Duiken in de Malediven: Een tropisch Utopia - PADI Blog
Enkele van de beste plaatsen om walvishaaien tegen te komen zijn Gaafu-atol, Ari-atol en Thaa-atol. Ari-atol is een van de meest betrouwbare ...
Malediven
De Maldiven liggen ongeveer 600 kilometer onder India, en bestaan uit een aantal prachtige eilanden. De 1.192 eilanden die samen de Maldiven vormen liggen verspreid over 90.000 km2. De bevolking is dan ook over ongelooflijke afstanden verspreid. De <anchor>Malediven</anchor> zijn het laagst gelegen land ter wereld, met een maximale natuurlijke hoogte van slechts 2,4 meter boven de zeespiegel.
Meet the Maldives
Meet the Maldives

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# Meet the Maldives

[![](https://blog.padi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/danielle-diving-200x200.jpg)](https://blog.padi.com/author/danielle-schofield/)

[Danielle Schofield](https://blog.padi.com/author/danielle-schofield/)

21 February, 2020

The epitome of paradise for honeymooners and divers alike, the [Maldives](https://travel.padi.com/d/maldives/) is a rich fusion of luxury, culture and natural beauty. High-end hotels meet ancient mosques, open-air causeways connect military history, and friendly locals share Sri Lankan-inspired cuisine and island traditions.

Below the surface, an even richer world awaits;
one where 26 atolls and 1,192 islands are home to giant pelagics, vibrant
sponges, corals, crustaceans, and over 2,000 reef fish.

## **When and where to** **stay**

On land, there’s two options. [Private resorts](https://travel.padi.com/s/dive-resorts/maldives/) often promise a premium ‘brochure’ vacation that’s perfect for families or discerning divers — with all-inclusive packages regularly available. For a budget-friendly trip with fewer tourists, try a [local island guesthouse](https://blog.padi.com/2018/07/13/10-things-know-booking-maldives-local-island-diving-trip/) (though you’ll need to respect local laws, such as not drinking alcohol or wearing swimwear in public places).

For greater flexibility and to experience more of what the Maldives has to offer, a [liveaboard](https://blog.padi.com/2013/10/26/why-liveaboard-diving-should-be-part-of-your-next-vacation/) is the ideal option (assuming you’ll be diving every day). Again, there are [options to suit all budgets](https://travel.padi.com/s/liveaboards/maldives/) and itineraries — but spaces go quickly, so book well in advance.

![Meet the Maldives Dhoni](https://blog.padi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Meet-the-Maldives-Dhoni-shutterstock_680398051-1024x683.jpg)

The tropical climate means water temperatures
stay around 26-28C, with air around 29-34C. The dry season (northeast monsoon,
December-April) brings the best weather and 30m+ visibility, however, the rainy
season (southwest monsoon, May-November) is a cheaper time to travel.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that
diving is generally better on eastern sides of atolls in the dry season, and
western sides in the rainy season. This is down to the direction that ocean
currents flow through atolls, bringing good visibility, nutrients, and big
pelagics.

## **Diving in the** **Maldives**

Inside the atoll lagoons, conditions tend to be
shallower, calmer, and easier for beginners, with numerous island beaches
offering excellent shore dives along house reefs.

The outer atoll walls and channels (Kandus) are
characterised by strong currents, impressive topography and thrilling drifts:
all better suited to experienced divers. The current brings nutrients, which
attracts the giants: rays, sharks, tuna, turtles, barracuda, napoleon wrasse
and trevally to name a few.

However, one of the Maldives’ greatest
treasures is its abundance of pinnacles to explore, with depths and conditions
to match every diving ability. From shallower, sheltered Giris to deeper, often
more-exposed Thilas, each one is encrusted with a kaleidoscope of colours from
corals, sea fans, crustaceans, nudibranchs, morays, and countless reef fish.

While it’s impossible
to include all of the best Maldivian dives within a single blog, we’ve
picked some of our favourite sights (and sites) below:

##### **Dramatic reefs**

From Broken Rock’s deep canyon ( [South Ari Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/ari-atoll/)) and Embudu Channel ( [South Male Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/south-male-atoll/)), to a Christmas tree-shaped pinnacle ( [Noonu Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/noonu-atoll/)), the Maldives’ weird and wonderful caves, swim-throughs and drop-offs create an underwater explorer’s playground and unique backdrop for photographers.

![Broken Rock ](https://blog.padi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BrokenRock-3-Photo-by-Mette-Ellis-Gaardsted-NussbaumerS-1024x577.jpg)Photo by Mette Ellis Gaardsted Nussbaumer

##### **Maldivian wrecks**

A few modest wrecks are dotted about the archipelago. The largest is the British Loyalty ( [Addu Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/addu-atoll/)), a 140m-long oil tanker at 33m, but the Maldives Victory Wreck ( [North Male Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/north-male-atoll/)) is more often dived. For a challenge, try the 24-hour ’10 to 10’ [Rannamaari event](https://pros-blog.padi.com/2019/10/12/the-mystery-of-the-rannamaari-wreck-a-maldivian-legend).

> [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QoCZ1ABGY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
>
> [#britishloyalty #addu #biospherereserve #bepadi #bebest #paditv???](https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QoCZ1ABGY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
>
> A post shared by [hussain](https://www.instagram.com/hussain.saanim/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) (@hussain.saanim) on Jul 23, 2019 at 5:46am PDT

##### **Mantas**

Although they’re spotted year-round, manta rays are most common during the wet season around eastern sides of atolls. Head to Manta Point ( [North Male Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/north-male-atoll/)) or Hanifaru ( [Baa Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/baa-atoll/)) for the best chances of seeing them: look out for cleaning stations, and the feeding frenzies during plankton blooms.

> [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/B3hi9xLlR3u/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
>
> [This is one mantastic dive ? ?: @liquidsaltdivers](https://www.instagram.com/p/B3hi9xLlR3u/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
>
> A post shared by [PADI](https://www.instagram.com/paditv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) (@paditv) on Oct 12, 2019 at 9:03am PDT

##### **Sharks**

The ‘deep south’ is renowned for shark action; at [Fuvahmulah Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/fuvahmulah-atoll/), it’s possible to see silky, tiger, thresher, hammerhead, silver tip, grey reef, oceanic white tip and whale sharks in one trip. In the North, Kudarah Thila or Sun Island’s plateau ( [Ari Atoll](https://travel.padi.com/d/ari-atoll/)) provide excellent viewpoints for passing whale sharks.

##### **Night dives**

From North [Ari Atoll’s](https://travel.padi.com/d/ari-atoll/) Maaya Thila to [Vaavu Atoll’s](https://travel.padi.com/d/vaavu-atoll/) Alimatha Jetty, both beginner and advanced divers can witness stingrays, morays and octopuses coming out to play alongside a hundred nurse sharks after dark. For an unforgettable show, try [fluorescence diving](https://blog.padi.com/2014/09/27/fluorescence-a-new-way-to-night-dive/) or visit Vaadhoo’s ‘ [Sea of Stars](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/maldives/articles/the-breathtaking-sea-of-stars-in-the-maldives/)’ (Raa Atoll).

> [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/B801_eylTv4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
>
> [4/4 Any idea why corals and other underwater creatures glow in the dark? Surprising. Isn’t it? Well, the depth of the sea is normally a dark and colorless environment. But the surprising reason for the corals to glow deep in the ocean is 'Fluo-dives'. The colourful glow of the creatures is created by ultraviolet light reflecting off pigment cells in their skin and they look even more fierce under these lights. I was indeed surprised to find such spectacular colors at these greater depths. @raffrafey](https://www.instagram.com/p/B801_eylTv4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
>
> A post shared by [PADI](https://www.instagram.com/paditv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) (@paditv) on Feb 21, 2020 at 2:32am PST

_To learn more about the Maldives or to book your next vacation, visit [PADI Travel](https://travel.padi.com/d/maldives/)._

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Posted in [Travel](https://blog.padi.com/category/travel/)

Tagged [liveaboards](https://blog.padi.com/tag/liveaboards/), [The Maldives](https://blog.padi.com/tag/the-maldives/), [Wreck Diving](https://blog.padi.com/tag/wreck-diving/)

#### Read More

[![Phi Phi Island - Thailand - Underwater](https://blog.padi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Thailand_01-550x347.jpg)**Dive into the Crystal Clear Waters of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand**](https://blog.padi.com/dive-into-the-crystal-clear-waters-of-koh-phi-phi-in-thailand/)

[![Freedive Maldives header](https://blog.padi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/freedive-maldives-header-shutterstock_263883767-550x347.jpg)**Freediving and Island Hopping in the Maldives**](https://blog.padi.com/freediving-and-island-hopping-in-the-maldives/)

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