Explore Malé

Malé, located in the Central Atolls, is the bustling capital city of the Maldives. As the only airport in the Maldives with international flights, it is the epicentre of the archipelago. It is also one of the most densely populated cities on earth. It is located on the southern edge of North Malé, or Kaafu, Atoll. Because space is at such a premium, a nearby island called Hulhumalé has been reclaimed to provide more room.

It is the most easy-to-access part of the Maldives for tourists so it is unsurprising that there are lots of liveaboards, dive centres and dive resorts within easy reach. Most liveaboards that go and explore other atolls leave from here. It is also some of the most well established diving, as it is so close to the capital.

Places to Explore

Northern South Malé

68 Divesites 7 Centers

On the northern side of the South Male area is the Vadhoo Caves where you can explore the great assortment of marine life like unicornfish or turtles.

Northern North Malé

29 Divesites 2 Centers

North Malé offers some interesting dive sites like the Lady Christine shipwreck on the northwest side of Gaafaru.

South Male Atoll

122 Divesites 21 Centers

Whilst crossing the Vaadhoo Kandu, the division between North and South Male Atolls, you will observe how different they feel. The quieter version of its northern brother, scuba diving in South Male Atoll gives a feeling of remoteness, due to the habitation of only 3 islands. 

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Ocean Warriors Institute

Enriched Air Nitrox Level 2 (40%)

14 Nov 2025 + 27 more

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Ocean Warriors Institute

Deep Diving

14 Nov 2025

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives. You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Maldives

教练评估 - IE

18 Nov 2025

从今天开始 - 您需要成为潜水长或同等资格人员才能参加 SSI 的三步教官培训方法。培训过程从参加助理教练/教练培训课程开始，并结合数字学习。成功完成教练培训课程（ITC）后，您将参加教练评估（IE），以获得SSI开放水域教练资格。在为期 10 天的培训课程中，您可以独立教授 SSI 的各种主要项目，如水肺潜水员、开放水域潜水员、高氧空气潜水员、潜水员压力与救援以及潜水向导。

对于那些希望花更多时间学习并在培训课程之间获得宝贵教学经验的学员，也可以按照自己的节奏和灵活的时间安排，将助理教练、教练培训课程（ITC）和教练评估（IE）这三个部分作为一个单独的步骤来学习。

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Dive Point Guraidhoo

Science Of Diving

20 Nov 2025

Join the SSI Science of Diving specialty and you will develop a complete understanding of the underwater world and its effects on the human body. This specialty is required training for most SSI Professional programs, as well as some Extended Range programs, and is an essential way to expand your dive knowledge. Available online, you can earn your SSI Science of Diving specialty certification from home and get ready to begin your dive professional career. Upon completion, you will be halfway to earning the coveted SSI Divemaster rating and earn the SSI Science of Diving specialty certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Dive Point Guraidhoo

Science Of Diving

20 Nov 2025

Join the SSI Science of Diving specialty and you will develop a complete understanding of the underwater world and its effects on the human body. This specialty is required training for most SSI Professional programs, as well as some Extended Range programs, and is an essential way to expand your dive knowledge. Available online, you can earn your SSI Science of Diving specialty certification from home and get ready to begin your dive professional career. Upon completion, you will be halfway to earning the coveted SSI Divemaster rating and earn the SSI Science of Diving specialty certification.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Maldives

Instructor Evaluation - IE

21 Nov 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Maldives

Instructor Evaluation - IE

01 Jan 2026

Beginne noch heute - Du musst Divemaster oder gleichwertig sein, um an dem 3-stufigen Instructor Training von SSI teilzunehmen. Die Ausbildung beginnt mit der Teilnahme an der Kombination Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course, begleitet von Digital Learning. Nach erfolgreichem Abschluss des Instructor Training Course (ITC) nimmst du an einer Instructor Evaluation (IE) teil, um dich als SSI Open Water Instructor zu qualifizieren. Dieses 10-tägige Trainingsprogramm berechtigt dich dazu, verschiedene SSI Schlüsselprogramme wie Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue und Dive Guide selbstständig zu unterrichten.

Wer sich zwischen den Trainings mehr Zeit zum Lernen und Sammeln wertvoller Unterrichtserfahrung nehmen möchte, kann die 3 Teile auch in Einzelschritten absolvieren - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) und Instructor Evaluation (IE) nacheinander im eigenen Tempo und mit flexiblem Zeitplan.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★★ Aquarium / Lhohifushi Corner

This dive site is located right next to the island. The long reef ends into a corner of the canal. Here you can see several highlights. A very nice dive site for beginners as well as experienced divers.

1,987
Logs
1,135
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ HP Reef / Rainbow Reef

One of the most colorful dive sites in North Male Atoll. On the south side of Girifushi island with abundant fish life and very nice soft corals, there are numerous blue soft corals and a swim through. The current can be strong!

607
Logs
407
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ West Rock (Wreck)

West Rock is home to a small wreck that is easy to dive, which lies upright in a small bay at a depth of about 26m. Parts of the hold can be explored. The superstructure and the mast come down to 10m.

140
Logs
104
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Okobe Thila

This amazing reef are 3 blocks. The biggest begins in the south between 80-100m long and it's full of corals, it would be nice we can start here. In the east we have another wonderful block a bit similar to east block Maya Thila covert full with corals. In the north is the smallest block. AOW or higher

279
Logs
203
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Sunlight Thila

Sunlight Thila is a formation of two small reefs that attract giant manta rays between March and October. Between the reefs lies a 60-meter long sandy bottom boasting small coral formations with plenty of cleaner wrasses.

91
Logs
64
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Himmafushi Corner

Himmafushi Corner is a drift dive, best suited for divers with a lot of experience as this dive is deep and can have strong currents. The corner slopes from 5 to 30m and after that comes to a small drop off to 45/50m. This dive should only be conducted during the incoming current.

301
Logs
206
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Karens Block

Really nice drift dive on a sloping wall and blocks in the more sloping area full of soft corals and marine life. It starts at 4 to 5 meters and goes down to 30+ meters and is one side of a channel. You can expect current but not too strong.

42
Logs
28
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Back Kani

Easy but always nice dive. The top of the reef drops down from 7m to 30/35m and then runs into the sand. Depending on the current, you simply dive the right or left shoulder. With a little luck, this dive site offers everything that makes diving exciting!

523
Logs
312
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Lohis

This drift dive is a slope from 5 to 25m. Some big blocks are on the way. There you will find big turtles and sharks passing by. On top of the reef, you see parrotfish, napoleon, morays, and eagle rays.

254
Logs
153
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Kani Thila

Kani Thila is about 400m from Kani inside and should only be dived by experienced divers. It is already very deep and you must always keep an eye on the air supply. There are overhangs with black coral bushes and on the reef top there are bubble anemones.

36
Logs
34
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Nassimo Thila

Probably one of the best Thilas in the whole North Male area. There are several pinnacles on the north of the Thila, where the main fish are, along with beautiful coral formations and sea fans. Wonderful dive for experienced divers due to the strong current.

516
Logs
415
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Huraa Etere

An easy dive site which is ideal for open water dives 3 and 4 OWD, but also offers nice macro stuff. You can find them at the mini wreck or the cargo that lies around the hull on the ground (16-19m). A little further out west (20m) we find a small thila.

51
Logs
34
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Fish Tank

This dive site has many names, Fish Tank, Fish Factory, Stingray City and they all fit! There is actually a fish factory on the island and this is the reason why there are so many rays and moray eels.

2,458
Logs
1,971
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Lankan Beyru

Lankan is a cleaning station for manta rays and scuba divers visiting often get to see an amazing manta show, one of the highlights of any trip to the Maldives.

2,618
Logs
1,897
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Lankan Faru

Nice drift dive for all levels of divers. After Manta season we dive here to watch other amazing life. The reef slopes from 5 to 30m down, deeper on the bottom, sharks and stingrays are found in the sandy areas. In the big rocks, we see groupers and glass fish.

598
Logs
488
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Malé

Diving in Malé is characterised by submerged pinnacle reefs (thilas), caves, swim throughs, channel (kandu) drift dives and even some wrecks. Almost all liveaboards leave from here, meaning you have a wide selection to choose from. If you want to dive a lot and see as many sites as possible, this may be your best option. There are several dive resorts on nearby islands if you wish to stay close to the capital. There are also plenty in the wider Kaafu Atoll if you wish to go further afield. There are a couple of dive centres on the island itself, perfect if you want to do a dive course while staying in the city with even more on Hulhumalé.

The best Months to dive in Malé

Malé enjoys constant temperatures all year round, with the water temperatures rarely dropping below 27 degrees. There are two distinct seasons - the rainy and the dry. During the dry season (December - April) the winds are almost non-existent, the seas are calm and the visibility is often 40m+. This is the best time to dive but it is also the most expensive time.

The rainy season from June - November brings higher winds (and rougher seas as a result) with more rain, though plenty of sunshine as well! The winds bring in plankton, which decreases the visibility - but it does attract manta rays and whale sharks! Also, the prices go down during this season as it is less busy.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

DivePoint Rannalhi

Adaaran Club Rannalhi, 20026 South Male Atoll, MDV

Master Liveaboards Maldives

FW Residence 07-03,Kurikeela Magu, 23000 Hulhumale, MRT

MALDIVES AGGRESSOR II

Male, MDV

Ocean Junkies

Lot 11647, Dhigga Magu, 23000 Hulhumale, MDV

Other Divers @Dhiffushi

Finivaa Magu, 08030 Dhiffushi, MDV

My Dive

G. Neelofaruhigun, 20138 Male, AS - MDV

Salted Ventures

Ma. Beach House, Vaidheri Higun Male, MDV

Albatros Top Boat Maldives

m/y Duke of York -G.Shafag-Ground Floor-Radhebai Magu, 20022 Male, MDV

Amphibuzz Dive

Amphibuzz Dive, Male’, MDV

Maldivers Dhiffushi

Faruma, Dhiffushi, MDV

Seafari Maldives

Seafari Maldives Pvt Ltd, 1200 Male, MDV

Coast Guard Diving Centre

Coast Guard Building, 200095 Male’, MDV

Sun Diving Olhuveli

Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives, 2005 South Male Atoll, MDV

Dive Point Guraidhoo

Silincoa, K. Guraidhoo, Guraidhoo, MDV

SSI Service Center Maldives

H. Crest, 200015 Male, MDV

Dive Point Hudhuran Fushi

H. Crest Finifenmaa Goalhi, 200015 Male, Henveyru, MDV

Sub Oceanic @ Hilton Maldives Amingiri

Hilton Maldives Amingiri, 20188 North Male Atoll, MDV

Diverland Embudu

Diverland, 00000 Embudu Village, MDV

Diverland Summer Island

Summer Island Maldives, 00000 Male, MDV

Feenaa Diving Thulusdhoo

Araamu, K.Thulhusdhoo, Kaafu male’, 08040 THULUSDHOO, MDV