About Ari Atoll
Ari Atoll is one of the biggest atolls, located in the west of the archipelago. After North Male, Ari (also known as Alifu) is considered the atoll most open to tourism as well as one of the best diving destination of The Maldives. Diving here is available for divers of all levels of experience. Diving at Ari Atoll is not famous for its coral splendour but divers choose it for the regular encounters with big marine life such as sharks and mantas, turtles and whale sharks during the season(August to November). Maamigili's plankton rich waters at the southern tip of the atoll allow scuba divers and snorkellers the opportunity to get up close with a whale shark, at Gangehi Maavaru in the north west. And for schooling hammerhead sharks, Hammerhead Point at Rasdhoo Atoll, north east of Ari. Dive sites off the Ari Atoll consist of some reefs, caves, pinnacles and wrecks. There a great variety of dive sites for all levels of experience. Among the most popular are: Broken Rock, Fesdu Wreck, Fish Head (also known as Shark Point or Mushimasmingili Thila), Five Rocks, Halaveli Wreck, Hammerhead Point, Rasdhoo Atoll (also known as Madivaru Corner), Kudarah Thila , Maaya Thila, Omadhoo South.
When to go to Ari Atoll
Diving in Ari Atoll is all the year round but the recommended are the period December to May, when the seas are at their calmest. Water temperatures at Ari Atoll around 26 to 29°C/78 to 84F. Visibility is around 15-30m/49-98ft all year round. Whale sharks, hammerheads and other sharks are present throughout the year. Mantas are here in large numbers year round too but the peak time to see them is August to November.