Liveaboard Diving in Rasdhoo Atoll

What To Expect On A Rasdhoo Atoll Liveaboard

A liveaboard cruise to Rasdhoo Atoll is the highlight of many divers' Maldives dive trips. To see why, you will have to board your dive dhoni at dawn and speed toward the atoll's outer edge. What deserves this early morning wake-up? Schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks. However, Rasdhoo Atoll actually offers a great deal more than just hammerheads (as if they werenít enough). Whilst only a small atoll just northeast of Ari Atoll in the Central Atolls,  Rasdhoo's small area is graced with a bounty of world-class dive sites, frequented by heavy-hitters like reef sharks, mantas, and big pelagic fish.

Rasdhoo Atoll Underwater

The topography at Rasdhoo consists of walls, thilas, and kandus. Some dives contain interesting combinations of the above, such as channels with the wall of an island on one side, a sandy bottom in the middle, and thilas on the other side, beyond which lies the deep-water drop-off. Rasdhoo's marine life ticks all the boxes, even for seasoned Maldives divers, offering manta rays, eagle rays, and big stingrays, whitetip, blacktip, and grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, schools of pelagic hunters, and big reef fish. Overhangs and caverns (and currents) make the dives challenging and engaging. The area is not known for colorful corals, though a couple of sites do have notable patches of healthy coral cover.

Dive Sites Of Rasdhoo Atoll

Hammerhead Point is a given on Central Atolls liveaboard dive tours. Here, on the outside corner of Madivaru Island, the blue water holds an unparalleled sight, but divers must be prepared to wake up before dawn to catch it. At around 6 AM, schools of scalloped hammerheads rise from the deep, and if you're just a bit lucky and wait quietly in the right place, you stand a good chance of seeing them glide past you. The ridge at Hammerhead Point can be explored for interesting reef life, but remember to keep one eye on the blue since tuna and other impressive pelagics may join the hammerheads for a visit.

Manta Block in the North Channel gives divers a very good chance to observe manta rays hanging out at a shallow cleaning station (about 13 meters down). Other areas of the North Channel are also frequented by mantas and schools of jacks, Napoleon wrasse, sharks, and various reef fish.

Rasdhoo Channel is an underwater crossing from one island to another; hopping from thila to thila, divers often find sharks, pelagic rays, and big fish.

Madivaru is a crescent-shaped reef off Madivaru Island that offers good hard coral and the incredible fish life common to Rasdhoo.

Top Tips For Divers

In the Maldives, a new Green Tax of 6 USD per person per night applies to every tourist in the country. The official language is Maldivian, also called Dhivehi.

Gear to bring includes your own mask, booties, fins, and dive computer. These are personalized pieces of equipment that we donít recommend renting. An ill-fitting mask or pair of fins can make diving virtually impossible, and a dive computer is your most important piece of safety equipment.

Getting To Rasdhoo Atoll

Rasdhoo Atoll is best dived by Maldives liveaboard to combine it with other world-class dive sites in the Central Atolls and beyond. The length of liveaboard cruises visiting Rasdhoo usually ranges from 7 to 11 nights, with a budget of under 200 to 400 euros per night. Liveaboards often spend at least one morning in Rasdhoo on itineraries, including Ari, Male, Vaavu, and sometimes the Northern or Deep South Atolls as well.

Male is the main liveaboard departure location for Rasdhoo Atoll liveaboards, accessible by direct flights from Dubai, Singapore, and Colombo. Longer international flights from Europe, America, China, India, and Australia often connect through the regional airports mentioned above.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll is possible all year round, but the northeast monsoon from December to May allows the calmest surface conditions and the least rain. The water temperature usually stays between 26 and 29 C, and visibility between 15 and 30 meters. Manta lovers should note that the manta season runs from November through April.


Rasdhoo Atoll Diving Reviews

  • 9.1 Superb
  • 92 Verified Reviews
  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Cindy P
  • United States United States

We did not dive the Rasdhoo Atoll. We instead did the Vaavu Atoll. Here we found some of the most beautiful soft corals on the planet. Every color imaginable. Visibility was also amazing here.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Emperor Serenity

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Rachel R
  • United States United States

Saw sting rays and white tip sharks. Saw a really big silver tip shark. This was also a negative entry current but it surprised us how little current we ran into because our dive instructor was very knowledgeable on how to keep us in the protected area so we didn’t exhaust ourselves fighting against.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Maldives Aggressor II

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • David P
  • United States United States

Rasdhoo was the northern point for our dives. We encountered some rain but the diving was still exceptional.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in June on the Emperor Leo

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Jason M
  • United States United States

Rasdhoo provided unique encounters and Truly fun diving

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in October on the Emperor Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Mingyu W
  • United States United States

great. I really can't remember all the details of each atoll, but overall, I really enjoyed the experience.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Carpe Vita

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Ethan H
  • United States United States

One last dive. It was good. Baby sharks 🤙🏼

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Maldives Aggressor II

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Albert T
  • United States United States

Fish Market. great dive with lots of diversity

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Frances D
  • United States United States

beautiful reef diving with pelagics

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in February on the Emperor Voyager

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Angela T
  • United States United States

There are lots of channel dives where you hook in and wait to watch the sharks come by. There are also a few of reef and wreck dives- nice variety.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in November on the Amba Liveaboard

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Warren H
  • United States United States

Saw a manta ray for the first time and lots of sharks

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in March on the Scubaspa Ying

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Whitney H
  • United States United States

Fab. Only did 1 dive here. Eagle rays, napoleon fish, beautiful fish, lots of reef sharks.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Emperor Virgo

  • 6.0 Review score
  • Eric H
  • United States United States

Fair, some of dives little seen, while apparently searching for sharks, Mantas were enjoyable.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in March on the Orca M7

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Robert H
  • United States United States

Saw eagle rays, turtles, many fish

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Karl E
  • United States United States

This would make a great first dive; very pretty, simple, easy transition.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in May on the Emperor Leo

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • William E
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Good, marine life a plenty.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in November on the Emperor Voyager

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Christian S
  • Denmark Denmark

Many sharks and very thrilling

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Alistair D
  • South Africa South Africa

A great dive area with close encounters with silver tip and grey reef sharks.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in February on the Emperor Voyager

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Niklas P
  • Sweden Sweden

This was my favorite, really beautiful!

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in July on the Emperor Leo

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Makoto S
  • Japan Japan

Rasdhoo Madiraru ×2 Many fishes. Bautiful sight.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in August on the Emperor Voyager

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Sean H
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

All great, blends into one amazing experience

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in October on the Carpe Novo

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Sindy D
  • Netherlands Netherlands

Excellent again... also amongst favourite dives.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in November on the Carpe Novo

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Bernard S
  • Singapore Singapore

excellent visibility, good water temperature, sighting of whale shark and nurse sharks

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Emperor Voyager

  • 6.4 Review score
  • Laura Q
  • Ireland Ireland

Best of the bunch, some living coral and lots of shoaling fish.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in June on the Emperor Voyager

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Alexander J
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Excellent with amazing pelagic fish

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in September on the Emperor Serenity

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Hoyoung A
  • South Korea South Korea

Channel dives were nice. Drifting through channels good. Reef at last dive was very pretty.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Wesley C
  • Singapore Singapore

Sharks. Nurse sharks. Too many.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in September on the Emperor Voyager

  • 8.0 Very good
  • ZAFER ERDIM I
  • Turkey Turkey

It was fantastic to see a manta, whitetip sharks, a napoleonfish.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in September on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.0 Very good
  • ANSH S
  • India India

Beautiful location, enjoyed the dive

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Scubaspa Ying

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Thomas N
  • Denmark Denmark

Beautiful dive with sharks, turtles and corals.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Chris L
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Best I have ever experienced

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Marco C
  • Portugal Portugal

Good to see Mantas and whale shark

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Scubaspa Ying

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Romain M
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong

Very good visibility, easy dive globally which is good after many dice with high current

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in February on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Jose Felix L
  • Spain Spain

Grear, micro life was very interesting

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in September on the Carpe Vita

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Vasilij S
  • Lithuania Lithuania

as I had a drone it was one of the best footages you can make in Maldives :) also you can spot some big massive tunas and sharks of course :)

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Emperor Leo

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Ramona K
  • Germany Germany

First dive and seen almost everythig.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • andre V
  • Netherlands Netherlands

Great: the channeldives can be one of the best with the right conditions and this was the case..

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in August on the Carpe Novo

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Markus B
  • Germany Germany

Next time for sure better - had no luck with hammerheads

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in September on the Amba Liveaboard

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Richard C
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Loved this dive - watching the sharks at the cleaning station was a stunning spectacle.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in November on the Emperor Serenity

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Gil S
  • Israel Israel

We did one dive. Visibility was quite low but we saw sharks and one manta.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in November on the Emperor Leo

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Roald V
  • Netherlands Netherlands

No hammerhead, not whaleshark, no guitar shark.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Amba Liveaboard

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Elisa Analia M
  • Chile Chile

Sharks are the rulers here.. shark kindergarden

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Emperor Leo

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Jeroen V
  • Netherlands Netherlands

Great site with lots of fish and pelagics, 4 stars

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Emperor Serenity

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Rindra R
  • Madagascar Madagascar

incredible diving with nurse sharks.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in May on the Emperor Serenity

  • 7.2 Good
  • Stephen S
  • Australia Australia

reasonable, with poor visibility

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in June on the Carpe Vita

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Michael B
  • Germany Germany

Great, the variety of fishes, sharks, corals, are incredible!

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in July on the Emperor Virgo

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Jan-Eric M
  • Germany Germany

Overall, the scuba diving in the Rasdhoo Atoll is a memorable experience that offers divers a chance to explore one of the most diverse and beautiful underwater environments in the Maldives

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in August on the Maldives Aggressor II

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • sofia A
  • Sweden Sweden

Amazing! So many sharks (grey reefs, white tips, black tips)

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in November on the Carpe Diem

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Rafael M
  • Brazil Brazil

AMAZING Shark observation spot!!!

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Maldives Aggressor II

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Mark R
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Unbelievably good!! Tiger and hammerhead in a single dive plus about 40 Grey reef sharks!

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Emperor Serenity

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Etienne B
  • France France

no current unfortunately so few sharks

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in December on the Maldives Aggressor II

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Jody H
  • Malaysia Malaysia

some sharks action but low vis didn't make it exciting

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Carpe Vita

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Ella C
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Saw leaf fish, marbled ray, white tipped reef sharks, turtle, eagle ray and napoleon wrasse

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in April on the Blue Voyager

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Shitai Z
  • China China

Strong current and we stay there watch the school of sharks, amazing.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in June on the Scubaspa Ying

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Derek N
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Love Rasdhoo Madivaru Rasdhoo amazing shark gallery dive with plenty of small stuff as well.

Diving Rasdhoo Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity