Aqua Quest - South Malé Atoll
Aqua Quest, operating out of South Malé Atoll, comes with that reliable PADI 5 Star backing, which for us means a solid foundation for any diver. They’re well-positioned to explore those iconic Atoll channels, often busy with grey reef sharks cruising against the current, or the vibrant thilas that rise up from the depths, covered in soft corals. We’d suggest they’re a good fit for divers looking for a straightforward, professionally run operation, particularly if you’re keen on ticking off some classic Maldivian shark dives or getting those advanced certifications under your belt. Expect the usual Maldives experience here: warm water, good visibility, and plenty of pelagic action when the currents are right.
- Location
- South Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.636101, 73.365990
- Website
- https://travel.padi.com/dive-center/maldives/aqua-quest/
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Center [padi:29132]
- Address
- V. Kunaavashi, Maldives
Dive Sites Near Aqua Quest
Aqua Quest provides access to 15 dive sites in South Malé Atoll.
- Adam Faru - 5-20m (reef)
- Admiral 1 - 24m (wreck)
- Admiral 3 - 23m (wreck)
- Alikoe Giri - 16m (pinnacle)
- Alimas Faru (reef)
- Ali Tila (pinnacle)
- Anna Giri - 25m (pinnacle)
- Appa Thila - 21m (pinnacle)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Banana reef (reef)
- Banner Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Biyadoo Housereef (reef)
- Biyadoo Kuda Giri (pinnacle)
- Black Coral Faru - 15-35m (reef)
- Boahura Express - 25m (drift)
Other Dive Centres in South Malé Atoll
- Aquafanatics - ["PADI"]
- Ayala Bubbles
- Best Dives Hathaafinolhu - ["PADI"]
- Dive Center
- DivePoint Guraidhoo - SSI, internationally recognized Diving Agency
- Diverland Embudu
- Dolphin Base - NextGen Pvt Ltd - ["PADI"]
- Eco Dive Club
- Fiha Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Fulidhoo Dive & Water Sports - ["PADI"]
Best Time to Dive in South Malé Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in South Malé Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.5°C
- February: 28.8°C
- March: 29.4°C
- April: 30.4°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.6°C
- July: 29.7°C
- August: 29.6°C
- September: 29.4°C
- October: 29.3°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 29.0°C
Marine Life in South Malé Atoll
Home to 106 recorded species including 44 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other.
Notable Marine Life
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for South Malé Atoll
Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C, currents 19 cm/s.
- 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