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Explore Rasdhoo Atoll

Rasdhoo Atoll, nestled in the heart of the Maldives, offers an extraordinary diving experience for enthusiasts seeking both excitement and tranquility. Despite being one of the smaller atolls with only four islands, it is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and accessibility from Malé, just 58 kilometers away. Divers can explore a captivating underwater world that boasts three intriguing wrecks, mysterious cave systems, and vibrant horseshoe reefs off Madivaru Island. These diverse dive environments cater to various styles, whether you prefer thrilling boat dives or more leisurely shore explorations. A highlight of Rasdhoo Atoll is the exhilarating opportunity to dive with hammerhead sharks, a rare spectacle in the diving community. Schools of these majestic creatures, numbering over 200, can be seen emerging from the deep waters surrounding the atoll, providing an unforgettable encounter. Rasdhoo Madivaru and Hammerhead Point are particularly celebrated spots, offering steep walls that plunge dramatically into the ocean depths. This unique setting, combined with the allure of encountering schooling hammerheads, makes Rasdhoo Atoll a must-visit destination for divers seeking both adventure and the chance to witness one of nature's true wonders.

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Diving in Rasdhoo Atoll

Rasdhoo Atoll is unusual in this area because it is surrounded by deep waters - the wall dives on the outside of the atoll have drop offs down to 200m. This cooler water attracts large pelagic life like manta rays and hammerhead sharks. The wall has gentle currents, but the stronger drifts tend to be in the channels (kandus) within the atoll.

There are three wrecks to choose from, located at 40m, 34m and 7m. If wreck diving is your passion, it may be advisable to get your advanced qualification with deep specification before you come as not all places facilitate dive courses. A highlight is the opportunity to dive the 40m wreck at night!

There is a choice on how to dive in Rasdhoo Atoll. The island of Rasdhoo has 5 dive centres to choose from, some of which also function as dive resorts. As they are dive centres as well, you can stay elsewhere on the island if you wish. One of the best ways to dive here is on a liveaboard. Most liveaboards leave from nearby Malé which means that there is a lot to choose from! They also cater for a variety of budgets and desired trip durations.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Rasdhoo Atoll

The weather and diving in Rasdhoo Atoll is generally very pleasant all year round. Both the water and air temperatures stay constant and there is always great diving to be had.

The wet season is between April and October. Due to the winds, the visibility reduces slightly but the currents are less fierce and the diving can be easier which is favoured by some divers. The best time to dive here is between October and April. There is less rain, the visibility improves and it is the perfect time to spot manta rays!

Top Wildlife Sightings in Rasdhoo Atoll

The marine life in Rasdhoo Atoll is typical of the region. Most dive sites offer opportunities to see larger life such as reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, barracuda, napoleons, stingrays and green and hawksbill turtles. Schools of snapper, jacks, trevally and fusiliers are almost omnipresent. Looking deeper into the reefs will yield more hidden beasties like moray and ribbon eels, lobster and all manner of colourful reef fish. For the really eagle eyed, there is also the masters of camouflage like ghost pipefish, frogfish and leaf fish. Manta rays can be seen at certain sites from October - April and occasionally whale sharks are sighted to the north.

One of the highlights of Rasdhoo Atoll diving is the opportunity to dive with hammerheads. Early morning dives along the walls will yield a few but that’s not the really amazing bit. On a good day, the hammerheads come schooling out of the deep blue in numbers of over 200. It is one of the last places in the world where this can be seen and it’s not one to miss.

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.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

5.9k Sightings
J
561
F
690
M
734
A
596
M
278
J
200
J
426
A
562
S
365
O
458
N
502
D
507

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

5.2k Sightings
J
488
F
549
M
542
A
409
M
231
J
176
J
445
A
499
S
339
O
494
N
567
D
444
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

2.8k Sightings
J
248
F
284
M
315
A
328
M
135
J
80
J
285
A
316
S
157
O
162
N
255
D
203

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

2.5k Sightings
J
237
F
267
M
195
A
232
M
109
J
109
J
199
A
240
S
168
O
225
N
299
D
234
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

2k Sightings
J
279
F
279
M
326
A
140
M
70
J
9
J
29
A
140
S
132
O
179
N
240
D
196
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

1.6k Sightings
J
95
F
139
M
137
A
110
M
85
J
44
J
152
A
189
S
164
O
157
N
164
D
129

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

1.3k Sightings
J
113
F
147
M
132
A
158
M
56
J
29
J
125
A
116
S
63
O
116
N
155
D
117
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

283 Sightings
J
45
F
48
M
43
A
14
M
8
J
0
J
2
A
26
S
6
O
26
N
36
D
29

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

257 Sightings
J
13
F
20
M
26
A
52
M
28
J
7
J
24
A
15
S
10
O
18
N
33
D
11
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

7.8k Sightings
J
779
F
937
M
891
A
744
M
317
J
219
J
542
A
703
S
522
O
672
N
782
D
659
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

6.2k Sightings
J
660
F
753
M
685
A
530
M
299
J
121
J
419
A
542
S
402
O
547
N
658
D
580
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

4.7k Sightings
J
424
F
466
M
495
A
541
M
217
J
134
J
359
A
537
S
301
O
407
N
414
D
406

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

3.9k Sightings
J
353
F
396
M
342
A
342
M
197
J
109
J
292
A
399
S
277
O
380
N
458
D
353

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

3.9k Sightings
J
392
F
440
M
300
A
359
M
180
J
144
J
320
A
382
S
253
O
371
N
396
D
327

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

3.6k Sightings
J
337
F
360
M
216
A
369
M
166
J
136
J
319
A
400
S
275
O
341
N
381
D
332

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

3.1k Sightings
J
269
F
376
M
244
A
300
M
131
J
96
J
270
A
284
S
197
O
287
N
359
D
276

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

2.7k Sightings
J
234
F
351
M
201
A
253
M
86
J
98
J
218
A
286
S
194
O
287
N
291
D
246

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

2.6k Sightings
J
241
F
281
M
159
A
274
M
120
J
111
J
211
A
271
S
179
O
278
N
325
D
191

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

2.2k Sightings
J
187
F
211
M
119
A
209
M
84
J
91
J
205
A
278
S
173
O
222
N
261
D
204

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

2.2k Sightings
J
232
F
303
M
261
A
158
M
67
J
71
J
133
A
193
S
163
O
211
N
230
D
142

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

2.2k Sightings
J
194
F
228
M
135
A
174
M
90
J
74
J
191
A
279
S
162
O
211
N
264
D
158

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

2.1k Sightings
J
158
F
228
M
129
A
168
M
66
J
109
J
188
A
239
S
163
O
228
N
232
D
173
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

2k Sightings
J
232
F
221
M
265
A
170
M
87
J
54
J
131
A
155
S
113
O
129
N
203
D
232

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

1.9k Sightings
J
226
F
300
M
219
A
188
M
76
J
61
J
116
A
168
S
95
O
135
N
169
D
180

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

1.8k Sightings
J
196
F
246
M
151
A
139
M
41
J
20
J
154
A
195
S
105
O
159
N
197
D
188

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

1k Sightings
J
96
F
124
M
105
A
108
M
21
J
31
J
32
A
77
S
81
O
102
N
149
D
105

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

1k Sightings
J
112
F
129
M
102
A
103
M
50
J
10
J
86
A
91
S
36
O
99
N
109
D
82

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

993 Sightings
J
124
F
119
M
93
A
85
M
48
J
29
J
109
A
109
S
52
O
62
N
75
D
88

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

880 Sightings
J
113
F
67
M
65
A
73
M
37
J
32
J
71
A
84
S
50
O
78
N
133
D
77

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

800 Sightings
J
66
F
83
M
58
A
93
M
30
J
21
J
66
A
95
S
69
O
68
N
85
D
66

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

729 Sightings
J
74
F
96
M
64
A
78
M
28
J
14
J
54
A
56
S
72
O
56
N
70
D
67

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

597 Sightings
J
59
F
84
M
45
A
74
M
26
J
3
J
74
A
56
S
49
O
30
N
47
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

548 Sightings
J
60
F
64
M
28
A
77
M
24
J
6
J
51
A
79
S
46
O
30
N
38
D
45

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

478 Sightings
J
34
F
71
M
53
A
48
M
22
J
5
J
32
A
59
S
14
O
63
N
49
D
28

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

386 Sightings
J
32
F
25
M
21
A
31
M
20
J
31
J
42
A
36
S
24
O
48
N
36
D
40

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

349 Sightings
J
36
F
39
M
55
A
26
M
1
J
0
J
17
A
23
S
30
O
35
N
49
D
38

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

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

273 Sightings
J
19
F
26
M
32
A
22
M
18
J
0
J
22
A
41
S
30
O
20
N
23
D
20

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

195 Sightings
J
11
F
30
M
13
A
40
M
0
J
3
J
19
A
12
S
0
O
43
N
24
D
0