Central Atolls - North and South Male, Ari, Rasdhoo and Felidhu Atolls

The capital of the Maldives, Male, and the airport on Hulhule Island lie in the centre of this area which gives the convenience of being able to go on a circular route safari and take in the top sites.

With good weather, a seven day trip will generally encompass a few sites within North and South Male and then concentrate on sites in Ari Atoll or head south to Felidhu Atoll and return through South and North Male. A twelve night trip can encompass all of the atolls.

Ironically, one of the best manta points between May and November (“Lankanfinolhu”) lies only a few miles north of the airport. Here one can see manta rays on a cleaning station in only a few metres of water – it’s a spectacular dive! North Male has numerous dive points, from the grottos of “Fairy Tale Reef” to the sharks of “Finger Point” and the spectacular scenery around “HP Reef”, to name but a few. Its smaller cousin, South Male Atoll, also has some spectacular diving – “Guraidhoo Kandu” is famous for its adrenalin pumping drift dives and its famous shark encounters. To the south is Felidhu Atoll which has many wonderful channel dives. Here the eastern reefs plunge vertically into the abyss and the channels of “Foteyo Kandhoo” and “Miaru Kandhoo” are just two which sum up the exciting diving.

Crossing some 30 miles to the west is Ari Atoll. There are numerous spectacular dives here but the highlights are the regular encounters with the whale sharks which seem to have made the southern reefs of “Maamigili Kandu” their home. During the north east season (November to April) manta rays are frequently seen on the western side – the favourite manta point of “Hukuruali Kandu”. Ari Atoll has many thila dives (small submerged reefs inside the atoll) and these make for rewarding diving as each thila is packed with life, from grey sharks cruising the edges to turtles grazing the algae rich shallows and clouds of fish. The famous dives of “Fish Head” with the napoleons and patrolling grey reef sharks, “Maaya Thila” with the hunting white-tips are but two that are a must for the log book.

En route back towards Male you can pass through the small Rasdhoo Atoll which is famous for its “Hammerhead Point”. Early risers will benefit as this eastern facing reef attracts the hammerheads on the sunrise which use the reef to feed and clean.

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