Explore Kaafu Atoll

Kaafu Atoll is located in the Central Atolls of the Maldives. It consists of North Malé and the quieter South Malé Atolls, as well as the islands of Kaashidhoo and Gaafaru. It is also home to the capital island of Malé and its sister island of reclaimed land (and which has the international airport), Hulhumale. It is the largest atoll, both in terms of economy and tourism.

Kaafu Atoll diving is some of the most well established as it has been open to tourism for longer than other atolls. Though some of the dive sites may be busier, there is more choice in terms of dive resorts, centres and liveaboards. Diving in Kaafu Atoll is diverse and beautiful - it has manta cleaning stations, caves, drift dives, wrecks and barrier reefs covered in unparalleled coral formations.

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Basic Diver

Basic Diver

Have you always wondered what it feels like to breathe underwater? The SSI Basic Diver program is the perfect introduction to scuba diving for complete beginners. No previous diving experience is required – just bring your curiosity and sense of adventure!During this 4–5 hour experience, your dedicated SSI Instructor will be with you every step of the way. You'll learn the fundamentals of scuba diving in a safe, relaxed environment before taking your very first dive in the ocean.What you will experienceA friendly introduction to the world of scuba divingLearn how scuba equipment works and how to use it safelyUnderstand the basic rules and safety proceduresPractice essential diving skills in shallow waterEnjoy your first open water dive under the direct supervision of your SSI InstructorDiscover the incredible marine life while building confidence underwaterPerfect for Absolute BeginnersThis program is specifically designed for people who have never participated in a diving course before. There is no certification required and no prior experience needed. Your instructor will guide you through every step, answer all your questions, and ensure you feel comfortable and safe throughout the experience.DurationApproximately 4–5 hoursMaximum Depth Up to 12 metres, always under the direct supervision of an SSI Professional.Continue Your Diving JourneyIf you fall in love with diving—and many people do—your Basic Diver experience can be credited towards the SSI Scuba Diver or SSI Open Water Diver program within 6 months, making it the perfect first step into becoming a certified scuba diver.

Ocean Junkies, Lot 11647, Dhigga Magu, 23000, Hulhumale, MDV
August 12, 2026 +154 More
$110.00
Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

Take the first step towards a lifetime of underwater adventures with the SSI Open Water Diver program. This internationally recognized certification is the world's most popular scuba diving course and is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to dive safely and confidently.No previous diving experience is required. Whether you've never worn scuba equipment before or have already completed the SSI Basic Diver program, this course will teach you everything you need to become a certified diver.What you will learnThroughout the course, your experienced SSI Instructor will guide you through each stage of your training, ensuring you gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to dive independently with a buddy.The program includes: Digital learning with interactive SSI training materials Classroom and theory sessions Confined water (pool or shallow water) training to master essential scuba skills Open water dives to apply everything you've learned in real diving conditions Comprehensive safety procedures, dive planning, buoyancy control, underwater communication, and equipment use By the end of the course, you'll be comfortable preparing your own equipment, planning dives, and exploring the underwater world safely. Course DurationTypically 3–4 days (approximately 10–15 hours of training, depending on schedule and local conditions). Your CertificationAfter successfully completing the course, you'll earn your SSI Open Water Diver Certification, recognized worldwide.As a certified Open Water Diver, you can: Dive independently with another certified diver Explore dive sites all over the world Dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres (60 feet) (age restrictions apply for junior divers) Continue your education with advanced and specialty diving courses Perfect for BeginnersThe SSI Open Water Diver program is ideal for anyone who wants to learn scuba diving from the ground up. Your instructor will support you throughout the entire course, helping you build confidence while progressing at a comfortable pace. Every skill is introduced step by step in a safe and enjoyable learning environment.Prerequisites Minimum age: 10 years Comfortable in the water No previous diving certification required Start your adventure today and earn a certification that opens the door to incredible diving experiences anywhere in the world. ????????

Ocean Junkies, Lot 11647, Dhigga Magu, 23000, Hulhumale, MDV
August 12, 2026 +154 More
$500.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Kaafu Atoll

Because of its proximity to the capital city Malé, there is no shortage of choice in Kaafu Atoll. With over 40 resort islands, and nearly countless inns and guest houses on the inhabited islands like Dhiffushi and Maafushi, you will be spoilt for choice. Most dedicated resorts will have a dive centre attached, but not all facilitate diving courses so check before you go if this is something you are looking for. If you are not staying at a specific dive resort, check with your guesthouse to see if there is a dive centre on the island so you’re not disappointed.

Liveaboards are by far the easiest way to dive a lot and in lots of dive sites. It is close to Malé which is where many boats leave from so many pass by Kaafu Atoll early in their journey. There are lots of liveaboards for all budgets but do check on the minimum dive requirements before booking.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Kaafu Atoll

The diving in Kaafu Atoll is accessible all year round due to consistent air and water temperatures. It is subject to a monsoon season from May to November. The dry season, from December to April makes for some fantastic diving conditions. Minimal wind and rain and maximum sunshine means that the days are warm and the oceans are still, with excellent visibility.

During the monsoon, the winds increase and there are more frequent rain showers, though they usually only last for a couple of hours. The winds make the seas rougher, which can disrupt diving trips. They also blow in blooms of plankton which can reduce the visibility in some places. The upside of this is that it also attracts filter feeders like manta rays and whale sharks to hoover up the extra food!

Top Wildlife Sightings in Kaafu Atoll

Kaafu Atoll diving centres mainly around it’s reefs. South and North Malé offer slightly different reef conditions. The corals in North Malé are some of the most stunning in the world. Stunning reefs mean healthy reefs and they have life in abundance. Schools of fusiliers and snappers, frogfish, moray eels, nudibranch and thousands of colourful reef fish suspended over coral make for truly stunning diving. South Malé also offers beautiful diving, but the strong currents that surround the atoll mean that there is more pelagic life to be found. Though reef sharks, manta rays and whale sharks can be found in both atolls, they are much more common in the south.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

11k Sightings
J
945
F
777
M
999
A
1.2k
M
788
J
501
J
804
A
876
S
772
O
1k
N
1.1k
D
1.1k
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

6.7k Sightings
J
597
F
528
M
635
A
697
M
424
J
380
J
571
A
609
S
354
O
576
N
672
D
611

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

5.8k Sightings
J
420
F
364
M
569
A
806
M
481
J
273
J
431
A
464
S
378
O
488
N
614
D
545
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

4k Sightings
J
391
F
328
M
393
A
425
M
250
J
235
J
407
A
331
S
221
O
300
N
349
D
369
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

3.1k Sightings
J
126
F
98
M
133
A
163
M
149
J
149
J
210
A
344
S
374
O
509
N
575
D
277

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

2.4k Sightings
J
284
F
145
M
198
A
245
M
171
J
147
J
165
A
226
S
150
O
218
N
211
D
223
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

2k Sightings
J
178
F
161
M
327
A
183
M
112
J
73
J
124
A
255
S
120
O
62
N
290
D
164
Bull Shark

Bull Shark

1.3k Sightings
J
114
F
125
M
276
A
194
M
155
J
97
J
89
A
84
S
71
O
20
N
46
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

1k Sightings
J
134
F
102
M
125
A
156
M
59
J
19
J
32
A
37
S
42
O
99
N
156
D
75
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

725 Sightings
J
49
F
46
M
103
A
88
M
61
J
30
J
74
A
79
S
53
O
36
N
50
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

569 Sightings
J
37
F
52
M
46
A
77
M
53
J
24
J
50
A
60
S
42
O
30
N
60
D
38
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

481 Sightings
J
20
F
25
M
24
A
12
M
17
J
15
J
37
A
56
S
63
O
91
N
83
D
38
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

332 Sightings
J
28
F
19
M
23
A
58
M
31
J
6
J
42
A
49
S
13
O
33
N
21
D
9
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

10k Sightings
J
937
F
785
M
978
A
1.1k
M
660
J
576
J
838
A
891
S
677
O
950
N
1.1k
D
900

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

8.7k Sightings
J
730
F
657
M
778
A
884
M
687
J
493
J
696
A
739
S
630
O
743
N
791
D
837

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

8.1k Sightings
J
734
F
588
M
755
A
833
M
579
J
461
J
619
A
675
S
586
O
684
N
739
D
805
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

6.9k Sightings
J
478
F
539
M
556
A
814
M
452
J
354
J
567
A
538
S
501
O
718
N
748
D
604

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

6.8k Sightings
J
661
F
500
M
669
A
713
M
473
J
384
J
522
A
602
S
481
O
587
N
539
D
715

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

6.8k Sightings
J
640
F
508
M
604
A
651
M
528
J
431
J
540
A
586
S
491
O
577
N
565
D
640

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

6.3k Sightings
J
575
F
457
M
545
A
577
M
501
J
338
J
470
A
556
S
481
O
573
N
570
D
613

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

6.2k Sightings
J
500
F
464
M
634
A
809
M
421
J
278
J
381
A
527
S
398
O
500
N
750
D
555

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

6k Sightings
J
596
F
433
M
519
A
573
M
455
J
394
J
444
A
517
S
425
O
481
N
569
D
580

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

5.8k Sightings
J
605
F
399
M
477
A
589
M
412
J
341
J
444
A
525
S
421
O
466
N
518
D
571

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

5.6k Sightings
J
599
F
402
M
496
A
550
M
417
J
258
J
444
A
430
S
422
O
521
N
513
D
597

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

5.4k Sightings
J
473
F
325
M
473
A
454
M
422
J
357
J
450
A
466
S
439
O
493
N
514
D
494

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

2.8k Sightings
J
269
F
231
M
231
A
282
M
167
J
160
J
168
A
252
S
205
O
213
N
264
D
310
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

2.7k Sightings
J
278
F
242
M
244
A
345
M
189
J
98
J
195
A
186
S
162
O
241
N
276
D
285

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

2.7k Sightings
J
285
F
212
M
269
A
229
M
180
J
142
J
202
A
251
S
254
O
236
N
230
D
241

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

2.7k Sightings
J
274
F
211
M
213
A
223
M
189
J
158
J
174
A
232
S
238
O
233
N
268
D
250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

2.6k Sightings
J
251
F
152
M
264
A
270
M
157
J
165
J
207
A
223
S
202
O
210
N
224
D
307

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

2.6k Sightings
J
333
F
218
M
219
A
185
M
185
J
154
J
166
A
205
S
187
O
254
N
190
D
273

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

2k Sightings
J
171
F
134
M
157
A
212
M
169
J
121
J
128
A
155
S
158
O
180
N
184
D
204

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

2k Sightings
J
205
F
175
M
137
A
243
M
131
J
119
J
192
A
171
S
103
O
185
N
135
D
175

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

1.8k Sightings
J
185
F
101
M
227
A
192
M
143
J
141
J
114
A
113
S
126
O
154
N
152
D
188

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1.7k Sightings
J
168
F
92
M
140
A
130
M
160
J
110
J
155
A
124
S
149
O
194
N
122
D
200

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

1.7k Sightings
J
195
F
194
M
158
A
134
M
95
J
92
J
117
A
168
S
122
O
109
N
171
D
162
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

1.6k Sightings
J
177
F
149
M
235
A
260
M
172
J
70
J
101
A
103
S
62
O
54
N
98
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

1.1k Sightings
J
153
F
114
M
99
A
61
M
65
J
62
J
87
A
88
S
90
O
81
N
105
D
107

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Guitarfish

Guitarfish

998 Sightings
J
124
F
93
M
65
A
95
M
24
J
30
J
64
A
91
S
56
O
68
N
175
D
113

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

985 Sightings
J
97
F
27
M
92
A
78
M
85
J
43
J
57
A
86
S
110
O
132
N
88
D
90
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

825 Sightings
J
109
F
64
M
72
A
78
M
60
J
25
J
60
A
50
S
72
O
41
N
107
D
87

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

710 Sightings
J
111
F
71
M
83
A
61
M
52
J
27
J
30
A
56
S
40
O
45
N
33
D
101

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

664 Sightings
J
54
F
33
M
55
A
86
M
49
J
28
J
37
A
44
S
56
O
93
N
74
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

611 Sightings
J
112
F
76
M
62
A
23
M
31
J
44
J
38
A
53
S
28
O
32
N
38
D
74

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

500 Sightings
J
48
F
20
M
38
A
48
M
27
J
15
J
49
A
51
S
41
O
63
N
38
D
62

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

436 Sightings
J
30
F
38
M
52
A
30
M
34
J
15
J
34
A
41
S
30
O
33
N
36
D
63
Oceanic Blacktip Shark

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

351 Sightings
J
36
F
26
M
23
A
44
M
10
J
3
J
21
A
35
S
20
O
18
N
63
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

346 Sightings
J
52
F
64
M
40
A
28
M
36
J
27
J
19
A
15
S
16
O
14
N
18
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

275 Sightings
J
29
F
27
M
29
A
19
M
16
J
14
J
17
A
16
S
15
O
54
N
23
D
16

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