BAA Atoll Vs North Male Vs Ari in July

[k_hanna]

Hi,

I am planning a trip to Baa Atoll late July. Its SW monsoon and Hanifaru Bay is in season. I understand this is a protected site and no diving is allowed only snorkelling which is fine BUT obviously I want to also dive.... so I started questioning if Baa Atoll is the right choice overall.

I can see that north male atoll also offers some great options, as does Ari atoll. Basically I am just trying to determine ... which atoll after hours of research and its hard to determine.

Hanifaru Bay is the main attraction in Baa and I know it will be busy so I just want to ensure the dive sites here are also decent.

I have about 1 week and LOB isn't a option unfortunately but I am only going for the diving!

• Which atoll in central Maldives would you select with access to the best number of dive sites? Batoll or other?
• Would you consider splitting the week in half e.g. 4 days in BAA and 3 days in north male?

Thanks!

 

[Sunn]

If you only have 1 week and if you only go for diving.... LOB !

what is the problem, budget ? some of them are less expensive than staying on an island

 

[k_hanna]

@Sunn I know LOB would be the best way to go. I am travelling with a friend who doesn't dive and not keen on the LOB. Your right though not really a different in price.

 

[Sunn]

@Sunn I know LOB would be the best way to go. I am travelling with a friend who doesn't dive and not keen on the LOB. Your right though not really a different in price.

OK, so the only issue is to change your friend... or learn him/her to dive

 

[k_hanna]

So just back from Baa Atoll and thought to share my fav dives sites. Overall the diving was a comfortable 7:10. For me it was just great to be back in the water again. I lot of the coral is damaged but there is also some really beautiful sites. In order for preference and left of the dive sites that were not worth it! What I did like was that it was quiet. Never another boat on the site I think most are in ari atoll further south. So it was nice to avoid the crowds. I did see mantas snorkeling (tourist vibes lots of first time snorkelers flapping around) but didn’t see them diving.

1Dhonfanu thila great for the bigger stuff dived here 3 times saw grey reefs each time and just a abundance of schooling fish. There’s also a nice swim through.
2Yellow wall: beautiful soft corals loved it here
3 the pinnacles
4Giraavaru Thila