Scuba diving in Haa Alifu Atoll – Discovering the pristine far north of the Maldives

Scuba diving in Haa Alifu atoll is very special because there is virtually no tourism development in the far north of the Maldives. This means that the reefs are mostly untouched. All the dives are private and the only other people in the water will be your fellow divers. Being isolated and secluded from the major environmental damages that come along with building resorts and big island cities, here you can get a glimpse of what it used to be like in the Maldives before it became one of the world’s leading tourist destinations.

Haa Alifu, the northernmost atoll in the country, boasts a mix of sites suitable for all levels of diving at pristine locations that have rarely seen divers until now. This destination offers exciting and pioneering diving experiences, featuring waters brimming with rays, game fish, and corals.

 

About the area

The Maldives stretch from north to south, and the country’s 26 atolls can be categorized into three main regions: the Northern Atolls, the Central Atolls, and the Southern Atolls. Among the top diving spots in the Northern Atolls are Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, and Lhaviyani. This area is the least developed in the Maldives, making it less known to travelers and perfect for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience. The diving here offers the most pristine and untouched seascapes in the country. It is also the best place to immerse yourself in the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Maldives. As you venture further north, you will encounter less boat traffic, often finding yourself alone at many of the dive sites in the northern atolls.

Haa Alif Atoll, officially known as Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll, is the northernmost administrative division of the Maldives. It includes Ihavandhippolhu, which is the northernmost natural atoll of the Maldivian archipelago, as well as part of the larger Thiladhunmathi or Tiladummati Atoll. Being at the northern tip of the Maldives, it is the closest atoll to Sri Lanka and India. Haa Alif Atoll encompasses a total of 42 islands, 14 of which are inhabited. In the heart of the atoll lies the only resort of the area, JA Manafaru with its PADI 5 Star dive center – Best Dives Maldives.

 

What marine life can you find?

Haa Alifu has a beautiful diversity of marine life just waiting to be discovered. There are tons of tropical reef fish, including sharks, stingrays and turtles. From November to March, you can also visit the two manta points and observe the filter feeders being cleaned.

There is a wealth of remarkable marine life, and you can spot many manta rays in the channels. You will also find many overhangs covered with colourful soft corals where lobsters and lionfish reside, as well as caves where sleeping nurse sharks and blotched fantail rays share the sandy bottom.  

From the elegant eagle rays to huge schools of blue-stripped or humpback spanners, each marine creature adds to the story of life beneath the surface. As you navigate the stunning landscapes and uncover the hidden gems of the coral gardens, the Haa Alifu Atoll beckons you to dive into an oceanic world where discovery, wonder, and immersion come together for an unforgettable experience.

 

What is the time for diving in Haa Alifu atoll?

Manta season is typically from November till March. The water usually starts getting calmer around the start of December and lasts until May before the Monsoon season begins. During this time the visibility would range from 15m-40m depending on the tides and currents. In general, conditions will be best at slack tide when it’s changing from high to low or low to high. In Haa Alifu Atoll, you are extremely lucky to have pretty clear warm waters all year round, ranging between 28-30 degrees celsius. 

 

Dive sites

Nestled in the north, Haa Dhaalu Atoll boasts underwater landscapes perfect for novice divers, along with the classic Maldivian reef life, including large tuna and numerous sharks. Together with some of the finest coral formations in the Maldives make this atoll a must-visit destination.

Haa Alif Atoll is the northernmost dive site on this list. The channel areas on the north and west sides of the atoll are shallower, broader, and have gentler currents compared to most locations in the Maldives, making it an excellent choice for beginners or less experienced divers. Here are the top 10 dive sites of the area:

 

Vagaaru Garden

The top reef at 7 metres slopes to a wide plateau with many coral blocks, where schools of snappers, bigeye trevallies, groupers, napoleon wrasses are swimming around. In Iruvai monsoon (NE monsoon) reef manta rays will be visiting the cleaning stations adding a special thrill to your dive!

Depth: 7-22m / 20-70 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

Madulu Cave North

The north part of Madulu island is the most interesting, with a top reef starting from 6 metres and drops down until 20-25 metres depth.The wall presents many overhangs, fully covered by colorful soft corals: to appreciate their best shape the current should be mid to strong!

At this dive site you will spot red snappers, Napoleon wrasse and lobsters. There are many moray eels hiding in their shelter or busy with their daily cleaning routine.

Depth: 6-25m / 20-80 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

Manafaru House Reef

This is a shore dive, which can be done from the JA Manafaru resort from shore. Although you can walk in from the beach right in front of the dive center, you will usually use the jetty, which has a comfortable dive ladder. 

The small lagoon goes from 1m to 5m and has scattered coral blocks with busy surgeonfish, parrotfish or hungry jackfish roaming around looking for small prey. While swimming at the edge of the reef, between the massive corals or under to the jetty you can immerse yourself in schools of snappers that are always calmly hovering in the area, sometimes also barracudas gather together. Always check for stingrays on the sandy bottom. 

The lagoon ends with a wall drop-off starting at 6m and reaching 20m depth (20-65ft). There are many cracks and overhangs in the wall, where you can find lionfish, moray eels, banded shrimps, lobsters, stonefish and scorpionfish. 

If you swim a bit far from the wall, a cloud of hundreds of batfish will surround you; they potentially escort you for the rest of the dive, while playing with your bubbles! The house reef also has a resident green turtle and some friendly nurse sharks.

For underwater photography lovers, the house reef is the best place to play hide and seek with octopus, ghost pipefish, and take your time to spot ambushing stone fish or some suspicious flounders!

The resort runs a coral restoration project in the lagoon, at the moment it counts 76 metal frames, populated with hard corals. These are a hideaway for many marine critters, so do not miss them during your safety stop or on your shallow dive!

Depth: The shallow area is 3-5m / 10-15ft, with a maximum depth of 20m/65ft at a sandy bottom

Divers level: Perfect for beginners and people trying scuba diving for the first time

 

Gaammathikulhudhoo

This is a beautiful channel dive, where the current is rarely strong, making the site ideal for all levels.

The reef starts from 6-8 metres and gradually slopes to a sandy bottom up to 20 metres. 

You can spot a friendly school of batfish and numerous green or hawksbill sea turtle, especially on the top reef. In some periods of the year, the top reef and the corals that populate this area are fully covered by glass fish and some interesting and fast-hunting actions takes place!

In the channel, you can find eagle rays gliding in the current or tuna can passing by. Remember to always keep an eye on the blue to spot megafauna.

Depth: 8-20m / 25-65 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

Mulhadhoo Faru Ethere

This is usually a drift dive, where depending on the current you can dive on the South side, where the top reef starts at 5m and gently slopes down to 18m (15-60ft). On the North side, the reef is more like a wall, starting from 6m until 16m (20-50ft) with a sandy bottom. The wall is covered by hard corals where you will find hundreds of anthias and cromis. Here you have a great chance to encounter sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays and octopus. It must be a very unlucky day if you do not spot at least one green turtle here!

Depth: 5-18m / 15-60 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

Mulhadhoo Corner

A classic wall dive! The top reef starts at 6-8m (20-25ft), the edge of the wall is at 10-12m (30-40ft) and drops down to 35m (115ft). You will find many interesting critters living on the wall. Different species of shrimp and brightly- coloured nudibranchs populate this dive site. Always check inside the niches that characterise this corner! 

You will find stingrays, sharks, moray eels, lionfish and the masterfully camouflaged stonefish. It is very common on this part of the atoll to come across mangrove stingrays sleeping at the sandy bottom or underneath overhangs.

Depth: 10-30m / 30-100 ft

Divers level: Advanced

 

Mulhadhoo Beyru

The topography is characterised by a slope with a top reef starting around 6 metres. It is covered with massive corals, and as the slope starts to drop, the wall is covered by small hard corals. There are different species of fish swimming along the wall. You will find hundreds of red-tooth triggerfish, black snapper, pufferfish, fusilier and unicornfish. Don’t forget to ahve a look under overhangs for any sleeping nurse sharks and stingrays.  

Depth: 6-27m / 20-90 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

Kurolhi Thila

This round underwater pinnacle has a diameter of around 350 metres (1000ft). Because of its size it is only possible to dive one side at a time. 

On the East side the top reef starts at 6m (20ft) gradually sloping to 10m (30ft), then steeply goes down with small overhangs to 30m ending at a sandy bottom. On the slope you will see different Tubastraea corals, many moray eels, big napoleons, lionfish, cleaner shrimps and lobsters and a school of rainbow runners swimming in the blue. 

Depending on the current it is also possible to jump on the North or South side of the reef, and end the dive on the top reef with nice coral blocks covered by glassfish, schools of blue striped snappers, butterflyfish and oriental sweetlips.

Depth: 6-30m / 20-100 ft

Divers level: Advanced

 

Gallandhoo Faru

This stunning reef is great for beginners as well as experienced divers, as you can find massive corals in the shallows, which are full of reef fish. 

You won’t believe your eyes, but in this dive site, you can bump into timid Dory (the authentic blue tang) hiding in between the branches of Pocillopora or Acropora corals. 

Gallandhoo is a reef with a rich population of tropical fish including big schools of triggerfish, bannerfish, black snapper, butterflyfish and batfish. 

For great detail observers, this dive site will possibly gift you with camouflaged scorpionfish and tiny nudis. Occasionally, elegant and mellow eagle rays will swim in the open ocean. 

Depth: 3-25m / 10-80 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

Bodu Bandu Thila

This underwater pinnacle is teeming with life! There are many coral blocks all over the thila. The top reef starts at around 10m (30ft) and steeply goes down to a sandy bottom at 25m (80ft). There are many cracs all over the dive site, in which stonefish, moray eels, scorpion fish and lobsters are hiding.

Depth: 10-25m / 30-80 ft

Divers level: All levels

 

 

Where to stay?

In the heart of the atoll, surrounded by a breathtaking lagoon, lies the tropical castaway island of JA Manafaru. This secluded sanctuary offers the perfect escape, combining the tranquillity of the traditional Maldives with an array of five dining venues and exclusive private dining options through ‘Dine By Design.’ You can enjoy a wide range of leisure activities, rejuvenating spa treatments, wellness programs, and fitness facilities and the in-house PADI 5-Star dive center, all creating the ideal balance of adventure and relaxation.

 

How to get there?

From Malé you will have the most scenic 70-minute seaplane flight over half of the Maldives, renown for the country’s stunning aerial views and landing directly at JA Manafaru’s jetty.  

Depending on your international flights or island transfers, you can also take a domestic flight to the north, which has two airports:

• Hoarafushi, approximately 50 minutes flight followed by a 10 min boat transfer 
• Hanimaadhoo approximately 50 minutes flight followed by a 40 min boat transfer

 

What to bring for scuba diving in Haa Alifu Atoll?

Luckily at JA Manafaru and Best Dives they have everything you need for a perfect diving holiday. All their dive equipment is from SCUBAPRO and in excellent condition. They offer regulators, BCDs with integrated weight-pockets, a selection of dive masks, dive computers, full foot fins, 3mm short and full wetsuits, hoods, underwater torches and even underwater cameras for rent. The only thing you need to bring along is coral friendly sunscreen, sunglasses and a smile.

 

… and don’t forget a camera!

And when we say “camera”, the one from your smartphone is perfectly sufficient to capture all your underwater adventures!

You can now take your phone safely on every dive with the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max housing. It is waterproof up to 60m/200ft. This award-winning case has a full-touchscreen membrane, so you can use your phone underwater the same way as on land. You have access to all your apps, including the native camera app, as well as other more advanced photography apps. There is no Bluetooth connection required, thus no chances of your phone overheating. And best of all, you have all your footage stored immediately on your phone!

For more info on this revolutionary product, make sure to check out our full product review as well as our tips on taking underwater photos with your phone!