What to know about Maldives.
Twenty-six atolls. Manta rays in the channels. The world's clearest water.
The Maldives are the desk's pick for the diving owner-guest. Twenty-six atolls, twelve hundred islands (only two hundred inhabited), and channels where you drift-dive with manta rays five metres across. November through April is the dry season; the sea is glass and the visibility regularly exceeds forty metres.
Frequently asked.
When to charter the Maldives?
November through April (dry, north-east monsoon). Manta and whale shark season peaks December–April. May–October is wet but charters continue with calmer southern atolls.
What does it cost?
Higher than the Mediterranean. Mid 50m motor in February: €180,000–€280,000/wk base + APA 35–40% (remote provisioning is expensive).
Where to go?
North Malé and Ari Atolls for the manta rays. Baa Atoll (UNESCO biosphere) for the whale sharks. The southern atolls (Huvadhoo, Addu) for empty water and surf.
