The Maldives – Far South

Our trip starts in Male where you board our chosen liveaboard – the new Spirit of Maldives – before sailing 300 miles south taking in the beauty of the central atolls on our way to the Equatorial Maldives. 

Here you will discover the southernmost realms of these paradise islands. Spectacular diving in Huvadhoo Atoll, Fuvahmulah Atoll, and Addu Atoll awaits. The Far South offers truly exciting channel and drift dives, along with corners full of a multitude of different reef fish. The channels are where the ocean currents flow into the atolls, bringing rich nutrient waters along with amazing oceanic marine life. We also say to our guests to expect the unexpected, as these deep ocean drop off’s even surprise us after 10,000 dives and 15+  yrs working in the Maldives.

At the front of the channels you can see large shoals of grey reef sharks, big eye jacks, black jacks, free-ways of fusiliers, eagle rays and marble rays, groupers and napoleons. We always finish the dives multi levelling up, either swimming or drifting back into the channels where you can often see many green turtles, eagle rays, sting rays and so many reef fish. And for those with a keen eye, smaller critters can also be found.   

Huvadhoo Atoll is swept by the ocean currents and offers spectacular channel diving with huge schools of pelagic fish, sharks and rays, as well as a kaleidoscope of colourful reef fish. There’s also tranquil shallow reefs inside the atoll with beautiful coral formations and macro life. Whalesharks often visit the back of the boat at night.

South of Huvadhoo Atoll lies legendary Fuvahmulah, a world famous shark diving hotspot. Here, at a plateau around 30 m deep, lie thrilling drift dives. Keep your eyes peeled for hammerheads, threshers, silver tips, grey reefs, and the majestic tiger sharks for which this atoll is renowned.

Further south again, is Addu Atoll, which is home to the historic island of Gan. Once a vital port for the British Navy and later a British airbase, Gan holds a wealth of treasures. Explore underwater to discover the wreckage of the British Loyalty, a poignant reminder of wartime history now transformed into a thriving reef. Meanwhile, the eastern channels of Addu offer exhilarating drift dives, and to the north, a stunning giant manta cleaning station.