Introduction

The Maldives are known as a diver's paradise - even if most of the coral has been damaged by various episodes of bleaching linked to global warming. Located 350 kilometers southwest of India, this archipelago is made up of almost 1,200 islands, of which more than 160 are reserved for tourists (compared with 50 in 2002 and 80 in 2010, a clear indication of the growth of tourism in the country). This growth has also helped democratize the Maldives: although not quite a mass destination, resorts are now available at very affordable prices, which was not the case 25 years ago. Access to the Maldives is via the capital Malé. Going through customs can be unpleasant: indeed, the importation of alcohol, pork, magazines featuring slightly nude women (considered pornographic) or any material contrary to Islam is prohibited, and all luggages are X-rayed. Transfer to the resort island is then by dhoni (traditional boat), speed boat or seaplane, depending on the remoteness of the destination.

On the islands, the main attraction remains diving... or sunbathing on the beach. The island of Vilamendhoo is located to the south-east of Ari Atoll; it is accessible mainly by seaplane (transport is relatively expensive and, as a result of the monopoly, the two companies sharing the market do not hesitate to overcharge divers (in excess of 25 kg, including hand luggage). The island is 900 metres long and 250 metres wide. Its great attraction for divers is the excellent shore diving. As the eastern end of the island faces outwards from the atoll, there is a current (whose strenght can vary) along the north and south sides of the island; with 10 entry and exit points, it is possible to make all your dives as drift dives (provided you plan your dive well, preferably with the help of the dive center staff). In these very fishy waters, with coral less damaged than in many other sites, you can also regularly encounter big fish (sharks, turtles, rays). Vilamendhoo offers some of the best shore diving in the Maldives.

Travel facts

Diving type

Destination

easily accessible

bargain destination

Diving level & type

for beginners

for advanced divers

shore diving

liveaboard

Diving Characteristics

pelagics

lots of fish

lots of corals

interesting underwater scenery

Other activities

attractive natural spots

gastronomy

night life

beach

snorkeling

Infrastructures

• diving center
  

  Euro Divers

  
  Euro Divers (diving center)
  telephone : +960 7638458      

  address : Vilamendhoo Island Resort, South Ari Atoll, Maldives

  internet : euro-divers.com/fr/plongee-aux-maldives/vilamendhoo
  rating : 4 / 4 stars

  comments :

  The EuroDiver dive center at Vilamendhoo is conveniently located near the main restaurant, and its experienced team ensures a seamless diving experience. Personalized numbered crates for divers' equipment, efficient equipment handling, and well-organized dives contribute to an enjoyable experience. The dive center provides various diving options, including fluorescent night dives, and has top-notch facilities, making it highly recommended for divers of all levels.

  
  
• hotel
  

  Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

  
  Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa (hotel)
  telephone : +960 6680637

  fax : +960 6680639

  address : Champa Building, 3rd Floor, Malé, 20187, Maldives
  rating : 4 / 4 stars

  comments :

  Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa in the Maldives occupies the entire island, offering various room types such as Water Villas, Jacuzzi Beach Villas, Beach Villas, and Garden Villas. These spacious accommodations come with open-air bathrooms typical of the Maldives. Water Villas and Jacuzzi Beach Villas offer private swimming pools for added exclusivity. The resort boasts exceptional culinary offerings with diverse daily menus. The All Inclusive Plus package covers drinks, making it a convenient option. Facilities include swimming pools, a spa, a soccer field, a tennis court, a gym, and a nautical center for sailing and kayaking. However, service quality can vary, with room staff being more attentive than restaurant staff. Overall, Vilamendhoo offers great value for a Maldivian vacation.

  
  

Diving Sites

• 

  7 th Haven

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Magnificent dive on a sandy reef. Lots of white-tip and reef sharks. Two turtles, 1 eagleray, 2 stingrays. Large groupers and tunas. Schools of triggerfish.
  
  
• 

  Kuda Thila

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Magnificent dive on a thila of ideal size (50 x 20 meters), allowing us to comfortably circle it twice during a dive (typically a first circle at 12-18 meters, then a second at 8-12 meters. Still lots of dead corals, but also plenty of green "tree" corals. The dive is particularly interesting between the surface and 12 meters, a very fishy zone. 3 white-tip sharks, including one that circled us at the end of the dive. Lots of moray eels - the site is famous for them - and a few barracudas. At the top of the thila, three giant clams.
  
  
• 

  Thinfushi Thila

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Nice dive on a thila measuring around 100 by 50 meters, with large caves. Lots of fish up to 10 meters. Several whitetip sharks, 3 stingrays, a large grey shark and a nurse. Several moray eels and schools of small barracudas. Once again, lots of dead coral and schools of juvenile triggerfish. Note the presence of a large napoleon wrasse and several barracudas at the launch.
  
  
• 

  Miyaru Thila

  rating : 3.5

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Summit section at -8, -5 meters. In places, the wall drops to around 40 m. Saw two white tip sharks, 2 turtles and moray eels. Very rich in fish, with fine coral in places.
  
  
• 

  Sunny Day

  rating : 3.5

  depth : 15 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Diving with a whale shark! After an initial observation while snorkeling, the boat made us jump about 50 meters in front of the 3.5-meter-long fish (a very young one, in other words). Numerous other tourists also followed the whale shark from the surface, with up to 70 swimmers behind it, making for quite a mess when it came to finding your boat... Diving with the whale shark is generally limited to 5 minutes... because the animal swims fast. The rest of the dive was not very interesting: 1 blacktip shark, 2 turtles, a few moray eels and above all a lot of dead coral, especially at shallow depths.
  
  
• 

  Bapalhi Thila

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  A small thila measuring around 60 by 20 metres. It's easy to circle it twice, once at a depth of 20-25 meters, then again on the sandy bottom. Seen: a whitetip shark, a large octopus, several moray eels, including two in the same hole, 1 nudibranch. Overall, attractive relief and beautiful corals.
  
  
• 

  Dhigurah Arches

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 18 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Attractive relief, along a half-moon-shaped reef; we find an uninteresting sandy bottom at shallow depth, then a drop-off between 5 and 15 meters, offering fairly vertical walls and half a dozen arches. Many caves. Large stingray in one of them. Large numbers of moray eels, parrotfish and reef fish in general, as well as schools of juvenile triggerfish.
  
  
• 

  Lucky Rock

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  An interesting dive, but also carried out in a strong current.
  
  
• 

  Ranveli Thila

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Strong current and big waves. Saw: 1 eagleray, white-tip sharks, a large napléon.
  
  
• 

  Vakarufalhi Thila

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Thila in a pass. On the way in, we dive on the outer side of Ari Atoll. We descend to 25 meters and wait for the big one in the sand. The sharks leave, then return: 2 grey sharks, 1 white tip, 1 eagle ray. 15 minutes of observation consumes a lot of air (nitrox is a real plus). We then follow the length of the thila (60 meters), which is less interesting except near the surface. At the end of the dive, 2 large napoleons. Nice dive despite poor visibility.
  
  
• 

  Vilamendhoo House Reef North

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 15 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  The north side of Vilamendhoo House Reef has 4 entrances/exits for divers, numbered from 7 (inside the lagoon) to 10 (outside the lagoon). On this side, the reef consists of a coral plateau flush with the surface of the sea, a wall some ten meters high and a sloping bottom composed mainly of sand. When the current is incoming (i.e. flowing from the outside to the inside of Ari's atoll), it can be particularly strong; at such times, entry at number 10 can be tricky, but if possible, divers are very quickly propelled to exit 9 (a true drift dive), after which the current rapidly diminishes to give way to a pleasant dive. Between entrances 10 and 9, the dive is fairly monotonous, along a wall/fall. The most interesting areas are before and after exit 8, where you'll find large areas with beautiful corals (fire corals and tables in particular). These are also the areas where we regularly see eagle rays, often in small groups, and possibly turtles and small sharks. Numerous schools of fish (parrotfish, fusiliers).
  
  
• 

  Vilamendhoo House Reef South

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  The south side of Vilamendhoo House Reef has 6 entrances/exits for divers, numbered from 1 (outside the lagoon) to 6 (inside the lagoon). Number 4 is located directly in front of the dive center. Visibility here is a little more variable, but the side has the advantage of being easier for divers to access, as the drop-off is just a few meters from the shore. This is a definite advantage for night dives, which take place almost exclusively on this side. During these night dives, it's not uncommon to encounter moray eels swimming in the open water (up to half a dozen per dive!), lionfish and trevally that follow the divers for dozens of minutes. For night dives, we recommend that you start on the left side of the boat.
  
  
• 

  Kudimaa Wreck

  rating : 2.5

  type of diving : wreck

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Voluntarily sunk wreck in good condition. It rests on a bottom at 30 meters (propeller depth), with a deck at 24 meters and the command cabin at 18 meters. Penetration possible, but not particularly interesting. Unfortunately, this dive was made with a strong current and limited visibility (around 5 meters). As gloves are also forbidden on wrecks, it's difficult to stabilize yourself in these conditions, and the dive is much less interesting as a result.
  
  
• 

  Ranveli Kuda Thila

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Nice relief - looks like a mountain ridge. Spotted a large grey shark. Saw a very large tuna. Unfortunately, visibility was poor.
  
  
• 

  Sun Island

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Very monotonous relief. Reef up to 30 meters, then a sandy bottom. Three turtles, a trumpet-fish. Lots of table corals up to 3 meters in diameter, but also lots of dead corals...
  
  
• 

  Lucky Hell

  rating : 1.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : 10-12 m
  description :
  
  Descent into open water to around 30 meters, in an extremely strong current. At the bottom, you have to crawl to reach the reef, which you pass on the way down. This site lives up to its name (Hell), but we can't comment on the quality of the dive had conditions been normal.