Maldivian Academy of Diving

The Maldivian Academy of Diving serves as a dual-location hub for divers in the North Malé Atoll. You can choose to base yourself in the city of Malé for convenience or head to the island of Himmafushi to experience a more relaxed island atmosphere.

With 11 years of experience in the region, the centre operates as a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in Malé and a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre in Himmafushi. This distinction makes it a primary destination for those looking to progress through the professional ranks of the diving industry.

The professional team is led by PADI Course Director Adam Ashraf, ensuring a high standard of instruction across all disciplines. The centre is structured to support divers at every stage of their journey, whether you are completing your first bubbles or undertaking an Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Beyond standard recreational training, the academy is deeply committed to marine conservation. They actively participate in local initiatives such as Reef Check Maldives, reef clean-ups, and coral reef restoration projects, integrating environmental awareness into their core teaching philosophy.

The course catalogue is extensive, covering the full spectrum of PADI certifications. For beginners, training starts with the Discover Scuba Diving programme and the Open Water Diver course, progressing through Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster.

For technical divers, the centre offers specialised training including PADI Tec 40, Tec 45, Tec 60, and Tec 100 CCR, alongside PADI Tec Trimix Diver and PADI Gas Blender courses. They also provide a robust freediving programme, ranging from Basic Freediver to Master Freediver and Instructor levels.

Professional development is a core pillar of the academy. They host regular PADI IDC sessions in Himmafushi and Bandos, training divers from around the world to achieve PADI Instructor status.

The centre provides a complete range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, and fins, ensuring you have everything required for a comfortable dive.

For those looking to extend their bottom time or dive more technical profiles, Nitrox is available on-site. The facility is also equipped to support night dives, with torches and essential night kit available for hire.

The atoll is a haven for large pelagics. You can expect to see reef sharks, grey reef sharks, and eagle rays patrolling the blue, alongside hammerhead sharks, bull sharks, and silvertip sharks at specific sites. During the southwest monsoon from May to October, Manta rays are frequently seen at cleaning stations.

In the shallower reef areas, the biodiversity is immense. You will encounter schools of yellow snappers, fusiliers, trevallies, and barracudas, as well as turtles, stingrays, and various species of moray eels. Large predators like tuna, jackfish, and GTs are also common in the stronger currents of the thilas.

For those interested in macro photography, the Malé House Reef is a specialist location. It is a known hotspot for nudibranchs, with over 130 species documented, as well as flatworms and other small reef critters.

The reef architecture itself is vibrant, with gardens of soft corals, gorgonian fans, and various sponges providing a colourful backdrop for your dives.

Conditions in the North Malé Atoll are influenced by the monsoon seasons. The northeast monsoon generally brings calmer seas and clearer water, while the southwest monsoon can lead to stronger currents, particularly at sites like HP Reef and Okkobey Thila.

During the southwest monsoon, currents can become quite powerful, making certain pinnacles and walls more dynamic and suited to experienced divers. Throughout the year, you can expect conditions to vary from mild to strong depending on the specific site and the time of year.