Joanna James
The Maldives is renowned for its budding underwater paradise and its clear waters. These factors also make the country well suited for diving excursions.
Fotteyo Kandu is synonymous with superb diving experiences. Home to an uncountable amount of marine species and corals, Fotteyo Kandu is present in Vavu Atoll. You can also find plenty of overhangs and caves that are a treat to explore. Marine life like reef sharks and yellow fin tunas make an appearance here too. Once you get to the middle of the dive site you will come across a thila, which serves an ideal point to catch your breath.
Present in the seas off Lankanfinolhu island, – which is in North Male – this is a highly popular cleaning station for manta rays. There is a large slab of coral around ten to eighteen meters underwater which manta rays visit to clean themselves using the wrasses. The dive site is easy enough to be navigated by beginners too and is regularly visited by many diving enthusiasts. While the manta rays are the biggest attraction, white tip sharks and lobsters are some of the few other marine species that frequent the location. Any Maldives diving resort – for example resorts like Velassaru Maldives – can organize a diving trip to this site. While you are there, make sure to stay away from the cleaning station and observe from afar.
It is no secret that diving in shipwrecks is a surreal experience. The Maldive Victory was a Singaporean freight ship that sank on its way to an island. You can find the remains of the two hundred and seventy foot freighter serving as an excellent ecosystem for corals and a host of other fish and sea creatures. Swimming through the once majestic ship is guaranteed to feel eerie, a feeling further enhanced by the moss covered bottles and cigarettes scattered around the deck of the ship that give a glimpse into the life of the sailors. The clear waters allow you to easily view an array of marine life like scorpion fishes, honeycomb moray eels and even turtles. Located very close to Malé, the Maldive Victory is easy to access from the capital.
Present at the Huravalhi Island, Aquarium is widely known due to its sheltered nature. This means there is a total lack of strong currents, making Aquarium ideal for divers of all expertise. At one corner you will find a steep escarpment with a drop of about twenty five meters. With corals covering every inch of the massive reef, you can easily view schools of blue stripe snappers and humpback snappers as they zip past you. Look closer into the reef and you are likely to come face to face with octopuses and guitar sharks cleaning themselves. Hawksbill turtles also regularly drop in to nibble on the algae and corals. A visit here will make you understand exactly why this diving site is called Aquarium! If you do have a waterproof camera, make sure you bring it as you can get some spectacular shots.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
