The best hotels in the Maldives for beginners in diving

According to unofficial statistics, more than 60% of travelers to the Maldives get acquainted with the rich underwater world of the Indian Ocean by scuba diving.

This is not surprising. After all, a trip to the Maldives is a great opportunity to learn diving in almost ideal conditions: in warm and clear water, with good visibility and surrounded by impressive sea creatures.

In our selection, we will introduce you to hotels that will be an excellent choice for those who are about to take their first steps underwater.

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Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

This resort is located on a picturesque 900 by 250 meter island in the waters of South Ari Atoll.

One of the main attractions of the resort is its house reef, densely populated with marine life, including: Napoleons, blacktip reef sharks, eagle rays and turtles. The reef is attractive not only during the day, but also at night, as it opens up opportunities for meeting marine life that is inactive during the day.

The presence of a wonderful private reef and a 5-star dive center PADI Euro-Divers Maldives does Vilamendhoo Island is an almost ideal location for beginner divers.

So, for beginners who have reached the age of 10, the Discover course is available. Scuba Diving, where students can gain theoretical and practical basic skills to explore the ocean under the guidance of experienced instructors. Estimated cost of a course including 2 dives is about 145 USD.

Having mastered the basic skills, guests can continue their education and receive a certificate that will allow them to dive anywhere in the world.

For more experienced divers, there are about 50 exciting sites located near the resort, including: 7th Heaven, Kuda Rah Thila, Broken Rock, Lucky Hell and Vilamendhoo Thila.

Also, divers are expected to meet with whale sharks in Whale Shark National Park, with manta rays at Mahibadhoo cleaning stations Manta Point and Rangali Madivaru Manta Point, as well as with reef sharks, silverback sharks, nurse sharks and other representatives of the marine fauna at numerous dive sites near the island.

How to get there: 25 minutes by seaplane.

Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

Meeru Island Resort & Spa

This serene tropical resort is located on Meerufenfushi Island in North Male Atoll.

In addition to comfortable rooms, good cuisine, relaxing Duniye Spa and a variety of entertainment, Meeru Island offers a wide range of diving opportunities.

So, Euro-Divers Maldives offers children aged 8 and over to have their first dive experience with the Bubblemaker Program ($99). And starting from the age of 10, resort guests can try their hand at the Discover program Scuba Diving , which includes a short theoretical part, followed by practice in shallow water before the first real dive.

Estimated cost of the course with two dives is about 145 USD.

While diving near Meerufenfushi you can meet manta rays (Lankan Manta Point and Bodu Hithi Thila), reef sharks, leopard sharks and nurse sharks (Helengeli Thila, Miyaru Faru, Colosseum), rays and moray eels (Fish Tank), as well as admire the splendor of corals (Nassimo Thila and HP Reef).

How to get there: 1 hour by speedboat.

Meeru Island Resort & Spa

W Maldives

This luxurious resort of North Ari Atoll attracts guests with high-class service, designer villas, decorated according to the unique concept of "Let It Glow", creative cuisine and an amazing reef that ranks among the best in the Maldives.

While exploring the reef together with instructors from the dive center Down Under and a full-time marine biologist, resort guests can swim with reef sharks, turtles, tuna and a host of other underwater creatures.

With the necessary experience, underwater adventurers can visit world-famous dive locations such as Maaya Thila, Fishhead, Malhoss Thila, Himendhoo Thila, explore the Fesdu and Halaveli shipwrecks, go in search of hammerhead sharks on the elegant ESCAPE yacht. Those wishing to expand the geography of diving can explore the best places for diving in Ari Atoll and North Male Atoll.

How to get there: by seaplane.

W Maldives

Kuredu Resort & Spa

This Lhaviyani Atoll Resort & Spa is surrounded by white sandy beaches and a beautiful lagoon. The hotel offers 9 different types of accommodation, a wide choice of restaurants and bars, rich leisure activities, including great diving.

The hotel operates Prodivers, an operator that has gained an excellent reputation over the years, and in 2018 received the honorary title of the best in the Maldives.

Prodivers offers a range of training courses. Yes, Discover Scuba Diving allows you to make the first acquaintance with the ocean in a shallow lagoon, and all subsequent ones - on the house reef or in other locations suitable for diving for beginners.

Estimated cost of the Discover course Scuba Diving with one dive is $115.

Those who wish to continue their studies can upgrade their level to PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water Diver and become certified divers.

Kuredu reef is home to many tropical fish, Napoleons, turtles, moray eels, fugu. You can see the remains of a sunken ship. Diving is possible both in the daytime and at night.

In addition, the Prodivers team organizes tours to numerous dive sites in the Lhaviyani and Noonu atolls, including Anemone Thila, Felivaru Kandu and The shipyard.

How to get there: 40 minutes by seaplane.

Kuredu Resort & Spa

Kuramathi Maldives

This island hotel in Rasdhoo is one of the first Maldivian resorts and has been successfully operating since 1975. A variety of beach and water villas, many gastronomic locations, a spa with a carefully thought-out menu of services, a sports center and a kids club - this is not a complete list of what awaits Kuramathi guests.

The resort has a dive center Rasdhoo Divers, which offers those who wish to try the Discover course for beginners Scuba Diving or Try Scuba. The course lasts a little over two hours and, in addition to theory, includes diving in a shallow lagoon or on a house reef.

After this initial course, you can continue your education and earn your PADI/SSI Scuba certification. Diver or PADI/SSI Open certification Water Diver.

It should be noted that the resort has a medical center equipped with a decompression chamber.

How to get there: 20 minutes by seaplane.

Kuramathi Maldives

Mirihi Island

Just 350 meters by 50 meters, this cozy, miniature South Ari Atoll resort is sure to surprise guests with a 6-kilometer house reef that is home to sea turtles and reef sharks, eagle rays and many other ocean inhabitants.

The resort is conveniently located a short boat ride from the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, where whale sharks and manta rays are regularly sighted.

Given these factors, and with over 40 exciting dive sites nearby, the resort is an excellent choice for all diving enthusiasts.

The Ocean-Pro team offers a wide range of courses: from Discover Scuba Diving to Rescue Diver, which are adapted to the guests' schedule.

Experienced and patient instructors conduct test dives in the lagoon and on the hotel reef for those who have never dived before.

Estimated cost of the Discover course Scuba Diving , including theoretical training, equipment and 1 dive, is 200 US dollars.

How to get there: 30 minutes by seaplane.

Mirihi Island

Angsana Ihuru

Shrouded in dense tropical vegetation, this luxury resort is surrounded by white sand beaches and a crystal clear lagoon. The waters around the island are home to over 1,000 fish species and over 180 coral species. And not far from the coast lies the sunken ship Rannamaari. Therefore, it is only natural that diving here is a very popular activity.

The dive center offers a variety of training courses, including for beginners, and organizes dives both on the house reef and other popular locations.

How to get there: 35 minutes by speedboat.

Angsana Ihuru