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Vilamendhoo Dive Centre, Maldives

* Please note that only a limited amount of diving can be pre booked and these are within packages.  All diving services outside of packages can be booked locally*Vilamendhoo dive centre is …

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Learn & progress in Maldives

Why we rate this centre

* Please note that only a limited amount of diving can be pre booked and these are within packages. All diving services outside of packages can be booked locally*

Vilamendhoo dive centre is centrally located on a private jetty, a few meters away from the reef. Vilamendhoo is located directly between two channels, making the spectacular house reef very versatile and therefore ranks among the best in the Maldives. The location on the eastern reef of South Ari Atoll guarantees a good supply of fresh water for an excellent coral growth and plenty of fish.

With over 50 dive sites and a fantastic house reef with 10 entry points, Vilamendhoo is the perfect diver’s paradise for beginners and experienced divers. Even the wreck ‘Kudhimaa” is only a 30 minute boat ride away and is one of the regularly visited dive sites. South of the island you find a protected Marine Area, Khudarah Thila, an exceptional place for divers and of course the national park at the outside reef. 3 times a week full day trips are offered to search for whale sharks in this area throughout the year.

The dive sites are between 10 minutes and 1 hour away from the island. These dive sites are reached by comfortable dive boats (dhonis). The unique diversity and variety of underwater life in the Maldives especially around Vilamendhoo has a lot off highlights to offer scuba divers.

Google ★★★★★ 5/5

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Or call +44 1273 921 001 — Mon–Fri 9am–6pm

Courses, lessons & kit

Vilamendhoo Dive Centre — Maldives, Maldives

Prices for the week from

Dive Storage & Centre Services

Diving - Daily 2 Tanks Boat Dives (tanks weights and air only)

day(s)

From £455

Details

2 tank boat divers per day, including tanks, weights & air only. This will normally be guided as part of a small group of up to 6 divers per dive guide.

Note:

Must be a minimum of PADI Open Water qualified divers, or similar. You will be asked to sign a declaration that you are 'fit to dive'. If you think you may have any medical reason that could effect your diving, or you are over the age of 65, you will need to bring a certified PADI Dive medical, or similar, with you.

Dive Lessons

PADI Open Water Course (excl. e-learning or study materials)

day(s)

From £527

Details

Diver certification begins here. Start with PADI's online eLearning course (not included or classroom theory training). Move to the pool and practice your new skills. Then experience four open water (ocean/lake) dives. During the PADI Open Water Diver course, you’ll learn what you need to know to explore the underwater world using scuba.

The PADI Open Water Diver course includes three parts: Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives, and Open Water Dives. Knowledge Development covers the principles, concepts and terms you need to know for dive safety and enjoyment. During the Confined Water Dives, you learn and practice scuba skills in a pool or water with pool-like conditions. You’ll enjoy making one or more minidives, which take you through the same steps you follow when you make open water dives. To complete training you practice, apply, and demonstrate what you learn during four Open Water Dives at a local dive site.

Earning a PADI Open Water Diver certification shows that you met the course requirements. Dive centers and resorts require proof of certification before they will rent scuba equipment, fill scuba cylinders or book dive excursions. As a PADI Open Water Diver, you’ll be trained to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet, and are qualified to dive in conditions as good as, or better than, those in which you trained. It’s just the beginning of a lifetime filled with dive adventures.

In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, and a tank. The equipment you wear varies, depending upon whether you’re diving in tropical, temperate or cold water.

Note:

You will be asked to sign a PADI or SSI medical form to complete the course. If you think you may have any medical condition that could effect your ability to dive we recommend a PADI Dive Medical prior to booking. E-Learning, Certification & Material not included. You need to be 10 years or older, able to swim and have approximately 8-15 hours to dedicate to the course.

Dive Lessons

Junior PADI Open Water Course (Excl. E Learning and study materials)

day(s)

From £527

Details

PADI’s Junior Open Water Diver course is similar to the adult certification program and prepares kids to become full-fledged divers when they are of age. Students as young as 10 years old can utilize the eLearning program Open Water Diver course online (minimum age requirements may be higher in some locations due to local laws and regulations). This course allows kids to get their first PADI scuba certification. Children can learn how to scuba dive, discover new adventures, or simply see the wondrous world beneath the waves, this is where it starts.

The PADI Junior Open Water Course is typically run over four days and is a fun-filled course designed to qualify kids to dive to a maximum depth of 12m. The fun part about this course is . . . well, just about all of it because learning to dive is incredible. Kids get to learn to breathe underwater for the first time (something they’ll never forget) and learn what they need to know to become a certified diver. During the course, children will first train in the pool and then get to explore wondrous reefs, under the supervision of a PADI Instructor.

The PADI Junior Open Water Course consists of three main phases:

- Knowledge development to understand basic principles of scuba diving.
- Confined water dives (pool training) to learn basic scuba skills.
- Open water dives to review skills and explore!

In the PADI Junior Open Water Course, children will learn to use basic scuba gear and standard accessories.

Note:

To begin the program, students must be at least 10 years old and be able to swim.

To ensure that young divers don’t exceed their limits, the Junior Open Water certification comes with restrictions. Divers 10-11 years old must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian, and dives cannot exceed 12 meters/40 feet. Divers 12-14 years old must dive with a certified adult and dives cannot exceed 18 meters / 60 feet.

The cost of e-learning and any study material should be paid directly to PADI or the dive school

Dive Lessons

PADI Advanced Course (Excl. E Learning or study materials)

day(s)

From £425

Details

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver is designed to improve your underwater knowledge and skills. You can enroll immediately after earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification regardless of your skill level. The course helps you build confidence in navigation, fine-tune buoyancy skills, and introduces you to different diving activities such as wreck diving, night diving, or underwater imaging.

After completing your eLearning, you’ll make five Adventure Dives: a deep dive (beyond 18m/60F), a navigation dive, and three additional Adventure Dives of your choice to earn your certification.

Note:

You must be PADI Open Water qualified to book this course. Some centres may charge local supplements for specialty dives during the Advanced course.

Dive Lessons

PADI E- Learning materials

day(s)

From £178

Details

Pre bookable at most dive centres, but also accessible before travel via PADI

to run along side PADI Open Water / Advanced Open Water dive course

Note:

to run along side PADI Open Water / Advanced Open Water dive course

Dive Equipment Rental

Diving - Daily Unlimited Equipment Rental (full equipment excluding computer)

day(s)

From £120

Details

Full dive equipment will include BCD, regular set with all gauges, wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins.
Tanks, weights & air are included as standard in all daily diving as standard. A dive computer is generally at an additional fee per day, and paid locally.

Note:

You must hold a valid dive qualification to rent dive equipment, such as PADI Open Water Course, or SSI, BSAC or CMAS equivalent.
There can be local taxes and fees at some destinations, such as Marine Parks fees, environmental taxes and government taxes - these are not always included in the price.