The Maldives is renowned for its breathtaking beauty and fascinating wealth of marine life. The crystal clear blue waters surrounding the white sandy atolls are home to a great number of sea creatures and colourful coral reefs, making it an underwater paradise. The best way to explore the thrilling and intriguing scenes underwater is to go on a diving excursion. Because the Maldives is such a popular tourist destination, there are so many things to see and safe dive sites even if you’re a complete beginner. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re planning your trip.
Types of diving experiences
There are many types of excursions and experiences here to suit any budget. You can choose to stay at a local guest house and visit the nearest dive site or you can book one of the best dive resorts in Maldives. If you choose a resort diving experience, you can enjoy a large variety of adrenaline-filled activities as well as a luxurious holiday. A much cheaper option is to go diving from an inhibited island. You’ll get a first-hand experience of the local culture and food and you can save tons.
Atolls and areas for diving
The Maldives is home to over 600 species of crustaceans, 300 species of coral and over 1200 species of fish. Evidently, the list to explore is endless. The most common atolls you find on itineraries are on Central, Northern or Southern Male but if you do a little more research, you can find many more great places. Some of the best diving sites are located in the Deep Sothern region of the Maldivian Archipelago. It’s impossible to visit all these in one visit so it’s recommended that you start with Male Atoll and Arie Atoll.
Types of dive sites in the Maldives
Depending on your level of expertise, you can choose the type of dive site. There are so many ranging from channels with calm, almost still waters to Farus with deep flowing waters and shipwrecks. The Maldives is also home to the world’s largest population of manta rays. The island hosts over 5000 species of manta rays that can be spotted in almost any atoll you visit. The Maldives is also famous for its large population of great white sharks that can be observed regularly.
Getting there
You can book a flight to take you to the Velana International Airport located on the island of Hulhule. From there, you will either have to pre-arrange a speedboat or a seaplane ride to take you to your island or private resort. If you’re staying at a resort such as the Baglioni Resort Maldives, you can arrange to be picked up from the airport on arrival. If you have planned to stay in Male, you can ask a local boat representative to take you to your guesthouse directly.
