The Best Maldives Outer Atolls Liveaboard Diving Cruises

Outer Atolls Liveaboards: Dive Beyond the Ordinary - Maldives' Hidden Atolls

Although the Maldives central atolls are where most liveaboard cruises focus, the abundance of marine life in the Maldives is spread throughout the country. This scattered archipelago is home to innumerable channels between atoll islands washed by nutrient-rich current. It is little wonder that an astounding array of marine life is found here enjoying such bounty. Schools of sweetlips, snappers and jacks can be seen throughout the country, hanging in the water column and facing the current.

Scuba diving in the Maldives means enjoying drift dives and pinnacles, lagoons and wrecks, caverns and reef flats. Thanks to the current, you will see a proliferation of soft corals, huge gorgonian fans, bright pastel-hued sponges. Big-name encounters are likely with manta rays and whale sharks, plus various other shark species and meaty pelagics.

If you are prepared to venture a little further than 95% of all scuba divers who visit the Maldives, the rewards can be great. Firstly, you may be the only liveaboard boat in the area. At times in the busy central atolls there can be several boats, some full of snorkelling daytrippers chasing each other around, looking for a whale shark near the surface. So you may appreciate the solitude of the outer atolls. The most remote reefs also benefit from less diving and much-reduced impact from the smaller human population.

Liveaboard Diving Options in Outer Maldives

Check out your liveaboard options here for the Outer Atolls:

Deep South Trips

If sharks are your number 1 priority for visiting the Maldives then the atolls of the Deep South should be your destination. The star of the show here is Fuvahmulah with an impressive list of species including: tigers sharks, thresher sharks, hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, silvertips and whale sharks! Other atolls in the deep south such as Huvadhoo and Addu promise plenty of action too with eagle and manta rays, schools of barracuda, meaty tuna and varied topography such as caves, pristine reef flats, thilas and steep drop-offs. [More details on these dive sites: Deep South].

These expeditions are high in demand and venture to the Indian Ocean frontier. Depending on where you board, tours might also include some of the Southern Atolls and some of the Central Atolls. Most trips are 1-2 weeks’ duration. Longer options might depart or return to Male, but mostly they require a one-way or return flight to an outer atoll port.

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Southern Atolls Trips

The Southern Atolls cover a vast area which is still largely unexplored. Liveaboard charters provide access to the most pristine and undisturbed spots. Each trip is a pioneering adventure, discovering new spots to add to an ever-growing list of 'must do' dive sites. This area of the Maldives is probably the best for reef shark encounters and high numbers of schooling fish.

A large variety of coral formations cover the walls of channels and submerged pinnacles which are populated by a multitude of brightly coloured reef fish. The Southern Atolls are by far the best area in the archipelago for diving with manta rays, eagle rays and stingrays. Whale sharks can be found here all year round. Medhufushi Thila at Meemu Atoll is a perfect case in point. Other spots of interest are 'Mantas and More' at Meemu Atoll, Fushi Kandu at Laamu Atoll to see whitetip reef sharks, Bodu Miyaru Kandu and Fotteyo Kandu at Felidhoo Atoll for grey reef and hammerhead sharks, and Gorgonian Garden at Thaa Atoll for a night dive. [More details on these dive sites: Southern Atolls].

If you are keen to get away from the vast majority of divers and dive boats in the Maldives, then you may wish to consider a liveaboard cruise to the Maldives Southern Atolls. This will allow you to embark on a liveaboard cruise taking in such awesome and uncluttered atolls as Laamu, Meemu, Thaa and Felidhoo. Normally these cruises will be for 7 nights’ duration. Some of these cruises may be accessed from Male (although these will also dive central sites) while others will involve a domestic seaplane transfer.

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Northern Atolls Trips

While the majority of Maldives liveaboards tend to focus on the central areas, there are some excellent diving opportunities further north in the Northern Atolls. Lhaviyani, Baa, Raa and Noonu promise a very different experience from further south and one that is considered by many to be superior. The most obvious benefit of diving in the north is the lack of other boats. There is no competing for space here or rushing to be first on a popular site. Instead you are often the only liveaboard vessel in sight. Underwater you can expect giris and thilas teeming with fish. Most sites feature swim-throughs and overhangs sheltering schools of fish and some beautiful soft corals. You will be in one of the best places for scuba diving with manta rays if your safari takes in Baa Atoll, home to the manta-haven of Hanifaru Bay. Elsewhere you can expect many other rays and at least one excellent shark dive.

The Northern Atolls are home to reefs with an amazing abundance of fish life, perhaps more numerous and larger schools than you will see diving the central atolls. Baa Atoll is famed for its manta rays and whale sharks, while Noonu Atoll is one of the best sites for grey reef sharks. [More details on these dive sites: Northern Atolls].

Safaris are normally for 7 nights’ duration and will depart from North Male, so no internal flight is required.

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Far North Atolls Trips

In an area that can only be fully explored by liveaboard, the Far North Atolls offer peaceful almost guaranteed interactions with numerous manta rays, leopard sharks and even whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. You will dive in a variety of conditions including still, sheltered waters as well as exhilarating drift dives in current flowing around submerged boulders, blanketed with healthy hard and soft corals.

You will experience some of the most beautiful wall dives around, populated with nudibranchs, moray eels and lobsters hiding in the crevices. Brightly coloured fusiliers and myriad other schooling fish will dash around you in often magnificent visibility of up to 30 metres. There are also opportunities for cave and wreck diving, so the far north has something for everyone, particularly the more experienced divers and those who wish to stay away from the crowds. [More details on these dive sites: Far North Atolls].

These dive charters focus around the distant colourful reefs of Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu atolls, and liveaboard trips are normally for 7 nights’ duration and will always involve a seaplane transfer.

> [More details: Far North Atolls Trips]

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