Explore Northern Atolls

The Northern Atolls of the Maldives offer an extraordinary diving experience, characterized by stunning tropical reefs and quieter dive environments compared to their southern counterparts. Spanning over 100 miles, the region includes the Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani, Haa Alif, Shaviyani, Haa Dhaalu, and Noonu atolls. Divers can expect excellent visibility and warm waters throughout the year, making it a dream destination for both beginners and advanced divers alike.

In these atolls, you'll find a variety of dive styles, from serene shore dives within calm lagoons and thilas to the thrilling drift dives offered by the channels during tide changes. The area also offers unique cave and wreck diving opportunities, ideal for those looking to enhance their diving skills. The underwater landscape is vibrant with colorful hard and soft corals, teeming with reef fish and larger marine life such as turtles, giant trevally, and sharks. During the monsoon months, manta rays and whale sharks grace these waters, drawing divers from across the globe for a chance to witness these majestic creatures up close.

What sets the Northern Atolls apart is their pristine, untouched quality. This less-developed region provides an intimate diving experience, often allowing divers to explore sites without the crowds typical of other regions. Whether diving from a liveaboard or a dive resort, the Northern Atolls promise a unique blend of tranquility and adventure, making it an ideal escape for those seeking both the beauty of the ocean and the charm of traditional Maldivian culture.

Places to Explore

Lhaviyani Atoll

34 Divesites 1 Center

The Lhaviyani Atoll features more than 50 dive sites including the Aquarium and Madimaru Kandu.

Raa Atoll

57 Divesites 2 Centers

Raa Atoll is a very popular dive spot in the Northern Atolls due to its pristine thilas.

Noonu Atoll

10 Divesites 2 Centers

Noonu Atoll is known for its huge population of spinner dolphins as well as having the the largest concentration swarming fish in the Maldives.

Shaviyani Atoll

21 Divesites 1 Center

If you are looking for a spot in the Maldives that is isolated, and relatively unknown and unexplored, then the Shaviyani Atoll is the area for you.

Haa Dhaalu Atoll

13 Divesites 1 Center

The Haa Dhaalu Atoll offers a great dive area with wide channels and shallower drop offs and also beautiful underwater caves.

South East Haa Alif Atoll

21 Divesites

As you go further south in the Haa Alif Atoll you will come across a great shipwreck to explore that is not that deep.

North West Haa Alif Atoll

The North West Haa Alif atoll offers some great dive sites for beginners and less experienced divers.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★★ Fenfushi Giri

If you want to see anemones you have to come to this place,, there is a field with hundreds of anemones where we also can always find turtles. The Giri has approx. a diameter of 120m and is easy to dive around. Some nice small overhangs

600
Logs
397
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Labyrinth

You should have some experience for this TOP dive site! The reef top starts at 15m! and is a block about 80x70m around it are large blocks full of fish and soft corals. There is a nice little canyon and small breakthroughs! NITROX and DEEP Specialty desirable !!

445
Logs
296
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Beriyan Dhekunu Thila

Regardless of whether Thila or the nearby main reef BDT is the best Marco place, which does not mean that there are no big fish;) However, there are occasional “funny currents“ which are no problem with a guide who knows his way around! After the small Thila, simply hold the current right / left shoulder and drift

407
Logs
244
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Vadhoo Thila

This dive site is a must for all experienced divers. The small main block, only about 80m round, is surrounded by smaller reefs that are almost canyon-like and have holes and arcs to dive through. Due to the location, this dive is great for deep / nitrox.

307
Logs
206
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Kottefaru Thila

Great thila with many small overhangs that often serve as shelter for rays, nurse sharks and turtles. Soft corals and extremely many anemones !! Due to its location in a canal, a current must always be expected. We, therefore, recommend having experience with currents or a * special * dive.

781
Logs
457
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Maafaru Caves

Wonderful drift dive in a frenzy of colors. This reef is like an open subway tunnel cut on the side. Soft corals in many different colors hang everywhere in the tunnel. In the middle of the canal, there are coral blocks with a good chance of gray reef shark (when there’s current). The perfect place for a current specialty!

229
Logs
156
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Kinolhas

A simple, mostly calm dive site.Very suitable for the first boat dive since the beginning lighter sandy bottom.Big blocs with schooling fish of different species are here encountered. The reef falls on very slowly from 2m down to about 11m and then aplateau run out at a depth of 20-24m.

1,292
Logs
579
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Nagili Thila

Great drift dive over several large blocks and small thilas. Due to distances of 80m and currents more demanding and for experienced divers or divers willing to learn. Nice overhangs and arches in the deeper area, Deep / Nitrox has the best combination. Depending on the current, you can go diving on the house reef

374
Logs
177
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Beriyan Kuda Thila

Because of its current, BKT is reserved for experienced divers or is dived in times of low current. Not far from BBT, the rock rises to a depth of 16m. The south side has a nice plateau at 25m and then drops off steeply to 40m. Cleaning station for gray reef sharks!

569
Logs
349
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Beriyan Bodu Thila

BBT is a dive site that you can dive every day and each time you“ii find different conditions and creatures. The reef top starts at 5m, at 8 / 9m it drops down to 30m. There are some small overhangs in the western part of the Thila which are partly overgrown with soft corals.

1,007
Logs
562
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Sola Corner

From November / December to the beginning of May one of the best manta spots in the Maldives! Also suitable for beginners! But not only mantas are sighted here. Lots of pelagic delicacies can be discovered with a bit of luck. Can have a stronger current, but easy to dive.

724
Logs
369
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Neyo Kanmathi

The reef top has something of a lunar landscape, despite or precisely because of this it is often a very special dive. The northern side often serves as a starting point when the current is draining from a steep wall over a sandy plateau to a normal slope. Manta rays between the end of September and November

281
Logs
174
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Koroshigiri Canyon

This great dive site is characterized by a wonderful underwater landscape in the south. The top reef starts at about 3m and drops to about 10m.Then the wall is criss-crossed with beautiful overhangs that can be dived to a depth of 30m. Upstream a small Thila that comes from 33 to 18m, Nitrox and deep specialty!

162
Logs
120
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Maamunagaa Giri

Maamunagaa Giri is like an isosceles triangle and can only be approached in good weather. The south side lies on the deep channel between Baa and Raa Atoll. Here, and on the northwest side, you can often see gray reef sharks and a beautiful school of jackfish. Macro life lies in the small overhangs and holes.

291
Logs
211
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Maafaru Thila

Great challenging reef that consists of 2 thilas. The eastern Thila is not that big and is circled in 25 to 30 minutes then you fly about. 120m to the 2nd thila. Here it goes down again to look for a frogfish. Between November and April mantas and mobulas possible.

443
Logs
284
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Northern Atolls

The Northern Atolls are a diver's paradise, offering a diverse range of underwater experiences. Among the top dive sites is the famous wreck dive at the "Maldives Victory," a cargo ship that sank in 1981. This site, teeming with marine life, allows divers to explore the ship's hull and observe the vibrant coral growth. Another highlight is the "Banana Reef," renowned for its stunning coral formations and abundance of fish species, making it perfect for both novice and experienced divers. For those interested in shore dives, "Manta Point" offers a unique chance to witness manta rays in their natural habitat. Night diving at "Hans Haas Place" reveals the nocturnal behaviors of the reef's inhabitants, offering a mysterious and thrilling experience. The Northern Atolls provide an ideal balance between shore and liveaboard diving options, catering to travelers looking for flexibility and adventure in exploring the rich underwater landscapes.

The best Months to dive in Northern Atolls

Diving in the Northern Atolls offers year-round opportunities due to generally favorable conditions. Water temperatures range from 27°C–30°C/81°F–86°F throughout the year, providing comfortable conditions for divers. Visibility remains excellent, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, which enhances the diving experience by allowing clear views of the vibrant marine life and coral formations. Wind and currents are significant factors influencing diving conditions. The northeastern monsoon, from November to April, typically brings calmer seas and mild currents, making it the ideal period for diving. In contrast, the southwestern monsoon, from May to October, can cause rough seas and stronger currents, particularly from June to August. While diving is feasible year-round, divers may prefer to plan their trips during the calmer months for optimal conditions.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Sub Oceanic Maldives @

Sirru Fen Fushi, Shaviyani Atoll, MDV

Diverland Hondaafushi

Embudu Village, Embudu, MDV

Sun Diving Irufushi

Sun Siyam Irufushi, 2036 Noonu Atoll, MDV

Sub Oceanic @ Le Méridien Maldives

Thilamaafushi, Lhaviyani Atoll, MDV

DivePoint Meedhupparu

Raa Atoll, Meedhupparu, MDV

Sun Diving @ Siyam World

Siyam World, 20066 Male, MDV

Dive Mission You and Me

Aazaadhuge, 200015 Male, MDV