The Maldives have been growing in popularity as a scuba diving destination for decades, and Maaya Thila is a great example of why. Located just northwest of Maayafushi Island, this dive site is an underwater island, capped by a shallow top reef. The area isn’t that large, around 80 meters in diameter, so if you really wanted to, you could swim the perimeter in a single dive. Most people choose not to do that, because any given area within Maaya Thila has so much to see that scuba divers tend to stay in a small area for most of their dive. Around the coral outcrops and caves around the Thila, you can find all kinds of sea creatures. White tip sharks are common, usually wherever the current is strongest. You may find wrasse and shrimp cleaning manta rays. You can also see giant turtles, dog-toothed tuna, blue-faced angelfish, parrotfish, clown triggerfish, and more. At night is when the reef shows its true colors. If you’re looking for a great manta ray night dive, Maaya Thila has you covered. With the help of your dive light, you can also see the sharks going out for their hunts at night, and eels darting in and out of coral reefs. When to Go Diving in The Maldives The Maldives has great diving year-round, but the absolute best conditions are from January to April. The weather is warm and dry, and divers can experience the best visibility at this time of year. This is also when you’re likely to see the most mantas and whale sharks. Other Great Scuba Diving Near Maaya Thila The Maldives is an archipelago, with 26 atolls and over 1200 islands. There’s no shortage of places to explore, on water or on land. While you’re in the area, check out Sun Island, a shallow reef with a large plateau that makes it easy to spot the pelagics that love to swim by. You can see whale sharks and manta rays from early June through the end of the year. Another great dive for shark fans is Mushi Mas Mingili Thila, also known as Fish Head. The area used to be a place where divers fed the sharks. The government put an end to the feedings, but a group of grey reef sharks still hangs out in the area. So do stingrays, scorpionfish, moray eels, barracudas, and more. You may also see a wealth of black coral, sea fans, and anemones.