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Indian Ocean

Diving in the Maldives

The Maldives is 26 atolls strung along the equator, which keeps the water warm and the big-animal diving productive all year. Two monsoons drive everything: the southwest monsoon (roughly May–November) pushes plankton onto the eastern side of the atolls, filling Baa Atoll's Hanifaru Bay with feeding mantas, while the northeast monsoon (roughly December–April) reverses the pattern and favours western sites like Ari Atoll's cleaning stations. South Ari Atoll holds whale sharks in every month of the year.

the Maldives

What you can see

Manta Rays in the Maldives High confidence

Well documented, and reliably seen in season.

Best time: May to November, peaking August–October
Whale Sharks in the Maldives High confidence

Well documented, and reliably seen in season.

Best time: Year-round in South Ari Atoll, with the clearest water and biggest gatherings December to April
Blacktip Reef Sharks in the Maldives High confidence

Well documented, and reliably seen in season.

Best time: Year-round, with the calmest lagoons from December to April
Grey Reef Sharks in the Maldives High confidence

Well documented, and reliably seen in season.

Best time: Year-round with the right tide; January to April for the calmest, clearest water
Pelagic Thresher Sharks in the Maldives Low confidence

Best time: No reliable thresher season; occasional sightings year-round
Tiger Sharks in the Maldives High confidence

Well documented, and reliably seen in season.

Best time: Year-round for tigers; best conditions December to April
Silvertip Sharks in the Maldives Likely confidence

Consistently reported, but a good way short of a sure thing.

Best time: Northeast monsoon, roughly December to April, for the clearest channel diving
Tawny Nurse Sharks in the Maldives High confidence

Well documented, and reliably seen in season.

Best time: Year-round; resident throughout the atolls

Know before you go

Best season
Whale sharks are possible every month in South Ari. Mantas peak at Hanifaru August–October, and at Ari Atoll's cleaning stations December–April.
Conditions
Warm year-round, roughly 27–30°C. Surface visibility is best in the northeast monsoon (Dec–Apr); southwest-monsoon plankton blooms (May–Nov) cut visibility but concentrate feeding.
Getting there
Fly to Malé (MLE), then a domestic flight or speedboat to the atoll. For whale sharks, base near Maamigili or Dhigurah in South Ari. For the Hanifaru manta aggregation, base in Baa Atoll or take a liveaboard.