Diving in North Malé Atoll

Best Time

Diving in the North Male Atoll is possible throughout the year, although sea conditions are usually best during the northeast monsoon from late December to May. The southwest monsoon is from June to November and brings with it a greater chance of rain and a less calm seas. However, rainfall here occurs less frequently than in the southern atolls of the Maldives. The water temperature in the South Male Atoll ranges from 26 to 29 ° C.

Diving here can vary greatly throughout the year. From December to the end of May, during the northeast monsoon, there is dry weather and calm seas. From the end of May to July, the southwest monsoon comes, complicating the conditions for dives. This season, many sea creatures are moving to other spots. The southwest monsoon lasts from August to October, but weakens. There is still a higher likelihood of rain and large waves, but visibility is improving. November is a transitional month that brings strong currents. At this time of year, many dive sites may become more difficult to explore, but big pelagics come in, and divers have a greater chance to spot whale sharks and mantas.

During the high season (December to April), dive sites in the North Male Atoll can be crowded with divers and snorkelers, although there are plenty of places for dives and sightseeing. A visit to a lesser-known dive site or resort's house reef will definitely give you a more private dive. In low season (from August to November) discounts on dive packages can be offered as luxury resorts and guest houses. If you are visiting from May to July, make sure that the dive shop on your island continues to work this season. Usually during these months, many dive shops and liveaboards migrate to other atolls.

Confirmed liveaboards run from November to May. If you wish to arrive outside these months, then it may be more difficult to find a departure date that will satisfy you.

Popular North Malé Atoll Liveaboards

Like anywhere in the Maldives, North Male Atoll is best dived by liveaboard so your dive dhoni can hop between dive sites with the least hassle, and your cruise can sail from North Male to other destinations. The length of liveaboard itineraries in North Male Atoll usually ranges from 7 to 10 nights, with a budget from a bit over 200 to 350 euros per night. North Male Atoll liveaboards often commit to a northern or southern loop to fit in a bit more of Ari and Baa (to the north), or Vaavu and Meemu (to the south). Read More ....

What to See

North Male Atoll is known for its diversity of species and abundance of marine life. Elsewhere in the Maldives, divers do not see beautiful corals, many of the reefs in this part of the Maldives are healthy and provide refuge for tons of marine life. Here you can find fish frog, moray eels, nudibranchs, schools of fusiliers and hundreds of species of other colorful fish.

While the neighboring Ari Atoll is better known for its pelagic species, finding something big is not uncommon in the North Male Atoll. Often there are mantas, whale sharks, hammers, turtles, gray reef sharks and eagles. Diving around the reefs and beyond, you'll find one of the most unspoilt underwater habitats in the world.

Wherever you dive into the North Male Atoll, you will surely be amazed at the diversity of the underwater world and the types that you will encounter in just a few dives.

The Most Popular Dive Sites

The dives sites of North Male Atoll are well dived and among the best known dive sites in the Maldives. There are more than 50 dive sites in the area. The variety of marine life is amazing. The abundance of fish and corals make for spectacular dives that you will never forget. Expect a beautiful reef scenery and some of the best coral reefs in Maldives.

The atoll sees plenty of fish action and you have a good chance of pelagics with mantas and reef sharks frequenting the area at the right times of year. There is also much variety in the dive sites with reefs, caves, current-swept channels and drop-offs to explore; not forgetting an island's own house reef just a few steps from your dive center!

Nasimo Thila

Nasimo Thila lies in the South-East of North Male Atoll and is a popular dive site in the Maldives, thanks to the abundance of all forms of marine life and colorful corals. In the Maldives the word ‘thila’ refers to submerged coral towers and caves. This thila offers one of the most spectacular dives in the Maldives. A section of the reef has broken off, leaving huge coral boulders at 18-30m down, covered with a blanket of soft and hard corals. Where the reef has broken off a long series of overhangs and crevices remain for exploration. The ceilings of these overhangs are covered with a beautiful layer of blue soft corals. Nassimo Thila is mainly characterized by turrets, pillars and caves decorated with soft corals of all colors of the rainbow. A collection of large underwater rocks adorn the northeast side of the reef. To the right of the towers, there is a system of caves, permeated with spacious swim through from 15 to 20 meters long. Needless to say, there is a wealth of fish and marine life to be seen at this site. The beauty of this underwater landscape is further enhanced by rare marine species, like Napoleon Wrasse, squirrel fish, fiery orange Basset, scorpion fish, butterfly fish, sea turtles and red groupers.

Okobe Thila

A spectacular dive site, with myriad features, Okebe Thila is another popular dive site that suites both beginners and advanced divers. Located a short distance from Kurumba, this dive site includes three large reefs. The largest cluster of coral is 80m long, looks like a buffalo head, and is separated from two smaller anchorages by a deep canyon 30m wide and 25m deep. Off this reef is a continuous line of ledges and overhangs which are covered with a thick layer of soft corals. On the north end of the reef is an outcrop with abundant fish life, including large groups of bluestripe snapper, oriental sweetlips and fusiliers. On the eastern side is a bigger outcrop where barracudas, Napoleon wrasses, big tuna and trevally can be found. The reef is also known for its excellent coral growth. Even though the reef is not large enough, the abundance of different types of coral and fish will give you the opportunity to see everything at once.

Lion's Head

Lion's Head is located south of Thila Fushi reef in the channel (about 45 minutes sailing from Male) and is a marine reserve. This reef is a deep wall, with many projections that create perfect conditions for drift diving. The reef top is at about 3 meters and drops down to 45 meters. An overhang shaped like a lion’shead earned this site its name. There is a large cave with lots of soft coral and numerous smallfish. A good macro site for the avid diver. A wide variety of fish, from small basses and fusiliers to large animals, such as sharks, turtles, and more, can be seen on this dive site. Beautiful sea fans and also beautiful hard and soft corals tightly cover the reef. Just keep an eye out for false stone fish and leaf fish. The current will determine the direction of travel but either direction makes for an interesting dive. There is an interesting wall with caverns and holes to explore but don’t forget to look out into the blue for the big tunas cruising by.

Kuda Haa Thila

A legendary site, dubbed by divers ‘fish soup’, Kuda Haa is a thila west of Male’ and north of Giraavaru. This reef is in a protected marine area and teems with colourful fairy basslet. The site comprises two peaks that rise up from the atoll bed and resemble a camel’s back. The larger of the two humps is about 30m in diameter with steep sides. Its peak is just 8m below the surface. The second hump has its shallowest depth at 15m. Both are covered with newly grown hard corals, which offer protection for a diversity of colourful fishes. The thila provides protection to many species of reef fish: snappers, fusiliers, groupers and lion fish. Jack fish and bat fish are also common. On the top of the reef there are many anemones with their resident clown fish.

Banana Reef

Located inside the atoll, north of Male', past the airport and west of Farukolhu Fushi. The reef is shaped like a banana: hence its name. This is a spectacular dive for beginners and advanced divers alike. If the current is slight all divers can enjoy this beautiful reef with lots of soft coral, small canyons and over-hangs. At the north east corner you can swim around some large boulders separate from the reef which are fully grown with brilliantly colored soft corals. There are big schools of fusiliers, oriental sweet lips and snappers. The middle of the reef has a huge overhang created by the currents. From here to the west the reef is a vertical wall and is home to many red tooth trigger fish. The whole site is a fabulous dive. The southern site is a wall with some small caves and again many red tooth trigger fish.The top of the reef is shallow so it is ideal for snorkelers. However if there is an incoming current through the channel only experienceddivers should dive the site as the strong currents 
produce a washing machine effect that can make buoyancy control difficult. This site is a protected marine area.

Manta Point (Lankan Finolhu Faru)

For lovers of mantas – this reef is irresistible to manta rays during the southwest monsoon season, with astonishing numbers congregating here. Located south east of Lankan Finolhu (Paradise Resort) it is 1 hours sailing from Male. In the south westmonsoon when the plankton blooms there are many mantas found on this reef, where they feed and get cleaned by the smaller fish at the ‘cleaning stations’. The reef slopes gently down to 40m, dotted with massive Porites corals which house colonies of cleaner wrasse that attract the manta rays. The manta rays come in from the deep water and hover over the coral heads while the wrasses get to work. To make sure you have the best experience, remain neutrally buoyant, stay in one place and let the mantas come to you. The depth is about 15 meters allowing plenty of bottom time. Even without the manta rays, this is still a tremendous dive site with huge schools of fusilier, oriental sweetlips and Napoleon wrasses as well as turtles and moray eels. A unique and exciting dive for novice and experienced divers.

MV Maldive Victory

The wreck of the MV Maldives Victory lies 10 minutes from Male', south west of the airport. This ship ran aground on Friday the 13th February 1981. It sank the next day and it sits up straight on the bottom parallel to the reef. There is a descent line from the mast to the surface where the dive boats moor. The mast top is at 12 meters and the hull sits on a sandy bottom at 35 meters. When there is not much current this is an excellent introduction to wreck diving. The wreck is easy to dive and you can swim around the deck and explore one of the 3 cargo holds. You can still find lot of the cargo aboard; sacs of cement, paper, bottles, etc. The hull has attracted many fish and a lot of coral and sponges are growing on it. For the more daring divers the wreck is great to go into and explore the different decks, be neutrally buoyant and move slowly and you will have a thrilling experience. Visit the captain's cabin and swim up to the bridge and exit on to the fly bridge. From the top of the bridge you will find a line back to the mast you started from. Be sure you do your safety stop on the way up.

Sunlite Thila

Located North of Male on the Line Thulhaagiri Himmafushi, near Aanugandu Faru, 1 hr sailing from Male. It was at this site that the world record dive was successfully conducted on 25th February 2006. It is a long reef running north-south. Between the reef and the thila it is quite shallow with a sandy bottom starting at about 6 meters sloping southwards to 25 meters. If you look around you can spot stone fish and scorpion fish. On the east side the reef drops down to about 30 meters.The reef top starts at 3 meters and is grown with branching and table corals,surrounded by numerous fish. Blue tangs are commonly seen here. At the south part in between the thila and the reef at about 18 meters are some free standing coral blocks where mantas can be seen in season. This dive site is good for beginners because of the sandy bottom where you can complete your diving skills and practice your buoyancy.

Paradise Rock

In the centre of the channel to the south west of Lankan Finolhu 1hr sail from Male’. This is an advanced dive. The top of the reef is at 9 meters and the best point is on the eastern side of the reef facing the ocean current. Here a large section of the reef about 100meters long has broken away, depositing a series of large boulders at about 45 meters deep. Where the corals have fallen away, a long series of caverns and overhangs remain. The whole area is constantly washed with ocean currents and the overhangs are packed with colorful soft corals and sponges. The rocks are overgrown with sea fans and black coral and are full of fish life. Schools of snappers, fusiliers and sweet lips can be seen

Back Faru

Located north east of Farukolhu Fushi (previously known as Club Med) on the outside reef, 1 hrs sailing from Male. The site is an easy dive and also good for snorkelers. The reef top is very shallow and slopes gradually into the ocean. Large coral blocks are scattered around on the reef and we often find nurse sharks resting beneath. Large tuna and other ocean going fish are commonly seen passing in the blue. Keep the reef on your left shoulder and swim back to the channel entrance. With an incoming current, white tip reef sharks can be seen patrolling here, we have also encountered blue marlin swimming, as well as barracuda and rays. Float in to the channel and explore the overhangs and small caves. About 150 meters into the channel there is an interesting area with big parts broken off the reef with a lot of smaller fish and soft coral.