Sea Star Diving

Located on the local island of Thulusdhoo in the North Malé Atoll, Sea Star Diving has been operating since 2018. The centre serves as a base for divers looking to explore the diverse marine ecosystems of the Maldives, from vibrant reef flats to deep channels.

Thulusdhoo is a dynamic island, easily reached via a 30-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport. While the island is well-known for its surfing, it offers a genuine Maldivian culture and serves as a convenient gateway to the surrounding dive sites.

As a PADI 5 Star dive centre, Sea Star Diving maintains a focus on professional instruction and marine conservation. Their multilingual team is experienced in handling a variety of diver profiles, from those taking their first breaths underwater to professional-track students.

The team provides training for all levels, ensuring that safety and education remain the priority during every excursion. They specialise in guided boat dives and structured certification courses, catering to both recreational divers and those pursuing professional advancement.

The training programme is comprehensive, covering the entire PADI progression. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, moving through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For more experienced divers, the centre offers Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses, as well as PADI EFR training. They also facilitate the PADI ReActivate programme for those looking to brush up on their skills before heading back into the water.

The centre operates using traditional Maldivian dhonis, providing an authentic way to navigate the atoll. These vessels are used for daily boat dives, including night dives where torches are provided to illuminate the reef.

Daily schedules typically consist of two morning dives and one afternoon dive, though these timings adjust slightly on Fridays. The dhonis allow you to reach a wide variety of sites, including channels, reefs, and pinnacles, across the North Malé Atoll.

The centre provides full equipment hire for divers who do not wish to travel with their own kit. This includes all the necessary components for a complete dive setup.

For those looking to refresh their skills, the centre offers the PADI ReActivate programme. Night diving is also a regular part of the schedule, with torches provided for the excursion.

The North Malé Atoll is rich with large pelagics. You can expect to encounter various sharks, including whitetip sharks, Blacktip reef sharks, Grey reef sharks, and Nurse sharks. Green sea turtles and Hawksbill turtles are also frequently seen patrolling the reefs.

During the season from May to November, the area becomes a focal point for Manta rays. You may also spot Eagle rays and Southern stingrays cruising the deeper sections of the channels.

For macro enthusiasts, the reefs host a variety of smaller life, including nudibranchs and cleaner shrimp. The biodiversity of the reef is supported by a healthy population of tropical reef fish such as snapper, parrotfish, angelfish, and fusiliers.

The diving environment is characterised by warm water and high visibility. Between December and May, visibility is particularly excellent, often reaching between 15 and 30 metres.

While the area is known for its beautiful reefs, the channel dives can involve currents, which is why many divers choose to visit the sites during the different seasonal windows to match their experience levels.