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Maldives

© iStock/kurmyshov

Explore the Maldives

The Maldives, a diver's paradise, offers an unparalleled experience with its unique atoll formations and vibrant marine ecosystems. Spread across roughly 90,000 km²/55,923 SMI, these atolls provide a stunning backdrop for divers. The term 'atoll' itself is derived from the Maldivian word 'atholhu,' underscoring the country's deep connection to its marine environments. With the lowest elevation of any country, the Maldives enjoys a warm, humid climate ideal for year-round diving.


Divers can explore a variety of environments, from vibrant coral reefs teeming with life to dramatic walls and intriguing shipwrecks. The Maldives' waters are home to a spectacular range of marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, and an array of colorful reef fish. Whether embarking on a shore dive, a more adventurous boat dive, or an extended liveaboard journey, each option provides unique encounters.Seasonal changes bring different marine spectacles. For instance, manta ray gatherings are more common from May to November, while clearer waters and better visibility can be expected from December to April. This seasonal diversity makes the Maldives a captivating destination for divers seeking both adventure and tranquility beneath the waves.

Power Plug Type
C, D, G, J, K, L
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS, JCB, Cir, Plus
Tipping
0-10% / Restaurant Staff / Service charges are typically added to restaurant bills, eliminating the need to tip.
Currency
MVR
Dial Code
+960
Electricity
230 V / 50 Hz
Time
UTC+5 (MVT)

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Maldives

The Maldives is renowned for its vibrant marine life and diverse ecosystems, making it a prime destination for divers. The coral reefs here are home to a myriad of common reef fish, such as parrotfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish, which are easily spotted year-round. Divers can also expect to encounter the iconic Napoleon wrasse and schools of fusiliers. Seasonal highlights include manta ray sightings, particularly from May to November in sites like Hanifaru Bay. Sharks, including reef and hammerhead species, are often seen, with Lankanfinolhu Thila being a notable spot. Green and hawksbill turtles are frequent visitors to the Maldivian reefs, with higher chances of sightings around turtle nesting season.

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

34k Sightings
J
2.9k
F
2.8k
M
3.2k
A
3.5k
M
2.1k
J
1.3k
J
2.7k
A
2.9k
S
2.3k
O
3.4k
N
3.6k
D
2.9k

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

22k Sightings
J
1.9k
F
2.1k
M
2.7k
A
2.7k
M
1.4k
J
836
J
1.6k
A
1.7k
S
1.3k
O
1.9k
N
2.2k
D
1.9k
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

19k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.8k
M
2.2k
A
2k
M
1.2k
J
883
J
1.7k
A
1.6k
S
1.2k
O
1.6k
N
1.9k
D
1.6k
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

14k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.4k
M
1.3k
A
1.3k
M
660
J
400
J
738
A
1.1k
S
1.1k
O
1.5k
N
1.6k
D
1.2k
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

11k Sightings
J
962
F
947
M
1k
A
1.1k
M
632
J
503
J
1k
A
984
S
693
O
955
N
1.1k
D
898

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

10k Sightings
J
1k
F
864
M
985
A
1.1k
M
618
J
482
J
873
A
842
S
616
O
966
N
1.1k
D
770

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

4.9k Sightings
J
500
F
434
M
671
A
757
M
360
J
133
J
264
A
231
S
255
O
475
N
536
D
327
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

4.9k Sightings
J
378
F
724
M
869
A
505
M
312
J
147
J
259
A
362
S
251
O
220
N
567
D
348

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

4.6k Sightings
J
438
F
479
M
559
A
556
M
223
J
140
J
340
A
372
S
244
O
350
N
489
D
403
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

3.1k Sightings
J
322
F
359
M
376
A
317
M
126
J
75
J
173
A
256
S
238
O
309
N
301
D
277
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

1.5k Sightings
J
167
F
114
M
131
A
189
M
92
J
32
J
78
A
117
S
99
O
158
N
197
D
154
Bull Shark

Bull Shark

1.4k Sightings
J
117
F
128
M
305
A
202
M
156
J
99
J
92
A
85
S
76
O
23
N
48
D
54
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

1.1k Sightings
J
95
F
91
M
90
A
133
M
69
J
24
J
89
A
79
S
44
O
154
N
116
D
76
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

40k Sightings
J
3.7k
F
3.7k
M
4.5k
A
4.4k
M
2.3k
J
1.4k
J
2.9k
A
3k
S
2.5k
O
3.6k
N
4.4k
D
3.5k

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

29k Sightings
J
2.6k
F
2.4k
M
2.8k
A
2.9k
M
1.9k
J
1.3k
J
2.4k
A
2.6k
S
2.1k
O
2.9k
N
3.1k
D
2.5k

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

26k Sightings
J
2.5k
F
2.2k
M
2.4k
A
2.6k
M
1.6k
J
1.1k
J
2.1k
A
2.3k
S
1.8k
O
2.5k
N
2.5k
D
2.2k
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

23k Sightings
J
2.3k
F
2.5k
M
2.8k
A
2.3k
M
1.2k
J
677
J
1.5k
A
1.7k
S
1.4k
O
2.1k
N
2.5k
D
2.2k

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

23k Sightings
J
2.1k
F
1.9k
M
1.9k
A
2.3k
M
1.4k
J
1k
J
1.9k
A
2k
S
1.6k
O
2.2k
N
2.3k
D
1.8k

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

22k Sightings
J
2.1k
F
1.8k
M
2k
A
2.2k
M
1.3k
J
964
J
1.9k
A
1.9k
S
1.4k
O
2k
N
2k
D
1.9k

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

21k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.7k
M
1.9k
A
2k
M
1.4k
J
891
J
1.7k
A
1.9k
S
1.5k
O
2k
N
2.1k
D
1.6k
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

20k Sightings
J
1.6k
F
1.9k
M
2.1k
A
2.4k
M
1.2k
J
793
J
1.7k
A
1.7k
S
1.3k
O
2k
N
1.9k
D
1.7k

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

19k Sightings
J
1.9k
F
1.5k
M
1.6k
A
1.9k
M
1.2k
J
894
J
1.6k
A
1.8k
S
1.4k
O
1.8k
N
2k
D
1.4k

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

18k Sightings
J
1.6k
F
1.5k
M
1.5k
A
1.7k
M
1.1k
J
868
J
1.6k
A
1.6k
S
1.3k
O
1.8k
N
1.8k
D
1.4k

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

18k Sightings
J
1.6k
F
1.3k
M
1.4k
A
1.7k
M
1.2k
J
779
J
1.6k
A
1.7k
S
1.3k
O
1.8k
N
1.9k
D
1.4k

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

18k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.4k
M
1.4k
A
1.7k
M
1.1k
J
856
J
1.6k
A
1.6k
S
1.3k
O
1.7k
N
1.9k
D
1.4k

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

15k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.5k
M
1.8k
A
1.7k
M
845
J
575
J
987
A
1.2k
S
916
O
1.2k
N
1.6k
D
1.3k

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

9k Sightings
J
997
F
1k
M
1k
A
833
M
386
J
317
J
656
A
749
S
607
O
755
N
934
D
741

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

8.5k Sightings
J
796
F
730
M
647
A
783
M
561
J
398
J
855
A
810
S
651
O
774
N
887
D
638

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

8.5k Sightings
J
821
F
609
M
749
A
824
M
627
J
390
J
786
A
792
S
664
O
732
N
802
D
685

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

8k Sightings
J
760
F
731
M
761
A
716
M
472
J
298
J
672
A
791
S
551
O
710
N
790
D
794

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

7.7k Sightings
J
832
F
602
M
598
A
620
M
513
J
374
J
711
A
710
S
527
O
821
N
743
D
632

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

7.5k Sightings
J
767
F
551
M
778
A
767
M
481
J
353
J
727
A
671
S
469
O
644
N
668
D
635

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

7.3k Sightings
J
642
F
592
M
594
A
856
M
519
J
322
J
679
A
590
S
487
O
701
N
712
D
621

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

6.7k Sightings
J
586
F
563
M
586
A
719
M
534
J
337
J
580
A
516
S
459
O
600
N
659
D
554

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

6.1k Sightings
J
595
F
475
M
464
A
501
M
475
J
303
J
607
A
474
S
501
O
631
N
565
D
474
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

5.4k Sightings
J
647
F
663
M
738
A
479
M
225
J
131
J
372
A
367
S
304
O
388
N
565
D
513

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

5k Sightings
J
468
F
391
M
552
A
517
M
299
J
255
J
416
A
426
S
299
O
494
N
463
D
428

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

4.4k Sightings
J
501
F
353
M
415
A
441
M
259
J
100
J
329
A
352
S
330
O
373
N
497
D
409

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

3.5k Sightings
J
340
F
248
M
405
A
333
M
194
J
115
J
269
A
288
S
276
O
397
N
331
D
301

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

2.9k Sightings
J
377
F
278
M
231
A
259
M
202
J
126
J
294
A
218
S
219
O
250
N
274
D
218

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

2.3k Sightings
J
155
F
164
M
190
A
243
M
148
J
89
J
197
A
195
S
210
O
316
N
245
D
186

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

2.2k Sightings
J
125
F
148
M
200
A
184
M
147
J
85
J
238
A
259
S
153
O
192
N
231
D
222

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

1.8k Sightings
J
182
F
212
M
149
A
138
M
104
J
73
J
180
A
170
S
104
O
219
N
155
D
139
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

1.7k Sightings
J
192
F
149
M
255
A
293
M
183
J
72
J
129
A
103
S
77
O
77
N
103
D
97

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

1.6k Sightings
J
211
F
176
M
146
A
118
M
80
J
97
J
169
A
152
S
105
O
114
N
135
D
140

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

1.6k Sightings
J
149
F
104
M
81
A
141
M
114
J
64
J
180
A
124
S
113
O
164
N
227
D
157

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

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

1.4k Sightings
J
141
F
83
M
121
A
141
M
59
J
47
J
177
A
121
S
60
O
142
N
192
D
134

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

1.2k Sightings
J
92
F
84
M
81
A
149
M
71
J
35
J
98
A
94
S
61
O
190
N
119
D
94

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

1.2k Sightings
J
99
F
88
M
91
A
94
M
89
J
49
J
114
A
109
S
98
O
126
N
106
D
94

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

1.1k Sightings
J
139
F
104
M
73
A
103
M
27
J
47
J
67
A
100
S
57
O
73
N
193
D
129

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