Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Aug–May · Strong current · 28–30.5°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
- Current
- Strong
- Water temperature
- 28–30.5°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
- Visibility
- 10–30m: Often 15-30m in clearer incoming ocean water.
- Experience
- Sheltered house reefs and selected thilas suit Open Water divers.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | peak season |
| June | peak season |
| July | peak season |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | peak season |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reef mantas use Malé aggregation and cleaning sites year-round, but site choice must follow the monsoon.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Schools hold around pinnacles and channel edges year-round, with hunting activity more visible in current.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident around current-fed channel mouths and pinnacles.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident on reef habitat across the atolls.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Banana Reef
A long-established North Malé reef with routes for different experience levels.
5–30m · Moderate current
Embudu Kandu
This broad channel is dived around the incoming or outgoing tide.
8–30m · Strong current
Guraidhoo Kandu
A broad South Malé channel with several named corners and routes.
5–30m · Strong current
See all 6 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsEasy. Fly to MLE. Typical trip $–$$$.
Route overview
Easy
Day trips from a coastal base, about 0.5h from the airport, then a short boat.
Airport options
MLE
Velana International Airport
International arrival beside North Malé Atoll; speedboats serve nearby resorts, Malé, Hulhumalé, Maafushi and liveaboard departures
Typical trip cost
$–$$$
under $2,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- A seven-night guesthouse-and-diving trip can remain below $2,000 before flights; central-atoll liveaboards commonly move into the $2,000-4,000 band, while resort packages can exceed $4,000.
- Add 17% tourism GST where excluded and Green Tax of $12 per person per day on resorts and tourist vessels, or $6 at eligible small inhabited-island guesthouses.