© Mares

North Male Atoll in the Maldives is incredibly beautiful, with its shimmering turquoise waters and white sandy islands. The diving here is hugely varied and a conveniently short hop from the main airport in Male.

Due to the proximity with the capital, Male, there are plenty of options when scuba diving in North Male Atoll. Dive resorts and dive centers are plentiful on the inhabited islands and most offer dive courses of all levels. Liveaboards are a popular way to dive in the Maldives and most pass through North Male Atoll as they leave the capital.

Local highlights include diving with manta rays and whale sharks and exploring fascinating dive sites which include caves, overhangs, drifts and even a wreck.

Dive Activity

Diving in North Malé Atoll

Due to its proximity to the capital of Male, you are spoilt for choice when scuba diving in North Male Atoll. Many liveaboards start their journey in the capital and visit these dive sites and there are numerous dive resorts nearby.

North Male Atoll diving offers much variety - you can find classic Maldivian thilas (or pinnacles) carpeted in coral, along with overhangs and walls which are great for exploring. There is even a manta cleaning station and a wreck to enjoy.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in North Malé Atoll

Diving in North Male Atoll is possible year round due to the fantastic weather and consistent air and water temperatures. From November to May, the weather is dry and calm and the visibility is excellent.

The monsoon season is from May to November. You will see an increase in short, sharp rain showers along with increased wind. Though the wind can make the sea choppy and disrupt boat trips, it also draws in plankton which attracts big filter feeders like mantas and whale sharks.

Top Wildlife Sightings in North Malé Atoll

Due to its proximity to the capital of Male, you are spoilt for choice when scuba diving in North Male Atoll. Many liveaboards start their journey in the capital and visit these dive sites and there are numerous dive resorts nearby.

North Male Atoll diving offers much variety - you can find classic Maldivian thilas (or pinnacles) carpeted in coral, along with overhangs and walls which are great for exploring. There is even a manta cleaning station and a wreck to enjoy.

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

935 Sightings
J
59
F
42
M
71
A
110
M
53
J
60
J
122
A
60
S
48
O
113
N
86
D
111

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

746 Sightings
J
46
F
41
M
48
A
56
M
53
J
62
J
95
A
71
S
43
O
82
N
67
D
82
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

524 Sightings
J
28
F
20
M
17
A
33
M
37
J
41
J
119
A
64
S
29
O
38
N
34
D
64
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

506 Sightings
J
35
F
34
M
46
A
32
M
38
J
39
J
59
A
59
S
20
O
71
N
32
D
41

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

208 Sightings
J
10
F
9
M
11
A
31
M
21
J
18
J
16
A
20
S
8
O
7
N
19
D
38
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

148 Sightings
J
8
F
11
M
24
A
15
M
3
J
6
J
11
A
10
S
4
O
12
N
16
D
28

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

114 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
11
A
16
M
10
J
5
J
21
A
20
S
5
O
7
N
8
D
3
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

60 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
5
A
7
M
8
J
4
J
1
A
9
S
3
O
9
N
10
D
1

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

48 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
2
A
14
M
8
J
3
J
1
A
2
S
2
O
4
N
1
D
6
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

39 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
6
A
5
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
3
S
3
O
2
N
3
D
11
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.3k Sightings
J
90
F
68
M
89
A
127
M
61
J
76
J
157
A
112
S
94
O
140
N
128
D
119

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

840 Sightings
J
52
F
31
M
72
A
73
M
59
J
62
J
113
A
80
S
38
O
88
N
70
D
102
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

778 Sightings
J
43
F
55
M
63
A
72
M
53
J
68
J
106
A
59
S
46
O
72
N
78
D
63

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

772 Sightings
J
37
F
27
M
58
A
79
M
64
J
68
J
106
A
79
S
31
O
92
N
46
D
85

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

745 Sightings
J
33
F
26
M
54
A
68
M
49
J
58
J
94
A
69
S
29
O
94
N
71
D
100

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

701 Sightings
J
48
F
37
M
53
A
56
M
38
J
44
J
104
A
59
S
27
O
89
N
58
D
88

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

694 Sightings
J
39
F
23
M
51
A
45
M
58
J
65
J
109
A
78
S
31
O
81
N
44
D
70

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

622 Sightings
J
37
F
25
M
35
A
53
M
38
J
65
J
85
A
63
S
22
O
96
N
60
D
43

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

603 Sightings
J
28
F
19
M
41
A
55
M
37
J
56
J
99
A
60
S
38
O
66
N
48
D
56

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

595 Sightings
J
37
F
16
M
44
A
56
M
43
J
59
J
76
A
57
S
29
O
72
N
44
D
62

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

593 Sightings
J
41
F
23
M
40
A
41
M
58
J
50
J
88
A
43
S
27
O
71
N
49
D
62

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

547 Sightings
J
40
F
30
M
29
A
36
M
40
J
40
J
82
A
62
S
25
O
55
N
37
D
71

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

411 Sightings
J
14
F
6
M
33
A
31
M
38
J
54
J
60
A
24
S
14
O
64
N
23
D
50

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

409 Sightings
J
23
F
26
M
23
A
37
M
14
J
40
J
56
A
59
S
32
O
34
N
24
D
41

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

289 Sightings
J
8
F
9
M
20
A
24
M
21
J
21
J
39
A
41
S
6
O
42
N
24
D
34
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

268 Sightings
J
21
F
26
M
11
A
40
M
17
J
11
J
30
A
26
S
30
O
26
N
7
D
23

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

243 Sightings
J
19
F
10
M
17
A
12
M
17
J
19
J
24
A
35
S
13
O
24
N
21
D
32

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

235 Sightings
J
12
F
9
M
7
A
16
M
24
J
25
J
50
A
13
S
8
O
17
N
22
D
32

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

226 Sightings
J
9
F
13
M
14
A
11
M
16
J
21
J
50
A
18
S
7
O
27
N
23
D
17

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

195 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
26
A
21
M
5
J
30
J
29
A
14
S
3
O
30
N
10
D
18

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

173 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
10
A
14
M
16
J
11
J
40
A
13
S
3
O
24
N
19
D
14

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

168 Sightings
J
11
F
5
M
12
A
12
M
10
J
8
J
13
A
35
S
4
O
12
N
9
D
37

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

162 Sightings
J
9
F
5
M
14
A
4
M
13
J
15
J
18
A
23
S
8
O
21
N
19
D
13

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

105 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
13
A
17
M
7
J
4
J
5
A
14
S
6
O
16
N
9
D
7

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

104 Sightings
J
5
F
5
M
5
A
13
M
2
J
8
J
11
A
12
S
6
O
12
N
2
D
23

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

78 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
5
A
11
M
7
J
4
J
9
A
5
S
10
O
4
N
7
D
5

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

76 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
3
A
1
M
5
J
4
J
19
A
11
S
5
O
9
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 approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

73 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
7
A
9
M
17
J
2
J
8
A
8
S
2
O
8
N
1
D
8

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

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

55 Sightings
J
2
F
3
M
9
A
8
M
6
J
2
J
8
A
2
S
0
O
7
N
2
D
6
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

52 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
16
A
12
S
8
O
5
N
3
D
2

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

39 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
4
M
4
J
2
J
4
A
2
S
5
O
8
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 approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

36 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
5
A
9
M
3
J
0
J
3
A
4
S
0
O
7
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 approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

34 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
4
J
5
J
12
A
1
S
0
O
2
N
3
D
5