Diving in the Southern Atolls

While slightly more developed than the northernmost atolls the Southern Atoll region, also known as the Deep South, is still much less crowded and lesser-known than the region just above it, the Central Atolls. The Southern Atolls Region is made up of Laamu Atoll, the Northern and Southern Huvadhu Atoll, Fuvahmulah Atoll and, Addu Atoll.

The Deep South is known for its wilder and deeper locations as well as for having both fewer and deeper lagoons. This leads to stronger currents throughout the channels in the area which means dive clusters for more experienced divers only.

The best time to go is February through to April when the weather is nicer and calmer. With the isolation and difficult diving of this area, tranquil and less windy weather is key to having an enjoyable and safe experience. It is also the best time to see one of the biggest draws to the region, the amazing array of sharks.

Most trips that explore the diving locations of the Central Atolls region are around seven days long and leave from Male. Deep South trips, however, are usually 10 days long and leave from a southern atoll. With so much difficult and wild area to explore, you will need more time when you go down south.

The descriptions provided here are intended as general information and personal experiences related to specific dive sites and locations and should not be construed as definitive advice or recommendations. Before diving, please confirm that diving is permitted at your chosen location, and comply with all relevant local laws, regulations, and posted signage. The responsibility for verifying the legality of the dive and assessing any associated risks rests entirely with you.