Snorkeling & Diving in Maafushi, Maldives
Maafushi sits at the edge of Kaafu Atoll — some of the richest marine waters in the Indian Ocean. Here is your complete guide to experiencing it underwater.
Snorkeling in Maafushi
You do not need to be a diver to experience Maafushi's incredible marine life. The house reef is accessible from shore and reliably populated with green sea turtles, black-tip reef sharks (harmless), parrotfish, triggerfish, and octopus.
For snorkelers wanting more, half-day and full-day snorkel excursions by boat visit multiple sites — including manta ray cleaning stations and coral gardens that are inaccessible from shore. These trips cost around $30–60 per person and are bookable through any guesthouse or dive shop.
$5–8/day
Gear rental
Mask, snorkel, fins
$30–60
Snorkel excursion
Half/full day boat trip
Dec – Apr
Best visibility
Dry season, calm seas
Top Dive Sites near Maafushi
Maafushi House Reef
★ Sea turtles, reef fish, coral gardens
Accessible directly from the beach, the house reef is ideal for snorkelers and beginner divers. Healthy coral formations and resident sea turtles make this a reliable spot year-round.
Kuda Giri Wreck
★ Wreck diving, moray eels, groupers
A deliberately sunk cargo ship about 20 minutes by boat from Maafushi. The wreck is well established, covered in coral and home to large groupers, moray eels, and schools of snapper.
Lankan Manta Point
★ Manta rays (seasonal), reef sharks
One of the most famous manta ray cleaning stations in the Maldives. Manta rays are most reliably spotted between December and April when plankton blooms bring them to the cleaning stations.
Guraidhoo Corner
★ Grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, tuna
A drift dive through a channel with strong currents that attract large pelagic species. Grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and giant trevally are commonly spotted here.
PADI Diving Courses in Maafushi
Maafushi has several PADI-certified dive centres offering everything from a 1-day Discover Scuba Diving experience ($80–120) to the full Open Water Diver certification ($350–450 over 3–4 days). The calm, warm waters around Maafushi make it an excellent place to learn to dive.
Discover Scuba
1 day
$80–120
Open Water Diver
3–4 days
$350–450
Advanced Open Water
2–3 days
$300–400
Stay Close to the Best Snorkeling in Maafushi
KUE Hotels can connect you with trusted local dive operators and arrange your snorkel excursions. The house reef is minutes away.
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