Scubareefing
Whale sharks
Fly to Malé International Airport on North Malé Atoll. South Ari Atoll resorts are 30 minutes away be seaplane.
Year round
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Holiday Island (villahotels.com), MV Manthiri (manthiriliveaboard.com), Sun Island (villahotels.com), White Sands Resorts and Spa (naiade.com)
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Diving opportunities in Maamigili Kandu are available.
By Steve Jones (Adapted from "passport to diving the world")
Be greeted by giant whale sharks at Maamigili Kandu.
There are many good reasons to visit the Maldives, but the chance to swim with the world's largest fish in crystal-clear waters bathed by endless sun has got to be the best reason of all. Maamigili Kandu is the domain of one of the oceans' greatest icons: Whale sharks visit these waters with a surprising freqeuency. The site is a long reef that forms the southern perimeter of the atoll. Huge schools of fusiliers and barracuda ensure that even if the whale sharks don't make an appearance, you won't be lost for marine life encounters. Of course, being on the outside of the atoll, there is always the chance of visits from other pelagics; but when the whale sharks show up, few dive experiences in the world can compare.
(Ok enough with the stories, I'm itchin' for a dive)