two monsoon seasons – hot, humid and dry in northeast monsoon from November to March, with more rain during the southwest monsoon from June to October. The sun shines year round, with an average temperature around 84 to 90 degrees

Things to Do

Maldives Information

About Diving in Maldives

Though scattered across thousands of square miles of ocean, dive sites in the Maldives fall into three general categories, based on structure: Individual islands within an atoll are generally surrounded by a reef that creates a sheltered lagoon. Typically sand bottomed and less than 60 feet deep, lagoons offer relaxed diving on coral formations. Channels that cut between islands move tidal flow to and from lagoons. It is these current-washed passages that provide some of the most thrilling dives, as this is where big animals gather. The region's third distinct feature are the numerous coral-covered pinnacles that rise from the depths, serving as both habitats for reef creatures and gathering points for blue-water fish. Water temperatures range from the high 70s to mid 80s, with some southern sites dropping into the mid 70s from December to March.

Diving in Maldives Tips

Surface markers are required by most all dive operators. Though drift dives are quite common, some sites may require divers to hold a position in a current. Tethering devices known as reef hooks are often used, but divers should also make the effort to streamline their dive gear and to weight properly, as overweighting will require excessive BC inflation, resulting in the more current-catching surface area.

Best Places to Dive in Maldives

Gray reef sharks gather at Lhaviyani Atoll to bask in the currents of the Kuredu Express. Mantas circle the cleaning stations of Fushivaru Thila, while whale sharks are frequent visitors to Ari and Thaa atolls. The broad channel at Olhugiri Kandu delivers a thrilling drift with white tip sharks and eagle rays, with nearby walls adding Napoleon wrasse and fast-moving tuna that hunt the vast schools of baitfish. At Fotteyo Kandu the narrow canyons and caves of Kandu Vaavu are covered in soft corals, and attract sharks, eagle rays and tuna in great numbers. Sometimes sightings can include potato groupers, mantas and even hammerhead sharks.

What to Pack for Diving in Maldives

A surface marker buoy and reel that can be deployed from depth should be standard equipment for any drift dive. Reef hooks can often be rented, but it can be more cost-effective to buy and bring your own. Skin suits for lagoon dives, 3mm on drifts, and some may want a 5mm when diving in currents.

Specials

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Maldives

Kuredu Island Resort

LHAVIYANI ATOLL - MALDIVES DIVE PACKAGE includes 7 nights Garden Bungalow accommodations, 10 boat dives including free Nitrox Pro Divers Kuredu Island Maldives, breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, free WiFi, roundtrip seaplane transfers, hotel tax and service charges.

From $1,861 per person double occupancy 5/1/24-9/30/24. Book by 5/15/24.
From $1,894 per person double occupancy 10/1/24-10/31/24. Book by 5/15/24.

Additional room categories and other dates also available! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $1,861 per person double occupancy

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Resorts

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Maldives

Kuredu Island Resort

LHAVIYANI ATOLL - Visit and dive a tropical paradise in the Maldives while staying at Kuredu Island Resort. Kuredu Island is located in an area renowned for its splendor and plentiful fish life on the northern reef of Lhaviyani atoll, 80 miles north of the International Airport and 35 minutes by seaplane. *Pre and/or post stays in Dubai (a popular stopover between the U.S. and the Maldives) including a wide variety of resorts, tour excursions and activities are also available. Please call for more information.
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Liveaboards

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Maldives

Scubaspa Maldives

LIVEABOARD - Floating Resort by Scubaspa is a new and unique concept combining exceptional spa experiences with unforgettable scuba diving. Designed for divers who travel with non-diving partners and guests with a keen interest in spas, Scubaspa’s purpose-built yachts explore the picture-perfect islands and reefs in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

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Maldives Blue Force 3

LIVEABOARD - Maldives Blue Force 3 is a 42 meter/138ft long liveaboard carrying up to 26 passengers in 12 cabins in the Maldives. 4 double cabins with a double bed and a single bed and 2 triple cabins with 2 single beds, 1 double bed on the lower deck: 2 double cabins with 2 single beds on the main deck, and 4 double cabins with a double bed and a single bed on the upper deck. Air conditioning & private bathrooms. The dining room and the salon are located on the main. There are 3 solariums: 1 on the main deck, and 2 more at the bow and on the sundeck. The perfect destination with plenty of marine life and coral reefs to see and photograph. The onboard facilities are comfortable, and the food is varied and delicious, making your trip even more enjoyable. Rental dive gear is available if requested at the time of booking.

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Emperor Leo

LIVEABOARD - This stylish boat is built to a high standard for today’s discerning diver. She exudes comfort and, measuring 35m, she happily accommodates 24 divers in 12 ensuite cabins all with air-conditioning. Her contrasting wooden decor throughout gives a traditional modernism. The main deck has a Jacuzzi whilst the sun deck is perfect for reflecting on the day as the sun goes down.

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Emperor Serenity

LIVEABOARD - World-class diving in the Maldives. Stylish, and contemporary accommodates 26 guests in 13 cabins. Lower deck houses 8 double-bed cabins. The main and upper decks each have 2 suites with a king-size bed, and single bed with stunning ocean views. Each stateroom furnished with individually controlled AC, private ensuite bathrooms, storage space, and charging ports. Itineraries are typically 7-nights long and explore the 'Best of the Maldives', including stops at Rasdhoo Atoll, North & South Ari, and North & South Male Atolls for the chance to dive with big fish, sharks, and manta, as well as turtles, morays, and the abundant macro life.
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Maldives Aggressor II

LIVEABOARD - Every Sunday evening, the luxurious 115-foot Maldives Aggressor leaves the lagoon in Male for a week of hassle-free diving to North Male, South Male, Felidhoo and Ari Atolls. Twenty guests are pampered by a crew of ten in air-conditioned accommodations with delicious chef-prepared meals, snacks, soft beverages, local beer and wine and up to four dives daily with night dives offered most nights. The beautifully-appointed salon has ample room for divers to view their photos and videos or to enjoy a movie on the entertainment system.
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Blue Spirit

LIVEABOARD - M/V Blue Spirit is the embodiment of a comfortable and traditional Maldivian diving liveaboard - a true divers' liveaboard. The second blue o two fleet vessel in the Maldives, M/V Blue Spirit is smaller and able to provide a more exclusive diving experience than most other vessels can offer. Maldives diving enthusiasts will delight at her extensive range of itineraries, sailing all around the stunning atolls in the north and in the south. Her wooden hull has been specifically designed to optimize sailing through the waters of the Maldives, while her interior has been fitted out to heighten comfort and relaxation for guests aboard.
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Blue Voyager

LIVEABOARD - Originally operating in the Red Sea before being completely refitted and moving to the Maldives in 2015, Master Liveaboards and alliance partner blue o two are proud to present Blue Voyager. 13 well-designed cabins, with 3 double suites and 10 twin bed cabins Blue Voyager can comfortably welcome 26 divers aboard. All cabins are well appointed with air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms. With a choice of seven lounges on board, there is plenty of space to relax for all guests. A Jacuzzi and a Sky Lounge bar provide amazing views over the Maldives atolls contribute to the feeling of a refined holiday aboard!
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Maldives

Emperor Explorer

LIVEABOARD - On the Emperor Explorer, you’ll have the opportunity not only to dive on the abundant coral reefs, but also to experience the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays. Whale sharks are seen year-round, and special itineraries allow you the chance to see elusive thresher sharks! During your Maldivian holiday, your experience will vary depending on the itinerary; 7 & 10 night trips are available for individual & full charter bookings. As you head North during the Southwest Monsoon Season you'll increase these chances of big animal encounters by dives at manta feeding stations. As you head further South, the more channel diving with stronger currents you'll encounter, along with even more species of sharks! Top this off with the possibility of a wreck dive or two and you really can't ask for more in a diving destination. The Maldives should be on every diver’s ‘bucket list!’

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MY Conte Max

LIVEABOARD - When Conte Max was launched, back in 2004, the Maldives did not offer many boats of such comfort and standards as to represent an alternative to the islands resorts also for those who did not engage in diving activities. The launch of Conte Max, introduced the concept of a cruise combining the rejuvenating wellbeing of the Maldivian sea and scenery with the wellbeing of an onboard Ayurveda center was born and in terms of Maldives cruises a totally new trend was set. Thanks to its increasingly refined cuisine, the staff that was raised with the boat, and customer service class and attention to detail, Conte Max has become one of the best known and most loved yacht among those who for years have not been able to do without regular visits to the Maldives to discover with us what these islands have to offer, both above and below the sea surface.
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MY Luxury Yacht Maldives Duke of York

LIVEABOARD - The M/Y DUKE OF YORK was built and launched in the Maldives in 2010. Thanks to high design standards, combining the skills of local naval architects and engineers and quality standards, this yacht is the ideal solution for a fantastic sea adventure in the Maldives that is also a holiday dedicated to wellness and relaxation in a comfortable environment. The 36-meters long and 11-meters wide DUKE OF YORK boasts 4 levels with indoor parquet flooring and teak on the main deck, is accompanied by a comfortable DHONI used for diving, snorkeling, fishing, marine activities and to land on sand banks/desert islands. Along with the more traditional diving techniques we are able to offer cruises with the assistance and material to dive with rebreathers. Onboard Nitrox is free.
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MV Manthiri Maldives

LIVEABOARD - NORTHERN ATOLLS Experience the pristine Maldives from the comfort of this renowned Maldives liveaboard dedicated to excellence in every aspect. Her experienced crew delivers exceptional diving experiences amid the Maldives' rich and diverse marine life—dive breathtakingly beautiful pinnacles, sea mounts, walls and channels where colonies of hard and soft corals are plentiful. Click below for more information on 7-night departures or call for current availability. 9 and 10-night itineraries also available.
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Maldives Blue Force One

LIVEABOARD - Luxurious Blue Force One yacht offers year-round diving liveaboard trips to the spectacular reefs of the Maldives. Built with divers’ needs in mind, the M/V Blue Force One has 10 modern cabins, including a Junior Suite, Master Cabin, and Master Suite. Each cabin has individually controlled AC, an en-suite bathroom, hairdryer, TV and safety deposit box, catering for up to 20 guests on board. Social areas include two outdoor Jacuzzis, three sun decks, an upper deck bar, a living room with huge armchairs and 65 inch TV and disco room. Guests are also welcome to take out stand-up-paddleboards, surfboards, and kayaks in their free time.

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Diving in Maldives

The Maldives are made up of 26 individual atolls that together hold more than 1,100 islands, Most are small and uninhabited, and surrounded by fringing reefs formations that create sheltered shallow lagoons near the islands, along with more expansive bodies of confined water within the ring-like atoll. Points around the ring are cut by channels, known locally as kandus. Tidal water exchanges create brisk currents in the kandus, and the narrower the channel, the stronger the flow. Within each atoll's ring of islands, numerous rock pinnacles rise from the sea bottom almost to the surface. These formations are essentially islands that did not quite make it to the surface, and they are known as thilas. They are washed by nutrient-rich upwellings that feed sponges and soft corals, and sustain a wide range of marine life, from resident crustaceans and reef fish to blue-water visitors. The tidal waters that ebb and flow through the kandus and wash over the thilas account for the abundance of marine life and big animals that are the hallmark of diving in the Maldives. When the currents are running, sharks, tunas and mantas gather in the passes, and Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, snappers, jacks and sweetlips swarm pinnacle walls. Many dives are performed as drifts, allowing participants to go with the flow rather than fight the current. At some sites where currents flow around an underwater headland, the plan may call for divers to anchor themselves in place to watch the passing show. In years past, this involved holding on to rocks on the sea floor, but most operators now employ reef hooks. These devices consist of a length of line attached to a metal graphing hook line that a diver places into a crevice in the reef then clips the other end to their BC harness. Currents around thilas can range from mild to strong, and dive plans are formulated to match conditions. On larger thilas, eddies form on the down-current side of the pinnacles, giving divers a respite from the flow. The walls of thilas are often carved into canyons and caverns that create hiding places for reef dwellers such as octopus, moray eels and scorpion fish. The vertical faces hold resident schooling fish such as blue striped snappers, big eyed jack and fusiliers, and attract passing tuna, eagle rays sharks and manta rays. There are a number of dive resorts scattered across the archipelagos of the Maldives. Most sit on small or private islands and often feature idyllic over-water accommodations, Equally popular are the first-class liveaboards that give passengers access to a broader range of sites on multiple atolls.

Passport and/or Visa Requirements

A valid passport, that must have at least one blank page for entry stamp is required for entry into the Maldives. A visitor visa is available at the airport for stays up to 30 days for no additional cost.

Exit Requirements: All visitors departing the Republic of the Maldives must pay an airport departure tax of approximately $10.00 U.S.

Immunizations

No immunizations are required to enter the Maldives from the U.S. Check with your doctor and the Centers for Disease Control on recommended vaccinations for travel to Maldives at Traveler's Health CDC.

Culture and Customs

The country of the Maldives is 99 percent water and one percent land. This nation of islands has long been a maritime crossroads along the trading routes of the Indian Ocean. Traders and sailors from North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India and the Far East brought elements of their own cultures that linger, but the Maldivians have long maintained their unique cultural identity. Family and community are of utmost importance to a way of life that is understandably shaped by the sea and the need for self-sufficiency within small island communities. So too is a tradition of hospitality, forged through centuries of interaction with maritime visitors. Maldivians are known for their inventiveness and intricate craftsmanship, which can be seen in handicrafts such as lacquer works, mat weaving, coir rope making and calligraphy. An iconic symbol of the Maldives is the traditional dhoni, a hand-crafted wooden boat similar to an Arab dhow. For centuries, these vessels served as the only connection between island communities and carried home bountiful catches. The Maldives also boasts a rich culture of music and dance, with influences drawn from three continents, but made their own. A traditional performance that is often staged for visitors is the Bodu Beru, where sarong-garbed dancers sway to rhythmic drumbeats and chants. Tourism has brought the modern world to the Maldives, but these changes are seen primarily at resorts, and in the capital city of Male, where shops and homes envelop every inch of the island with a vibrant pulse.

 

Electricity, Phone and Internet Access

Electricity in the Maldives is 220-240 V, 50 Hz. The standard socket is the U.K. style with three pins, but there are some variations. An adapter with different pins is best. If your device only accepts 110 V input, a step down adapter may also be needed.

The international access code for the Maldives is +960. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). No city/area codes are required. Check with your cell phone provider for international plans which may include data, text and voice. Many hotels offer WiFi but there may be a charge for it.

Water Quality

Most of the population uses desalinated water while rural areas may use rainwater. Due to the differences in taste, most people prefer to use bottled water which is readily available for purchase.

Language & Currency

Dhivehi is the spoken language throughout the Maldives. It has a mix of English, Hindi and Arabic words. English was introduced as the medium of instruction in most schools in the 1960s, while Dhivehi is still the language used for the overall administration.

Maldives currency is called Maldivian Rufiyaa (MFR or MVR) and noted locally as Rf. The Rufiyaa is divided into 100 Laari or cents. Maldives Rufiyaa comes in different denominations of notes and coins. The notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 while the coins are available in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 Larees or 1 and 2 Rufiyaa.

Major currencies can be exchanged at banks, tourist resort islands, hotels and leading shops. Payments in hotels can be made in most hard currencies (particularly US Dollars) in cash or major credit cards. Most major island resorts, local and souvenir shops will accept American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. Arrangements vary from island to island.

Time

The time zone in the Maldives is Maldives Time or MVT, which is 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+5 GMT). Maldives does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Location, Size and Population

The republic of Maldives is a chain of 1,190 islands in the Indian Ocean, located southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The islands are small and don't appear on some maps. The islands are 99% sea and 1% land comprised of 26 natural atolls of dual island chains.

Area: 298 sq. km. (115 sq. mi.), over 1,100 islands; twice the size of Washington, DC.

The total population of the Maldives is approximately 390,000.

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