Aquaholics-Kandima - South Ari Atoll
The team at Aquaholics-Kandima really hit that sweet spot between laid-back resort diving and proper exploration. We love that they’re a PADI 5 Star centre, which means you can pretty much sort out any certification you need, from your Open Water right through to some more advanced stuff. They’re excellent for families, especially if you’ve got newer divers or kids just starting out, but they’re not just about the easy stuff. What makes them a standout for us in South Ari Atoll is their deep knowledge of the local sites. Forget the cattle boats; these guys often find themselves at untouched corners of the reef. We’ve had some truly fantastic encounters with mantas at nearby cleaning stations in the mornings, where the current is still gentle, and we’ve seen grey reef sharks patrolling the outer walls. Ask them about the quieter thilas, the ones that often get overlooked. You might just find yourself face to face with a sleeping nurse shark under an overhang, or watching schools of fusiliers so thick they block the light, a silver river flowing past. They keep groups small too, which makes a huge difference to the whole experience.
- Location
- South Ari Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 2.738996, 73.015930
- Phone
- +960 796-7712
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.kandima.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Center [padi:28093]
- Address
- Kandima, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
Dive Sites Near Aquaholics-Kandima
Aquaholics-Kandima provides access to 15 dive sites in South Ari Atoll.
- 1000 Rocks - 27m
- Aah Thila - 10-30m (pinnacle)
- Aiyabe Thila (pinnacle)
- Ali Thila (pinnacle)
- Amazing reef s (reef)
- Ari Beache Beru - 5-20m (reef)
- Ariyadhoo Corner - 15-30m (reef)
- Biledhdhoo Kandu - 24m (drift)
- Bobana Thila - 5-30m (pinnacle)
- Bodu Beru - 21m
- Bodufinolhu Thila (pinnacle)
- Bodumiyarugau
- Bulaloghi Faru - 21m (reef)
- Chapati Tilas - 30m (pinnacle)
- Dangheti Port
Other Dive Centres in South Ari Atoll
- Aquaholics-Nova - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Machchafushi - ["PADI"]
- Coral - ["PADI"]
- diveOceanus Villa Park Sun Island - ["PADI"]
- Endheri Marine Center - ["PADI"]
- Euro-Divers LUX* South Ari Atoll - ["PADI"]
- Euro-Divers Vilamendhoo - ["PADI"]
- Filitheyo Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Float - ["PADI"]
- Goby dive center
Best Time to Dive in South Ari Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in South Ari Atoll occur in January, averaging 28.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
- February: 28.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- March: 28.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- April: 28.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- May: 28.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- June: 28.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- July: 28.7°C (air: 28.1°C)
- August: 28.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 28.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- October: 28.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- November: 28.7°C (air: 27.3°C)
- December: 28.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
Marine Life in South Ari Atoll
Home to 152 recorded species including 85 hard corals, 50 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 sharks & rays, 2 other.
Notable Marine Life
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora acuminata) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for South Ari Atoll
Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories