The Maldives is a place known by many around the world for its unmatched crystal blue waters and superb white sandy beaches. For many, a vision of what can truly be considered the ideal tropical paradise often springs to mind, including palm trees, hammocks and cocktails. For divers however, there is also a paradise of eye candy below the surface. Make the best of both paradise opportunities on an island hopping dive holiday in the Maldives by relaxing in tropical island settings and feasting your eyes on the marine treasures waiting below.
Island Hopping in the Maldives, to experience diving locations is perhaps best achieved via live aboard excursions, however there are domestic flight services provided between Male, Kadhdhoo, Gan, Kaadedhdhoo and Hanimaadhoo. You may also make use of dhoni or vedis charters and speed boats, which can be hired from the ferry counter area on arrival in Male. Upon arrival at the airport, head to the jetty area to arrange your transport.
There are 26 atolls to be found within the Maldives; Ihavandhipplhu, Thiladhunmathi, Maamakunudhoo, Etthingili Alifushi, Maalhosmadulu, Fasdhuethere, Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi, Goidhu, Faadhippolhu, Kaashidhu, Gahaafaru, Male’atholhu Uthutuburi or North Male Atoll, Male’atholhu Dhekunuburi or South Male Atoll, Thoddu, Rasdhu, Ari, Felidhe, Vattaru, Mulaku, Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi, Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi, Kolhumadulu, Haddhunmathi, Huvadhu, Fuvahumalah and Addu. In any diving trip to the Maldives, island hoppers should ensure they include time underwater at the very popular Ari and North Male Atolls.
North Male Atoll, or Male’atholhu Uthutuburi, offers you and your dive buddy vistas of renowned reef and marine life that keeps many divers coming back year after year. North Male Atoll includes more than 50 islands and covers a length of more than 58 kilometers. Male, the capital of the Maldives, can be found within the North Male group. Flight or boat transfers for island hoppers can be sourced from here, which will get one to the island locations that serve as a base for dive excursions. Most flights take only around 20 minutes in duration. Five popular accommodation choices for island hoppers in the North Male area are Meeru Island, Chaaya Island Dhonveli, Meerufenfushi Island, Gasfinolhu Island and Helengeli Island.
Divers recommend diving in North Male Atoll at various dive sites for the large pelagic species that are very popular and often frequent visitors. Sharks and mantas are often the reason that many will plan their trip to North Male Atoll. However, when divers are able to keep their eyes off the big stuff, they will be amazed at the small and medium sized residents on location as well.
Lions Head, Middle Point, Okobe Thila, Manta Point and Girifushi Thila are just five of the top destinations to be found in the North Male area. The diving opportunities in North Male are vast and these five provide variety in marine life from sharks, big and small, large mantas and small species of rays, impressive coral formations and colors as well as a variety in diving styles with drift dives or reef dives depending on currents and time of diving carried out.
For island hoppers visiting Ari Atoll, one will find there are approximately 20 different island options near this diving base. Getting to Ari is easily achieved with a 20-minute sea plane flight from Male. Island hoppers can choose from resort options such as those provided at Gangehi Island, Vakarufalhi or Mirihi Islands, to name just three.
At Ari Atoll there are many special dive sites that offer different underwater landscapes and opportunities in relation to marine life. Gangehi Maavaru and Maamigili are favorites for frequent encounters with the always-impressive whale shark. Donkalo Thila, Rangali Madivaru and Kudarah Thila provide various attractions to manta rays with cleaning stations on location. A manta is always sucker for a cleaning station. Watching a manta rays cruise past and appear to hover effortlessly over the cleaning station, all while being given a free spruce up by the cleaning station residents, is certainly a sight not to miss.
Ari Atoll is home to a many great dive opportunities, and perhaps the best option for those taking part in a Maldives diving experience is to stay a while in this area. Divers visiting the Maldives are in for an intense experience of color and a variety of species that that may produce stories that are unbelievable to other divers. One thing is for sure- if you are visiting the Maldives, make sure to have your dive camera ready and fully charged to capture the sights you see and prove to your jealous dive buddies what they missed.
Another favorite for divers that should not be missed when island hopping in the Maldives is a dive (or two) at well known Rasdhoo or Rasdhu Atoll. Very often, divers can catch the show provided by the schooling hammerhead in this area (after all, the dive site is aptly named Hammerhead Point).
Maaya Thila is a definite favorite for a mix of the total marine experience. The pinnacle allows divers to focus on the smaller treasures with the not so small frogfish and various species of nudibranch present. Occasionally, divers will spot a friendly turtle or two partaking in the coral that forms this wonderful reef. Those with a sharp eye should also keep watch for the guitar sharks that are a common visitor in this area.
Divers are reminded, when diving in almost every dive site at the Maldives, to look out into the blue, and watch for overhead shadows during their dives. Manta Rays, whale sharks and various other sharks make reasonably regular visits at many of the dive sites dotted amongst the atolls.
The Maldives, above and below the water, will astound you and will very likely have you coming back for more. Make the most of any trip to the Maldives and visit as many of the amazing dive opportunities the islands have to offer. An island hopping dive vacation to the Maldives, whether for the first time or the 10th, is an incredible experience to remember.