Fuvahmulah Dive School is the first professional dive base on the island of Fuvahmulah and a PADI 5★ centre with high safety and service standards. Fuvahmulah is a unique, volcanic island situated precisely on the equator. The base is centrally located in Fuvahmulah’s harbour (near the fish market), allowing divers to reach the dive boats quickly. The team consists mainly of local divers who have known the island and its conditions since childhood. This local expertise enables the crew to competently guide divers to the best sites and marine life around Fuvahmulah.
Diving Offers
The daily schedule typically includes three boat dives. After each dive, the boat returns to the harbour to allow divers a break. For safety reasons, the base does not offer night dives. For advanced divers, a fourth dive may be available upon request. Two comfortable dive boats are available, accommodating 20 and 15 people respectively, each equipped with a WC, freshwater showers, and an onboard compressor. Modern equipment is provided, including a high-performance air compressor with a Nitrox system, sufficient aluminium cylinders, and complete gear in all sizes.
Each dive is accompanied by a detailed briefing covering local currents, marine life, and particularly shark behaviour. The guides are certified PADI dive instructors – many have also completed the shark speciality course. The training programme includes PADI courses at all levels, as well as speciality courses such as drift diving, deep diving, navigation, and fish/coral identification. Particularly noteworthy are the shark and manta ray speciality courses. Additionally, awareness programmes and lectures on biodiversity and environmental conservation are offered.
Accommodation, Community, and Engagement
Fuvahmulah Dive School provides a wide range of accommodation options to suit different budgets. From nearby boutique hotels to guesthouses and villas, divers can find suitable lodging on Fuvahmulah. The base itself is deeply rooted in the local community: around two-thirds of the team are from the island and know Fuvahmulah and its people well. This close connection to their home is also reflected in the multilingual dive instructors and their familiarity with local events and festivities.
Beyond diving, the team supports research and environmental education. With official permission from the Maldivian government, for example, scientific tiger shark research is conducted. A marine biologist regularly accompanies dive trips, and guests are invited to attend lectures and collect data. The base emphasises environmental commitment, offering awareness programmes and clearly communicating the marine ecosystem. Furthermore, Fuvahmulah itself is a versatile travel destination: the island offers event opportunities for weddings, festivals, and conferences, and many dive packages include leisure activities such as deep-sea fishing, island excursions, or evening barbecues.
Shark Diving at Fuvahmulah Dive
The focus of Fuvahmulah Dive School is on shark diving in this extraordinary habitat. A dedicated dive site called “Tiger Zoo” allows year-round encounters with a large population of tiger sharks – in shallow reef waters and with high comfort. The sharks are non-aggressive and can be observed relaxed in their natural environment. Additional safety measures apply to these dives: each Tiger Zoo dive begins with a detailed briefing, and divers use special safety lines and equipment.
In addition to tiger sharks, divers in Fuvahmulah can encounter numerous other large fish species. Regular sightings include silvertip sharks, mako sharks, and even whale sharks. The Fuvahmulah reef also serves as a cleaning station for large reef mantas and mobulas. Schools of hammerhead sharks and occasional whale sharks are sighted year-round. Occasional highlights include ocean sunfish, as well as whales and dolphins passing through the waters around Fuvahmulah on their migrations.
Diver safety is ensured by a highly qualified team of experienced PADI instructors. All dive instructors are certified in PADI shark and mobula speciality courses. Since Fuvahmulah is situated in the open ocean, currents are often strong and unpredictable. Therefore, the base uses modern safety equipment such as the Nautilus Lifeline emergency device with GPS and VHF for divers. For safety reasons, night dives are consistently not offered. Some dive sites require a higher qualification level and additional safety measures, making Fuvahmulah Dive School an excellent choice for experienced divers seeking secure yet thrilling shark diving adventures.
