White Manta Diving Shark Hotspot, North Malé Atoll

Diving with White Manta Shark Hotspot

The itinerary includes eight guided dives over three days, with three dives on each of the first two diving days and two dives on the final morning. Groups are limited to four guests per guide, helping the dive team maintain close supervision. Nitrox, 12-litre cylinders, weights and belts are included. Full rental equipment and 15-litre cylinders are available for an additional fee and should be reserved before arrival. Cylinders support both DIN and INT regulators, dive computers are compulsory, and solo or decompression diving is not permitted.

The daily schedule revolves around dives at Shark Tank, with six dives planned at this unique site, plus one dive each at Banana Reef and Fish Tank. Possible encounters include spinner, great hammerhead, lemon, bull and tiger sharks, along with guitar sharks, whiprays, stingrays and manta rays. Sightings cannot be guaranteed, and the itinerary may be adjusted depending on currents, weather and sea conditions.

Diving in North Male Atoll

North Malé Atoll combines convenient access with reefs, channels, submerged thilas and current-swept sites. Banana Reef is known for its dramatic topography and schooling fish, while other well-known sites around the atoll offer encounters with sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, turtles and mantas.

This Hulhumalé-based itinerary focuses on the urban side of North Malé Atoll, where sharks are known to gather in considerable numbers not far from Malé. It is particularly well suited to divers looking to experience the famous Shark Tank dive and is the perfect extension before heading to a private-island resort or joining a liveaboard.

Learn more about scuba diving in North Male Atoll on the ZuBlu site here.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the ideal trip with White Manta Diving in the Maldives, including your preferred room type, diving, excursions, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings and resort transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred room and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment or excursions. This quote will also show any extras paid in advance or at the resort - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the resort, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Ready to start planning you trip? Chat with a travel expert now.

Getting there

This dive trip is based in Hulhumalé, beside Velana International Airport (MLE). Guests booking the package are met by the partner hotel according to their scheduled flight arrival and transferred by road to their accommodation.

Guests should arrive from 14:00 onwards on the first day. Travellers already staying elsewhere in the Maldives before the package begins must normally make their own way to the hotel unless a separate transfer has been arranged.

Diving begins the following morning. Breakfast is typically served at 07:00, before being picked up from the hotel at approximately 07:30 and the first dive at around 08:30. The final two dives take place on day four, with hotel checkout at midday on day five. Passport details and flight information must be provided at least two weeks before departure so transfers can be finalised.

Other activities

The programme revolves around diving, with late afternoons and evenings free for rest or exploration of Male. Guests can visit Hulhumalé’s beach, cafés and restaurants or add extra nights before or after the trip.

Shorter one or two-day diving arrangements may be possible when space is available. Additional dives can also be requested, subject to the schedule, boat capacity and local conditions.

Good to know

• WiFi - Complimentary WiFi is included at the allocated partner hotel.
• Mobile coverage - Hulhumalé generally has reliable mobile coverage; reception at sea can vary.
• Plug type - The Maldives uses type-G British-style plugs.
• Payments - USD cash is preferred. Credit-card payments incur a 4.5% fee.
• Currency - Maldivian rufiyaa, but US dollars are widely used.
• Time zone - Maldives Time, UTC+5.
• Dive qualification - Open Water certification is required, with at least 20 logged dives recommended.
• Dive computer - Compulsory on every dive and available to rent.
• Nitrox - Included for certified divers; an enriched-air course can be arranged for an additional fee.
• Exposure protection - A 3mm shorty suits many divers; a full 3mm suit may be more comfortable for those who feel the cold.
• Dive insurance - Compulsory for all guests; comprehensive travel insurance is also strongly recommended.
• Fuel surcharge - A USD50 per-person surcharge applies to departures from July 2026.
• Equipment rental - The prepaid set includes BCD, regulator, shorty wetsuit, mask, fins, SMB and reef hook; computer, torch and larger cylinder are charged separately.
• Tipping - Approximately 5–10% of the trip price is suggested at each guest’s discretion.