Trip base · Maldives
Ari Atoll
Three sites in Ari Atoll. Maamigili Beyru and South Ari are known for whale sharks seen all year, and Maaya Thila is a night dive with sleeping turtles and whitetip reef sharks.
Strong fit for November
28°C+
- Strength: Water 28–29°C in November
- Strength: 3 of 3 sites are in season in November
- Strength: Calm seas on almost every day
- Trade-off: Rain on most days
Pack a shorty or 3 mm wetsuit for November.
Why this match: 39 + 27 + 20 + 7 = 93
- Season39 / 40
- 3 of 3 sites are in season in November; calm on almost every day.
- Water27 / 27
- Average 29°C; your minimum is 28°C. Pack a shorty or 3 mm wetsuit.
- Your level20 / 20
- No level picked, so all 3 sites count.
- Weather7 / 13
- Rain on most days; no real storm risk.
Month by month
Season: best November to April.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | January: Best | February: Best | March: Best | April: Best | May: Good | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Best | December: Best |
| Mantas | January: Likely | February: Likely | March: Likely | April: Likely | May: Likely | June: Likely | July: Likely | August: Likely | September: Likely | October: Likely | November: Likely | December: Likely |
| Whale sharks | January: Likely | February: Likely | March: Likely | April: Likely | May: Likely | June: Likely | July: Likely | August: Likely | September: Likely | October: Likely | November: Likely | December: Likely |
| Hammerheads | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Reef sharks | January: Reliable | February: Reliable | March: Reliable | April: Reliable | May: Reliable | June: Reliable | July: Reliable | August: Reliable | September: Reliable | October: Reliable | November: Reliable | December: Reliable |
| Turtles | January: Likely | February: Likely | March: Likely | April: Likely | May: Likely | June: Likely | July: Likely | August: Likely | September: Likely | October: Likely | November: Likely | December: Likely |
| Dolphins | January: Likely | February: Likely | March: Likely | April: Likely | May: Likely | June: Likely | July: Likely | August: Likely | September: Likely | October: Likely | November: Likely | December: Likely |
| Water | 28° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° |
| Rain days | 14 | 9 | 11 | 19 | 25 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
| Calm days | 26 | 25 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 28 |
| Storm risk | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Storm risk: – means under 5%.
Dive sites here
3 sites on Divetip.
Getting there
Fly to Malé (MLE). Seaplane to South Ari, or a domestic flight to Maamigili and a speedboat: about 30 minutes.
Liveaboard or day boat.
What diving costs
No current published price for a day of diving
A day of diving
Kandolhu Island dive centre (North Ari): USD 425 for 3 dives (about €381)
Full-day Ari dive safari on the Ari Explorer yacht with lunch, min. 8 divers; non-divers $250. Subject to 10% service charge and 8% GST. Undated.
Older price list, not used to compare: Undated list that quotes 8% GST, so probably several years old.
Single dives and add-ons
Kandolhu Island dive centre (North Ari): USD 70 a dive (about €63)
Per single dive (6-9 dives $65, 10+ $60); includes 10 L tank and weights only. Boat fee extra: $15 single dive, $28 two-tank dive. Equipment $25 per dive. All subject to 10% service charge and 8% GST. Undated price list hosted by a UK tour operator.
Older price list, not used to compare: Undated list that quotes 8% GST, so probably several years old.
Prices checked 8 November 2026; park fees and equipment often extra.
Non-divers: snorkeling from the shore and by boat
Many Ari resorts have house reefs that suit snorkelers straight from the beach, and boat excursions in South Ari's marine protected area let snorkelers swim with whale sharks, which are seen all year and most often from August to November.
Book your Ari Atoll trip
- Find Maldives dive trips on Klook (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- Search flights on Aviasales (partner link, opens in a new tab)
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