Nakai Dhiggiri Diving Center - South Malé Atoll
The team at Nakai Dhiggiri Diving Center are exactly what we look for in the Maldives: passionate, knowledgeable, and always up for an adventure. Located in the South Malé Atoll, this PADI 5-Star Dive Resort is a fantastic base for exploring some seriously dynamic reefs. We love that they really embrace the classic Maldivian channel diving, taking you to spots where the current brings in the big stuff. Their boats are comfortable, and the guides know these waters intimately. We’ve had incredible drifts here, gliding over reefscapes painted with soft corals and watching reef sharks patrol the channels. Our favourite memory is a particular dive at Kandooma Thila, where schools of fusiliers were so thick they literally blocked out the sun for a few seconds. If you're keen on seeing manta rays, the season from May to November is a strong contender, and the Nakai Dhiggiri crew knows the local cleaning stations well. They’re a great pick for divers who appreciate expert guidance and crave those exhilarating encounters with pelagics.
- Location
- South Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.645314, 73.487816
- Phone
- +960 670-0593
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://nakairesorts.com/
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Resort [padi:799203]
- Address
- Dhiggiri Tourist Resort, V.Dhiggiri, Vaavu Atoll, Maldives
Dive Sites Near Nakai Dhiggiri Diving Center
Nakai Dhiggiri Diving Center 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"]
- Aqua Quest - ["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"]
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