The Adventure Begins. Immerse yourself in enormous shoals of butterflyfish and oriental sweetlips; drift the channels with white tips, grey reefs, hammerheads and whale sharks; descend deep sea ridges with eagle rays and mobulas, giant napoleon fish and blue marlin; spot turtles at dawn, dolphins at dusk and mass seasonal gatherings of manta rays. Exhilarating sites include vibrant thilas, exciting channels, coral-filled overhangs and fascinating wrecks. The Maldive Islands have some excellent coral reefs, but it's the abundance of marine life throughout the country that sets it apart from other dive destinations and its life beneath the water's surface is becoming ever more respected by scuba divers in the know.
The Maldives archipelago is located 300 miles southwest of India and 450 miles west of Sri Lanka in the vast expanse of the magnificent Indian Ocean. Because of direct international flights the location is ideal for divers from over the world who are looking for a dive destination with the ultimate in big fish action!
The Maldives have a tropical climate all year round with warm temperatures and a great deal of sunshine. Diving is a year round activity but different times of the year offer different advantages. Liveaboard diving is without doubt the best way to see the best of the Maldives.
November through April has the best overall weather and diving conditions.
April, May, October and November has the best overall weather and diving conditions.
December through March are the months with the greatest probability of Whale Shark and Manta sightings. November and December are the best months to spot Tiger sharks in the south.
The water temperatures remain 26c to 30c throughout the year. Most divers are comfortable with a 3-5mm wetsuit.
Winter Season (Nov – May):
During winter season our classic cruises start and end in Male and diving activities are concentrated on 5 atolls from North Male, South Male, Rasdhoo, Ari Atoll and Felidhoo or sometimes Meemu. Another popular itinerary to the Extreme Deep South Equator route Addu-Fuvahmulah-Huvadhoo 8D/7N from February to April yearly. We also offer an unique "Tiger Shark Expedition" every November and December exclusively.
The northeast monsoon runs from December to May. At this time of the year the skies are blue and the seas are calm. The visibility on the eastern side of the atolls is good at 30+m, and 15-20m on the western sides. The eastern atolls generally have the best visibility during this time, and December to March normally enjoys the best overall visibility. This is because the currents flow through the atoll channels from east to west. Reef sharks gather in large numbers at the channel entrances on the eastern side of the atolls; whereas mantas are drawn to the western sides because plankton flows out of the channels into open sea on the west. The current is strongest at this time of year too.
Summer Season (May – October):
Due to the change of sea and current conditions by the southwest monsoon, meaning rougher sea, frequent rain and relatively lower visibility, the diving will then be concentrated in the areas of North Male, South Male, Ari Atoll as well as Baa and Raa atoll in the Northern part, including the famous Hanifaru Bay.
Manta rays, whale sharks, reef sharks, Tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks are found in the Maldives all year round; Whereas Manta rays are found in even greater numbers in the southwest monsoon (July to November). As for other big creatures, diver encounters are dependent on non-seasonal factors: whale sharks are more frequently sighted at high tide, and hammerhead sharks ascend to shallower water at sunrise.
The exception to this is at Hanifaru Bay, usually between August and October, when hundreds of manta rays and some whale sharks gather on the eastern side of Baa, where vast plankton fields accumulate. The area has been declared a marine reserve and current regulations permit snorkeling only for a maximum of 60 persons at a time.
During your cruise, diving equipment is kept on the accompanying dive dhoni, Oxygen, DAN emergency case are available in the Dhoni in case of emergency. Dive dhoni is staffed and operated by our experienced dive professionals.