Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, just days after being awarded one of the Best Dive Resorts of 2023 in the Maldives, has added free scuba diving for guests as part of their  stay. 

“This inclusion sets us apart from our competitors and offers something pretty fantastic for keen scuba  divers visiting the Maldives,” said Mark Eletr, General Manager, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma  Maldives. 

“Just like we include breakfast, snorkelling lessons and access to the Kids’ Club as part of a stay, we  now include diving!” added Mark. 

The resort has it’s own five-star PADI Resort dive centre, known as Kandooma Dive complete with  experienced and professional dive instructors, purpose-built facilities and a dedicated fleet of dive  boats.  

Kandooma is known for it’s diving, positioned on the doorstep to some of the Top 10 Dive Sites in the  Maldives. Divers can expect to see a wealth of marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, reef  sharks, colorful reef fish, turtles, eagle rays, and a variety of coral species. Some of the dive spots near  to Kandooma, include:  

1. Kandooma Thila: This renowned pinnacle showcases schools of vibrant fish, colourful coral  formations, and an abundance of marine life. From white-tip reef sharks to eagle rays, the site is a  captivating spectacle of biodiversity. 

2. Guraidhoo Corner: Drift along the currents and witness the congregation of gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, and eagle rays. The site's dramatic underwater structure adds to the allure of this exciting  dive. 

3. Cocoa Corner: Known for its thrilling currents, this site is a magnet for pelagic species. Divers often  spot hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and other large marine inhabitants as they glide through the  deep waters. 

4. Kuda Giri: The Kuda Giri wreck is an interesting dive site in South Malé in the Maldives, which  includes both a small wreck and a pinnacle. They have created a welcoming habitat for a variety of  marine life. There is hardly any current around this area making it suitable for less experienced divers. 

5. Manta Point: Witness the mesmerising dance of manta rays as they gather to feed and be cleaned  by smaller fish. This site promises awe-inspiring interactions with these majestic creatures. 

6. Lhosfushi: The channel deepens inside to a sandy bottom to 30 metres. There are plenty of fish and  marine life including turtles, schools of snapper, sweet lips, fusilier, tuna, Napoleon and white-tip reef  sharks. There are also large morays, ribbon eels and elegant fire gobies. 

7. Medhu faru: This channel dive is good for both incoming and outgoing current. You will be likely to  spot Napoleon, the graceful Eagle rays and a wide selection of colourful fish. Medhu Faru is one of the  best dive sites to see large numbers of reef sharks at close range. 

8. Kandooma Caves: Explore a labyrinth of swim-throughs and underwater caverns adorned with  sponges and gorgonians. The site is known for its macro life and the occasional appearance of larger  predators. 

9. Waggiri: This is a great dive site for every diver, especially those who love to see small life and have  long dives. The formation of this giri is very unique and a perfect place to try a night dive. Expect to see  anemone fishes, groupers, frogfish, ghost pipe fish, schools of bat fish, stonefish and yellow mouth  moray eels. 

10. Miyaru Kandu: This channel dive features an explosion of marine life, including barracudas,  snappers, and reef sharks. The site's coral-encrusted overhangs and vibrant soft corals create a  stunning backdrop for underwater exploration. 

“At Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives we are passionate about our aquatic wonderland and  sharing it with our guests. The beautiful crystalline waters, vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life  all make it a paradise for underwater enthusiasts and those seeking unparalleled exploration of the  deep blue.” added Mark. 

Marketed as Dive Free @Kandooma the new inclusions are available to full paying guests staying a  minimum of three nights and includes two single tank group dives for two certified divers per day of  stay. All dives are fully guided and include free dive equipment, boat transfers and air/Nitrox. Guests  must be fit to dive and be fully certified. The offer is governed by PADI best practice, meaning there is  no diving on day of departure + 24 hour ‘no-fly’ time. Any unused dives can only be rolled over to other  days at the discretion of the Dive Centre Manager and unused dives are not encashable or  exchangeable for other services. Note: some flash sale/discounted accommodation offers may  specifically exclude this Dive Free inclusion. The Dive Free @Kandooma inclusions commence 1  September 2023 and will be reviewed 31 October 2024.