Maldives
Diving the
Indian Ocean.
Manta rays, whale sharks and pristine atolls. Structured guides to 135 dive sites.
Diving the
8 atolls. One archipelago. A lifetime of dives.
135
Dive sites mapped
8
Atolls covered
26–30°
Water temperature
Jan–Apr
Best visibility
Marine life calendar
Time your trip to the animals.
Mantas and whale sharks gather with the southwest monsoon; visibility peaks in the dry season. Every site tells you when to come.
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Prime · best visibility Manta & whale shark Shoulder
Signature sites
Hand-verified guides to the Maldives' most celebrated dives.
Browse by type of dive
Jump to the sites that match what you want to see.
Every site, mapped.
All 135 dive sites across the atolls. Tap a marker to open its guide.
Dive sites by atoll
No sites match — try loosening a filter.
South Malé Atoll 69
Ari Atoll 23
Rasdhoo Atoll 15
North Malé Atoll 8
Fuvahmulah 7
Faafu Atoll 5
Vaavu Atoll 2
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to dive the Maldives?
The northeast monsoon dry season, roughly December to April, gives the calmest seas and best visibility across most of the archipelago. Manta and whale shark timing varies by atoll — South Ari has whale sharks year-round, while Baa Atoll’s Hanifaru manta season runs May to November on the southwest monsoon.
Do I need to be an advanced diver to dive the Maldives?
No. There are gentle reef and house-reef dives suitable for newly certified and beginner divers. However, the famous channel (kandu) dives are current-swept drift dives best suited to Advanced Open Water divers with drift experience. Each site page states its difficulty and who it suits.
What water temperature and wetsuit do I need?
Water sits around 27–30°C (81–86°F) year-round. A 3mm shorty or full wetsuit is comfortable for most divers; some prefer a 5mm for repeated daily dives or if they feel the cold.
Can you dive the Maldives from a resort, or do you need a liveaboard?
Both work. Resort and local-island dive centres reach nearby sites by boat and often have excellent house reefs. Liveaboards cover far more ground and reach remote channels and atolls that day boats can’t, which is why many of the best-known sites are liveaboard staples.
Are manta rays and whale sharks guaranteed?
No — they are wild animals and seasonal. Sightings depend on the tide, plankton and monsoon, and even a reliable site can be empty one dive and full three hours later. Reputable operators never guarantee them; go to the right atoll in the right season to improve your odds.
How many dive sites are in the Maldives?
Thousands exist across the 26 atolls. This guide currently maps 135 sites in detail, grouped by atoll, with depth, difficulty, marine life, ocean conditions and season for each.