Wonders of Deep South

10-nights sample itinerary for scuba diving in the South of Maldives

The Wonders of Deep South takes you to an exhilarating underwater exploration of Fuvahmulah island, Huvadhu and the Addu Atoll. The Deep South boasts stunning visibility and the chance to encounter impressive marine creatures such as whale sharks, tiger sharks, oceanic manta rays, and thresher sharks. You’ll also get the rare chance to explore the historic WWII wreck, HMS British Loyalty, lying in the Addu Atoll.

Recommendation on Diver’s Qualifications

Please note that this itinerary will involve diving in currents. We recommend that our guests have:

  • A minimum of 100 logged dives

  • AOW and Nitrox certification

  • Experience with diving in currents

Disclaimer

We wish to show you the best diving possible; however, a number of factors determine which route the Cruise Director and Captain will choose and which dive sites we visit. Weather conditions, tides, currents and the number of other dive vessels at a particular site all play a part in where the boat is heading to. While we attempt to ensure the number of dives we have scheduled is fulfilled, bad weather can hinder the yacht’s ability to reach a specific dive site in our scheduled time. The safety of all on board is paramount and we always do our best to offer diving at alternative sites, should we be unable to visit the sites listed below.

A Typical Day

The diving day has a typical schedule as follows:

  • 06:00

    Wake-up call

  • 06:30 — 07:00

    Light breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1

  • 08:30

    Full breakfast, relaxation period

  • 10:30

    Briefing and Dive 2

  • 12:30

    Lunch, relaxation period

  • 14:30

    Briefing and Dive 3

  • 16:00

    Snack, relaxation period

  • 19:00

    Dinner

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Itineraries

The following is a description of some of the dive sites we may visit during your liveaboard safari on board M/Y White Pearl.

Day 1 — 3, 5

Addu Atoll: British Royalty wreck and Maa Manta Point

Addu atoll an enticing mix of reefs and channels, wrecks and exciting drifts. Home to WWII the HMS British Loyalty wreck - almost 6000 tons and 134 metres, sitting at 33 metres! As well as the popular majestic Manta Cleaning station Maa Kandu, which is a great way to start or end your trip.

Day 4, 6

Fuvamulah Atoll: Plateau and Tiger Zoo

With more and more dive sites being discovered every year, Fuvahmulah’s relatively unknown diving, unique location and isolation make it one of the Maldives’ top destinations if you are feeling a little adventurous. The regular encounters with Fuvahmulah’s resident tiger sharks have made the atoll famous in recent years and you can dive with the sharks of Tiger Zoo every day. These big sharks have played an important role in the local marine environment for decades, feeding on the entrails and other fishy remains discarded by fisherman, and whilst they are in no way aggressive, the experienced guides at Fuvahmulah Dive School ensure that your encounter will be both safe, and conducted in a responsible manner.

If you are looking for other shark species, Fuvahmulah also offers close encounters with thresher sharks, a deeper water species that moves into the shallows in the dim light of early morning or dusk to visit cleaning stations on the reef. 

Depending on the season, you’ll also have a great chance of encountering hammerhead sharks, silvertip sharks, whale sharks, oceanic manta rays, big schools of barracuda, yellowfin tuna, bonitos, and even Mola mola, sailfish and whales. If you are looking for big animals, you can’t get better than Fuvahmulah!

Day 7 — 11

Huvadhu Atoll: Villingili and Nilhanhoo kandu

Huvadhoo Atoll is also known as Gaafu Atoll in the Maldives. Huvadhu splits more or less evenly between the inner lagoon and the outer reef. Thanks to its remote location, the atoll offers vast swathes of healthy reefs, populated by impressive table corals and staghorns, although soft corals such as sea fans can also be seen. Swirling schools of big-eye trevally are a common sight, as well as tuna, snapper, and oriental sweetlips, while several spots provide shelter for nesting sea turtles.

Whether you enjoy an exhilarating drift dive, a calm, easygoing exploration of a shallow reef, or looking for sharks in the channels – there is something for everyone. There's a wealth of exciting dive sites waiting to be explored in this area, including colourful coral reefs, outcrops, caves, tunnels, thilas (underwater islands) and fascinating channels.

The atoll is fringed by a well-defined and almost continuous rim-reef with a deep lagoon. It is a paradise for underwater adventures with scores of healthy coral islets and still undiscovered dive sites. Many of the vibrant reefs and lagoons remain unexplored, and visitors here include stingrays, eagle rays, a large number of turtles, and a variety of sharks, including black and white tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, spinner sharks, and occasionally, hammerheads and bull sharks.

Villingili Kandu and Nilandhoo Kandu, in the atoll’s northeast, are two favourite sites for shark diving. And, as if that wasn’t enough, between January and April, liveaboards often stop in the atoll’s northeast to snorkel with whale sharks. The vessels—including ours—shine large spotlights into the water at night, attracting large plumes of plankton towards the surface. In turn, the plankton lure whale sharks, right up to the boat to feed, allowing guests to slide in and swim alongside.

Join us on an unforgettable scuba diving journey and discover the magic of the Maldives with Pearl Fleet Liveaboards.

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