Drift Dive With Pelagics in Maldives Southern Atolls!
Overall Rating
Great dives! We had a great week in the Deep South on the Emperor Virgo. The dives are challenging and sporty and you must have a good physical level to fully enjoy the dives in the passes and in the current. We had the chance to see hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, manta rays (magnificent Manta Point!), gray and white tip sharks, and to top it off during the last dive a magnificent 6m tiger shark. The boat is a little dated but it did its job. Good food and attentive crew. My gluten intolerance was no problem. Finally, a big thank you to the dive guides Salaam, Mike and Deano for their good briefings, their good humor and their professionalism.
Very nice cruise, you can have many encounters: tiger shark, fox, whale, gray, bulldog, oceanic manta among others in the passes... Serious guides. Helpful and attentive crew. Very varied and plentiful food. Ideal water temperature 29 degrees and correct visibility. Isabelle is at the top! I recommend Matthew
A top diving stay. Good atmosphere at the meeting with memories full of eyes, without worrying about the organization. Thanks to Isabelle for her kindness, her professionalism and the fluidity of the exchanges. We will go with Seacrush again without hesitation.
Why We Love It
Once a year, from January to the end of March, some liveaboards head to the remote southern atolls in the Maldives. The atolls of Fuvamulah, Huvadhoo, Addu, and Laamu are far from the crowds, and offer an exhilarating diving experience! Whale sharks, hammerheads, tiger sharks, thresher sharks, white tip sharks, silvertip sharks, oceanic mantas.. these are some of the species you could drift along on this trip! We love the excellent value of these trips, taking to the most exciting dive sites of the Maldives, and the friendly crew on board.
Conservation
The team conducts regular ocean clean-ups. The company supports numerous NGOs such as Sea Save Foundation, the Turtle Foundation, Green Fins, and more. In the deep south, some dive shops and liveaboards offer tiger shark feeding dives, usually called: "Tiger Zoo". This liveaboard company does not engage in such activity, and you'll see tiger sharks in a much more natural environment.
Who Is It For?
For Experienced divers who love big pelagic creatures. A level 2 or Advanced Open Water and a hundred dives are recommended, as there are plenty of drifts and deep dives in this itinerary. Divers may find some dives challenging, and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip some dives not suitable for their diving experience.
Prices and Dates
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Depending on the dates, there are different itineraries. The longer trips (14 nights) often start in the south and go back to Male, or the other way around. Ask us for more details.
Dive Briefing!
Marine Life
- If encounters with big pelagic are your thing, then the Southern atolls are the place to be! They are often called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.
- The currents and channels are ideal for shark sightings including, hopefully, whale sharks and silkies, hammerheads, and grey sharks spotted most of the time.
- Thresher sharks, tiger sharks, oceanic mantas, mobula rays, eagle rays.. all these can be seen in the deep south!
Dive Conditions
- Season: January to the end of March is the only time liveaboards can reach these atolls.
- Currents: moderate to strong
- Visibility: 20 to 30 m (66 to 98 ft)
- Water Temperature: ranges 25° to 30°C (77° to 86°F)
- Depth: shallow and deep dives
Dive Sites
- You will dive many of the world class channels: Vilingilli, Koodoo, Nilandhoo and Mareehaa.
- In Fuvahmulah you can expect to meet tiger, silky, silver tip, and thresher sharks on the south plateaux.
- No shark-feeding dive.
- Addu Atoll hosts the WWII wreck, HMS British Loyalty, as well as the popular majestic Manta Cleaning station Maa Kandu along with a more relaxing drift dive at Demon corner to either start or end the trip with too.
The Team
- Operation created in 1992
- Number of boats: 8
- Dive Guides on board: 3
- PADI courses - ask us
- Languages spoken: English
Safety Information
- Equipment Recommended: a 3-5mm wetsuit, a hood if you tend to be cold, a reef hook can be useful, an SMB, and the usual diving equipment.
- Insurance: both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe which has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote
- Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: at Kandima Maldives resort, in Dhaalu Atoll
Visas, Flights, and More!
Visa Requirements
- You must have a passport valid for at least six months, a pre-paid or booking accomodation proof, sufficient funds for your stay, and a return ticket.
- Tourist visa is granted for all nationalities, on arrival, for up to thirty days.
- Please check current visa policies that apply for your country: Maldives Immigration website
How to Get There
- Some trips start in Male (MLE), and others start from the Maldives' southern atolls - ask us for more details before buying any flights.
- If your trip starts from the deep south, you will most likely need to fly to GAN International Airport (GAN):
- Emirates, FlyDubai, and Sri Lankan Airlines have international flights going there - it might be more costly than taking a local flight from Male to GAN with Maldivian Aero.
- Transfers from GAN airport to the liveaboard are at noon and 4 pm.
- If flying from/to Male (MLE) with Maldivian Aero, you will have to spend one night in Male on the way back, before flying internationally.
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- Bring some reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a rash guard to protect yourself from the sun, as well as some mosquito repellent. Also, bring a pair of conservative clothes covering your legs and shoulders, in case you visit a village island.
Destinations
Right Season
Dive Operators
Booking Fees
