diveOceanus Villa Park Sun Island - South Ari Atoll
Dropping anchor with diveOceanus Villa Park Sun Island means you’re right in the heart of South Ari Atoll, a spot we always return to for its whale shark encounters. This PADI 5 Star centre is geared up to get you certified or just out enjoying the reef, with the calm, sheltered house reef making for relaxed afternoon dives. We’ve found the dive team here to be a solid choice for those newer to Maldivian currents, offering a good introduction without being overwhelming. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to spot manta rays and reef sharks, especially during the right season.
- Location
- South Ari Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.484178, 72.796165
- Website
- https://travel.padi.com/dive-center/maldives/diveoceanus-villa-park-sun-island/
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Resort [padi:21802]
- Address
- South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Dive Sites Near diveOceanus Villa Park Sun Island
diveOceanus Villa Park Sun Island 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-Kandima - ["PADI"]
- Aquaholics-Nova - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Machchafushi - ["PADI"]
- Coral - ["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