Most Popular Maldives Resorts for Divers

Maldives Scuba Diving guide


Book Your All Inclusive Vacation and save 25% in Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, Maldives
Book Your All Inclusive Vacation and save 25% in Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, Maldives

Updated May, 2024

With warm waters and rich marine life, the Maldives is one of the best diving destinations in the world. Almost every resort in the Maldives has its own diving center and there is plenty to see wherever you go. Honestly, you can pick almost any hotel in the Maldives, and you will get one of the best diving experiences in your life, but of course some offers are better than others. One of the main priorities in the selection is the service: information, the number of boats, instructors and trips on offer, safety on the ground and under water, and the attitude of the team to work.

First, if you are a fanatic diver and you are not too interested in staying in a luxurious 5 * resort, then you you should consider the option of dive liveaboard, that are special diving boats of various luxury classes, whose multi-day routes pass through the Maldives best dive sites.

Many resorts have a good house reef diving and sometimes very good snorkeling right next to the water villas.

Many other hotels are good, but these 10 are the starting point. They are all known for their house reefs, sharks, friendliness and experience, and they all offer breathtaking diving in a variety of dive sites abounding in hypnotic marine life.

The facilities for scuba diving are quite similar in all hotels, including diving courses and PADI certification, gear rental, as well as regular (usually daily) trips to nearby dive sites with professional dive instructors. And it's much better to choose a dive resort with a high rating and excellent diving, and not focus only on diving and, without the possibility of leisure and better amenities when not under water.

Below, the list of 10 recommended hotels in the Maldives, where you will also find excellent diving.

1 Kuredu Island Resort & Spa

Kuredu Island Resort & Spa
Booking.com

Best Experience:  Couples, Family, Diving, Value

The most popopular with divers, Kuredu Island Resort & Spa situated on the north reef of Lhaviyani Atoll, an area known for its unrivalled beauty and tropical marine life. With established, laid-back vibe the resort offers guests the ultimate luxury island retreat and is one of the larger islands in the Maldives.

Kuredu is the home of Prodivers' PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre – one of the largest and longest running diving and snorkelling companies in the Maldives. Prodivers offers a full range of daily excursions and courses for beginners and experienced divers and snorkellers alike. Famous Kuredu Express and Kuredu Caves sites are right on your doorstep the island offers exciting diving opportunities on some of the most vibrant reefs in the Maldives. From the outer reef's overhangs to the underwater islands, from beautiful marine reserves teeming with life and colors to thila and giri where depp blue water is patrolled by larger fish - Kuredu has everything. READ FULL REVIEW

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2 LUX* South Ari Atoll

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Booking.com

Best Experience:  Couples, Family, Value, Beach, Diving, Dining, Whale Shark Watching, All Inclusive

LUX Resorts & Hotels has introduced new developments for LUX * South Ari Atoll after its reopening in late 2016. Cutting-edge designer villas and world-class dining can be found only a 30-minute seaplane transfer away from Malé International Airport, making LUX* South Ari Atoll one of the most exciting resorts in the Maldives. With 187 private villas dotted at the water’s edge along four kilometres of powder fine beach or perched on stilts above a crystal clear lagoon, these spacious pavilions and villas bring an entirely original vibe of coastal, beach house chic to the Maldives. Excellent eating and drinking is always a cut above the rest at LUX*, and at LUX* South Ari Atoll, there is authentic South East Asian street food in the Maldives’ only over-the-water gourmet night market and world-class Chinese cuisine at East, along with the Japanese restaurant Umami, which offers live teppanyaki and dazzling selection of sakés. While the resort has a PADI-certified dive centre, two infinity pools, a floodlit tennis court, a fitness centre and a renowned spa. READ FULL REVIEW

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3 Baros Maldives

baros island
Booking.com

Best Experience for:    Honeymoon, Beach, Spa, House Reef Snorkeling & Diving

Baros is a perfect getaway located in the North Malé Atoll only a 25-minute by speedboat from Malé Airport. With a variety of villas to choose from, these very stylish settings make this the ideal island retreat for couples young and old. Located on a beautiful private island with a crystal clear coral lagoon, Baros is a 5 * star boutique hotel in the Maldives that will surpass all of your highest fantasies of the "dream island". Surrounded by clean, warm waters and snow-white sands, with groves of coconut palms and fragrant flowers, this cozy resort landscape is really worthy of fainting. The team is serene modern rooms (including water villas), fine dining, a fantastic spa, a large swimming pool and water entertainment from a luxury yacht to diving and yoga. READ FULL REVIEW

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4 Kuramathi Maldives

Kuramathi Maldives
Booking.com

Best Experience:  Couples, Family, Beach, Diving, House Reef Snorkeling

Strips of pristine beaches, world-class diving, fine dining and knockout spa, Kuramathi Maldives is rated one of the best hotels in the Maldives and with good reason. Kuramathi is one of the Maldives' most popular resorts and it's perfect if you're looking for variety alongside relaxation. Here, pathways weave through lush foliage, leading to the excellent facilities that are dotted around this large island. There are two oceanfront infinity pools plus a lagoon-style pool shaded by palm trees, and snorkelling on the stunning house reef is possible straight from the beach READ FULL REVIEW

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5 Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa aerial
Booking.com

Best Experience:   for Couples, Family holiday, House Reef Snorkeling & Diving, Value, All Inclusive

With one of the best house reefs in the Maldives, the great strengths of Vilamendhoo have always been snorkeling and diving, and affordable accommodation. After a major renovation it was re-opened as a luxury resort than ever. And it says a lot. With 184 rooms, Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa is a luxury resort on a private island with a magnificent green and cozy landscape. The rooms are spacious and beautiful with furnishings from bright and playful to sober and chic. There are also Water Villas that grow from the pier at the western end. The resort boasts several swimming pools, restaurants, as well as sports fields, a spa (and much more) scattered throughout the island which is divided into the family and "adults only" areas. With a magnificent house reef and All Inclusive offering - it's a romantic, quiet choice for families and couples alike. READ FULL REVIEW

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6 Oblu Nature Helengeli

Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli
Booking.com

Best Experience for: Couples, Families, All Inclusive, house reef snorkeling, diving, value

Embracing the greenery of Helengeli island with its beautiful house reef, this refreshing all-inclusive resort with laid-back island vibe and fashionable design opened its doors in November 2015 under the new name OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli! Just a short 50 minute speedboat ride from Malé airport, Helengeli is equipped with 116 villas and suites each with a mixture of rustic and tropical interiors. Accommodation is offered on the beach or over the water, and each room is equipped with a spacious open bathroom, and some with private pools. In addition to nice rooms and delicious food, Oblu Nature Helengeli is undoubtedly a paradise for divers. The resort has its own diving school, with certified PADI courses, and in the region there is an attractive selection of world class dive sites, including an incredibly famous house reef. READ FULL REVIEW

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7 Bandos Maldives

Gangehi Island Resort
Booking.com

Best Experience:  Families, Couples, Diving, house reef snorkeling, Value

Nestled conveniently in the southern part of the North Male Atoll, Bandos Maldives offers access to over 40 remarkable dive sites, each offering a unique glimpse into the wonders of the Indian Ocean. Whether novice or seasoned diver, guests can expect unparalleled adventures beneath the waves, guided by a team of multi-lingual experts who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for the ocean. In 2024 Bandos Maldives won Indian Ocean’s Best Dive Resort at World Travel Awards 2024.

Dive Bandos, one of the Maldives’ longest-established diving centres, stands as a beacon of excellence in underwater exploration. With a dedicated team of professionals, Dive Bandos ensures that every dive excursion unfolds with the utmost safety, allowing guests to immerse themselves in lush underwater gardens, vibrant marine life, and breathtaking seascapes. READ FULL REVIEW

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8 Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
Booking.com

Best Experience:  Couples, Beach, Diving, Value

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is a quiet place in the Maldives where you will find luxury, beauty and privacy at reasonable prices. The resort very well takes care of its environment and creates guests all for a 5-star beach experience in tropical paradise. Dhuni Kolhu is ahead of other hotels in its category by quality, design and amenities. This is a top class, but a simple, laid-back package of key Maldives elements - diving, snorkeling, beach, island and accommodation. Half a mile from tip to tip, a private island of medium size is populated with 98 villas. Guests can freely walk between two restaurants, SPA and sports grounds, using shady paths entwining the lush jungle. READ FULL REVIEW

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9 Constance Moofushi Maldives - All Inclusive

taj exotica water villas with view
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Best Experience:  All Inclusive, Honeymoon, Beach, Diving

A fantastic island paradise surrounded by large turquoise lagoons and teasing white beaches, Constance Moofushi combines primitive simplicity with the highest standards of luxury and service. Opened in 2010 and since becoming a hit in the Maldives, Constance Moofushi is located in South Ari atoll - one of the best diving sites in the world with hypnotic marine life and a vibrant underwater world full of incredible colors. With the ubiquitous stamp of "wedding-honeymoon" in the Maldives, Constance Moofushi famous golden beaches, romantic villas and brilliant gastronomy. Generous prices all inclusive holiday mood and DJ music will push you to throw the purse into the sea and break your passport to never leave this place. Constance Moofushi Maldives is situated on the South Ari Atoll and is widely regarded as one of the best diving spots in the world. The Resort combines the Crusoe Chic Barefoot elegance of a deluxe resort with the highest standards of Constance Hotels and Resorts.  READ FULL REVIEW

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10 Hurawalhi Island Resort

undersea fine dining
Booking.com

Best Experience: There are no kids on the island - this is a big plus; a magnificent large overwater villas with stunning views of the lagoon; Superb house reef snorkeling, a fantastic '5.8 Undersea' restaurant

Hurawalhi Island Resort in the Maldives - this is incomparable, extraordinary and absolutely original. Ecologically innovative, a new 5*-star resort, the world's largest underwater restaurant, tropical champagne pavilion, stylish villas and politics just over 15 years old, and with no other resorts in the neighborhood as far as the eye can see - Hurawalhi Island Resort offers its own look at Paradise. Officially inaugurated in January 2016, the five-star Hurawalhi resort is accessible by a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main airport, and offers 90 villas, including 60 Ocean Villas and 30 Beach Villas, for grown-ups who are seeking luxury and innovation. The villas are stylishly and beautifully conceived featuring soothing décor, sumptuous linens on king size beds, bleached wooden floors, and private terraces with panoramic views. There is an ocean of delights to take in at Hurawalhi: dining at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, snuggling up with your darling under a blanket or sparkling stars on the iconic Dream Island sandbank, falling in love with the plethora of marine life on the island’s doorstep – in fact, one visit to the resort is hardly enough to experience it all. READ FULL REVIEW

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