Best Dives Hathaafinolhu

South Malé Atoll, Maldives

The team at Best Dives Hathaafinolhu are our kind of people. They run a smooth operation, based out of South Malé, which means easy access to some of the Atoll’s more dramatic channels and thilas. We’ve always found their briefings to be thorough, especially useful when navigating the often-zippy currents these sites are known for. It’s not a place for beginners looking for sheltered reefs, though they’ll certainly get you certified, but if you’re an advanced diver who loves a drift, this is your spot. We love them for their dedication to finding the big stuff. Think grey reef sharks patrolling the channel edges at Cocoa Corner, or eagle rays gliding past at Kandooma Thila. You’ll often drop in up-current, feeling the push of the water immediately, then drift effortlessly over reefs teeming with fusiliers and snapper. It’s a sensory overload – the rush of the current, the sound of your own breathing, and then the sudden appearance of a massive napoleon wrasse or a turtle munching on coral. They know the channels like the back of their hand, always putting you in the prime viewing spots. Our pick for a morning dive is a channel drift, then back for lunch before heading out to a quieter thila for some macro hunting in the afternoon. Ask them about their favourite manta spots too, they’re usually clued in to local sightings.