Aquaholics-Kandima

South Ari Atoll, Maldives

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.