North Male Atoll is the home to the capital of the Maldives, and is by far the most populated. Being close to the airport, the entrance point for most visitors, North Male was one of the first places identified by the tourist industry, and today there are a large number of resorts throughout the North Male Atoll.
Whilst the North Male region is more developed than the rest of the regions in the Maldives, there are still a number of more traditional fishing communities that allow visitors to capture a sense of the traditional Maldivian community and way of life. It is this unique blend of tranquillity, simplicity and charm that is a unique quality of the Maldives.
The scuba diving in North Male Atoll tends to be characterised by beautiful reefs and stunning corals, mixed in with a huge variety of marine life, ranging from nudibranchs all the way up to the whale sharks that are often sighted here. Whilst the visibility tends to be good, strong currents can be found throughout the Maldives, which is not surprising given the underwater geography of the area. However these currents and drifts merely add to the unique diving opportunities that exit throughout the Maldives.
There are a large number of excellent dive sites throughout North Male Atoll, however the vast majority of these can be found at the south east of the Atoll, in close proximity to the majority of the dive resorts. The further north you travel on North Male Atoll, the less frequent the dive resorts, and subsequently dive sites become. However, for those divers looking to get away from it all, it may be worth considering the extra effort to get to these more remote locations.
In keeping with the rest of the diving in the Maldives, the marine life throughout the area is truly exceptional, and it is highly unlikely a scuba diver would come away dissatisfied. Regular sightings whilst diving in North Male include Hammerheads, Manta Rays, White Tips, Eagle Rays, Turtles and a wide variety of reef fish.
Throughout North Male Atoll are a number of exceptional dive sites, including Banana Reef, Lions Head, Fairytale Reef and Hans Haas Place. For those fans of wreck diving, there are also a couple of excellent wrecks at the north end of the Atoll, where 'The Seagull' and 'The Lady Christine' provide some interesting alternatives to diving on the normal reefs.
The Maldives is generally blessed with good weather throughout the year, although the best times to visit are from June to September and from December through to March. The water temperature in North Male atoll tends to range between 25 degrees C and 28 degrees C throughout the year, and so a 3mm or 5mm shortie will usually suffice for diving throughout the region.
Overall, the diving in North Male Atoll is of a high standard, and comparable with most you will find throughout the Maldives. As we mentioned above, whether you're an experienced diver, or a novice, it is unlikely you will leave the Maldives without a smile on your face.
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