North Atolls – Liveaboard Diving in Maldives

This expedition has been specifically timed to coincide with the most productive monsoon winds and lunar currents, which strongly influence the movements and feeding habits of reef manta rays.
The aim of this trip is to find these feeding aggregations and allow the guests to experience the wonder of immersing yourself amongst a feeding frenzy of these gentle giants.
On this expedition we will visit four atolls and experience the wonderful marine diversity the Maldives has to offer!
Starting in Rasdhoo Atoll where we will dive some beautiful channels teeming with life, sharks, eagle rays and Napoleons to name a few!
Baa Atoll is off the main route for the majority of dive liveaboard and we will venture into this more northern atoll specifically to seek out the feeding mantas of HANIFARU Bay and hopefully a few whale sharks as well.
To see several of the world`s largest fish feeding amongst dozens of the world`s largest rays is something most people will never forget.
Just north of Baa we will venture into Raa Atoll, a region regularly visited by mantas and hosting some stunning dive sites.
Vertical walls covered in soft corals, gardens of anemones and mantas gliding above our heads are only a few of the marvels of this atoll.
While the weather in the Maldives at this time of the year is likely to be more changeable, these monsoonal conditions are exactly what create the planktonic blooms upon which the mantas and whale sharks aggregate to feed.
Furthermore, we can never guarantee these natural events, but we have put together cruises, which maximizes the chances of being in the right place at the right time, guided by the expertise of our team.
THESE CRUISES are frequently organized in collaboration with MANTA TRUST an organization dedicated to the research and conservation of manta rays.
Guests will benefit from the expertise and passion of the Biologists who will be onboard to share their knowledge through presentations, diving & guided snorkeling.
Their presence adds a deeper level of understanding and appreciation to the experience, making this cruise a meaningful encounter with marine conservation in action.

Rasdhoo Madivaru (Rasdhoo Atoll)
This reef/pass features one of the most spectacular formations in the atoll. A narrow spur juts out like a bridge from the main reef to the opposite side of the pass,
where you can encounter a great variety of fish, including tuna, eagle rays, greys reef sharks, whitetips sharks, barracudas, and jacks.
In the summer season there is a high chance of seeing manta rays.
Not to be missed is the “blue dive” for the chance to spot schooling hammerhead sharks, which rise from the deep waters along the outer reef in the early morning hours reaching depths accessible by divers.

Hanifaru Bay (Baa Atoll)
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Hanifaru Bay is famous for its seasonal gatherings of manta rays and whale sharks. From May to November, plankton-rich waters attract these gentle giants,
creating unforgettable diving and snorkeling opportunities. This site offers a magical chance to observe marine life in its most natural setting.
Sometimes, the mighty rays are joined by whale sharks that also feed on plankton.

Dharavandhoo Thila (Baa Atoll)
This submerged reef, known as a “Thila” is home to a large variety of fish. During the southwest monsoon it’s to spot manta rays gliding through the area or pausing at cleaning stations.
Gardener eels can be seen emerging from their holes in the sand bed. On the hat of the thila there are colorful anemones and corals that are home to crustaceans, octopuses, moray eels, scorpion fish and stone fish.

Kottefaru Thila (Raa Atoll)
This dive site starts at around 12 meters and drops to depths beyond 80 meters. It features a spectacular wall, ideal for drift dives.
The area is rich in colorful soft corals and offers the chance to spot manta rays between late September and November when they come here to clean up.
Possible sightings of sharks, rays and all the tropical fish you can imagine.

Vandhoo Wall (Raa Atoll)
A very nice drift dive several hundred meters along Vandhoo Island. The upper coral reef made of colored corals and a 250m long wall that goes down to over 30mt. On the TOP reef, between June and November,
there is a cleaning station for manta rays. Many fish as napoleons, turtles, white tip sharks, grunts and many blue and yellow fusiliers.

Dhigali Haa (Raa Atoll)
It is a protected thila that ranges from about 10 to 40 meters in depth.
Known as “Fish Head is a pinnacle dive site teeming with marine life with a large presence of grey reef sharks, barracudas, batfish, fusiliers, snappers, eagle rays, and schools of colorful fish surround this vibrant coral formation.
It’s an ideal site for both photography and adventure and is a protected area.”

Milaidhoo Thila (Baa Atoll)
It is a thila, a submerged pinnacle, characterized by a spectacular wall covered in colorful soft corals, making it an ideal spot for drift dives. The area is known for its population of grey reef sharks
and offers the chance to spot manta rays from late September to November.”