Diving in Lhaviyani Atoll
Like most Maldivian Atolls, diving in
Lhaviyani Atoll is characterised by 2 major structures: submerged pinnacles
(thilas or giris) and channels (kandus). The thilas allow reef diving that can
be catered to all levels in most cases due to the gentle slope of the site. The
kandus allow drift diving, which can be beginner friendly or advanced level
depending on the specific dive site.
Lhaviyani Atoll also offers some unique
diving opportunities in the Maldives. It is one of the few atolls with diveable
wrecks. Actually, in this case, there are 2 - spaced only 40m apart! This dive
site can even be seen from the surface as one of these boats lies with its hull
protruding above the water.
There are several dive resorts to choose
from in Lhaviyani Atoll. Many of these are catered to the higher end of the
price range. There are dive centres available on some of the certain islands -
the easiest way to find the nearest one to you is to check with the staff at
the hotel you are staying at.
As ever in the Maldives, if you are
planning on diving a lot, a liveaboard may be the best way to go. You know at
the offset how many dives you will get and how much the price will be. Due to
Lhaviyani Atolls location close to Malé, there is a wider selection of
liveaboards to choose from. Another benefit is that you may end up seeing a
bigger variety of sites.
