Exploring The Maldives' North Male Atoll: Five Unforgettable Dives

North Male Atoll, which is considered to be the Maldives central hub for tourism, is much different from South Male, which is remote and best known for its challenging pelagic dives. Here at North Male, pristine coral reefs and splendid caves are the standard, although there are many excellent vantage points for viewing the pelagic life the Maldives are famous for. With dozens of dive sites, it can be hard to decide where to begin. Here are just five of the best, to help you plan your trip with ease.

Lion’s Head - North Male Atoll Dive Sites

Named for an overhang shaped like a lion’s head, this site begins in just three meters of water, sloping away to forty meters, then dropping into the deep sapphire abyss beyond. With several crevices and cracks, overhangs and small grottoes, each with its own intriguing occupants, this is a spectacular site you’ll want to visit more than once. The wall itself is covered in orange, pink and purple sponges, anemones, crinoids, and sea fans, creating a splendid backdrop for photography. Besides the many fairy basslets and red tooth triggerfish, colorful nudibranchs and other small reef occupants that dwell here, you can see an abundance of pelagic life, so be sure to keep an eye on the blue. Watch for eagle rays in pairs and groups, and look for napoleon wrasse, big tuna and barracuda. If you are fortunate, you may even encounter lots of small grey reef sharks and a few of the hawksbill turtles which are seen here with regularity. Suitable for intermediate divers and up, the site is subject to strong currents, and the surface can be choppy. Take care in the shallows, since surge is sometimes a problem at the safety stop.

Okobe Thila - North Male Atoll Dive Sites

This group of three fantastic coral heads is simply magnificent. Though the dive site is small, the number of fish that you’ll encounter as you make your way around the coral heads, which rise like pillars from the seabed 30 meters below the surface, makes it a favorite. Look for a kaleidoscope of reef fish in every shape, size, and color, and don’t forget to watch for larger pelagics passing in the distance as you explore. Suitable for all divers, this colorful and healthy reef begins in just 10 meters of water.

Lankan Manta Point - North Male Atoll Dive Sites

Sometimes called Paradise Manta Point due to its proximity to the Paradise Island Resort, Lankan Manta Point features a manta ray cleaning station operated by a dedicated group of cleaner wrasse. If no mantas are present when you arrive, you can take your turn at the cleaning station, where the fish will be happy to give you a free manicure. Most of the time though, the mantas make this impossible! They are usually waiting in line, and as they are accustomed to divers, they often come very close. Do not touch the manta rays. Doing so can frighten them, and it can also remove their protective coating, subjecting them to the possibility of infection. All divers are welcome here – the site features depths between 8 and 30 meters and there is a light current. Look for big parrotfish and trevally, turtles, and napoleon wrasse, and visit between May and October for the best chance of diving with Mantas.

Banana Reef - North Male Atoll Dive Sites

Shaped like a banana, this reef starts in shallow water and features a gentle slope down to 30 meters, where the sandy seabed and reef join to create a sheltered area where small sharks can often be found relaxing. Peppered with overhangs and crevices, the reef also features several small caves. Covered in gorgeous plate corals and colorful sponges, this reef shelters moray eels and lobsters, well-hidden stonefish and octopus and a variety of tropical fish. Look for blue striped snappers and big napoleons, large humphead wrasse, and turtles among the reef’s many smaller inhabitants. With a light current that provides for a relaxing drift, Banana Reef is a fantastic site for all divers.

Old Shark Point - North Male Atoll Dive Sites

Suitable for experienced divers in good physical condition only, this is one of the best places to swim with sharks in the Maldives. Besides the white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks and black tips that you’ll usually find here, the site is well-known for its frequent marlin sightings. Look for tuna, jacks, and barracuda, eagle rays, and the occasional manta as you move along with the current, which can be very swift at times.

A huge broken rock sitting on the seabed at 30 meters rises up to a depth of 12 meters, and nearby there are a few caves which you can enter to get a respite from the current. Watch for yellowtail snappers, blue lined snappers, and oriental sweetlips, along with a number of wrasse and other colorful fish as you wait for the bigger pelagics to arrive.

The best time to visit North Male Atoll is between December and April. This area is incredibly popular and booking six months in advance is recommended. There are a few local dive operators and there are more than forty high end resorts to choose from. In addition, there are several fantastic liveaboards that visit North Male as part of their itineraries.