Maldives Diving

The Dive Sites of North Male Atoll

North Male is perhaps the best known and explored area of the Maldives, having long been recognised as providing a great variety of diving, beautiful scenery and a geographical location that makes it relatively easy to get to - the international airport is in Male, the port of departure for many of the Maldives liveaboards.

North Male diving is characterised by reefs, caves and drop offs. The atoll sees plenty of fish action and is generally a good area for large pelagics, with sharks and mantas at the front of the queue.

A shipping route through one of the channels in North Male has also left a few wrecks for future generations to enjoy as colourful and thriving artificial reefs. In addition, the North Male dive sites enjoy some of the best coral reefs in the Maldives. The Maldives is not really known for its pristine coral coverage these days but there are spots in this area as healthy and bright as anywhere in the world.

Highlights

Manta Point - A cleaning station that's great, not just for observing manta rays at close quarters, but also reef residents such as octopus, moray eels and white-tip reef sharks.

Girifushi Thila - A pinnacle covered in a riot of colourful soft corals, swept with currents that sweep in masses of schooling fish.

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How to Dive North Male Atoll

Liveaboards are without doubt the best way to see around the dive sites of North Male. Most of the Male Atoll is inhabited, with more development in the south of the atoll, the north being more sparsely populated. This results in the more remote sites of the north being less visited and consequently more pristine. However there is a greater concentration of dive sites to the south.

As with most of the diving in the Maldives there is often some current present, so many dives are drift dives.

Due to the popularity of the destination, we recommend you book 6 months in advance otherwise you may find the boats you want are already full. The Maldives is not a destination where you will find much last-minute availability so pre-planning is very much advised.

Diving Season

The North East Monsoon from December to April is dry and with gentle breezes. Currents pick up from November onwards which bring colour, good visibility and pelagic fish to the channels and pinnacles.

The South West Monsoon runs from May to November with a greater chance of rain and less calm sea conditions in exposed areas. However, there is less rain here than in the southern atolls of the Maldives. May until July are the months when conditions might be less than ideal and most liveaboards will go elsewhere during this period.

Air temperature stays pretty constant at between 30 and 32°C, and water temperatures tend to hover around 27 to 30°C, although thermo-clines at depth can bring a sudden rush of cooler water.

Reef Summary

Great for: Underwater photography, wreck diving, walls, drift dives, reef life and health, and advanced divers
Not so great for: Small animals, beginner divers, non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Generally calm but can be choppy
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 35
Access: Liveaboard (especially in the north)
Recommended length of stay: 1 - 2 weeks

Dive Site Descriptions

More detailed information on the North Male Atoll dive sites:

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