The Maldives warm, clear water, extensive atoll system and prolific fish life make it a fantastic diving destination. It's a great place to learn diving, or to excite the most experienced underwater enthusiast.
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Dhonveli Resort Diving
Beginners or casual divers can enjoy all the comfort and service of a Maldivian resort and learn basic diving skills in the safety of a sheltered lagoon, then start exploring the nearby reefs.
At Dhonveli, a fully certified PADI dive school and a full selection of quality equipment is available for any guests who want to try this exciting and rewarding activity. And for more serious divers, some of the Maldives most renowned dive sites are accessible on day trips or half-day trips from the resort.
Diving Safaris «
For serious divers, a live-aboard safari boat is the ideal way to dive the best sites in the Maldives. On a one-week diving safari you can visit dozens of sites in three or four different atolls, and a longer trip can take in some of the more remote and little-dived sites.
Organise a group and charter your own boat for a minimum seven days and set your own itinerary, depending on the season and your interests - you can combine diving with fishing or exploring remote islands. The charter price includes the boat, crew, fuel, three meals a day, government tax, and assistance on arrival and at departure. There's a fully stocked bar on board, with drinks available at an extra cost.

Most boats accommodate eight to ten divers. An on-board dive instructor or dive-master will help you select the most suitable dive sites and act as your personal dive guide. The normal package price includes up to three dives per person per day, and night dives are available for an extra charge. The safari boat operator will provide compressor, tanks, air and weights. Divers should bring their own wetsuit, regulator, BCD, fins, mask, snorkel and dive computer (though these can usually be rented for an additional charge, if requested at the time of booking the boat.)

The main live-aboard vessel is accompanied by a smaller support boat, to carry the compressor and most of the bulky equipment, and to help access dive sites in shallower water or to run up onto island beaches.
Diving Maldives «
There are three main types of dive sites:

* On coral reefs inside the atolls - These are 'house reefs' around resort islands; or steep sided underwater hills called 'thilas' and 'giris', which rise from the bottom of lagoons. Reefs inside Maldivian atolls are notable for the huge number and variety of tropical fish.
* A channel between islands on the outer edges of an atoll is called a 'kandu', and funnels water between the lagoon and the open sea. Kandus are ideal for drift dives, and often attract large marine animals that come to feed on the plankton-rich waters flowing out of the lagoons.

* A reef on the outer edge of an atoll is a 'maa kandu', and usually has less current, greater depth and excellent visibility; whale sharks, mantas and turtles often cruise the outer reef slopes.

Though the hard coral in the Maldives was badly damaged by 'coral bleaching' associated with the 1998 El Niño event, there are still impressive growths of soft coral, and the hard corals are recovering. The amazing fish life of the Maldives is as prolific as ever - over three-quarters of the world's reef species are found here. It's worth getting one of the marine field guides that will help you to identify the many types.

To help plan your trip, and to get some inspiration, check out one of the published dive guides to the Maldives. "Dive Maldives" by Tim Godfrey is recommended, and widely available in the country or from the internet.


Diving Seasons «
The Maldives year has two main seasons - the north-east monsoon, from December to April, and the south-west monsoon, from May to November, which is the wet season. The ocean currents flowing through the Maldives follow the direction of the monsoon winds, and have a big effect on diving conditions.

Generally, January to April are excellent months for diving, with clear weather, low humidity and visibility averaging about 120 feet. In April, during the transition to the south-west monsoon a plankton bloom will often occur on the eastern side of the atolls - this attracts mantas and whale sharks to feed in the channels (though it may reduce visibility down to around 70 feet).

Winds strengthen during May, and the months from June to September have monsoon rains and strong winds.

November sees the transition to the north-east monsoon, with winds moderating and shifting. Plankton blooms can occur, attracting mantas and other big pelagic species to channels on the west side of the atolls.

The temperatures are very consistent all year round, with daily maximums averaging about 30-32°C (85-89°F). Water temperatures range from 26-28°C (78-82°F).


Equipment «
It's best to bring your own mask, snorkel and fins - you'll always have them handy for spontaneous snorkelling and you'll know they fit you and suit your needs. It's a good idea to bring a 3mm wetsuit too. Most dive centres have some wetsuits to rent, but they may not be available in exactly your size. Regulator, BCDs, and dive computers are available at all resorts, and on safari boats by prior arrangement. For drift dives, a safety sausage or 'parachute' is an essential piece of safety equipment.

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