A lovely tropical atoll comprised of fifty islands, only five of which are inhabited, Lhaviyani Atoll is a wonderful place to relax and let the sea breezes carry your worries away. Surrounded by coral reefs and home to a splendid abundance of marine life, the area offers fantastic diving for all. While there are many dive sites to choose from, some do stand out from the rest. Here are just a handful to help you get started.
Kuderu Express
A fantastic channel bordered by roughly textured walls where moray eels and schools of glassfish hide inside deep cracks, Kuderu Express is beautifully covered in blue and lilac soft corals. Turtles and puffer fish take shelter inside small caves along the walls, and in the channel outside schooling fusiliers and napoleons, tuna and kingfish, grey reef sharks, and squadrons of spotted eagle rays can be seen. With maximum depth at 35 meters, this is a fantastic multi-level dive site which is suitable for intermediate divers and up.
Felivaru
This sandy-bottomed channel offers the opportunity for an exhilarating drift dive among eagle rays and gray reef sharks, schooling tuna and barracuda, and lots of jacks, trevally, and other large fish. If the currents are running, large numbers of sharks can be seen at times, and if conditions are calm, you can usually find numerous stingrays lounging on the sand. There is an ancient anchor covered in coral near the Felivaru side of the channel, which makes an interesting spot for photos. Maximum depth is 30 anchors, and the site is suitable for experienced divers only.
Maagiri
Featuring depths between 5 and 27 meters, Maagiri is a beautiful reef which is suitable for all divers. Novices will enjoy exploring the more sheltered areas, while experts will relish the opportunity to drift along the channel on the outside of the reef. Schooling blue-striped snappers and oriental sweetlips, neon fusiliers and banner fish are here in abundance, and along the south side of the reef wall, chambers shelter honeycomb moray eels and sleeping stingrays. Big napoleons and tuna, along with rays and barracuda pass in the blue, while colorful reef fish can be found everywhere you look.
Fushifaru Corner
With a strong current that makes the site suitable for expert divers only, Fushifaru Corner is an excellent place to encounter schools of grey reef sharks, the occasional pair of silvertip sharks, and huge formations of eagle rays. In addition, huge schools of rainbow runners and jacks, napoleon wrasse and barracuda can be found playing in the current, creating a truly magical scene that is certain to amaze. Maximum depth is 30 meters, and a high level of physical fitness is a plus.
Kandu Kanuhuraa
A popular site with local divers, Kandu Kanuhuraa is located to the south of the Kanuhuraa channel, and is an excellent site for drifting among schooling soldierfish and sergeants, barracuda and eagle rays, and even the occasional manta ray. Tuna and jackfish are here in abundance, and grey reef sharks can be seen passing in the blue or resting at the bottom of the reef. Your experience here will vary depending on the state of the tide – when the current is running, the site is challenging, and when conditions are calm, even newer divers can explore the coral-lined walls. Maximum depth is 30 meters, however the reef top begins in less than five meters of water.
There are many dive operators in Maldives that make trips to Lhaviyani Atoll, and visiting via liveaboard is also a possibility. Be sure to make your plans in advance as space is at a premium, and remember your camera – you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again.