© 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

956 Sightings
J
59
F
42
M
71
A
110
M
53
J
60
J
122
A
70
S
59
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

789 Sightings
J
46
F
41
M
49
A
56
M
53
J
61
J
95
A
89
S
69
O
82
N
67
D
81
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

530 Sightings
J
28
F
20
M
17
A
33
M
39
J
41
J
119
A
66
S
31
O
38
N
34
D
64
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

524 Sightings
J
35
F
34
M
48
A
32
M
38
J
39
J
59
A
73
S
21
O
72
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

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

Reef Manta Ray

151 Sightings
J
8
F
11
M
24
A
15
M
3
J
7
J
11
A
10
S
6
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

113 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
10
A
16
M
10
J
5
J
21
A
21
S
6
O
6
N
8
D
2
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

56 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
3
A
15
M
8
J
3
J
1
A
2
S
8
O
5
N
1
D
5
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

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

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.3k Sightings
J
90
F
68
M
90
A
127
M
61
J
76
J
157
A
139
S
137
O
141
N
129
D
118

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

862 Sightings
J
53
F
32
M
72
A
73
M
59
J
62
J
113
A
88
S
50
O
88
N
70
D
102
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

816 Sightings
J
43
F
55
M
63
A
72
M
53
J
68
J
106
A
80
S
63
O
71
N
79
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

790 Sightings
J
37
F
28
M
58
A
80
M
64
J
68
J
107
A
85
S
39
O
93
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

764 Sightings
J
33
F
26
M
54
A
68
M
49
J
58
J
94
A
81
S
34
O
95
N
72
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

712 Sightings
J
48
F
37
M
53
A
59
M
38
J
44
J
104
A
61
S
31
O
89
N
60
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

709 Sightings
J
41
F
24
M
51
A
47
M
58
J
65
J
109
A
86
S
33
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

637 Sightings
J
37
F
25
M
35
A
53
M
38
J
65
J
85
A
75
S
25
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.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

611 Sightings
J
38
F
17
M
44
A
56
M
43
J
59
J
76
A
63
S
37
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.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

609 Sightings
J
28
F
19
M
41
A
55
M
37
J
56
J
99
A
66
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.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

597 Sightings
J
42
F
24
M
40
A
41
M
58
J
50
J
88
A
45
S
30
O
69
N
49
D
61

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

564 Sightings
J
41
F
31
M
29
A
38
M
40
J
40
J
82
A
68
S
32
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.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

410 Sightings
J
23
F
26
M
23
A
37
M
14
J
40
J
56
A
57
S
35
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.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

404 Sightings
J
14
F
6
M
33
A
31
M
38
J
54
J
60
A
21
S
12
O
62
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.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

295 Sightings
J
8
F
9
M
20
A
26
M
21
J
22
J
39
A
44
S
6
O
42
N
25
D
33
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

288 Sightings
J
21
F
26
M
11
A
40
M
17
J
11
J
30
A
35
S
42
O
26
N
7
D
22

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

242 Sightings
J
19
F
10
M
17
A
12
M
17
J
19
J
24
A
35
S
13
O
24
N
21
D
31

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
11
S
12
O
15
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

235 Sightings
J
9
F
13
M
14
A
11
M
18
J
21
J
50
A
23
S
10
O
27
N
23
D
16

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

193 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
26
A
21
M
5
J
30
J
29
A
16
S
2
O
28
N
10
D
17

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

178 Sightings
J
11
F
5
M
12
A
12
M
10
J
8
J
13
A
39
S
10
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.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

168 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
10
A
14
M
16
J
9
J
40
A
10
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.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

156 Sightings
J
9
F
5
M
14
A
4
M
13
J
15
J
18
A
14
S
13
O
19
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.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

110 Sightings
J
5
F
5
M
5
A
13
M
2
J
8
J
12
A
13
S
9
O
12
N
3
D
23

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

108 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
13
A
17
M
7
J
4
J
5
A
17
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.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

80 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
5
A
11
M
7
J
4
J
9
A
5
S
12
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

73 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
3
A
1
M
5
J
4
J
19
A
11
S
4
O
7
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

72 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
7
A
9
M
17
J
2
J
8
A
7
S
2
O
8
N
1
D
8
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

63 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
16
A
14
S
17
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.: 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

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

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