South Maldives Atolls
Discover the remote Southern Maldives, where liveaboards offer world-class drift dives, shark encounters, and vibrant reefs.
The Southern Atolls of the Maldives—famed for their remote beauty and world-class dive sites—are a top destination for more experienced divers. With fewer crowds and more untouched reefs, this region provides a unique and exhilarating experience.
Liveaboard trips dominate here, especially between January and March when the diving conditions are ideal for exploring the pristine waters of Huvadhoo, Addu, and Fuvahmulah atolls, however resort stays are also possible. For those seeking the ultimate Maldives diving adventure, the Deep South is an unmissable destination.
South Maldives Atolls
View Resorts View Liveaboards View Departures Send Enquiry Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999
Highlights
- Drift dive through Huvadhoo’s wide channels, encountering large pelagic species
- Explore the deep south’s remote & untouched coral reefs
- Discover Addu Atoll’s wrecks & coral-covered caves
- Experience thrilling shark encounters in the channels of Laamu & Huvadhoo
- Search the blue for hammerhead sharks & grey reef sharks
South Maldives Atolls Resorts & Hotels
Canareef Resort Maldives
Situated south of the equator, Canareef Resort Maldives provides access to the best dive sites in the Maldives all from the…
From £2,795
South Maldives Atolls Liveaboards
Maldives Master
The versatile Maldives Master is a modern, spacious, and comfortable liveaboard. The vessel and supporting Dhoni cruise the…
From £1,215
MV Carpe Vita
M/V Carpe Vita is a luxury 38m motor safari yacht and the sister vessel of the M/V Carpe Diem.
From £1,312
Seascape
Launched in 2023, this exceptional liveaboard combines luxury and sustainability, with itineraries ranging from 7 to 14 nights.
From £1,608
Emperor Explorer
The stunning Emperor Explorer blends exceptional diving with on-board luxury for discerning divers.
From £2,331
M/V Emperor Serenity
M/V Emperor Serenity sails from Male & is a spacious liveaboard built to a high standard, accommodating up 26 guests per trip.
From £2,331
Upcoming departures
Upcoming departures for South Maldives Atolls are listed below or view all departures on our Holiday Search where you can also sort/filter.
MV Carpe Novo
Offer
£1,689
1877.00
- Departure Date: 09 May 26
- Country / Itinerary: Maldives, Best of Maldives
- Nights: 7
- Embark Disembark: Male Male
- Spaces Available: 3
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Maldives: Northern Atolls (Baa & Hanifaru, Raa, Lhaviyani), Maldives: Southern Atolls (Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa), Maldives: Central Atolls (Male, Vaavu, Ari, Faafu, Rasdhoo)
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: Advanced Open Water
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Green Tax:
$84
Cabins.
Standard Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Queen
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 1
- Last Shared Space: Female
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Standard Twin Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Last Shared Space: Male & Female
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
MV Carpe Diem
£1,663
- Departure Date: 09 May 26
- Country / Itinerary: Maldives, Best of Maldives
- Nights: 7
- Embark Disembark: Male Male
- Spaces Available: 20
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Maldives: Northern Atolls (Baa & Hanifaru, Raa, Lhaviyani), Maldives: Southern Atolls (Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa), Maldives: Central Atolls (Male, Vaavu, Ari, Faafu, Rasdhoo)
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: Advanced Open Water
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Green Tax:
$84
Cabins.
Standard Cabin Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Double
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 8
- Last Shared Space: Male & Female
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Double Cabin Main Deck
- Bed Type: Queen
- Location: Main deck
- Avble. Spaces: 4
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Deluxe Cabin Upper Deck
- Bed Type: Double
- Location: Upper deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Suite Cabin Upper Deck
- Bed Type: Double
- Location: Upper deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Last Shared Space: Male & Female
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Twin Cabin Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 4
- Last Shared Space: Male & Female
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Seascape
Offer
£2,527
3610.00
- Departure Date: 13 May 26
- Country / Itinerary: Maldives, Best of Maldives
- Nights: 11
- Embark Disembark: Male Male
- Spaces Available: 14
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Maldives: Central Atolls (Male, Vaavu, Ari, Faafu, Rasdhoo), Maldives: Southern Atolls (Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa)
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: Please enquire
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Hanifaru Bay Fee (for north incl. Hanifaru itinerary only):
$25
– Green Tax: $132
– Service Charge/Tip: $165
– Fuel Surcharge: $165
Cabins.
Lower Deck Single
- Bed Type: Single
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Lower Deck Double/Twin Bed
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 5
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Upper Deck Double/Twin Bed
- Bed Type: Twin / Double (2 singles can convert to double)
- Location: Upper deck
- Avble. Spaces: 5
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Main Deck Double Bed
- Bed Type: Double
- Location: Main deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
MV Carpe Novo
Offer
£1,689
1877.00
- Departure Date: 17 May 26
- Country / Itinerary: Maldives, Best of Maldives
- Nights: 7
- Embark Disembark: Male Male
- Spaces Available: 2
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Maldives: Northern Atolls (Baa & Hanifaru, Raa, Lhaviyani), Maldives: Southern Atolls (Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa), Maldives: Central Atolls (Male, Vaavu, Ari, Faafu, Rasdhoo)
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: Advanced Open Water
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Green Tax:
$84
Cabins.
Standard Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Queen
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Last Shared Space: Male & Female
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
MV Carpe Diem
Offer
£1,497
1663.00
- Departure Date: 27 May 26
- Country / Itinerary: Maldives, Best of Maldives
- Nights: 7
- Embark Disembark: Male Male
- Spaces Available: 1
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Maldives: Northern Atolls (Baa & Hanifaru, Raa, Lhaviyani), Maldives: Southern Atolls (Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa), Maldives: Central Atolls (Male, Vaavu, Ari, Faafu, Rasdhoo)
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: Advanced Open Water
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Green Tax:
$84
Cabins.
Twin Cabin Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 1
- Last Shared Space: Male
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
South Maldives Atolls Itineraries
Deep South Sharks
On the edge of the Maldivian equator, it’s all about sharks, sharks, sharks. The remote atolls are the ideal place to…
Gallery
-
-
-
-
-
View all 18 images
South Maldives Atolls Information
Liveaboard highlights
Liveaboard diving in the Maldives Deep South offer divers access to some of the country’s most challenging and rewarding dive sites, from thrilling drift dives through channels to encounters with hammerheads and oceanic mantas. Plenty of experience is required to join most liveaboard departures focusing on this region due to the nature of some of the dive sites. Resort stays are also possible, either combined with a liveaboard, or simply to enjoy for those who prefer to sleep on dry land.
Dive sites
The Southern Atolls offer a unique and remote diving experience, with world-class dive sites spread across Huvadhoo, Addu, Fuvahmulah, and Laamu. These regions are renowned for their dramatic underwater landscapes and thrilling encounters with large pelagics.
Fuvahmulah Atoll is a diver’s paradise for big pelagic encounters. Known for its open-ocean feel, this atoll is famous for sightings of silvertip sharks, tiger sharks, thresher sharks, and the elusive oceanic manta rays. It's also one of the few places in the Maldives where you could dive with schooling hammerhead sharks, albeit encounters are highly dependent on conditions.
Huvadhoo Atoll, with its wide channels and fast currents, is perfect for experienced divers seeking exhilarating drift dives. The atoll's deep channels attract large schools of grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and barracudas, offering breathtaking underwater action.
Addu Atoll, further south, is home to a range of exciting dive sites, including Maa Kandu, where divers can encounter mantas year-round. The atoll also boasts one of the few wreck dives in the Maldives, the British Loyalty, a WWII wreck festooned with coral and marine life, offering a combination of history and underwater exploration.
Laamu Atoll, though lesser-known, provides beautiful soft corals and a more relaxed dive experience. However, its channels still offer the chance to encounter reef sharks and large schools of fish, making it a great mix for divers looking for variety.
Many dive sites are typically accessible only by liveaboard, making the Southern Atolls the perfect destination for those seeking unspoiled and diverse diving environments.
Marine life
Scuba diving in the Southern Maldives is synonymous with close encounters with some of the ocean’s most magnificent species. The nutrient-rich waters flowing through the wide channels attract large pelagics, making the region a prime location for shark enthusiasts. Dives with grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and silvertip sharks cruising the currents are relatively common, while hammerhead sharks can be seen at dawn dives in the deeper waters around Fuvahmulah.
Fuvahmulah Atoll also stands out for its tiger shark population, with possible sightings of these apex predators throughout the year. The atoll’s deep waters and open-ocean location also attract rare species such as thresher sharks and oceanic mantas, creating unforgettable diving experiences.
Beyond sharks, the Maldives’ Southern Atolls are teeming with vibrant coral reefs, home to schools of fish species including snappers, trevallies, and barracudas. The nutrient influx supports a rich biodiversity, where hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, and reef manta rays thrive alongside countless colourful reef fish. Macro enthusiasts won’t be disappointed either, with an array of nudibranchs, moray eels, and frogfish hiding in the coral gardens.
Whale sharks are more commonly seen in the northern and central atolls, however have previously been seen here on occasion for the lucky diver.
Dive conditions
The Southern Maldives boasts some of the best diving conditions between January and March, during the northeast monsoon. This period brings calm seas, excellent visibility, and predictable currents, creating ideal conditions for liveaboard diving. Water temperatures during these months hover around a balmy 27°C to 30°C, ensuring comfortable diving throughout the day.
Best Time to Visit
The northeast monsoon (January to March) is widely considered the best time to dive the Southern Atolls. The relatively calm seas during these months make it easier for liveaboards to reach the more remote dive sites, where divers can experience the best of the pelagic action. Visibility often exceeds 30 metres, providing crystal-clear views of the underwater landscape and its inhabitants. The currents, although stronger in some channels, are perfect for thrilling drift dives and for attracting species like sharks, manta rays, and barracudas.
Currents & Conditions
The Southern Atolls are known for their strong currents, particularly in Huvadhoo and Fuvahmulah, making them ideal for experienced divers who enjoy fast-paced drift dives. Most liveaboard itineraries will insist divers have at least 50, or sometimes 100 dives in order to join boat dives. However, some of the more sheltered sites, such as coral gardens and lagoons, provide calmer conditions for more relaxed diving. Currents are generally more predictable during the northeast monsoon, but they can still be strong, making this area better suited to advanced divers or those comfortable with drift diving.
The southwest monsoon from May to October can bring rougher seas and less favourable conditions, though it still attracts divers looking to see plankton feeders like manta rays.
Dive Centre
Dive Centre
Werner Lau Canareef Dive Centre
Werner Lau are a professional and experienced team that have been operating in the Maldives for decades. Located in Addu Adu, the dive centre at Canareef is the newest member of the Werner Lau family, opening the Maldives deep south to divers of all abilities. There are over 20 dive sites, accessed in 5–40 minutes by dive boat. Each day two boats are launched; one to advanced sites with stronger currents and possible negative entries, and the other is more laid back, suitable for newer dives or those looking to take it easy. A third dive is subject to minimum numbers and operated either as full day trip following on from the morning dives or as a single dive after lunch. Sites include The British Loyalty Wreck, an oil tank from World War II, and Manta Point where manta rays can be seen all year round. The house reef is accessed by boat and can be included in the schedule on request.
Nitrox is free of charge for qualified divers, and it's compulsory for every diver to have a computer and SMB, one can be rented if required.
Dive Packs
A variety of diving packs are available including 6 and 10 guided dives, boat diving is the star here and the supplement to join a departure starts from $15. The supplement for boat diving can be pre-paid. Scuba dive packs are the best value when prebooked, contact us to discuss the best option for you.
Dive Courses
Werner Lau dive centres are SSI affiliates, at Canareef a range of courses can be offered from Advanced Open water upwards. Please enquire for further details.
Extras in Resort
- Certification fees for courses
- Boat trip - Single dive
- Tank service fee
- Guide
- Local sales tax payable in resort
- Service charge
- Dive equipment rental: Full equipment is available to hire, including SMB (compulsory to carry), dive torch, fins, masks & snorkels
Resort info
Getting Around & Basic Information
Male airport is located on its own island. The airport island accommodates the main terminal, the seaplane port and the airport hotel (Hulhule Airport hotel). In the vast majority of cases, Male airport acts as the hub for all transfers between island resorts and atolls.
A narrow channel of water separates Male Airport Island from Male town, and a regular, inexpensive boat service operates between the two islands.
Once you're on your island resort, there's no ‘public’ transport to get around to other islands, you need to organise local excursions and join guided trips.
Twin-centre stays, in most cases, hub through the central point of Male to reach your next island.
Climate
This tropical climate has two monsoon seasons. November to May is the northwest monsoon season, which is dry and sunny. June to October is the southeast monsoon and brings the wet season. Having said this, the period crossover of the monsoon seasons fluctuates each year and even during the wet season, one may experience weeks of solid sunshine and just showers in short, sharp bursts.
Air temperature is stable around 28 - 30° C and the water temperature rarely drops below 25° C. Spectacular diving takes place all year round.
Currency
Local currency is the Maldives Rufiyaa (MVR).
The tourist currency is US Dollar ($) or Euro (€). Island resorts charge in USD or Euros and bills can be settled with most internationally accepted credit cards at the end of your stay.
Time
The Maldives is +5 hours of GMT.
Planning your Holiday
The southern Maldives can be reached with a domestic flight from Malé, the capital and main international airport. There are also limited international flights to Gan in southern Maldives.
Visas
Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.
Passports
Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.
If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.
Vaccinations & Health Advice
Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.
We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.
For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.
Location Map
Enquire about South Maldives Atolls
Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999 Send Enquiry