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Liveaboard Diving in South Male Atoll
What To Expect On a South Male Atoll Liveaboard
South Male Atoll liveaboard diving in the Maldives is famous for it's pelagic diving and it's Kandus. Across the Vaadhoo channel from North Male Atoll lies South Male Atoll. Only three islands in this atoll have local communities, though there are many resorts on the uninhabited islands. All in all, South Male Atoll has a busier traveler and guesthouse scene, but perhaps a more laid-back atmosphere than North Male, with its high population density and capital city. Independent travelers can find accommodation and tour options on the island Maafushi- a good option for divers who want to relax from a land-based location before or after their liveaboard dive cruise.
South Male Atoll Underwater
Maldives liveaboard diving in South Male Atoll is all about kandus, which are channels that connect the interior of an atoll to the open ocean. No fewer than six kandus provide highways for strong, nutrient-rich currents to enter South Male Atoll, and this attracts big schools of fish, reef sharks, and a variety of other large pelagics. In fact, South Male Atoll is often regarded as the premier reef shark destination of the Central Atolls. Hard coral cover, on the other hand, remains better in North Male, though South Male Atoll dive tours still enjoy abundant colorful soft corals at many sites.
Dive Sites Of South Male Atoll
South Male liveaboard itineraries are available on most Maldives cruises and here is a selection of a few dive sites that you might visit during your dive trip;
Embudhoo Kandu that tops the list for sharks in South Male Atoll. This channel hosts large populations of white tip and grey reef sharks, and it's been designated a marine protected area to conserve them. Embudhoo Kandu lies in the northeast of South Male Atoll, and divers there should be prepared to drift; you'll cover a great distance in the current, whizzing along an abyssal drop-off, through thin canyons, into caves, and around a coral-bedecked thila at the end. Besides sharks, divers may encounter Napoleon wrasse, huge groupers, rays, and benthic reef inhabitants that will give photographers plenty of material to work with.
Guraidhoo Kandu South is actually many sites under one name. This is a large area with two channels and a reef flat; it cannot be covered in only one dive, and the topography varies widely. Divers may jump from their dive dhoni into scenes of vertical or horizontal topography, from walls, to slopes, to channels, to caves. One particular channel offers a 300 meter-long stretch of drift diving with sheer walls on both sides, and the end point at the open-ocean drop-off is full of pelagic fish life, including sharks and Napoleon wrasse. It's a good idea to take a couple breaks from the current in the small caverns of the canyon walls, where colorful soft corals and black coral bushes adorn the rocky substrate.
Kuda Giri Wreck offers inexperienced divers a great chance to explore a shallow shipwreck without fighting the current. This small ship was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef, and it has indeed attracted benthic organisms like sponges and coral to settle and grow upon its hull. Fish life followed, and small permanent residents like batfish and glassfish are joined by regular visits from larger reef animals, like Napoleon wrasse and turtles. A nearby pinnacle tempts divers to explore for nudibranchs, octopus, and other reef life.
Kandooma Thila is considered by many to be the first or second-best dive site in South Male Atoll. The current rips through a thin channel along the side of this pinnacle, and it is chock-full of fish drama, mostly involving who eats who. Jacks dart toward colorful anthias, barracuda patrol in schools, reef sharks glide watchfully over the substrate, and predatory reef fish like groupers and snappers wait for their chance in holes and sheltered corners. Divers can only circumvent the thila for so long, at a certain point, thereís nowhere to shelter from the current, and the safety stop is usually performed in the blue.
Cocoa Thila has earned a reputation throughout the Central Atolls as one of the best dive sites of the area, though its appeal is quite current-dependent. At the wrong time of day, there can be either no fish (without water flow), or the flow can be so strong that diving is virtually impossible. Assuming that your experienced dive guides choose the right schedule, Cocoa Thila delivers a huge serving of big fish activity. Sweetlips, grouper, snapper, sharks, eagle rays, tuna, and jacks abound.
Top Tips For Divers
In the Maldives, a new Green Tax of 6 USD per person per night applies for 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 which we don't 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 South Male Atoll
Like anywhere in the Maldives, South Male Atoll is best dived by liveaboard so your dive dhoni can hop between dive sites with the least hassle, and your cruise can easily sail from North Male to other destinations. The length of liveaboard itineraries in South Male Atoll usually ranges from 7 to 10 nights, with a budget from a bit over 200 to 350 euros per night. South Male Atoll liveaboards often commit to a northern or southern route to fit in a bit more of Ari and Baa (to the north), or Vaavu and Meemu (to the south).
Male is the main departure location for South Male Atoll Maldives 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 South Male 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 10 and 30 meters.
South Male Atoll Diving Reviews
- 9.4 Superb
- 62 Verified Reviews
Very nice dive sites, got good shark action, especially the nurse sharks at Alimathaa Jetty get amazingly close!
Diving South Male Atoll in October on the Carpe Novo
Great as always, huge macro life
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Carpe Vita
Beautiful coral and varied dives. Whale sharks a good possibility
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Blue Force One
Probably my least favorite despite Alimatha
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Maldives Aggressor II
Fabulous to have a night dive with the nurse sharks
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Blue Shark One
wonderful diving with sharks
Diving South Male Atoll in February on the Emperor Voyager
Some dives good- wreck dive and lots of morays. Coral was badly damaged which is sad to see
Diving South Male Atoll in February on the Soleil 2
A lot of sharks and migratory fish appeared and it was dynamic.
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Nautilus Two
Best I have ever experienced
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Emperor Serenity
At some point, few animals to see and some coral areas were dead.
Diving South Male Atoll in December on the Scubaspa Yang
Spectacular pelagic creatures. We saw sharks in every dive!
Diving South Male Atoll in December on the Scubaspa Yang
Tons of nurse sharks!Absolutely amazing
Diving South Male Atoll in December on the Emperor Voyager
Calm seas, medium current in one or two areas, Whaleshark!
Diving South Male Atoll in November on the Carpe Vita
Shark sightings were excellent
Diving South Male Atoll in November on the Scubaspa Yang
Some really nice current dives.
Diving South Male Atoll in October on the Eco Blue
Just as diverse as Ari, and nowhere near as busy. Mantas, sharks, eagle rays and turtles all over the place.
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Nautilus Two
very good dives with a lot of stuff
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Eco Blue
Wonderful—especially if you get to see a whale shark.(we did not).
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Scubaspa Ying
Many turtles as well as snorkelling with a passing group of manta rays!
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Blue Force One
Stunning, you can see rays, sharks....
Diving South Male Atoll in August on the Blue Force One
Incredible. Saw the nurse sharks.
Diving South Male Atoll in July on the Emperor Voyager
Outstanding, visibility was unbelievable and dove with a Whaleshark.
Diving South Male Atoll in July on the Blue Shark One
Good but alot of the corals has suffered hard from human impacts
Diving South Male Atoll in July on the Emperor Voyager
My favourite site was "7th Heaven" Maldives at its best. The wreck and Machachfushi was nice as well
Diving South Male Atoll in May on the Scubaspa Yang
Challenging currents but very good. Visibility of 30 meters or so.
Diving South Male Atoll in May on the Blue Force One
Sharks, napoleon fish, turtles, sea eal, great diving
Diving South Male Atoll in May on the Emperor Serenity
good pinnacle dives when the tide is right
Diving South Male Atoll in May on the Blue Force One
Super clear water - great!
Diving South Male Atoll in April on the Emperor Leo
Wonderful, many reef sharks
Diving South Male Atoll in April on the Nautilus One
Beautiful soft corals. Strong current.
Diving South Male Atoll in February on the Emperor Serenity
Not out of this world but nice nevertheless. Some currents were very strong and occasionally challenging.
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Maldives Aggressor II
many famous big animals, untouched corals, great visibility, great reef system, many drift dives, sharks
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Emperor Voyager
The visibility is better than north male atoll, water was clear. marine life abundance was similar with lots of reef sharks. Medium to occasional strong current.
Diving South Male Atoll in February on the Scubaspa Yang
This is where we saw the whale shark!! We explored the ship wreck. Lots of Eels. Saw a few stone fish. This is where we did our first negative entry dive. Strong currents which bring in the sharks and also provide a nice ride.
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Maldives Aggressor II
Night dive for nurse sharks a highlight
Diving South Male Atoll in December on the Emperor Voyager
The shark canyon dive stood out for me at this atoll, fantastic experience.
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Blue Force One
Really beautiful and very varied compared to the rest.
Diving South Male Atoll in September on the Blue Force One
Great variety of channel and reef diving, lots of fish and healthy reefs.
Diving South Male Atoll in June on the Emperor Voyager
We enjoyed South Ari Atoll even if the weather changed and the whale sharks were on holiday as well! The wreck dive is rich and diverse. We even saw a big white tip shark sleeping inside a cabin
Diving South Male Atoll in May on the Scubaspa Yang
Very good memory of the dive with the school of rays eagles, mobula rays. Beautiful drift dives.
Diving South Male Atoll in April on the Nautilus Two
Awesome dive sites fantastic pelagic activity.
Diving South Male Atoll in April on the Sachika
all spots were great with a lot of marina life
Diving South Male Atoll in December on the Eco Blue
All dives fantastic. Think this is where we did the Night Dive, probably the highlight of all the dives, the sharks & rays unbelievable
Diving South Male Atoll in July on the Scubaspa Yang
Strong currents, but lots of sharks!
Diving South Male Atoll in January on the Scubaspa Ying