Maldives
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Where to dive in Maldives
Fuvahmulah
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 30°CVISIBILITY15 - 40 m
Addu Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 31°CVISIBILITY15 - 35 m
Ari Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE28°C - 30°CVISIBILITY10 - 30 m
Baa Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE28°C - 30°CVISIBILITY10 - 35 m
Hanifaru Bay
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 30°CVISIBILITY8 - 30 m
North Male Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 31°CVISIBILITY10 - 30 m
South Ari Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 30°CVISIBILITY12 - 35 m
South Malé Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 31°CVISIBILITY12 - 40 m
Vaavu Atoll
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE27°C - 30°CVISIBILITY15 - 30 m
Top species 22
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
The Blacktip Shark is easily recognized by the dark tips on its fins. It is a fast and energetic predator, often seen leaping out of the water. Blacktip sharks can be found in warm coastal waters around the world.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreat Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a large predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and speed. It has an elongated body, pointed head, and large teeth, making it a proficient hunter in coastal and open waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcean Sunfish
Mola mola
The Ocean Sunfish is one of the heaviest known bony fish, notable for its round, flat body. It often basks on its side at the surface of the ocean and is a diurnal predator feeding primarily on jellyfish.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsOceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
The oceanic whitetip shark is a large pelagic shark recognized by its broad, rounded fins tipped in white. It inhabits tropical and subtropical open oceans and is an opportunistic predator, feeding mainly on fish, squid, and carrion.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPelagic Thresher Shark
Alopias pelagicus
The Pelagic Thresher Shark is recognizable by its extremely long caudal fin, which can be as long as its body and is used to stun prey. It is an active, fast-swimming carnivore found in tropical and subtropical open ocean waters, often near the surface but capable of diving to considerable depths. This species exhibits ovoviviparity and is unfortunately classified as Endangered due to overfishing and slow reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsRound Ribbontail Ray
Taeniurops meyeni
The Round Ribbontail Ray has a distinct rounded shape and a dark brown to black dorsal coloration with pale spots. It possesses a long, whip-like tail and is primarily found near coral reefs and coastal areas.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsSilvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
The Silvertip Shark is a large, streamlined requiem shark identifiable by the prominent white tips and trailing margins on all its fins. It is an aggressive apex predator, often dominating other sharks during feeding, and can be found in various tropical Indo-Pacific marine habitats from the surface to considerable depths. While often solitary or in pairs, it can also form small groups or mixed-species aggregations and exhibits variable activity patterns throughout the day and night.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsTawny Nurse Shark
Nebrius ferrugineus
The Tawny Nurse Shark is a large, slow-moving shark found in shallow coastal waters and coral reefs. It has a distinctive tawny color and is primarily nocturnal. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, and is capable of resting motionless on the ocean floor.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsTiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large apex predator recognized by the dark vertical stripes along its body, especially visible in juveniles. It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters and has a highly varied diet, feeding on fish, rays, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsYellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
The Yellowfin Tuna is one of the fastest and most powerful pelagic fish in the ocean. Recognizable by its sleek body and distinctive yellow fins, it inhabits tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. It often forms large schools and is frequently encountered around reefs, drop-offs and offshore seamounts, where it hunts smaller fish and squid with remarkable speed.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsZebra Shark
Stegostoma tigrinum
The Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a docile, bottom-dwelling carpet shark found in tropical Indo-Pacific reefs. Juveniles display a striking pattern of dark stripes on a light background, resembling a zebra, which transitions to dark spots on a pale background in adults. This nocturnal species primarily preys on molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish, often resting on the seabed during the day.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 97
Alligator PipefishSyngnathoides biaculeatus
BarracudaSphyraena spp.
Barred MorayEchidna polyzona
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue SharkPrionace glauca
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluespotted Ribbontail RayTaeniura lymma
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Broomtail WrasseCheilinus lunulatus
Bull SharkCarcharhinus leucas
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Bumphead ParrotfishBolbometopon muricatum
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Commerson's FrogfishAntennarius commerson
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Common Thresher SharkAlopias vulpinus
Cowtail StingrayPastinachus sephen
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Eagle RayAetobatus spp.
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
GlasseyeHeteropriacanthus cruentatus
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Great Hammerhead SharkSphyrna mokarran
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Harlequin ShrimpHymenocera picta
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Jointed RazorfishAeoliscus strigatus
Killer WhaleOrcinus orca
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Live SharksuckerEcheneis naucrates
Longhorn CowfishLactoria cornuta
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
Messmate pipefishCorythoichthys haematopterus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Olive Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys olivacea
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pharaoh CuttlefishSepia pharaonis
Picasso TriggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatus
Pickhandle BarracudaSphyraena jello
Pinktail TriggerfishMelichthys vidua
Potato GrouperEpinephelus tukula
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Reticulate WhiprayHimantura uarnak
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Robust Ghost PipefishSolenostomus cyanopterus
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silver SweeperPempheris schwenkii
Smooth Hammerhead SharkSphyrna zygaena
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Sperm WhalePhyseter macrocephalus
Spinetail Devil RayMobula mobular
Spinner DolphinStenella longirostris
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Spotted SeahorseHippocampus kuda
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Tentacled FlatheadPapilloculiceps longiceps
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowmargin TriggerfishPseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Yellowspot TrevallyCarangoides fulvoguttatus
Yellowspotted TriggerfishPseudobalistes fuscus
Zebra Mantis ShrimpLysiosquillina maculata
Explore Maldives on the map
Frequently asked questions about Maldives
What are the best dive destinations in Maldives?
Maldives has 9 dive destinations, including Fuvahmulah, Addu Atoll, Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay, and North Male Atoll.
When is the best time to dive in Maldives?
It depends on where you dive in Maldives: Fuvahmulah from December to April, Addu Atoll from January to April, Ari Atoll from December to April, Baa Atoll all year round, and Hanifaru Bay from June to November.
What marine life can you see diving in Maldives?
Divers can encounter 119 species in Maldives. Highlights include Blacktip Reef Shark, Blacktip Shark, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Great Barracuda, Green Sea Turtle, and Grey Reef Shark.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Maldives?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Maldives from March to August.
When can you see the Ocean Sunfish in Maldives?
The Ocean Sunfish is most often seen in Maldives from July to August.
When can you see the Oceanic Whitetip Shark in Maldives?
The Oceanic Whitetip Shark is most often seen in Maldives from April to October.
What is the water temperature in Maldives?
Water temperature across Maldives ranges from 27°C at North Male Atoll to 31°C at Addu Atoll.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Maldives?
The water across Maldives ranges from 27°C to 31°C, so pack anything from a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty to a 3 mm wetsuit depending on the site and the season.
What is the visibility like when diving in Maldives?
Visibility in Maldives ranges from 8 m to 40 m. The clearest water is found at Fuvahmulah.
What can you see on a night dive in Maldives?
After dark, Maldives reveals nocturnal species such as Tawny Nurse Shark, Whitetip Reef Shark, Zebra Shark, Blue Shark, Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, and Fimbriated Moray.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Maldives. Spotted something that looks off?
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