Centre de plongée Sea Explorer - Le centre

Sea Explorer is located on Filaidhoo Island within the Raa Atoll, operating out of the Reethi Faru Resort. The centre is positioned to take advantage of the local marine topography, including a house reef that sits just 30 to 80 metres from the shoreline.

For those travelling from the international airport, the resort is accessible via a 45-minute scenic seaplane flight or a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo followed by a 30-minute speedboat transfer. The centre has been a fixture of the Maldivian diving scene for over 35 years.

The team consists of 8 instructors and guides, ensuring a high standard of supervision with a strict ratio of no more than 4 divers per guide. This small-group approach is maintained across both boat dives and reef explorations.

Instruction is carried out in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Dhivehi, and Bengali. The centre uses a modern teaching methodology, incorporating e-Learning and tablets to facilitate the PADI curriculum.

Environmental stewardship is a core part of their operation. The centre works to minimise its footprint by using solar power for approximately 80% of its electricity, reducing plastic waste, and utilising glass bottles for water service.

As a PADI 5 Star centre, Sea Explorer offers a comprehensive range of training. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, or the Open Water Diver course, with Referral OWD options also available.

Advanced divers can progress through the Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster programmes. The centre also provides various PADI specialty courses, including Nitrox, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Shark Diver, and Search & Recovery.

Specialised training is also available for those interested in specific skills, such as the Digital Underwater Photographer course and the Maldivian Shark Ecology Distinctive Specialty Course. For younger divers, the Bubble Maker programme is available.

The centre utilises Fiber Dhonis and speedboats for excursions. These vessels are equipped with oxygen and Nautilus LifeLine Marine Rescue GPS units for safety during trips to offshore sites.

The centre provides full rental kit, featuring brands such as Cressi, BigBlue, and Scubapro. This includes all the necessary components for a complete diving setup.

Safety is prioritised with oxygen available both at the centre and on all boats. For those looking to extend their bottom time, Nitrox is available on-site.

The local waters are home to a wide variety of pelagics. You can regularly encounter eagle rays, grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, and tawny nurse sharks. Larger fish such as giant trevally, tuna, and Napoleon wrasse are also common.

During the southwest monsoon from May to November, Hanifaru Bay offers the chance to see massive aggregations of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). Manta rays can be seen in other parts of the atoll almost year-round.

The reef ecosystems are built upon rich hard coral gardens and vibrant reef flats. These habitats support diverse populations of batfish, moray eels, clownfish, and sweetlips, as well as various species of turtles.

Macro life and smaller residents include leopard sharks and various reef-dwelling species that inhabit the crevices and coral structures of the house reef and surrounding sites.

The Raa Atoll is known for having stronger currents compared to other areas, which often brings the chance to see larger pelagic species. These currents are particularly notable around Hanifaru Bay, where lunar cycles can create strong surges and eddies.

Seasonal variations in the Maldives are driven by the monsoons. The southwest monsoon, running from May to November, is the primary period for visiting Hanifaru Bay to observe feeding aggregations.