Made up almost entirely of sea water, the Maldives is one of the best places in the world for snorkelling and diving, its waters positively teeming with all manner of marine life from multicoloured fish to turtles, dolphins and manta rays.
Some Great Snorkeling and Diving Spots
When it comes to discovering the wonders beneath the waves, coral reefs should be at the epicentre of your search. Why? Colourful and wonderful in their varied shapes, coral reefs are a pleasure to view on their own. However, that’s not their only draw!
Coral reefs support a complex ecosystem that supports marine creatures such as fish and this attracts other sea creatures to them as well.
Wondering what some of the best Maldives snorkeling and diving spots are? Read on to find out!
- Banana Reef: This reed is found inside one of the country’s first discovered dive spots, which is known as Kuda Kalhi in the native language, Dhivehi. The Banana Reef is fairly easy to access from the capital, being situated in the North Male Atoll. As you may have guessed, its appearance is linked to its name, as the reef is somewhat banana-shaped. Some marine creatures that you’re likely to spot there include rays as well as a range of fish species such as soldierfish, barracudas, giant squirrelfish and many more.
- Cocoa Thila (a.k.a. Coconut Corner): Found in the South Male Atoll, this dive spot features a deep-water pinnacle and plenty of ravines to explore.
- Maamigili Marine Protected Area & Dhidhdhoo Beyru Feru – located in the South Male Atoll, these are great spots for spotting marine creatures such as whale sharks.
House Reefs
Out of approximately 2500 coral reefs in the Maldives, almost 900 of them happen to be house reefs. That’s over 35%! So when it comes to finding scenic Maldives snorkeling spots, you would do well to consider these.
But, for those who are first-timers to the delights of snorkelling in the Maldives, what exactly are house reefs? House reefs are those found at or very near the waters surrounding a resort. Many of them tend to be found in bays or fairly sheltered water areas, and most of them can be reached in minutes from the shore (either by swimming directly to them or by a water taxi – most resorts tend to offer free shuttles to and from house reefs that are located a little further away multiple times a day).
Ways to Explore the World Beneath the Waves
During your vacation in the Maldives, there are a few ways to experience all that the sea has to offer.
One is by independently signing up for either snorkeling tours in the Maldives or dive excursions that the Maldives has to offer.
Another is to choose one or more resorts to stay at which will arrange such excursions for you, or alternatively, which are positioned in a location where the waters surrounding the resort itself are rich in marine life, so you do not have to stray far. In this latter case, the first thing to look into when selecting your resort(s), would be the presence and quality of a house reef.
Some resorts have even more to offer, however. Take for example InterContinental Maldives. Located in the Raa Atoll, just a short boat trip away from the biodiverse waters of the Baa Atoll, this resort’s lagoon is a known spot for frolicking juvenile manta rays! The resort makes good use of this by offering manta ray snorkelling and diving excursions.
The Maldives has plenty to see and experience underwater. Now, the choice is yours! Plan independent excursions to multiple snorkelling and dive spots, or else, check into a choice resort (or two) and let them arrange everything for you.
