Experienced divers need input for first Maldives trip

[ScubaBackpacker]

My wife and I are coming off 3 weeks diving in the Philippines and 10 days or so in Palau, with a total of several hundred dives between us. Currently we’re in Malaysia and are thinking of the Maldives in October. Unlike most of the posters here, we’re not going primarily to see whale sharks, tiger sharks, or mantas. It will be fine if we do see them (with no feeding) but it will be okay if we don’t; we’re interested in all the marine organisms. Also, we don’t need luxury accommodations or gourmet food- middle of the road is fine on both counts. We’re hoping some of the folks here could make some recommendations based on these criteria. Land based or live aboard . Thank you.

 

[Centrals]

There are many islands in Maldives, land based diving is restricted to the surrounding area of the island you are staying.
LoB has more flexibility.
I have been to Maldives twice on LoB.

 

[boqurant]

A LOB trip on a "central route" will (hopefully!) introduce you to the wide variety of diving available in Maldives (it's a huge area), and would always be my vote

 

[Blackcrusader]

My wife and I are coming off 3 weeks diving in the Philippines and 10 days or so in Palau, with a total of several hundred dives between us. Currently we’re in Malaysia and are thinking of the Maldives in October. Unlike most of the posters here, we’re not going primarily to see whale sharks, tiger sharks, or mantas. It will be fine if we do see them (with no feeding) but it will be okay if we don’t; we’re interested in all the marine organisms. Also, we don’t need luxury accommodations or gourmet food- middle of the road is fine on both counts. We’re hoping some of the folks here could make some recommendations based on these criteria. Land based or live aboard . Thank you.

I went in Nov Dec 25 and May 25. Just diving from the main island with Rajjie Divers there is cheap enough accomodation and plenty of good dive sites. Fuv island was a flight and that is for Tiger sharks which is a blast.

Thread 'Fuvahmulah 08 - 27 May 2025'

May 7, 2025

Heading off to Maldives tomorrow.

Started my journey having my BIL drop me off at the High Speed Railway in Chiayi Taiwan to get to the Hyatt Airport Hotel which has a lower price deal for those flying with China Airlines. IF you have not been to Japan or Taiwan or France or China taking a journey on trains that can run at 350km/h is nice. Super smooth. As I am 4 hours away from the airport and my flight is at 8am I stay a night at the airport hotel. They have free shuttle buses from early am and the ride is around 15 minutes to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. I am flying China Airlines...

• Blackcrusader
• Replies: 25
• Forum: Maldives

 

[Blackcrusader]

. It will be fine if we do see them (with no feeding)

Well just make sure they wont be feeding on you. Also watch your six.... these lovelly ladies like to sneak up from behind you. This taken in Fuvamulah Island at the Tiger Zoo location. This 4.5m pregant Tiger was really chill she would just approach super slowly and is comfortable around divers.
Although for this shot I think some were hoping to get a famous video for tic toc of me being nibbled on.

Shark tank next to the island where you fly into has lots of critters, bull sharks, hammerheads, lemon sharks, tigers, lots and lots of rays and we saw a rare Great Hammerhead there as well.

My buddy I go with is more into spending $$$ on the diving and we rented places that were cheap to stay at but very good value.

 

[jmsenger]

One more recommendation for a liveaboard. You can get a 7 or 10-night trip and see pretty much everything the Maldives has to offer. Can’t go wrong with boats from Carpe Diem, Explorer, and Emperor.

 

[Christian]

Liveaboard is a good option and a central atoll route seldom disappoints—it can cherry pick sites in North and South Male and Ari depending on conditions/season. It also works out cheaper than diving from a resort island which can be hideously expensive. Only reason to go with a resort is that you want to experience it or can’t stand being on a boat for a longer period for some reason.
A third and a little cheaper alternative is to stay in a hotel/hostel in a populated island—”local island”. Just know that it means no bikini, no bacon no beer. Haven’t tried, only checked prices. Def cheaper, but compared to what you get in Indo, Phillipines, Thailand for the same money… still pretty pricey inmo.