Joanna James
The Maldives, and the island nation's reputation for its incredible diving, is one that needs no introduction. The scores of holidaymakers that flock to the islands look forward to uncovering the treasures of the tropical blue, and with the nation's best diving sites, you can only expect the best.
Maaya Thila in the Central Atolls is arguably the best diving site in the whole of Maldives, which is often featured as one of the top ten diving sites in the world. Reaching from 20 feet down to 100 feet, the reef is favoured by both beginner and advanced divers. To say that the pinnacle is teeming with life would be the least, as those descending down into the deep blue will be greeted by a whole host of fascinating marine life, from turtles and frogfish to stingrays and whitetip reef sharks.
For those truly avid divers, Kandooma Thila is sure to give you your fill of exciting underwater adventures. The reef is so long that you just can't fully cover it in a single trip. Choose the parts of the thila you'd want to explore or embark on a series of diving trips to earn you the bragging rights of having explored the whole Kandooma Thila — one that will definitely turn a lot of heads in the diving community. While the reef is home to a wide array of sea life, those lucky will be able to spot some of the very rare green sea turtles here.
This protected marine area is also known as HP Reef and Girifushi Thila, but its colourful soft corals make it best known as Rainbow Reef. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful dive sites here in the Maldives and certainly lives up to its incredibly appealing moniker. The reef formation here is rather different and possesses outcrops, caves and crevices that certainly set the striking reef apart from the Maldives' slew of other diving sites.
While the archipelagic nation of the Maldives has no shortage of world-renowned diving sites today, Banana Reef was the country's first diving site that rose to popularity outside the Indian Ocean islands. The reef's vibrant corals, caves, and overhangs are simply mesmerising to date, and it's no wonder that people from around the world were drawn to its beauty. The crystal clear waters and the host of fantastic marine life just add to an idyllic scene.
The kilometre-long dive site is often known as an unmissable spot when experiencing the world underwater in the beautiful island nation. The teeming marine life and striking corals join forces to make for a stunning scene. For those vacationing, there are scores of fine Maldives dive resorts not that far away, including the likes of Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi.
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