Explore Laamu Atoll

Nestled in the heart of the Maldives, Laamu Atoll offers a captivating diving experience marked by its tranquil beauty and diverse marine life. As the southernmost of the Central Atolls, Laamu is a haven for divers seeking both adventure and serenity, away from bustling crowds. With only one resort and several dive centers, visitors are encouraged to explore the atoll's pristine waters, either through local dive sites or on a liveaboard for an immersive experience.

Laamu Atoll boasts a variety of diving environments suitable for all skill levels. Novices can enjoy sloping interior reefs with gentle currents and excellent visibility, providing a perfect introduction to the underwater world. Advanced divers, on the other hand, can indulge in strong drift dives, where thrilling encounters with year-round manta rays await. The Fushi Kandi site, with its 250 meters/820 feet drift, is an extraordinary highlight, offering sightings of majestic Mobula rays and schools of barracudas. Unlike its southern neighbors, Laamu is known for its calmer waters, making it a preferred choice for novice divers looking to explore the Southern Atolls region.

Courses and Events

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.The course begins with SSI digital learning materials available in different languages, allowing students to study the theory in advance. We also review the theory together in a practical and easy-to-understand way. When students understand the purpose behind diving rules and skills, it becomes much easier to remember and apply them during every dive.The first two days combine theory explanations with confined water training. Students begin practicing skills and become comfortable underwater at a relaxed pace. We take two days to avoid stress and allow more time for practice. Training is conducted in small groups, ensuring very personal attention and support.The following two days include the open water dives from the boat, where students apply their skills and learn how to plan and conduct dives in the ocean up to 18 meters (12 meters for participants aged 10–11 years old).As a small dive center, we focus on personalized training and small groups so every student receives the guidance needed to become a safe, confident diver.Included in the course price:SSI online learning materials, theory sessions, official certification, Instructors, boat trips, full diving equipment, lunch, water, towels, fuel.Additional costs (if applicable):Medical examination if required, travel insurance, personal equipment purchases, or additional training or fun dives.

04 April +11 More
€477.46
$550.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Laamu Atoll

The diving in Laamu Atoll is some of the best in the Maldives for beginners. The shape of the atoll protects the gently sloping interior reefs from the currents which sometimes batter the external reefs.  It also has fewer channels, which are known for their strong currents. For the more advanced divers, exposed pinnacles offer overhangs and caves in which you can shelter from the current and which can yield sharks and mobula manta rays.

There is only 1 resort in Laamu and it is at the luxury end of any divers budget. The island of Gan (the largest in the Maldives!) has several guesthouses and dive centres available which also offer dive courses. This route presents more budget flexibility. Liveaboards, as always, might be the most efficient way to dive a lot. Most of them leave from Male and there are over 20 to choose from, to suit a variety of budgets. Be sure to check with your specific liveaboard as some require a minimum certification level or a minimum number of dives.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Laamu Atoll

The healthy reefs in Laamu Atoll maybe not be as colourful as in other atolls but they are certainly packed with as much life. Looking into the cracks of rocks will yield honeycomb moray eels and cleaner shrimp. The corals play host to colourful nudibranch, anemonefish and kings of camouflage like leaf fish, frogfish and scorpionfish. This atoll boasts the ability to see manta rays all year round, unlike some others. They are still more common during the monsoons however, as food is more plentiful. Whale sharks have been sighted off Laamu but it does require a long boat journey of around an hour.

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: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
101 Sightings
J
11
F
24
M
33
A
12
M
2
J
1
J
5
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
9

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

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
59 Sightings
J
12
F
13
M
18
A
5
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
4
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
49 Sightings
J
1
F
10
M
13
A
9
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
11

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

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
33 Sightings
J
6
F
4
M
13
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
3
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov

Hawksbill Turtle
25 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
7
A
4
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
2
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection

Oceanic Whitetip Shark
22 Sightings
J
1
F
10
M
8
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
1
iStock-crisod

Reef Manta Ray
22 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
6
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
7

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
16 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
9
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
10 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0
iStock/Divepic

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
9 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
Show More
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
123 Sightings
J
14
F
30
M
43
A
15
M
2
J
0
J
5
A
1
S
2
O
1
N
5
D
5
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer

Grey Reef Shark
106 Sightings
J
10
F
30
M
38
A
8
M
1
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
11

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

Total number of species: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan

Tuna
67 Sightings
J
11
F
17
M
23
A
3
M
1
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
5

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
53 Sightings
J
7
F
16
M
17
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
6

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

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
52 Sightings
J
1
F
13
M
16
A
3
M
1
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
3
O
2
N
2
D
6
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
46 Sightings
J
4
F
8
M
12
A
8
M
2
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
6

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

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
45 Sightings
J
6
F
6
M
21
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
3
O
0
N
2
D
4

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
45 Sightings
J
3
F
9
M
20
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
2
D
3

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
44 Sightings
J
0
F
11
M
16
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
2
O
0
N
2
D
7

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
39 Sightings
J
1
F
6
M
19
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
6

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
31 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
11
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
1
D
3

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
24 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
10
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
3

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
20 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
5
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
4

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
17 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
6
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
14 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
6

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
14 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
4
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
2

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

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
13 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
4
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
13 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
1
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
11 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
4
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty

Silvertip Shark
9 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
5
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
7 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

The best Months to dive in Laamu Atoll

Laamu Atoll diving is idyllic all year round. Though it is subject to seasons, the water and air temperatures stay consistently in the high 20s°C/80s°F. The dry season runs from December to April and provides textbook diving conditions. The wind is almost nonexistent, the rain is minimal, and it feels as though the sun shines constantly. All of these things mean that the sea is calm and the visibility is gin-clear.

The rainy season is from May to November. There is still more than enough sunshine for a beach holiday; there are just more frequent rain showers. The winds also pick up, which can make the seas choppier, reducing visibility. Some dive centers may suspend operations in June due to the weather, so be sure to check if you are traveling at this time. Benefits of traveling in this season are that the rates of many resorts come down, and the plankton blooms bring in more manta rays and whale sharks.

Dive Centers

Reveries Scuba Zone

Faalanmagu, North Heaven, Thundi, 15061 Thundi, Maldives

DivePoint Vadoo

Silinco Neelofaru Magu, South Male Atoll - VADOO, Maldives

Maldives Resilient Reefs

Dhiyares, Mathimaradhoo, 15063 Laamu Gan, Maldives

Dive Sites

Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Valu Thila (★4.3)

This Thila starts at 3 meters depth and has beautiful coral live. Can be reached from Rahaa Resort in approx.. 35 minutes. The dive site is suitable for all levels of divers .
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Boulder Spot (★4.3)

The name says it all, Boulders around from 5 to 24 meters deep, A dive for all levels, about 35 minutes from Rahaa ResortSnorkelers will also enjoy this site
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Soamahaa Thila (★4.2)

This beautiful thila is about 40 minutes sailing from Rahaa Resort, the fish life is abundant and the corals are beautiful and in a large variation. The site is for all levels of divers.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Muniyafushi Kandu (★4.1)

This is a very wide Kandu, the reef top in the channel is about 12 to 14 meters deep and the corals here are in good condition, the edge drops down into the deep ocean and you can float in the blue along the wall.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Coral Ridge (★4.6)

Site is about 25 minutes from Rahaa Resort. It is ideal for your fresh-up dive and check out after a long stay away from diving. The depth is max 24m, abundant coral life.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Hedha House Reef (★4.3)

This is on the inside reef fringe near Hedha, about 40 minutes sailing from Rahaa Resort. Snorkelers will also enjoy this reef, that is amazing well covered with live corals.Very easy in the west-east monsoon,
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Deep Boulder Thila (★4.6)

As the name says it is a deep dive but the top of the thila is about 3 meters. Great dive for beginners and advance divers alike. Wall, overhang and large boulders, swarming with schools of fish.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Fish Thila (★4.6)

This Thila is about 25 minutes from Rahaa, The top starts at 3-4 meters deep and decent to about 28meter, South East of the thila is a sloping coral plateau, Coral block, black coral trees, groupers and fusilier etc.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Maava Kandu (★4.5)

The Kandu is situated Noth-West of the Island Mavaah, the channel Bottom is about 14-16 meters and drops off into the ocean. The coral life is good and abundant fish life.Grey Reef shark, Whitetip Shark, Groupers, Triggerfish etc. When the current is slight all level of divers can participate in the dive.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Nursery Thila (★3.9)

A shallow dive site good for Beginners and Re activate dives, Coral boulders with patches of fine white sand. Mainly 12 meters deep but possible to get deeper, little to no current on this spot.
Reveries Scuba Zone, 15061 Thundi

Fushi Kandu (★4.4)

Fushi Kandu is one of Laamu Atoll’s top dive sites, an exhilarating channel with vibrant currents attracting sharks, eagle rays, and incredible biodiversity. Perfect for advanced divers seeking adrenaline and pristine underwater landscapes.
Sea Explorers Associates Pvt. Ltd., 20008 Male

Deep Thila (★4.6)

This Thila starts at about 8-9 meters and than falls down to 30+ meters on the south there is a big free standing Boulder from 16 meters down to 32 meters this Boulder is fully grown with Corals and a big black coral tree
Aqualung

Vadinoloo Kandu (★3.7)

This long shallow channel dive is located in the northeast of Laamu atoll. The drop off starts at around 16 meters. This dive site is only for advanced or expert divers as the currents can be very strong.
Aqualung

Maabaidhoo Kandu (★4.4)

This dive can be started along the reef wall or in the blue depending on the current. Here the bottom off the channel and “drop off“ is at 18 meters. This dive site can have strong current.