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Two scuba divers exploring underwater scenery with marine life and coral.
📷 Debal Das · Pexels

Velidhu Hausriff

3.5 — based on 15 community signals
4.2 12 species 22 contributors

Velidhu Hausriff is a house reef dive in the Maldives offering year-round access to coral and marine life in a non-protected area.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
26–30°C
Shore entryBleachingRiskFamily-friendlyBeginner

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
26–30 °C
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Manta ray, Common octopus, Blacktip reef shark

Top operators here

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Map

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Velidhu Hausriff location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
9 kn
Wave
1.16 m
Water
29.5°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: WSW (45%)
Now: W (271°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.67m

Today: High 05:00 (+0.55m), Low 09:00 (+0.42m)

+0.7 m+0.1 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.55m ▼ 09:00 · +0.42m ▲ 14:00 · +0.51m ▼ 22:00 · +0.06m Now +0.2m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.25 · very high Air PM2.55 · good 05:58 18:06
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 11.2 1.2 9 0mm
09-20 16.5 1.2 9 11mm
09-21 14.1 1.14 9 4mm
09-22 13.9 1.12 9 4mm
09-23 13.9 1.1 8 0mm
09-24 18.1 1.3 9 7mm
09-25 15.5 1.3 8 13mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions
DHW: 1.4°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (26–30°C)

About this spot

Velidhu Hausriff sits on the house reef adjacent to Velidhoo island in the Maldives. This spot provides convenient access directly from the island, making it ideal for divers seeking a straightforward reef experience without boat logistics. The reef hosts diverse coral formations and marine species typical of Maldivian atolls. The site remains accessible throughout the year, though water conditions vary seasonally. Divers can expect to encounter the reef's resident fish populations and invertebrates during standard dives. The area falls outside a Marine Protected Area, so check local regulations before diving. Coral health in this region warrants monitoring; bleaching events have affected Maldivian reefs in recent years. Current observations document 12 species on record here, and community dive videos offer insight into conditions and marine life encounters. This house reef suits divers comfortable with independent navigation and familiar with reef environments.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Maldives: 156 Sites, Mantas & What to Know

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Manta rayCommon octopusBlacktip reef shark

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: rashguard / 1mm shorty
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type D/G/J/K/L · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit rashguard / 1mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 8490km · ~1953kg · €35

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 11h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 10h east · 7 days recovery

FAQ

What's the best time to dive Velidhu Hausriff?

Velidhu Hausriff is diveable year-round. Conditions vary by season; check current weather and water patterns before planning your trip.

What marine life should I expect?

Twelve species have been recorded at this site. The reef hosts typical Maldivian fauna including reef fish, invertebrates, and coral-dependent species. Community videos show recent sightings.

Do I need permits or certifications?

Velidhu Hausriff is not within a Marine Protected Area. Follow local regulations and standard diving practices. Consult local dive operators or island authorities for current requirements.

How do I access the dive site?

This is a house reef dive accessed directly from Velidhoo island. Entry typically requires minimal boat time or shore access. Confirm logistics with local operators.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Velidhu Hausriff

0 km
Dive centre

Dive Club

5.5 km
Dive centre

Dive Ukulhas

5.6 km
4.9 (242 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Booked 38+ times this month
Hours: Saturday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Atoll Dives

5.6 km
4.6 (18 reviews) open now
Dive centre
Hours: Saturday: Open 24 hours

Drop Dive Maldives

5.6 km
Dive centre

Murakabay Dive Center

5.6 km
4.9 (432 reviews) open now
Dive centre
Verified Booked 28+ times this month
Hours: Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

14 records · 11 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Nebrius ferrugineus

Elasmobranchii · Ginglymostomatidae
GBIF
Last seen:
19 Feb 2025
×2records

Fromia nodosa

Asteroidea · Goniasteridae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2025
×1records

Phyllidia alyta

Gastropoda · Phyllidiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
30 Jan 2025
×1records

Mauritia scurra

Gastropoda · Cypraeidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2025
×1records

Lyncina lynx

Gastropoda · Cypraeidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2025
×1records

Fungia fungites

Anthozoa · Fungiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2025
×2records

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
GBIF
Last seen:
18 Jan 2025
×2records

Amphiophiura trifolium

Ophiuroidea · Ophiopyrgidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1934
×1records
Depth:
2727 m

Ophioplinthus abyssorum

Ophiuroidea · Ophiopyrgidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1934
×1records
Depth:
2727 m

Ophioplinthus glypta

Ophiuroidea · Ophiopyrgidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1934
×1records
Depth:
2727 m

Ophiuroglypha irrorata irrorata

Ophiuroidea · Ophiopyrgidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1934
×1records
Depth:
2727 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Scuba Diving at Velidhu Island, North Ari Atoll, Maldives, Jun 2017 (4K)

MeikiZ - TechChannel

Velidhu Island Resort Maldives - Euro-Divers Maldives

Euro-Divers Worldwide

Malediven 2016 Velidhu Maldives

Jot Bernard
💬 3 top comments
  • Lovely video, thanks for sharing. Looks another beautiful island. We've dived with the nurse sharks at Alimatha but didn't know they came here too.

    @michaelmuir4548 · 👍 0
  • incredible scene and video quality! so nice! how is the house reef nearby velidhu?

    @breadppl · 👍 0
  • which camera did you use for underwater videos? very nice quality!

    @JensT4 · 👍 0
wind peaks May-Oct-Jul, calmest Nov-Apr-Mar, dry Jan-Jun, water 26-30°C.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Sep (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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