Dive In
Surrounded by the warm, azure waters, beautiful coral formations and plentiful wildlife of the Maldives, there are few better places to dive. And with the charismatic Andreas Auer running our PADI 5-Star IDC Centre, there’s no excuse not to.
Heading the hugely experienced team of 11 at Landaa Giraavaru’s PADI 5-Star IDC Centre, Auer is forever on a mission to take guests to the next level. “Most people don’t know the dive options open to them,” he explains. “I love helping them continue their education.” And there are few better people to learn from. A larger-than-life personality, Andy speaks four languages, has every certification under the sun and knows each of the best dive sites in the Maldives.
Consider, for example, exploring huge formations of coral known as thilas, filled with colourful crevices that are home to fascinating marine life, such as schools of reef fish, turtles and even various shark species. Kandu or channel diving offers exhilarating drift dives along the currents between the island chains, with close-up views of eagle rays, manta rays and whale sharks. Discover the famous Maldivian reefs, known for their vibrant beauty and intriguing terraces, populated by over 1,000 species of fish. Or dive the wrecks—including the famed double wrecks at the Shipyard site, and the 110-metre (360-foot) Maldives Victory freighter—in the South Ari, Lhaviyani and North and South Male atolls.
Even if this kind of diving sounds daunting, Andy assures you all you need is two days to prepare. Thanks to our new Learn to Dive package and PADI eLearning, beginners can become certified in just two days, rather than the usual four. By allowing guests to complete the theory section of the course online before they arrive at the Resort, they only two days of practical training before they’re ready to explore the Maldivian waters. And with a charming teacher like Andy, it couldn’t be more pleasant.
