For the diving enthusiast, Maldives is somewhat of a heaven on earth. Along with some of the best marine bio diversity in the world, the azure waters of Maldives also provide optimum conditions for diving along with incredible visibility allowing you to see the vibrant corals and the faunas residing in them clearly.
Thulusdhoo certainly does not lack in its diving sites either, with some near the island and others accessible by no more than a 20-minute speedboat ride. Flexible dive excursions, expeditions, and PADI and SSI courses are available at the local island of Thulusdhoo.
So if you are planning to dive at your Maldives local island stay at Thulusdhoo, you won’t be disappointed. The best way to dive in Thulusdhoo is by going to a dive center and see what they have to offer.
Types of Scuba diving you can enjoy at Thulusdhoo
Shore dive at House Reef
If you are planning to scuba dive at Thulusdhoo this is the place to start. Its accessed by a shore entry through the lagoon. House reef is home to morays and other sea critters, but there is chance of seeing the big fish pass by as well. A shore dive at the house reed usually costs about $40 per dive.
Boat Dives
You can enjoy boat dives either with a single tank or double tank. The boats are fast meaning you can access numerous dive sites. As per the Maldivian law you can dive in the waters of Maldives for a maximum of 1 hour, leaving plenty of time to discover the world beneath the surface. A second dive can be initiated after a 45-minute interval above the surface. Single tank dives usually costs about $60 dollars and a double tank dive almost costs twice the amount.
Dive sites and what to expect
There are plenty of dive sites in Thulusdhoo and your options are not limited to those only within the boundaries of the island as well. Colosseum, Aquarium, Chickens Corner, Gasfinolhu Thila, Kani Beyru, and old virgin are some of the few dive sites reachable by a speedboat from Thulusdhoo.
Here you can see interesting species of marine such as sharks, turtles, eagle rays along with other floras and faunas taking shelter in the reef. On rare occasions you can spot, guitar sharks, leopard sharks, and even the bizarre hammer head shark. On some dive sites Manta rays can also be seen depending on the season.
Dive sites to spot Manta Rays (Seasonal)
- Manta point
- Aquarium
- Colosseum
- Chiken Corner
- Gasfinolhu Thila
Manta ray sighting peaks from October to November.
One great factor about diving in Thulusdhoo, excluding the abundance of sites to explore, is due to the options available for all level of divers. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert. Anyone can enjoy the stunning locations.
Dive site for beginners and intermediate divers
- Aquarium
- Colossium
- Cokes outside
- Chicken corner
- Kani Beyru
- Manta point
- Old Virgin
- One palm reef
Dive site for advanced divers
- Gasfinolhu Thila
SSI and PADI Diving courses at Thulusdhoo
There is a variety of diving courses offered by the dive center in Thulusdhoo.
For those of you who are new to scuba diving try it for about $70 and experience the underwater world of Maldives. This usually features a study session with a lagoon dive of 5m in depth, and lasts about 2 to 3 hours.
For beginners a basic divers course sessions which lasts about 3 to 4 hours’ costs approximately $150. The beginner course usually features 1 dive at the lagoon for training and one open water dive session with a maximum depth of 12 meters.
For those of you who are experienced, the globally recognized open water diving certificate program is the way to go. These usually costs over $500, but the experience you will have will be worth it. Personalized training combined with lagoon practice sessions, and open water dives with a maximum depth of 18 meters by the end of the course provides the perfect dive experience in Maldives. It’s the best way to get comfortable in the water as the course usually lasts up to 3 days.
If you are divers (beginner or advance) planning on enjoying a tranquil vacation and living the local island life at Thulusdhoo, you will find that there are plenty of diving options and sites to explore. Nothing beats exploring the corals and reefs beneath the surface, and getting close to the floras and faunas of Maldives than scuba diving.