Explore Shaviyani Atoll

Shaviyani Atoll, nestled in the northern reaches of the Maldives, offers a serene and intimate diving experience that stands out for its untouched beauty and tranquil atmosphere. Less explored than its southern counterparts, this atoll promises divers an exclusive encounter with the vibrant marine life typical of the Maldives, but without the crowds. With 51 islands, only 16 of which are inhabited, Shaviyani Atoll provides a sense of seclusion, allowing for peaceful dives where divers often find themselves as the sole explorers of these underwater paradises.

One of the highlights of diving in Shaviyani Atoll is Lupo Thila, a smaller reef teeming with extensive marine life. Divers can expect to encounter everything from colorful reef fish to majestic manta rays gliding gracefully by. For those seeking a thrill, the aptly named 'Secret Shark Spot' offers unforgettable encounters with reef sharks. This unique dive site is renowned for its regular gatherings of these majestic creatures, providing a rare spectacle for those daring enough to immerse themselves in their world. Whether you're diving from shore, boat, or enjoying a liveaboard adventure, Shaviyani Atoll promises a magical marine adventure that's both captivating and tranquil.

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    Diving in Shaviyani Atoll

    Shaviyani Atoll diving is less populated by dive resorts and centres than elsewhere in the Northern Atolls. There is only one dive centre available in the whole atoll, though there are several inclusive diving resorts. Perhaps the easiest way to dive Shaviyani Atoll is via a liveaboard. There is a selection that run in the area so you should be able to find one to suit your dream holiday. Many liveaboards require a minimum certification level or number of dives so it’s a good idea to check before you book to avoid being disappointed.

    Unless you are staying at a dive resort, it may not be the best location for introductory dive courses. As both of the major dive sites are quite deep, it is generally more suited to the advanced diver. 

    Top Wildlife Sightings in Shaviyani Atoll

    Diving in Shaviyani Atoll brings offers marine life that is typical of the region. Macro life on the reef is a dream for photographers - a huge variety of nudibranchs will keep divers hunting for hours, just looking for the prettiest individual. Getting up close and personal with the reefs may also yield other treasures. The rare and super weird frogfish and rhinopias are a treat to witness as they walk clumsily along the reef.

    The reef systems are very healthy and have an abundance of coral - soft anemones nestle next to hard giants like tables and fans. These healthy reefs mean that there are hundreds of types of reef fish swimming in shoals and dazzling with their colours amongst regular like green and hawksbill turtles.

    Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

    Hawksbill Turtle

    Hawksbill Turtle

    311 Sightings
    J
    22
    F
    32
    M
    33
    A
    46
    M
    22
    J
    26
    J
    17
    A
    16
    S
    18
    O
    22
    N
    12
    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

    Eagle Ray

    Eagle Ray

    298 Sightings
    J
    25
    F
    36
    M
    30
    A
    44
    M
    13
    J
    20
    J
    17
    A
    20
    S
    21
    O
    13
    N
    17
    D
    42

    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

    222 Sightings
    J
    16
    F
    35
    M
    30
    A
    27
    M
    6
    J
    13
    J
    10
    A
    13
    S
    15
    O
    27
    N
    17
    D
    13
    Reef Manta Ray

    Reef Manta Ray

    201 Sightings
    J
    20
    F
    34
    M
    24
    A
    29
    M
    11
    J
    7
    J
    0
    A
    9
    S
    4
    O
    13
    N
    9
    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

    133 Sightings
    J
    8
    F
    18
    M
    17
    A
    23
    M
    4
    J
    7
    J
    3
    A
    5
    S
    11
    O
    21
    N
    4
    D
    12
    Green Turtle

    Green Turtle

    72 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    13
    M
    7
    A
    7
    M
    5
    J
    2
    J
    6
    A
    6
    S
    5
    O
    4
    N
    8
    D
    5

    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

    45 Sightings
    J
    10
    F
    5
    M
    4
    A
    5
    M
    5
    J
    2
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    1
    O
    3
    N
    7
    D
    0

    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

    38 Sightings
    J
    3
    F
    1
    M
    1
    A
    13
    M
    0
    J
    1
    J
    1
    A
    2
    S
    3
    O
    3
    N
    4
    D
    6
    Bottlenose Dolphin

    Bottlenose Dolphin

    19 Sightings
    J
    2
    F
    1
    M
    0
    A
    5
    M
    1
    J
    1
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    1
    O
    2
    N
    1
    D
    5

    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

    326 Sightings
    J
    26
    F
    44
    M
    35
    A
    49
    M
    18
    J
    18
    J
    20
    A
    13
    S
    16
    O
    32
    N
    16
    D
    39

    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

    239 Sightings
    J
    14
    F
    33
    M
    22
    A
    40
    M
    10
    J
    18
    J
    15
    A
    9
    S
    13
    O
    26
    N
    11
    D
    28

    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

    230 Sightings
    J
    12
    F
    36
    M
    20
    A
    38
    M
    8
    J
    17
    J
    16
    A
    6
    S
    11
    O
    30
    N
    10
    D
    26

    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

    217 Sightings
    J
    19
    F
    25
    M
    19
    A
    37
    M
    12
    J
    18
    J
    12
    A
    6
    S
    11
    O
    25
    N
    10
    D
    23

    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

    213 Sightings
    J
    17
    F
    30
    M
    18
    A
    31
    M
    6
    J
    17
    J
    9
    A
    7
    S
    11
    O
    24
    N
    15
    D
    28

    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

    207 Sightings
    J
    20
    F
    35
    M
    29
    A
    33
    M
    13
    J
    8
    J
    7
    A
    15
    S
    5
    O
    15
    N
    16
    D
    11

    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

    206 Sightings
    J
    13
    F
    37
    M
    20
    A
    34
    M
    5
    J
    10
    J
    9
    A
    6
    S
    10
    O
    24
    N
    9
    D
    29

    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

    194 Sightings
    J
    16
    F
    30
    M
    17
    A
    29
    M
    6
    J
    14
    J
    5
    A
    7
    S
    13
    O
    22
    N
    10
    D
    25

    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

    186 Sightings
    J
    17
    F
    26
    M
    19
    A
    33
    M
    8
    J
    10
    J
    11
    A
    6
    S
    9
    O
    22
    N
    4
    D
    21
    Whitetip Reef Shark

    Whitetip Reef Shark

    164 Sightings
    J
    9
    F
    15
    M
    26
    A
    26
    M
    8
    J
    10
    J
    13
    A
    15
    S
    7
    O
    3
    N
    8
    D
    24

    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

    133 Sightings
    J
    9
    F
    17
    M
    20
    A
    21
    M
    4
    J
    11
    J
    2
    A
    5
    S
    8
    O
    16
    N
    8
    D
    12

    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

    131 Sightings
    J
    7
    F
    20
    M
    18
    A
    10
    M
    1
    J
    8
    J
    10
    A
    4
    S
    7
    O
    20
    N
    9
    D
    17
    Blacktip Reef Shark

    Blacktip Reef Shark

    115 Sightings
    J
    11
    F
    5
    M
    11
    A
    17
    M
    16
    J
    7
    J
    9
    A
    9
    S
    6
    O
    7
    N
    5
    D
    12

    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

    109 Sightings
    J
    8
    F
    18
    M
    9
    A
    12
    M
    4
    J
    8
    J
    1
    A
    6
    S
    9
    O
    17
    N
    4
    D
    13
    Grey Reef Shark

    Grey Reef Shark

    106 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    6
    M
    14
    A
    14
    M
    9
    J
    8
    J
    9
    A
    7
    S
    6
    O
    7
    N
    13
    D
    8

    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

    100 Sightings
    J
    8
    F
    18
    M
    7
    A
    10
    M
    4
    J
    8
    J
    1
    A
    4
    S
    5
    O
    17
    N
    4
    D
    14

    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

    97 Sightings
    J
    12
    F
    12
    M
    9
    A
    17
    M
    2
    J
    8
    J
    1
    A
    6
    S
    5
    O
    17
    N
    5
    D
    3

    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

    95 Sightings
    J
    11
    F
    15
    M
    14
    A
    9
    M
    9
    J
    6
    J
    10
    A
    7
    S
    5
    O
    1
    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

    Grouper/Basslets

    Grouper/Basslets

    87 Sightings
    J
    6
    F
    13
    M
    6
    A
    4
    M
    4
    J
    3
    J
    5
    A
    4
    S
    10
    O
    14
    N
    6
    D
    12

    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

    87 Sightings
    J
    9
    F
    14
    M
    5
    A
    11
    M
    1
    J
    4
    J
    2
    A
    4
    S
    6
    O
    16
    N
    3
    D
    12

    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

    73 Sightings
    J
    7
    F
    11
    M
    6
    A
    12
    M
    2
    J
    5
    J
    1
    A
    4
    S
    4
    O
    12
    N
    3
    D
    6

    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

    69 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    18
    M
    10
    A
    3
    M
    5
    J
    6
    J
    2
    A
    2
    S
    1
    O
    6
    N
    4
    D
    7

    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

    61 Sightings
    J
    7
    F
    2
    M
    5
    A
    5
    M
    4
    J
    2
    J
    0
    A
    3
    S
    6
    O
    7
    N
    2
    D
    18
    Silvertip Shark

    Silvertip Shark

    53 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    2
    M
    10
    A
    8
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    3
    A
    3
    S
    3
    O
    2
    N
    5
    D
    10

    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

    52 Sightings
    J
    6
    F
    8
    M
    2
    A
    9
    M
    2
    J
    2
    J
    1
    A
    4
    S
    4
    O
    11
    N
    3
    D
    0

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

    Total number of species approx.: 20

    Guitarfish

    Guitarfish

    46 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    8
    M
    3
    A
    8
    M
    2
    J
    2
    J
    1
    A
    3
    S
    1
    O
    4
    N
    4
    D
    5

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

    Total number of species approx.: 130

    Pipefish

    Pipefish

    44 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    1
    M
    8
    A
    2
    M
    7
    J
    5
    J
    3
    A
    1
    S
    4
    O
    3
    N
    1
    D
    4

    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

    44 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    12
    M
    1
    A
    2
    M
    3
    J
    3
    J
    0
    A
    4
    S
    2
    O
    6
    N
    2
    D
    4

    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

    43 Sightings
    J
    3
    F
    15
    M
    3
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    6
    J
    0
    A
    3
    S
    3
    O
    5
    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.: 30

    Sand Eel

    Sand Eel

    32 Sightings
    J
    2
    F
    3
    M
    4
    A
    3
    M
    3
    J
    4
    J
    0
    A
    1
    S
    1
    O
    2
    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

    31 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    5
    M
    1
    A
    2
    M
    5
    J
    1
    J
    6
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    2
    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.: 3000

    Nudibranch

    Nudibranch

    30 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    3
    M
    5
    A
    2
    M
    1
    J
    1
    J
    6
    A
    2
    S
    2
    O
    5
    N
    1
    D
    1

    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

    23 Sightings
    J
    2
    F
    2
    M
    4
    A
    0
    M
    3
    J
    0
    J
    6
    A
    2
    S
    0
    O
    2
    N
    0
    D
    2

    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

    18 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    4
    M
    1
    A
    2
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    1
    A
    2
    S
    2
    O
    2
    N
    0
    D
    2

    The best Months to dive in Shaviyani Atoll

    Shaviyani Atolls location in the Northern Atolls enjoy a drier climate than the Southern Atolls. During the winter months (November - May), conditions for diving are excellent. With visibility exceeding 30m and few rainy days, it is an excellent time to book a holiday. The only downside is that the resorts are generally more expensive during this high season.

    The monsoon season runs from June - November. It is far from a washout with many hours of sunlight during the day, but it does have more frequent downpours. June may offer reduced diving due to choppy seas so it is best to check with your dive operator if you are planning on diving then. As the winds are a little stronger during the monsoon, it pulls in blooms of plankton. This does reduce the visibility a little but it also draws in large pelagic life, meaning you might spy a manta ray or whale shark out in the blue!

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