FAQs

Is it true that Kandolhu is the perfect place to scuba dive?
Yes! The Maldives offer the warm water (28C+), excellent visibility and spectacular marine life of the Indian Ocean, but Kandolhu with its stunning house reef and enviable location in Ari atoll provides some of the best diving in this magical archipelago. We offer an underwater beauty matched only by a few places in the world so whether you are just starting your diving adventure or taking your diving experience to the next level, you are in the perfect location!

Can I see mantas, sharks, whale sharks, turtles diving with you?

The best time to see mantas is during our peak manta season (November to April), but it is possible to see one or two of these big rays at any time of year with some luck. We have many sharks and you will see sharks on most dives. Most common are whitetips, black tips and grey reef sharks, but you can also see leopard sharks, nurse sharks, silvertips and even hammer heads. We have hawksbill and green turtles and they are seen frequently on dives – especially during dives on our house reef! Whale sharks are most reliably seen in the southern tip of Ari Atoll and going there requires a specialized private trip, but occasionally we can spot the odd individual nearer to Kandolhu.

Do I need a “fit to dive” certificate from a doctor to dive with you?

Every diver is highly recommended to have a regular medical examination to ensure he/ she is fit to dive. When you register to dive with us, one form you will be required to complete and sign will be the RSTC medical self-declaration. You should download this below in your preferred language and read through it. If you can answer all questions with “NO”, have no other medical conditions and are under 65 years of age, then a “Fit To Dive” certifi cate from a doctor is NOT required. However if you do happen to have to one or more “YES” answers, and/or are 65 years or older, then you would need to bring a “Fit To Dive” certificate from a doctor. If you are 75 years or older, our insurer applies special conditions; please contact us for more information before booking your vacation.

Do I need to pre-book?

It is not normally necessary to pre-book dives or dive packages, but why not e-mail us as we will be more than happy to assist you plan your diving program. For courses, do please contact us before you arrive, to ensure availability.

Do you offer private diving or private courses?

Yes of course. We recognize that some diving guests prefer a more personal service and may wish to create their own dive program with their own instructor. We offer several private diving options as well as private courses. Guests can book a private guide for single or multiple daily dives or can even charter their own private dhoni or yacht with private instructor. Please mail us your preferred arrangements to diving@kandolhu.com Private diving is subject to availability.

Can I dive Kandolhu House Reef ?

Of course you can and you should! Our house reef is a beautiful place. As a beginner, it will likely be the location for your first amazing dive experience and if you do your check dive or scuba review you will probably also dive there first. If once is not enough, as is the case with most divers, you can do another regular, private guided or remarkable night dive on the house reef with one of our experienced instructors and spot critters you may otherwise miss. You can even dive the house reef with your own buddy if you have minimum of 50 logged dives plus your Advanced certificate and first make a guided orientation dive with us.

(NOTE: unguided diving requires an Instructor to be on island to monitor our divers, and only when conditions permit for safety reasons, as strong currents can make it unsuitable for shore diving).

Can I learn to dive on Kandolhu?

Of course, our experienced instructors will ensure you have an amazing, fun and safe adventure and Kandolhu house reef with its resident turtles and colourful corals is a perfect location for your first diving experience. After this initial experience, most people continue and complete the SSI or PADI Open Water Diver certification which will take you on some wonderful dives with your instructor.

Must I do an orientation or check dive?

Certified divers who have not been diving within the last 3 months are required to do an orientation or check dive as per the Maldivian Diving Regulations. We recommend a scuba review for divers who did not dive for a period of 1 year or longer. Both the orientation dive and the scuba review are beautiful dives of maximum 60 minutes and will be done on Kandolhu house reef.

What is your normal diving program?

We have a varied and interesting program for all levels of divers. We usually offer a two tank dive in the morning and a single dive in the afternoon. This is supplemented by night dives, early morning dives, one or more full day safaris and house reef diving. Our exact program is flexible so please mail us for more details.

Do you provide nitrox on Kandolhu?

Yes, we encourage divers to dive with nitrox or do the nitrox course to dive safer and/or longer. Nitrox 32% is provided for a small additional fee to nitrox certified divers.

I have misplaced or forgotten my dive certificate at home. Can I still dive with you?

We can find most PADI and SSI certifications on their respective on-line databases with your details if you have forgotten or lost your PADI/SSI certification card. Sometimes your diving organization may be able to provide you with temporary verification of your certificate. If you are not sure if you have adequate documentation, then please e-mail us to avoid disappointment on Kandolhu.

Can I dive even if I have no diving certificate?

Most definitely! You can start off with a Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) or TRY SCUBA dive and experience the thrill of being underwater among thousands of fish. This will take place on the house reef and if you want to repeat this amazing experience, you can dive again from shore or from our comfortable diving dhoni Hammerhead. Of course you could also go on and obtain a PADI or SSI certification so you need never ask this question again and continue your diving adventures all over the world!

Do I require dive insurance to dive with you?

There is no requirement to have a specialized dive insurance in order to dive with us, but we highly recommend that all divers and prospective divers possess an insurance policy to adequately cover their medical and other expenses in the rare event of a dive accident. If you would like more information about aff ordable specialized dive insurance then we can recommend Dan Europe.