This trip includes time in guesthouses, experiencing the local life of the Maldivian people and diving the famous sites of the South Malé Atoll on an island hopping adventure.
The adventure begins on Maafushi, a local island with a thriving community focussed on tourism. It features a tourist beach, cafés and restaurants. During your time here you will dive in the morning, relax in the afternoon and have the opportunity to meet the locals in the evenings, experiencing the Maldivian way of life.
The island hopping journey continues a little further south to Guraidhoo. It is a typical small local island with a 2,300 strong fishing community and is renowned for boat building and its souvenir shops. From here you can experience popular diving sites in marine protected areas.
Underwater highlights from these local islands include thrilling drift dives, soft corals, caves, turtles, wrasse, grouper, sharks and eagle rays. It’s an incredible adventure.
Suggested Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Day2: Arrive Maldives
You will be met on arrival and transfer to your guesthouse on Maafushi where you will stay for the next three nights. Transfers are by public ferry.
Days3-4: Dive Adventures from Maafushi
Enjoy two boat dives on the South Malé atoll each morning. The diversity of the topography on this atoll offers exceptional marine life and plenty of variety at sites including walls, caves, pinnacles and thrilling drift dives like Cocoa Thila. Expect schools of fusiliers and glass fish, snapper, grouper, grey reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles and plenty of life in the soft corals.
Optional excursion tonight is the Hedika Experience, a cultural culinary experience at a local café.
Day5: Transfer to Guraidhoo
This morning, enjoy two final dives from Maafushi. Later this afternoon transfer by public ferry to your guesthouse on Guraidhoo where you will stay for the next three nights.
Optional excursion tonight is to have dinner with a local family, a cultural experience.
Days6-7: Dive Adventures from Guraidhoo
Continue your South Malé Atoll experience with two boat dives planned from here each morning. Popular dive sites include Guraidhoo Corner and Kandooma Caves, both located in protected marine areas and famous for green turtles and plenty of large marine life. The currents can be strong on some dives in this location.
Optional excursion tonight is to watch some local Bodu Beru Dancing, a cultural experience.
Day8: Transfer to Hulhumale
It’s an early start this morning as you transfer by public ferry back to Malé for your final night in a guesthouse on Hulhumale.
Optional excursion this afternoon is a trip to Villimale to meet with NGO group Save the Beach, a conservation experience.
Day9: Depart the Maldives
Today you will be transferred back to the airport for your international flight, landing in the UK later the same day.
Please note: Maldives island hopping packages are also available to the North Ari Atoll. Both trip ideas are suitable for non-divers and snorkellers. Ask our Dive team for further details.
Key info
Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 9 daysfrom £2,095 pp
The central region comprises Malé and Ari Atolls, Felidhoo, Faafu and the smaller Rasdhoo Atoll. It is the most popular area for both dive resorts and liveaboards, with excellent shore diving from house reefs and large pelagics on drift dives.
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Ideal for viewing: whale shark, grey reef shark, Napoleon wrasse, spotted eagle ray, reef manta ray
Excellent for: Liveaboard diving, Resort based diving, Group diving, Shark diving, Whale shark, Manta ray, Learn to dive, Shore diving, Snorkelling, Underwater photography