4k Scuba Video - Ayada Maldives

[Daniel French]

Sharing my video from two weeks scuba diving at Ayada Resort, in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives.
Conditions were good, diving was fun as always! Video below, please like / subscribe / comment on youtube if you can (it helps my channel)... Hope you like the vid:-

 

[Lu Y]

Thanks for sharing the great video, Deniel!

We will be at Raffles for 2 weeks starting early March, I believe it's pretty close to Ayada.

May I ask what were your favorite dive sites in that atoll?

 

[Daniel French]

Thanks for sharing the great video, Deniel!

We will be at Raffles for 2 weeks starting early March, I believe it's pretty close to Ayada.

May I ask what were your favorite dive sites in that atoll?

Hi Lu,

Raffles will be incredible, for sure... Raffles is more towards the North of the atoll though, and approx 1hr 10 speedboat ride from Ayada... However Raffles is quite close to NH Havodda island where I was in January 2024.

The Gaafu Dhaalu atoll has more hard corals, and less pelagics / schooling fish than the east side (Gaafu Alifu atoll), but the diving is still fun nonetheless...

Here's my favourite sites from my Havodda trip last year (in no particular order):-

• Muraka Faru (quite alot of batfish there)
• Jinttos Way (long shallow reef - thousands of schooling fuseliers there)
• Kuda Hafsa Thila (plenty of fish, and some shark action here)
• Madeveli Kandhu (Channel dive, we were swarmed by jacks)

In March the conditions should be incredible, with incoming water in the Channels, so try to go to the channels if you can, as that is your best chance of seeing pelagic action... And take a reef hook!

Hope that helps, I've been to Maldives like 16 times diving now, so any questions, please ask!

 

[Lu Y]

Hi Lu,

Raffles will be incredible, for sure... Raffles is more towards the North of the atoll though, and approx 1hr 10 speedboat ride from Ayada... However Raffles is quite close to NH Havodda island where I was in January 2024.

The Gaafu Dhaalu atoll has more hard corals, and less pelagics / schooling fish than the east side (Gaafu Alifu atoll), but the diving is still fun nonetheless...

Here's my favourite sites from my Havodda trip last year (in no particular order):-

• Muraka Faru (quite alot of batfish there)
• Jinttos Way (long shallow reef - thousands of schooling fuseliers there)
• Kuda Hafsa Thila (plenty of fish, and some shark action here)
• Madeveli Kandhu (Channel dive, we were swarmed by jacks)

In March the conditions should be incredible, with incoming water in the Channels, so try to go to the channels if you can, as that is your best chance of seeing pelagic action... And take a reef hook!

Hope that helps, I've been to Maldives like 16 times diving now, so any questions, please ask!

Thanks for the helpful info, Daniel. Much appreciated!

When I spoke with the manager, he said we can go to some dive sites that are 45 mins from Raffles. As we will stay 14 nights and do 3 dives per day (if weather permits), I'll try to push for the Eastern sites too as we don't like repeating dive sites.

Are there any must-do Gaffu Alifu sites that you would recommend, please?

Kind regards,
Lu

 

[DesertEagle]

Great video and beautiful diving. Thank you!

 

[Daniel French]

When I spoke with the manager, he said we can go to some dive sites that are 45 mins from Raffles. As we will stay 14 nights and do 3 dives per day (if weather permits), I'll try to push for the Eastern sites too as we don't like repeating dive sites.

Are there any must-do Gaffu Alifu sites that you would recommend, please?

Hey Lu,

I would hazard a guess that the '45 minute away' dive sites are most probably on the sites I've listed above, or the channels of the west of the atoll.

In March you will have the best sea conditions, with hopefully almost glass like flat water, and incoming oceanic currents (which is best!)

To reach the Gaafu Alifu side of the atoll, it will be a very long dhoani ride, so if you can get the dive centre to take you there I would 100% do the trip, but these sites are for experienced divers.
I would recommend these two dive sites above the others on that side of the atoll, however they are all very "productive":-

• Vilingili Kandu (channel with hundreds of grey reef sharks)
• Maarehaa and Eagle Ray garden (most amazing dive site, quite possibly on the planet) with all sorts of fish on the Channel, then a sandy stretch with eagle rays, guitar sharks etc and then ending with what's know to the locals as 'Turtle Thila' where there are loads of Green Sea Turtles.

I've linked to another one of my videos below which shows:-

• Big Eye Trevallies @ Vilingili Kandu at 01:20
• Grey Reef Sharks @ Vilingili Kandu at 02:35 and 05:35
• Shovel Nose Guitar Shark @ Vilingili Kandu @ 03:23
• Green Sea Turtle @ Maarehaa at 04:32 and 06:05

 

[Lu Y]

Hey Lu,

I would hazard a guess that the '45 minute away' dive sites are most probably on the sites I've listed above, or the channels of the west of the atoll.

In March you will have the best sea conditions, with hopefully almost glass like flat water, and incoming oceanic currents (which is best!)

To reach the Gaafu Alifu side of the atoll, it will be a very long dhoani ride, so if you can get the dive centre to take you there I would 100% do the trip, but these sites are for experienced divers.
I would recommend these two dive sites above the others on that side of the atoll, however they are all very "productive":-

• Vilingili Kandu (channel with hundreds of grey reef sharks)
• Maarehaa and Eagle Ray garden (most amazing dive site, quite possibly on the planet) with all sorts of fish on the Channel, then a sandy stretch with eagle rays, guitar sharks etc and then ending with what's know to the locals as 'Turtle Thila' where there are loads of Green Sea Turtles.

I've linked to another one of my videos below which shows:-

• Big Eye Trevallies @ Vilingili Kandu at 01:20
• Grey Reef Sharks @ Vilingili Kandu at 02:35 and 05:35
• Shovel Nose Guitar Shark @ Vilingili Kandu @ 03:23
• Green Sea Turtle @ Maarehaa at 04:32 and 06:05

thanks a lot, Daniel! I have added them to the list and will push for these 2 sites depending on how long it actually takes to get there (not sure we want to spend 2h one way on a dhoni).

 

[Daniel French]

thanks a lot, Daniel! I have added them to the list and will push for these 2 sites depending on how long it actually takes to get there (not sure we want to spend 2h one way on a dhoni).

You're welcome Lu - let me know how you get on! Most of all have fun!