Whether diving into deep tourmaline-tinted seas to spot whale sharks, delving 12 meters down to test your latest scuba skills, or simply gauging the basics, weightlessly floating within the lagoon to witness the kaleidoscope of reef fish, the Maldives and The Nautilus is here to satisfy your desires to dive.
The Maldives is renowned for the quality of diving you can experience during your holiday – but why?
Firstly, this is due to the spectacular sightings of whale sharks and majestic manta rays you can witness (read more about swimming with manta rays here). Head to Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a marine life hotspot just 15 minutes by speedboat from The Nautilus, to join the whirling dervish these gentle-giants put on show for you.
The crystal-clear house reef surrounding The Nautilus also makes scuba-diving in the Maldives an unmissable experience. You may witness a wide variety of marine life in the giris (shallow underwater islands), where you will learn the basics of scuba diving if you’re just starting out.
Finally, the variety of dive-sites and unique activities available for you to enjoy makes diving in the Maldives unbeatable. Whether you’re a beginner with a few dives under your belt, or an old hand at this wonderful sport, there is a myriad of dives sites to choose from.
With access to over 40 dive sites, run by AquaNautica PADI dive centre, we offer a variety of Maldives diving excursions in Baa Atoll and further afield, with many of our dive trips being private. Our multi-lingual team run diving courses in the Maldives, refresher and advanced diving for divers of all levels and experience. Begin your divine journey at The Nautilus by exploring our diving options here and contacting our marine team, AquaNautica, at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see you for your next diving adventure!
- DHONFANU ROCK
This thila is small swim away from the main reef where in the season manta rays are regularly seen. Beautiful Black coral bushes are everywhere on this small thila.
Points of interest: manta rays (during season), schooling fusiliers and snappers, green turtles, batfish, stone corals.
- DHONFANU THILA
Consists of a pinnacle which comes to a point and faces into the prevailing current of the reef at about 22 metres. There is a swim through at 25 metres which you pass and ascend to around 18 metres to find its entrance. The swim-through is quite narrow so care must be taken to pass through.
Points of interest: One of the best reefs in Baa Atoll – long reef – grey reef sharks, eagle rays and manta rays in season– abundant fish life – overhangs.
3. KAKKA THILA
This reef can be dived on both sides. On the East Side of the reef you can see Eagle rays. On the West End of the reef there is a cross-over to the main reef, which is covered with yellow soft corals, and in the deeper overhangs are often Nurse Sharks or a Sting Ray having their daily nap. The top of the reef reaches up to 4 meters
Points of interest: big overhangs- pelagic fish, nurse sharks, soft corals, scorpion fish, octopus, schools of banner fish and bat fish
4. MILAIDHOO WALL
The house reef of Milaidhoo offers some interesting overhangs, which are nicely covered with red-orange-yellow soft corals. Ideally dived with a light medium current, in order to see the soft corals open. Lots of overhangs line the north-side of this reef.
Points of interest: great night dives, beautiful orange and yellow soft corals, big overhangs, nudibranchs, macro photography.
5. YELLOW WALL
A long wall dive with overhangs covered with yellow soft corals and you can dive it both ways. A very colourful dive with a stunning amount on fish life in the shallower depths.
Points of interest: overhangs, soft corals, abundance of schooling fish
6. DARAVANDU THILA
A narrow curved thila connected to the main reef, with a very interesting landscape. Its location makes this dive one of the easier ones, but still one of the most beautiful dives. The top of the reef is 6m and leaf fish and even ghost pipe fish have been spotted here.
Points of interest: in season manta rays, honeycomb moray eels, scorpion fish, sweetlips, blue-striped snappers
7. DHIGALI HAA
A gorgeous thila, with a small canyon on the west, one on the north and overhangs covered with soft corals and anemones. It hosts a large variety of schooling fish, which are chased by giant trevallies and tunas. It’s an amazing site for macro photography although one should lift the head sometimes as the resident turtle, eagle & sting ray and barracuda may appear.
Points of interest: canyon, overhangs soft corals, pelagic fish, turtles, eagle rays
8. BLUE HOLE
A famous dive spot known as there is a very wide hole where you can swim through. It is a very adventurous drift dive as the current splits at one point in the middle of the reef, where you are completely driven by its flow. Frog fishes, leaf fishes and some special nudibranchs are part of the dives, as well as larger predators in the deep blue.
Points of interest: swim through, sting ray, turtle, moray eels.
Let us make your Baa Atoll scuba diving adventure a truly unforgettable experience. To enquire, contact at any time [email protected].