Cheval Blanc Randheli Dive Centre

Baa Atoll, Maldives

The team at Cheval Blanc Randheli Dive Centre are the kind of patient, knowledgeable professionals you want when you’re diving in a new place. We love their approach to the Baa Atoll, leaning into its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status with a palpable respect for the ecosystem. You’ll find them operating out of a sleek, purpose-built space, managing everything from your PADI certifications to intimate private charters. This is a centre for divers who appreciate bespoke service and an emphasis on marine conservation, without sacrificing an ounce of luxury. Our favourite dives with them often involve a trip out to some of the Baa’s lesser-known thilas, where the hard coral formations are magnificent, creating overhangs that shelter resting reef sharks and schools of fusiliers so thick they block the sun. They’re excellent at finding manta rays when they’re around, particularly during the southwest monsoon, often taking you to cleaning stations where you can just hang still and watch these gentle giants glide in. The house reef itself, while not a dramatic wall dive, is perfect for a relaxed afternoon drift, letting you spot juvenile blacktip reef sharks and plenty of colourful parrotfish. We'd suggest asking about their early morning trips; the light filtering through the water is magical, and the reef feels like it’s just waking up.