Need advice for diving in Maldives

[bob kopki]

If you are a new diver, I recommend you don't go to the Maldives.
There is too much advanced diving there & you could get into trouble.

 

[@sea]

If you are a new diver the best thing is to go on an island as long as you need some more
time to practice your skills and get more familiar being underwater. Almost all Resort islands in the
Maldives has a dive school. Depending on your level of experience the guides can recommend you the dives suitable for you. Just need to communicate to get the best experience i guess.
I am sure all islands can provide easy dives on request.


There is a lot of advanced diving in the maldives. But that depends on the time of the year/area/place.
For experienced divers I recommend a live aboard for the best diving. But other activities can be very much
limited unlike a resort island.

 

[DevonDiver]

Unless you have specific requirements and diving goals (which is unlikely when you are newly qualified) then a shore/boat option will be more than perfect for your needs.

I've been to the Maldives twice (Vilamendhoo on the South Ari Atoll) and really enjoyed the variety and convenience of the diving there.

For shore dives.. we had tanks delivered to our villa every AM...and were in the water (just 5' away) for dawn at 5.30am. We also did night dives along the house reef/wall. Our first dive there, on the house reef, we got buzzed by a Manta.

The boat diving options were 2x double dive trips per day, am and pm. We took both am and pm trips... reaching the more demanding reefs around the atoll. The dive center we went two ran two boats... so there was always a beginners boat and an advanced boat. The 'advanced' boat went the sites that experienced strong currents.

The most important planning consideration when visiting the Maldives, is what monsoon season it is. Certain Maldives Atolls are protected from, or exposed to, the monsoon at any given time. You may also want to research what locations are best for Manta and Whale Shark congregations at the time you plan to go there.

IMHO, liveaboards are only the best bet, when local and shore diving are of a low standard. Why pay extra to be crammed in a boat for days, when you can dive your heart out from a luxury island, at less cost?

My advice...save the liveaboard diving for locations where liveaboard is the only option!

 

[@sea]

IMHO, liveaboards are only the best bet, when local and shore diving are of a low standard. Why pay extra to be crammed in a boat for days, when you can dive your heart out from a luxury island, at less cost?

My advice...save the liveaboard diving for locations where liveaboard is the only option!

I just would like to say that. The above mentioned might not apply to all countries.
So the best thing would be to do a research on the perticular dive destinations.

Now a days even liveaboards are giving a good service. It does not have to be a crammed boat. 10-16 pax on a boat and 2 guides, i think that not something packed.
I am sure you will find almost the same or even more divers on some of the resort islands.

Also not all the islands let you go off the house reef wall by yourself or with your buddy. So house reef diving with your buddy is allowed only by a few islands compared to whom dont allow.

If you are a hardcore diver looking for a dive holiday liveaboard can be the best experience you can have in the Maldives. Also if you really do a research on prices you might be doing much more dive for a less price. (Ofcourse depending on the standard of the boat you choose)

Happy dives

 

[DevonDiver]

My post was really only specific to the Maldives. Unescorted shore diving is allowed, the resorts are not crammed..and some of the best sites are just meters from your room.

I think the Red Sea is definitely deserving of a liveaboard...to stay away from the crowds in Hurghada, Sharm etc. Also in Thailand... to reach the off-shore sites on the west coast. A liveaboard is a must in the Philippines - so you can dive Tubbataha Reef. And, for the best diving experiences.. a liveaboard is the best option for many of the Micronesia sites and places likes Fiji.