Explore Raa Atoll
Raa Atoll, nestled in the Northern Atolls of the Maldives, offers a serene diving experience with its quieter resorts and stunning underwater landscapes. The atoll is renowned for its pristine thilas, which are submerged islands that provide vibrant coral gardens and thrilling swim-throughs. Divers can explore underwater pinnacles adorned with both soft and hard corals, while caverns and overhangs add an element of adventure to each dive. Among the most popular sites are the Labyrinth, with its intricate tunnels and canyons teeming with batfish and angelfish, and the Wall, where divers can encounter Napoleon fish, eagle rays, and turtles at shallower depths, while spotting giant tuna and longfin bannerfish as they venture deeper.
One of the main attractions of Raa Atoll is the opportunity to dive with majestic manta rays, particularly during the months when these graceful creatures visit the atoll. Witnessing these gentle giants gliding through the waters is a bucket-list experience for many divers. The atoll offers a mix of dive styles, including shore dives, boat dives, and liveaboard options, catering to different preferences and skill levels. With its rich marine life, unique dive environments, and seasonal highlights, Raa Atoll stands out as a must-visit destination for divers seeking tranquility and natural beauty in the Maldives.
Dive Activity
Diving in Raa Atoll
Raa Atoll diving is perfect for dive courses. There are many shallow sites, ideal for introductory and open water courses. There are also deeper and more complex dive sites for experienced divers and advanced courses.
Many liveaboards operate in this area. There is a variety of prices and lengths of stay so there is something to suit everyone. Many liveaboards require a minimum number of dives or certification level so it is a good idea to check before booking. Many liveaboards offer night diving - the perfect opportunity to see the “sea of stars”. The bioluminescent plankton leads to unforgettable light shows in the dark water.
The capital Ungoofaaru is the most populous island with the highest density of dive resorts. There are not as many as other, more populous areas of the Maldives but there are still plenty to choose from. When looking for a dive centre, it is important to check its proximity to your resort. The Raa Atoll is over 40 miles long, and not all islands have a dedicated dive centre. It could be an unpleasant surprise to realise that the dive centre you were planning on diving in is a 2 hour boat ride away!
Top Wildlife Sightings in Raa Atoll
Most reefs in Raa Atoll are on thilas (completely submerged pinnacles that boats can sail over) or giris (pinnacles which are above the surface or so close to the surface that boats cannot sail over them). They play host to an abundance of coral life - whips, gorgonian corals, giant fans, brains and basket coral all nestle beside one another.
The coral is healthy, abundant and home to thousands of types of fish. Reef fish float in clouds over the corals - angelfish, surgeonfish, squirrelfish, parrot fish and countless others. There are also bigger fish like napoleon wrasse, trevally and tuna which cut imposing figures against the blue. The majority of the dive sites also have turtles and sharks - a treat to see anywhere in the world.
The macro life should be enough to keep all photographers happy! On the sand and rocks within the reef, all manner of creatures can be found. Brightly coloured nudibranchs, glass shrimp and crustaceans like orangutan crabs are all common sights. If you’re lucky you may also spot a famous peacock mantis shrimp - whose eyes can see over a thousand more colours than we can. Its punch also carries the same force as a 22. Caliber bullet - so be careful of that camera lens!
For many, the ultimate sighting is that of a manta ray. These huge and peaceful creatures grace certain cleaning stations around the atoll during the monsoon months. They often come en mass as well which makes for a truly incredible sight.
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
Alamy-WaterFrame
2k Sightings
J
147
F
189
M
170
A
191
M
94
J
75
J
126
A
247
S
154
O
311
N
216
D
120
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
1k Sightings
J
55
F
100
M
132
A
118
M
47
J
37
J
79
A
78
S
66
O
142
N
87
D
70
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
854 Sightings
J
63
F
77
M
79
A
67
M
27
J
28
J
68
A
89
S
91
O
166
N
53
D
46
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
681 Sightings
J
42
F
71
M
42
A
72
M
34
J
37
J
55
A
82
S
34
O
68
N
85
D
59
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
573 Sightings
J
54
F
37
M
25
A
56
M
26
J
37
J
54
A
76
S
41
O
88
N
47
D
32
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
393 Sightings
J
28
F
24
M
53
A
34
M
15
J
26
J
44
A
55
S
18
O
44
N
28
D
24
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
335 Sightings
J
23
F
45
M
56
A
49
M
9
J
6
J
8
A
15
S
28
O
48
N
34
D
14
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
300 Sightings
J
18
F
38
M
50
A
25
M
5
J
15
J
25
A
36
S
26
O
32
N
15
D
15
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
174 Sightings
J
17
F
6
M
1
A
15
M
14
J
8
J
9
A
21
S
22
O
13
N
19
D
29
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
161 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
15
A
13
M
10
J
9
J
16
A
13
S
8
O
35
N
21
D
14
The best Months to dive in Raa Atoll
Raa Atoll is located in the north and, as a result, is drier than many atolls in the south. It does still have a monsoon climate, with a dry season from December to May and a rainy season from June to November.
The dry season offers stunning conditions for Raa Atoll diving. There is very little wind, which means the oceans are glassy flat, and the visibility is fantastic at 30 meters/98 feet. This is the busiest (and most expensive) time of the year.
During the rainy season, there are a few more days of rain per month. However, there is, on average, 7 hours of sunshine every day—more than enough to soak up the rays! There are definitely some benefits to the rainy season as well. The windier weather brings in large plankton blooms, which attract the holy grail of many divers—manta rays. These huge animals gather around cleaning stations, making for an impressive show. The plankton blooms reduce the visibility, but the manta rays more than make up for it.
In June, the ocean is considered too choppy for boats to safely take out divers, which is something to bear in mind. For the rest of the monsoon season, you will enjoy reduced rates at many resorts due to there being fewer tourists.
The temperatures year-round remain perfect for warm water diving—the water temperatures are normally between a balmy 28°C/82°F and 30°C/86°F. The air temperatures vary between 26°C/79°F and 32°C/90°F, but bear in mind that the wind is stronger during the monsoon, which may make the weather feel cooler.
