UKDIVING TRAVELSPECIAL
What you get
Big brand hire kit. Two-tank morning dives, single-tank afternoon dives and night dives on request. Expect currents at the best sites. Modern spacious dive boats with shady decks, onboard toilets and super helpful crews; there’ s no need to carry heavy kit anywhere. Nitrox 32 is provided for qualified divers at no cost. There is oxygen first aid on board and a recompression chamber within one hour by boat or low-flying seaplane.
Manta glide overhead at cleaning stations, dwarfing divers
Essentials
WHEN TO VISIT: Daytime temperatures are 28-33 ° C yearround. Expect two monsoons: the drier north-east monsoon, December to March, and the wetter south-west monsoon, May to October. Photographers report the best viz( 20m +) between end of January and end of March, but poorer viz( still 10m + but hazy) at other times can mean more food for the stars of the show, the magnificent manta rays, typically seen in the east May to October and in the west January to March.
Kurumba dive centre
BOOK IT: Kuoni kuoni. co. uk offers the following packages in August 2025: seven nights for two adults sharing, including island transfers, flying on Sri Lankan Airlines from London Heathrow. Dive costs include boat charge, Nitrox 32 and full kit.
■ Kurumba kurumba. com: B & B from £ 2,599 per person. Upgrade to all-inclusive from £ 1,479. Five two-tank dives with Euro Divers Kurumba( euro-divers. com / kurumba-maldives-dive-centre /) start at £ 555 per person, including Mares hire kit.
Kurumba website
■ Velassaru velassaru. com: B & B from £ 2,699 per person. Upgrade to all-inclusive from £ 1,649. Six two-tank dives at the Immersion Dive Centre start at £ 600 per person, including Scubapro hire kit.
Clouds of reef fish at Kottefaru Out
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■ Dhigali dhigali. com: Seven nights with Premium allinclusive food and beverage package and sea-plane transfers from £ 4,599 per person. For families, it’ s worth noting the day-time childcare( 4-12 years), accredited by World Wide Kids, and babysitting, is all included. Five two-tank dives with Euro Divers Dhigali( www. euro-divers. com / dhigali-maldives-dive-centre /) start at £ 535 per person, including Aqualung kit.
WHAT TO BRING: Kristina travelled with mask, dive computer, dSMB and line cutter. Bring your own 2 / 3mm suit or lycra skin if you prefer. Dive-centre kit is well maintained.
LOCAL RULES: Government regulations stipulate dive limits of 30m and 60 minutes.
OTHER WATERSPORTS: Kayaks, including glass-bottomed ones, catamarans, windsurfing, jet skis and stand-up paddle boarding. Sunset and dolphin cruises, guided snorkelling with sharks and mantas, and trips in ultramodern glass-bottomed boats. �
Velassaru website and dive centre
Dhigali dive centre
Dhigali website