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Liveaboard Diving in Male Atoll
Male Atoll Liveaboard dive sites
Male Atoll is technically termed Kaafu Atoll, but by any name, it is the classic Maldives- best known and explored of all Maldives atolls. Male is divided into North and South Male Atolls, both of which were the first in the country to open to tourism, though the south opened before the north and still sports more resorts and dive sites. North Male has beloved manta cleaning stations, great topography, and a couple of coral gardens on par with some of the nicest reefs worldwide. South Male is famous for its kandus, which are channels that bring ripping currents of nutrient-rich water from the open ocean into the atoll, along with big pelagic fish following the food. While sharks are plentiful in both North and South Male, the southern atoll is best known for them. The north, however, is better-preserved and a bit quieter.
In North Male Atoll, Manta Point may be the most famous dive site. Its name speaks for itself- when you visit, get ready to see more mantas than you can keep track of, as well as sharks and other reef denizens. Nowhere else in the Maldives can you jump in the water to see mantas so close to your arrival at an international airport. The other top North Male location is Girifushi Thila, recognized as one of the premier Maldives dive sites. The current here is full-time, so expect a drift dive alongside scenery of colorful soft corals and water full of fish, including rays, sharks, and tuna.
The variety of dive sites in North Male Atoll caters to every taste. One of the best-loved and first-discovered is Banana Reef, which still showcases healthy thickets of branching corals. Along the curve of this banana-shaped reef, giant grouper and morays can be found. A huge school of bannerfish hangs in the current at the edge, and a few incredible caverns call for an investigation. In another area, the impressive 100 meter Maldives Victory Wreck, has enjoyed over thirty years of colonization by creatures of the sea. It's lucky there's a line for ascents and descents because the current can be strong. Once you find your sheltered areas, enjoy the big and small fish and invertebrates that have many this wreck their home.
More sharks are available at Miyaru Faru, where divers watch the blue-water show from the safety of an overhang on the wall. The incoming current at Miyaru Faru brings crystal-clear water and pelagics, including manta rays, eagle rays, tuna, and more. And for inexperienced divers, North Male actually has great sites available. Two stunning dive sites that are relatively free of current are Hans Haas Place with plenty of overhangs and little caves, and Back Faru, which offers good reef and pelagic life in incredibly low-stress conditions.
South Male Atoll's six big channels, or kandus, are not known for coral, but they have amazing pelagic life, big schools of fish, and tons of sharks. Cocoa Thila is one of the most famous South Male dive sites. If you've got the perfect amount of current, you can see rays and all the rest; luckily, there are some dips and caverns in the topography in which divers can rest as they watch the goings-on. Cocoa Thila is a big pinnacle rooted in deep, deep water, and it's located on the perimeter of South Male Atoll. This means you may well be doing a drift dive in the same currency that brings in the big ocean life.
Guraidhoo Kandu South is actually many sites under one name. This is a large area that cannot be covered in only one dive, and the variety of its topography adds to the feeling of many different dives sites. Here, divers can submerge on a vertical or horizontal plane, from walls to flats, to channels, to caves. At Guraidhoo Kandu South, sharks glide along the waterways while tons of different reef denizens enjoy their holes and hiding places. However, for buckets of sharks, it's Embudhoo Kandu that South Male offers at the top of the list. Embudhoo Kandu hosts a healthy population of white tip and grey reef sharks. Its marine protected area was established to make sure that's the case forever.
Besides Cocoa Thila, Kandooma Thila is known as the premier South Male Atoll dive site. At a thin channel along the side of this thila, an intense current brings a crazy amount of activity, including schools of barracuda and other big predators. Kandooma Thila is another dive where current must be dealt with; the pinnacle provides shelter during parts of the dive, but you'll eventually drift into the blue with a marker buoy for the ending. Other South Male dive sites include Vadhoo Caves and Kuda Giri Wreck. At Vadhoo Caves, one cave after another offers the chance to chill with reef inhabitants among a garden of colorful soft corals, while watching sharks glide by in the adjacent open water. At Kuda Giri Wreck, inexperienced divers have a great chance to jump in the water to explore the artificial reef and its inhabitants with little or no current.
Itinerary details
The length of liveaboard itineraries in Male Atoll usually ranges from 7 to 10 nights, with a budget from a bit over 200 to 350 euros per night. Male Atoll liveaboards go almost everywhere within the Maldives; there is a tour to fit virtually every diver's particular passions and timeframe. The shortest trips make a loop in the central atolls, sometimes dividing the tours into north-central and south-central options to fit in a bit more of Ari or Baa (to the north), or Vaavu/Meemu (to the south). Check out Scubaspa Ying and Yang, and many other boats, for these classic Maldives itineraries. Larger and larger loops or traverses go farther afield in all directions (example liveaboards include Carpe Vita and Carpe Diem). Liveaboards in Male Atoll are mostly MV yachts and luxury yachts.
The experience level required by Baa Atoll liveaboards ranges from zero to 100 logged dives, with a certification level of Open Water for some boats and Advanced Open Water for others. Entry-level divers can find some offerings around Male, but in general, expect many of the dives to be drifts, especially in the kandus of the southern area.
Liveaboard departures
Male is the main liveaboard departure location in the Maldives and the country's capital city. It is located on the southern edge of North Male Atoll. The main Male liveaboard departure port is Hulhule, next to the Male airport, making it virtually possible to jump off a plane and hop on to a boat. Divers bound for Male Atoll can take direct flights from Dubai, Singapore, and Colombo. Longer international flights from Europe, America, China, India, and Australia are also readily available, often connecting through the airports mentioned above.
Best time to travel
Diving is possible in Male Atoll all year round, but the northeast monsoon from December to May allows the calmest surface conditions and the least rain. However, even during the wetter part of the year, from June to November, Male Atoll receives less downpour than areas farther south in the country. Mantas are present throughout the year. The water temperature usually stays between 26 and 29 C, and visibility between 15 and 30 meters.
Male Atoll Diving Reviews
- 9.2 Superb
- 261 Verified Reviews
Very cool action packed night dive
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Orion
We dove in Male North near a Tuna Factory (sounds weird but it was great!) This is where we saw dozens of moray eels. Some were enormous. There were all different kinds. We also saw the guitar fish here, and a sea turtle.
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Theia
Excellent - highly recommended.
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Carpe Vita
Not too bad, the visibility wasn't great but the sheer volume of life made up for it.
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Seafari Explorer
With stronger currents, we had better visibility and overall, each dive was very pleasant.
Diving Male Atoll in March on the Ari Queen
Shark tank was really fun watching fish go on feeding frenzy and multiple moray eels sharing one hole.
Diving Male Atoll in March on the Ocean Divine
The diving here was limited but it was a fantastic experience.
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Emperor Leo
So many fish—so little time!!!
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Scubaspa Ying
Saw manta and many blue fusilier
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Scubaspa Yang
Unique. Plenty of animals and colors.
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Scubaspa Yang
One dive was terrible. The next was good.
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Blue Force One
We saw tons of sharks in Male.
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Emperor Voyager
Great! Lots of sting rays in the area!
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Sachika
Had some of my great dives here. I won’t spoil it for you. The Sachika will show you the way
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Sachika
So many pretty soft corals.
Diving Male Atoll in October on the Sachika
Tons of fish and other marine life.
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Horizon 3
Good. Fish factory was my favorite
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Emperor Atoll
Fabulous. So many fish and wildlife it felt like you were in an aquarium.
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Emperor Virgo
Beautiful Lots of marine life.
Diving Male Atoll in May on the Maldives Aggressor II
Loved Maagiri! Great visability and SOOO many fish.
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Scubaspa Yang
Too much shark & fish feeding going on. Lots of boats
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Princess Sara
I saw black-tipped reef sharks at 'Kurumba Corner' in North Male (1st time in Maldives!). There were green moray eel and sea lamprey (?) with suckers and lots of clown fish everywhere (anemone city?). At ‘Kura Giri’ wreck, I saw a huge cuttlefish, lion fish, a pregnant puffer fish with a big belly, there were one barracuda coming very close to us as well. It was at ‘Kandoma Thila’ in South Male that I saw up to 40 reef sharks of all sizes, swimming around., (Thank goodness that they were not interested in our small group of human divers as there were definitely more of them than us!) There were spotted eagle ray and lots of green turtles and small hawksbill turtles there too. On other dives, we saw octopus and Napoleon wrasses, and at a reef, a very green moray eel sharing its cave with a white spotted one moray eel. They were such a contrast in coloring that it was a very pretty sight indeed! Again, typically in Maldives, there would be at least one shark one could see in every dive, whether it is near or in the distance! Definitely shark country!
Diving Male Atoll in November on the Ari Queen
Wreck dive was quite different from other dives and good to see different thing than coral and fish.
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Carpe Novo
Amazing. I love the fish tank our last diving ... full of life and color
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Moonima
Good, but knowledge of drift diving and experience of handling strong currents a must.
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Scubaspa Yang
We were suprised that at all there are so many sharks to see.
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Seafari Explorer
Mantas, eagle rays, lack of coral
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Emperor Voyager
Amazing with hundreds of sharks and many eagle rays
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Scubaspa Yang
Good, lots of channels and strong currents and lots of sharks
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Emperor Atoll
Abundance of sharks, but the visibility was not the best during my trip. Good place to have warm up dives with small to medium current.
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Scubaspa Yang
Same, you'll see everything that can be seen, in cristal clear waters! WOW!
Diving Male Atoll in March on the Ocean Divine
Again, there were some exciting dives with excellent fish and/or coral, but also some average dive sites.
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Blue Voyager
Super clear water - great!
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Emperor Leo
Awesome.. Lots of sharks and manta rays
Diving Male Atoll in May on the Emperor Virgo
A nice easy drift dive through a channel with turtles and sharks
Diving Male Atoll in May on the Scubaspa Yang
Very nice, a lot of fishlife
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Emperor Leo
Amazing. Currents can be strong; so only recommended for divers with more experience. Beginners may be taken aback by the challenging conditions.
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Emperor Atoll
Good but alot of the corals has suffered hard from human impacts
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Emperor Voyager
The fish tank was incredible. 20+ rays, morays everywhere and fish galore
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Soleil 2
Less than Ari, more damaged reefs and less fish
Diving Male Atoll in August on the MV Ari Queen
We did our first and last dives on Male Atoll. A fish cleaning station on day one and a really cool drift dive at the end of the trip.
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Ari Queen
Weather conditions were bit rough when we are there. Other than that, great dives with mantas and sharks
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Emperor Serenity
I was sorry that no manta came out.
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Nautilus Two
Ok to get started at the beginning of the trip
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Scubaspa Yang
Fish tank is always worth a visit - Especially between 4 and 6 pm.
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Soleil 2
Great dives, currents were quite strong at times.
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Carpe Novo
Great diving, the weather was better there. Our check out dive we had Mantas, great way to start the week.
Diving Male Atoll in October on the Ocean Sapphire
Good, but crowded at times
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Carpe Vita
Diving was great, wide range of fish and great rays
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Carpe Diem
Male Atol was a bit crowded but dive sites are full of life so good
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Carpe Diem
The highlight of the Male Atoll was the visit of the manta cleaning stations.
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Carpe Vita
I think we were a bit spoilt in the other Atoll's so diving was less amazing in Male than elsewhere, but i would have to say that it was still good.
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Ocean Sapphire
Poor visibility and marine life not very healty
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Carpe Novo
Full of life and started to enjoy it from day 1!
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Scubaspa Yang
Wreck dive interesting Fish factory not so much
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Emperor Serenity
Great to see all the sharks, but the 3 dives in the channel were much alike. I very much liked the wreck with the pinneackle next to it because of many colours.
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Soleil 2
Not so good visibility but the dive with the many rays and guitar shark was good.
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Soleil 2 Live Aboard
Pleasant surprise at fish factory..although the natural behaviour of creatures been alter by human feeding
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity
Visibility was not so great due to unforseen weather conditions. Currents were stronger than we expected too so be prepared!
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Emperor Atoll
Best I have ever experienced
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity
Male attoll is mostly check dive, it s an easy one to get back to diving
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Emperor Serenity
good, South Male is better than north with some good sites like Kandooma.
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Sachika Liveaboard
Great experience, I wouldn't know how to top this.
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Sachika
Mediocre. Visibility was not very good, not a lot to see in terms of sea life.
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Princess Rani
Some rays, sharks and pipe fishes , good dive =)
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Emperor Leo
Nice basic diving would go any day again! Lots to see. Good visibity.
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Carpe Diem
It was basic and good for beginners and a wide variety of marine life
Diving Male Atoll in March on the Sachika
Really nice Especially fishtank (murenes)
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Carpe Diem
Great visibility, small current and lots of shark life. Healthy reefs, turtles, rays... exceptional experience!
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Carpe Diem
Great to start checking our skills
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Princess Dhonkamana
Nice but not super special
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Horizon 3
Decent but north Male is becoming crowded and the reefs are damaged.
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Carpe Vita
Many fishes, colorfull coral reef in very good condition too and many sharks an turtles.
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Horizon 3
At Male harbor, behind the fish factory there were hundreds of sting ray and some guitar sharks. But you hear the sound of boats all the time
Diving Male Atoll in September on the Horizon 3
Plenty of fish life - all the usual suspects put in an appearance. Pity about the lack of healthy corals - coral bleaching has certainly taken its toll. Not one gorgonian sea fan in evidence, just stumps where they used to be.
Diving Male Atoll in November on the Blue Voyager
Amazing, beautiful and rich
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Blue
Very nice, sharktastic experience
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Emperor Explorer
More eels than I've ever seen !
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Scubaspa Yang
Good. Night diving is a must even if you are not a fan of night dives!
Diving Male Atoll in January on the Scubaspa Yang
Good more reef dives would have been good
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Blue Force One
Great wildlife, guides knew the dive sites well, although visibility wasn’t always the best
Diving Male Atoll in February on the Carpe Vita
Nice Corals and dibersity of sharks
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Emperor Leo
very similar to the Ari Atoll
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Ari Queen
Fantastic: Bull shark & Tiger shark Stingray
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Ari Queen
Comfortable and filled with life.
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Blue
more touristic and many divers and snorklers, some nice reefs
Diving Male Atoll in April on the Emperor Serenity
Visibility was not the best but lots to see
Diving Male Atoll in May on the Sachika
due to weather conditions a bite rough, but overall good
Diving Male Atoll in May on the Emperor Explorer
Surprisingly good, so many sting rays just in North Male
Diving Male Atoll in May on the Adora
Really good..but will recommend to come here during season time as the visibility was just ok....
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Amba Liveaboard
reasonable, with poor visibility
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Carpe Vita
Many stingrays. Awesome as well.
Diving Male Atoll in June on the Emperor Leo
Perfect for macro photography.
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Sachika
Great, the variety of fishes, sharks, corals, are incredible!
Diving Male Atoll in July on the Emperor Virgo
Diving at Hulhumalé was depressingly bad, the water is full of junk.
Diving Male Atoll in August on the Carpe Vita
Unfortunately most dives with poor visibility but still a lot of fishes (in particular huge sting rays) to encounter.
Diving Male Atoll in October on the Horizon 3
Good. Especially the Manta and the dive in front of Male port entrance with sharks and rays
Diving Male Atoll in November on the Horizon 3
Great, sharks and mantas of all types
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Princess Sara
Nice dive with lots of coral and plenty of sealife
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Maldives Aggressor II
Good, great intro dives and good immediate shark action!
Diving Male Atoll in December on the Emperor Serenity