Best scuba diving resorts in the Maldives

With over a thousand islands surrounded by cobalt-blue water and dazzling fringing reefs, it’s no surprise that scuba diving is one of the Maldives’ top attractions. But with so many exceptional dive resorts to choose from – all offering the Maldives' iconic blend of adventure and sublime five-star relaxation – travellers are truly spoilt for choice.

To help you decide where to stay this year, we’ve tested thilas and dived from dhonis across the atolls – selecting a handful of our all-time favourite resorts along the way.

Read on to discover the best dive resorts in the Maldives.

Milaidhoo Maldives is a unique private island resort located in Baa Atoll, delivering a refreshing style of reinvented luxury in an informal, barefoot atmosphere. To help guests let their hair down on this small tropical island, Milaidhoo features multiple authentic eateries serving clean flavours, as well as two sociable bars and a wine room. Additional premium recreation facilities include an infinity pool, 24-hour fitness centre, and overwater spa offering complimentary yoga and meditation classes.

From the protected house reef to the legendary manta congregations of Hanifaru Bay, underwater enthusiasts are spoiled for choice at Milaidhoo. And, with a well-equipped PADI 5-Star dive centre onsite, guests can experience Baa Atoll’s very best sites with a team of experienced instructors and resident marine biologists.

• Great for: Informal luxury within reach of Hanifaru Bay and other manta ray hotspots in Baa Atoll.
• Best time to visit: The largest manta congregations occur during the southwest monsoon, particularly around the full or new moon between July and October.

Aveyla Manta Village is a charming guesthouse on the local island of Dharavandhoo, in the heart of the Maldives’ only UNESCO marine biosphere reserve. Overlooking the iconic Hanifaru Bay, Aveyla Manta Village guarantees unforgettable marine experiences in the Maldives, at a fraction of the price of a larger private island resort.

With a combined experience of over 30-years in the dive industry, this hotel’s owners know exactly what guests want from their trip to Baa Atoll. And, the partner PADI 5-Star dive centre, Liquid Divers, guarantee professionalism, purpose-built facilities, and plenty of lifelong memories in Hanifaru Bay and beyond.

• Great for: Five-star experiences without the five-star price tag, just a five-minute boat ride from Hanifaru Bay.
• Best time to visit: The largest manta congregations occur during the southwest monsoon, particularly around the full or new moon between July and October.

With award-winning leisure facilities and a tempting list of watersports and activities, Kuredu Island Resort and Spa is an exquisite private island playground for the adventurous. No matter your level of experience, the resort’s Prodivers dive centre can cater for you, with patient and professional instructors and even tons of tech-friendly facilities. 

Kuredu Island’s fantastic location offers double the dive sites, with easy access to the whole of Lhaviyani and Noonu Atoll beyond. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Shipyard, where two wrecks await easy exploration – one towering above the surface of the lagoon! Elsewhere in the atoll, ripping currents, reef sharks and rays are the order of the day, and it doesn’t get much better than that.

• Great for: Easy exploration of both Lhaviyani and Noonu, superb tech-friendly facilities.
• Beat time to visit: The northeast monsoon, between January and April, offers the best weather. But, for mantas and whale sharks, visit during the southwest monsoon, from May to November.

Despite lying just 15-minutes from the airport, SAii Lagoon delivers truly one-of-a-kind vacation experiences in the Maldives. While located on its own private island, SAii Lagoon is connected to its two neighbouring islands via footbridge, forming part of the country’s first fully-integrated, multi-island leisure destination. Known as CROSSROADS, this pioneering lifestyle hub concept aims to be all things to all people and comes equipped with endless opportunities for entertainment and indulgence, as well as a convenient 30-berth marina. 

From SAii Lagoon, guests will have access to award-winning PADI 5-Star dive resort from which to explore South Male’s renowned underwater world. Famous nearby sites worthy of exploring include Banana Reef, Bolifushi Wreck, and Kandooma Thila – often known as Cocoa Thila.

• Great for: Maximum convenience, offering unparalleled facilities within easy reach from the airport.
• Best time to visit: Visit between March and October for the ultimate manta ray encounters and consistent surf breaks.

Situated on the southern tip of Rasdhoo Atoll, Kuramathi Maldives is the ultimate choice for discerning divers, with an array of first-class facilities and access to world-renowned diving in both Rasdhoo and North Ari. Amongst this resort’s premium amenities are an Eco Centre staffed by a resident marine biologist, and a medical centre complete with one of the largest hyperbaric chambers in the Maldives, providing peace-of-mind for both environmentally-aware and safety-conscious divers.

Dives from this resort are conducted by the highly experienced Rasdhoo Divers who have been operating safe and professional dive excursions since 1994. Guests are free to explore the house reef day or night, while more than 20 other dive sites lie just a short distance away. And, if you’re in the mood for a thrill, trips to Rasdhoo’s legendary Hammerhead Point are also available several times a week.

• Great for: Home to one of the Maldives’ largest hyperbaric chambers for maximum peace-of-mind.
• Best time to visit: Visit between January and March for your best chances to spot both hammerheads and manta rays.

Located on the eastern edge of South Ari Atoll, not far from Dhigurah, Vilamendhoo Island Resort is a quintessential Maldivian paradise delivering luxurious getaways with a scuba diving focus. Dedicated underwater explorers are sure to love this resort’s many perks, including free nitrox and a complementary orientation dive on the delightful house reef – after which you’ll be free to plan and conduct your own dives, without a guide.

The resort’s partner dive operator, Euro-Divers, is a well-established international chain of PADI 5-Star centres, guaranteeing high standards of safety and customer service. Guided dive excursions are offered throughout the atoll, but the resort lies conveniently close to a number of the best sites, including some of the most reliable spots for whale shark and manta encounters.

• Great for: Reliable whale shark and manta sightings and a choice of adults-only and family-friendly areas.
• Best time to visit: While whale sharks and manta rays are present all year, slightly higher numbers are recorded during the northeast monsoon, between December and March.

Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa is a blissful private island catering to guests of all kinds with both adults-only and family-friendly islands. The resort’s onsite partner dive centre, Dive and Sail, was the first watersports centre to open and operate in Meemu Atoll, and guests can now dive these secluded waters with those who know it best.

Sitting at the end of the resort’s jetty, Dive and Sail offer a range of convenient facilities for divers, including a well-stocked shop, a small workshop, and an air-conditioned classroom complete with modern audio and video equipment. Over 40 dive sites are accessible from the resort and possible excursions include both dusk and night dives, providing plenty of choice for guests.

Great for: Seeing the best of Meemu Atoll thanks to expert knowledge from the atoll’s pioneering dive centre.

Best time to visit: Meemu offers great diving at any time of year, though visibility is often slightly better during the northeast monsoon from January to April.

You may not have heard much about Thaa, but rest assured, the diving here is spectacular. And, COMO Maalifushi is the only private island resort in the entire atoll – making it the perfect choice for travellers looking to get away from the crowds. Sitting in perfect isolation within a shallow, sapphire lagoon, this resort is also the epitome of relaxation, guaranteeing an iconic Maldivian escape that won’t disappoint. 

Thaa Atoll is well regarded for its diving and surfing, with several excellent breaks, seasonal manta ray sightings, and occasional hammerhead encounters. Thanks to fewer visitors, the reefs are also in great shape, and guests can even appreciate the kaleidoscopic coral displays in a new light with the option of nighttime fluoro-diving on the house reef.

• Great for: The only private island resort offering access to Thaa Atoll’s magnificent reefs.
• Best time to visit: For the best visibility and diving conditions, visit during the dry season which runs from December to April.

Located in far-flung Huvadhoo Atoll, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is a new resort exceeding some of the highest standards of luxury in the Maldives. Discreet yet dedicated service is one of the hallmarks of this outstanding resort, which extends below the surface, with highly-trained marine butlers ready to enhance your every underwater experience.

Located in the Maldives’ far south, swathes of this atoll’s deep inner lagoon are yet to be fully explored, while the current swept walls and channels play host to 13 different species of shark. Boasting first-class facilities and an experienced team, this resort’s dive and watersports centre is the top choice for exploring Huvadhoo’s untouched underwater world.

• Great for: Exploring untouched reefs and encountering up to 13 different species of shark.
• Best time to visit: The dry northeast monsoon from December to April offers the best conditions, while the southwest monsoon from May to November is the best time to encounter large pelagic fish.

Fuvahmulah Dive School was the first professional diving school based on Fuvahmulah, and describes itself as the ‘one and only’ choice if you’re looking for big shark action in the Maldives. Located in the Maldives’ deep south, this island is renowned for its incredible encounters with thresher sharks, hammerheads, and giant oceanic manta rays. But, it’s the guaranteed tiger shark encounters that really steal the show.

This exceptional frontier dive lodge is run by a team of professionals who have logged thousands of dives exploring and researching Fuvahmulah’s unique marine environment. As a result, visitors can be sure that each and every shark encounter will be conducted in the safest and most responsible manner.

Great for: Diving with tiger sharks, hammerheads, thresher sharks and oceanic manta rays in a safe and responsible manner.

Best time to visit: You can dive with the tiger sharks every single day but the other big animals are more seasonal. Hammerheads can be seen from January until March, manta rays arrive between March and May, and thresher sharks are most common from April through November.