Top Dive Sites in the Maldives – The Wonder Below the Waves

Broken Rock is one of the more unique diving locations you'll find here in the Maldives. At the centre of the site, you'll find a deep canyon that seems to burrow into the very depths of the earth. The walls of this canyon are lined with soft corals that display spectacular pastel colours. The area is also frequented by large schools of reef fish like anthias and butterfly fish. Keep an eye on the rock crevices found here as well, they are favourite hiding spots for the predatory moray eel.

When it comes to diving spots, most Maldives holiday resorts – for example, the properties offered by popular chains like Adaaran Maldives – will make mention of the Miyaruga Thila. This is a large area that's well over 80 metres in length and 30 metres in depth. The Miyaruga has one of the most varied terrains found in any of Maldives' diving spots – these range from reefs and sand beds to terraces and underwater caves. The highlight of the dive, however, can be found at the centre of the site. These are two tunnels that run parallel and at times overlap with each other. All these winding tunnels and narrow pathways make this a very exciting location to explore. That being said, a dive here should only be attempted with an experienced guide.

If you're excited to see all kinds of colourful marine life, a dive at the Kuda Rah Thila is exactly what you need. The site is found within a protected marine area – this means you'll find all manner of rare and endangered species once you get under the water here. The top species to spot here include various moray eel varieties, giant tuna and predatory white-tip reef sharks. Large schools of smaller fish are known to aggregate near the larger corals. All together, they form a mesmerising display of colour – these images are sure to stick with you long after the dive has ended.

Also referred to as the Barracuda Thila, this dive site is a thing stretch that's around 80 metres long. As the name suggests, you'll almost certainly be spotting a number of barracuda during a single dive here. These metre-long predatory fish may look aggressive, but as long as they are in large schools, they are relatively docile.

You'll have to travel to the very eastern edge of the Maldives atoll to find the Fotteyo Kandu Diving Spot. Being full of marine life while also containing expansive cave networks has made this site one of the most popular places to visit among scuba divers. This is also one of the best locations in the islands to spot a huge variety of colourful sea anemones.