Scuba Diving in Maldives - Laamu Atoll

11/19/2022

Scuba Diving in Maldives - Laamu Atoll

Scuba Diving in the Indian Ocean of Maldives was a dream for me after falling in love with the sharks and the rays I had encountered during my open water diver & advanced open water diver certifications. Since my focus during the certifications was always divided between the skills & marine life, I then took quite a few fun diving trips at some beautiful destinations to master my diving skills. Growing up with the idea of Maldives as a honeymoon destination, the innocent kid in me had kept this destination marked for a special occasion. Instead, life happened and I grew up to be a solo traveller, who loved nature and life more than anything else! All my special occasions were defined to celebrate life, and through scuba diving, I turned the dream of Maldives into a reality.

Local Islands of Laamu Atoll - Maldives

Laamu Atoll in Maldives

When the country's name is Maldives, meaning "garland of islands", and it consists of around 1200 coral islands, choosing a destination for your trip is always the most difficult part. Adding to it is the overload of information on the internet, which only leaves you more confused.
The 1200 islands of Maldives are grouped into 26 Atolls. An atoll is a ringed-shaped island or a group of islands with a coral reef fringing a lagoon. Out of the 1200 islands of Maldives, around 200 islands are inhabited by locals and around 130 islands are exclusive resort islands and some islands are submerged.
After a lot of research, I narrowed on the pristine and untouched Laamu Atoll for my first diving trip to Maldives. Some special features of the Laamu Atoll include:

Laamu Atoll has islands inhabited by the local villagers who indulge in farming and fishing.
Gan, the largest island of Maldives belongs to Laamu Atoll. (Don't confuse with the Gan island in Addu Atoll)
Laamu Atoll is located in the southern part of Central Maldives.
Laamu Atoll is not very popular with tourists, you can enjoy some soulful diving.
The pristine beaches of Laamu Atoll aren't crowded either.

Sunset at pristine beaches of Laamu Atoll - Maldives

Diving in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Since the time I landed here, I was quite thrilled about the "Channel Diving" in Maldives. Laamu Atoll has few channels with strong currents making an apt environment for plenty of marine life in action. Sighting huge shoals of pelagic fishes is quite common in the Maldivian oceans. Adding to this, the warm waters and great visibility, was keeping me excited about experiencing the perfect diving conditions, any diver could ask for!

Coral Reefs in Laamu Atoll -Maldives

My first channel dive in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Immediately after descending for my first channel dive in Laamu Atoll, I gazed up only to treat myself with a school of 20+ eagle rays, gliding above me in a perfect sync. The currents were strong and we were advised to hook ourselves to the reef. And just as I managed to maintain by buoyancy with the current, I tried to focus on my surroundings, I saw jaw-dropping pelagic action around me. Amidst huge shoals of abundant reef fishes, I spotted few reef sharks playfully swimming just a few metres away from me. It was such a unique experience, where I was steadily hooked to the reef, and my only job was to maintain my buoyancy & my breathe and enjoy the all-encompassing show around me.
My first channel dive only left me wanting for more!

Schooling Eagle Rays - Scuba Diving in Laamu Atoll

Marine Life in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

I made some 8-9 dives over a period of 4 days, some at the reefs and some at the channels, but the channels had soon become my fanatic zeal. The underwater of Maldives was an aquarium of:
Sharks - Black-tip Reef Sharks, White-tip Reef Sharks, Grey Sharks, Nurse Sharks
Rays - Spotted Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Whiptail Sting Rays, Blotched Sting Rays, Spotted Sting Rays
Turtles - Hawksbill Sea Turtles, Green Sea Turtles
Reef fishes - Barracudas, Butterfly fish, Napoleon Wrasse, Snappers, Trevallies, Tunas, Sweetlips.
Some Specials - Lobsters, Oysters, Giant Clamps, Moray eels.

Oriental sweet lips - marine life in Laamu Atoll

Marine Conservation Projects in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Laamu Atoll is home to 3 NGOs working on Marine Conservation & Research Projects:

The Manta Trust
Blue Marine Foundation
Olive Ridley Project

Marine Conservation in Laamu Atoll - Maldives

Dive Sites in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Laamu Atoll offers plethora of diving sites with abundant marine life. I kept meeting the in-house reef fishes at the same dive sites, but the array of pelagic fishes would surprise me each time I repeated any dive site.
Listing here few of the dive sites and the sightings based on my personal experiences:

FUSHI KANDU - Channel Dive / Challenging with Strong currents / 35m
Sightings: White tip reef Sharks, Schooling Eagle Rays, Hawksbill Turtles, Green Sea Turtles, Napoleon Wrasse, Octopus, Blotched feather tail Sting Rays, Tunas, Snappers, Oriental sweetlips, Butterfly fish, Barracudas, Jackfish, Surgeon fish, Giant Trevally, Black Snappers, Shoal of Parrotfish, Lobster, Moray eel, Trigger fish, Wart slug.

MUNDHOO KANDU - Channel Dive / Challenging with Moderate currents / 35m
Sightings: Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Long fin Bannerfish, Clown Triggerfish.

EAGLE RAY CITY - Reef Dive / Moderate / 25m
Sightings: Manta Rays, Crown of Thorns, Lion fish, Common Starry Pufferfish, Coral Grouper, Pearl toby, Moray eel, Sea slug.

STING RAY CITY - Reef Dive / Moderate / 25m
Sightings: Eagle Rays, White tips reef Sharks, Sting Rays.

PICNIC ISLAND - Reef Dive / Easy / 25m
Sightings: Hawksbill Turtles, Cowtail Sting Rays, Feather tail Sting Rays, Eagle Rays.

TURTLE POINT - Reef Dive / Moderate / 30m
Sightings: Batfish, Hawksbill Turtles, Green Sea Turtles, Whip goby, Octopus, Juvenile black & white Snapper, Orange spine Surgeon fish.

HURAS FARU - Reef Dive / 20m
Sightings: Coral Reefs, Sharks, Hawksbill Turtles, Green Sea Turtles, Sting Rays.

BODU FARU - Reef Dive / 30m
Sightings: Eagle Rays, Sharks, Octopus, Remoras, Yellow Snappers, Hawksbill Turtles, Humbug Damsel, Blue-green pullers, Jellyfish, Rabbit fish.

MISKIH FARU (Mosque Reef) - Reef Dive / Easy / 25m
Sightings: Feather tail Sting Rays, Hawksbill Turtles, Whiptail Sting Rays, Giant Clamps, Oysters.

KHALHADHOO REEF - Reef Dive / Easy / 25m
Sightings: Moray Eels, undulated Butterfly fish, Angel fish, Emperor fish.

Watch this video for glimpses of diving in Laamu Atoll:

Best time to dive in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

The best time to dive in Maldives is in the dry season - November to April.
During these months, boat diving is more comfortable, visibility is awesome, days are bright and evening sunsets are freaking crazy!

Laamu Atoll Maldives

How to reach Laamu Atoll in Maldives

Laamu Atoll is well-connect with the Male International Airport by a 90-min domestic flight to Kadhdhoo. This avoids the hassle of taking a speed boat or a sea plane transfer, which most other islands in Maldives require. After landing in Kadhdhoo, you could take a car transfer to your guest house.
The four islands of Gan, Maandhoo, Kadhdhoo and Fonadhoo, are connected with causeways.
There are a few mid-range guest houses in Gan island and the uber luxury Six Senses Resort Island on Laamu Atoll.
Don't forget to checkout some interesting Travel Experiences and Deals while planning your trip.

Nurse Shark at Laamu Atoll Maldives

How much I love diving and playing with sharks and rays underwater, but I never forget to be compassionate to them. Any activity in ecologically sensitive zones should be undertaken responsibly. Be kind to mother nature, and the nature will always reciprocate!

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