Question Where to go for 1 week before central atolls liveaboard

[OctopusLover]

As stated in the title, I'll be in Maldives in December, have a liveaboard already booked that starts/ends in Male ("Best of Maldives classic"). I have another week before and after, would like to do more diving the week before and relax the week after. I've read a lot about Fuvahmulah, I'm open to it but also not super thrilled to spend a week watching sharks being fed. Open to any suggestions, but avoid resorts and expensive areas.

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

Oh.. that my open the can of worms... Any hint re budget?
Anyway... if you don't mind the domestic flight and seeing again Whale Sharks and Mantas, have a look at Dhigurah (Boutique Beach) or perhaps Rasdhoo (Speed boat transfer).
Saying that, i know that these may duplicate some of your dives you already have on our LOB itinary. But, is there something like too many Whale Sharks?

 

[scubajasonr]

I have a week booked on Fuildhoo prior to a liveaboard later this year. I haven't been before, but feedback I have read seems good, the price for accommodation and diving is pretty reasonable and comms with the dive shop have been very professional.

 

[Jay_Remi]

I would recommend that you stay in a local island, in South Ari (Dhigurah- very popular with tourists, so more expensive than its closeby island Dhangheti. The long beach in Dhigurah is out of this world.
In this area (Sout Ari atoll), you have access to very nice dive sites. (some of which you will have done with your LOB.

Another solid option is Ukulhas (located in North Ari). It is close to really great dive sites. Very nice homestays and B&B there. Both North and South Ari are 2/3 hours away by speedboats. Very easy to reach.

I would skip Fuvahmulah, diving there is hit or miss, and there is the questionable tiger zoo there.

Another option is North Male atoll: Thulusdhoo is a good option and close to some nice dive sites (less spectacular than Ari though)

You can also go to South Male atoll. If partying and mingling with lots of tourists is your thing: Maafushi would be an obvious choice. It's close to one of my favorite dive site: Kandooma thila. If more laid back: Gulhi. But it's really quiet island.

FInally, you have Vaavu atoll, which has some good options. Fulidhoo. is quite popular with divers. It's a quiet local island though.

If you want to splurge a little bit, I would warmly recommend Plumeria resort in Thinadhoo. The quality of food and rooms is really the best I have seen in a local island. Diving in this area is very nice too.

 

[cetacean]

Unlike everyone else, I would suggest you get out of the central atolls and go south. We just returned from Laamu (2nd trip there). With one resort in the atoll the diving is pristine. We've also been to the north 3x times...

Your liveaboard trip will be great - but the diving gets better the farther you get away from Male. Use the other week to experience an entirely different part of the Maldives underwater. Laamu is a bit pricy, but the diving is phenomenal.

 

[Jay_Remi]

Unlike everyone else, I would suggest you get out of the central atolls and go south. We just returned from Laamu (2nd trip there). With one resort in the atoll the diving is pristine. We've also been to the north 3x times...

Your liveaboard trip will be great - but the diving gets better the farther you get away from Male. Use the other week to experience an entirely different part of the Maldives underwater. Laamu is a bit pricy, but the diving is phenomenal.

I am curious about your experience diving in the South. Whilst I find it quite nice there, I would not go as far as rating it 'phenomenal' nor being so different from what one may experience in closer atolls (or worth the hassle taking plane/sea plane to get there).
How many and which dive sites would you rate phenomenal in this area if I may ask?

 

[cetacean]

I am curious about your experience diving in the South. Whilst I find it quite nice there, I would not go as far as rating it 'phenomenal' nor being so different from what one may experience in closer atolls (or worth the hassle taking plane/sea plane to get there).
How many and which dive sites would you rate phenomenal in this area if I may ask?

@Jay_Remi

Two sites for starters: Fushi Kandu & Hithadhoo Corner, then throw in any of the manta sites.

The reefs are significantly more pristine then the central atolls, mostly due to the lack of diving pressure. We've done the north several times which was amazing ~15 years ago, but most of the sharks are now gone. The central atolls are okay, but not nearly a pristine as the south. Each morning we'd start with a pass dive - usually on an incoming tide. Mantas, sharks, large schools of fish, even a couple of spinner dolphins exiting through the pass one morning.

Also, a 65 minute sea plane ride direct to the resort (from Male) isn't much of a hassle (esp. when you consider what it takes to get to Raja Ampat, Ambon, Halmahera, or even Lembeh. Do you find a relatively short seaplane ride a hassle?

 

[acidrush]

Fuvahmulah has very good diving. If you have ethical objections to tiger zoo, just don't do that dive. There are other spots on the island that has very good dives, chances of molas, threshers, tigers, schooling hammerheads.

 

[Volleyball]

There's lots of great diving all over the Maldives, it just depends what you're into. Fuvahmulah is reliable to see Tigers year round and Addu City where the guides/DM can call the mantas over which slowly approach you gliding over your head by inches (much different than Kona, HI), are very unique experiences. If that sounds appealing...

We flew from Male to the southernmost atoll, Addu City, both Addu City and Fuvahmulah have public airports, roundtrips from Male to either island was $220ish/person with one checked bag a year ago. There's a 45 minute ferry that runs between Addu City and Fuvahmulah. On our last day in Addu, we dove the morning-early afternoon and took the late afternoon ferry over to Fuvahmulah to dive then flew back to Male

However, there's now appears to be another option. I received an email from Fuvahmulah Scuba Club this past March advertising there's now a USD $200/person option to dive with the Mantas in Addu City with the trip starting and ending in Fuvahmulah

 

[Volleyball]

Fuvahmulah has very good diving. If you have ethical objections to tiger zoo, just don't do that dive. There are other spots on the island that has very good dives, chances of molas, threshers, tigers, schooling hammerheads.

Just pointing out the OP said December, with Fuvahmulah that is within the peak of hammerheads but Molas are generally in the summer months. We saw a lone thresher but we were 100' down and the thresher appeared to be another 100' down. Everyone is into different things, my personal opinion is I do not recommend Fuvahmulah if one doesn't want to dive with the Tigers