Lagoon Dive Club

Lagoon Dive Club is situated on the island of Bodufolhudhoo in the North Ari Atoll, Maldives. Positioned near the arrival jetty of Lagoon View Maldives, the centre serves as a base for exploring one of the most biodiverse regions of the archipelago.

The area is defined by its dramatic topography, ranging from shallow house reefs and long reef slopes to deep, current-swept thilas and channels. Whether you are looking for calm waters near the shore or exhilarating drift dives on offshore pinnacles, the local sites offer a vast variety of underwater environments.

The diving team consists of multi-lingual PADI instructors, with two or three instructors on site depending on the season. A dedicated compressor technician and a two-person boat crew manage the daily operations to ensure smooth departures.

To enhance the educational aspect of your stay, a visiting marine biologist conducts lectures on marine life and conservation. These sessions are designed to help you identify the species you encounter during your dives and understand the local ecosystem.

As a PADI affiliated centre, Lagoon Dive Club offers the complete spectrum of training. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the PADI Scuba Diver programme, progressing through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver.

The course catalogue includes several specialties and professional levels, such as PADI Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy. For those looking to advance their career, the centre provides Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and PADI Instructor training.

The centre operates a traditional Maldivian dhoni, providing a local feel to your excursions. The vessel features a sundeck for relaxation between dives and is equipped with a radio and mobile phone for safety.

During navigation and between dives, the crew provides hot and cold refreshments, including tea, fresh water, cookies, and fruit. For those booking full-day excursions, breakfast and lunch are provided on board.

The dive shop offers a range of Scuba Pro rental kit, including BCDs, regulators, dive computers, wetsuits, fins, and masks. For night diving, underwater torches are available for hire.

On-site facilities include a classroom for theory work, changing rooms, showers, and lockers to store your belongings. The centre also provides short-term dive insurance through DAN.

The North Ari Atoll is a high-energy environment for pelagic species. You will regularly encounter grey reef sharks, whitetip sharks, and eagle rays. Depending on the season, you can find manta rays from December to April, while whale sharks are a highlight during the high season.

The reef structures are draped in vibrant life, including gorgonians, black corals, and various hard and soft corals. Schools of fish are a constant presence, with dogtooth tuna, great barracuda, and blue-faced angelfish patrolling the currents alongside fusiliers and blue stripe snapper.

Macro life and smaller inhabitants add detail to the reef, from garden eels swaying in the sand to octopus and moray eels hiding in crevices. Divers can also spot scorpionfish, stonefish, and various species of nudibranchs among the coral outcrops.

Diving in this region is subject to varying current strengths. While some thilas and house reefs offer sheltered or gentle conditions, many of the iconic channels and pinnacles require experience to manage strong or incoming currents.

Night diving is a regular part of the programme, with specific sites like Maaya Thila offering unique nocturnal hunting displays.