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As a premier island destination of the world, the Maldives is always at the forefront of scuba diving trends that allow divers to partake in exclusive and often magical experiences like no other.
Blackwater diving in the Maldives is a thrilling adventure that puts amateur and professional diving enthusiasts in a mesmerizing environment, one where they get to witness sea life in its most visually dramatic form.
What is blackwater diving?
Blackwater diving takes place at night and in open ocean waters far away from the reefs. It is thus unlike your typical day or night scuba dives.
Usually starting before sundown, a blackwater dive first involves sailing miles offshore, where the tour instructors release a downline tied to a floating buoy. Along the line, they attach lights at regular intervals, which serve two primary purposes. Firstly, the lights act as a guiding point for the tethered divers. Secondly, the warm glow attracts zooplankton, which then brings about an array of marine critters wanting to feed on it.
As the divers swim along with the ocean current, they get to observe a kind of “vertical migration” that includes rare minute plankton and sea beings in their infancy come up to the surface.
During a blackwater dive in the Maldives, you can expect to photograph jellyfish, octopus and squids, seaworms, multiple fish in their larval or juvenile stage, and several other fascinating and often “unknown” creatures.
Larval female nautilus octopus in a salp for protection
Is blackwater diving safe?
Although blackwater diving might come across as a “scary” excursion at first, it is perfectly safe for amateurs. Divers remain connected to the boat at all times, making sure they do not swim away with the current or go beyond a designated depth.
A common misconception about blackwater diving is that it involves going deep into the water. Surprisingly, most dives range from 5 to a maximum of 25-meters.
The pitch-dark surroundings inside the water do take a while to adjust. However, you’ll quickly forget all about it as soon as you begin to spot the stunningly unique oceanic life around you.
Paper nautilus (Argonauta argo, a pelagic octopus) sitting on a leaf
Essential camera equipment for blackwater diving
For divers wanting to make the most of this unusual photography opportunity, having the right camera equipment is vital.
While there is no end to the cameras and lights you can use, having a 60mm Nikon or Canon macro lens is ideal since it has good focusing speed and shorter focal length, something that you’ll soon realize is much-required. Moreover, carry a floating device for your camera and keep it as compact as possible for better maneuverability.
As for highlighting the subject, a couple of strobe lights, a focusing torch, and a flash can help you take captivating photos. Professional underwater photographers and divers suggest that you keep the lights to the bare minimum as harsh rays can very well scare away several of these night-time critters.
Blackwater diving in the Maldives
There are plenty of day and night diving options in the Maldives, but blackwater diving is a relatively new phenomenon that is slowly becoming more popular. With resorts beginning to offer blackwater diving exclusively, divers now have the perfect excuse to discover Maldives’ vibrant ocean environment, beyond its reefs.
Kuramathi – Located in Rasdhoo Atoll, Kuramathi’s Rasdhoo Divers is among the Maldives’ first to start blackwater diving. Guests wanting to explore the open waters at night also have the option to dive with a marine biologist and learn about the various fish and planktonic creatures they encounter.
Six Senses Laamu – The resort’s dive center, Deep Blue Divers, is the most famous blackwater diving operator in the Maldives. Promising that “no two blackwater dives are ever the same,” the trip is presently open for only certified divers. As a premium resort in Laamu Atoll, a stay and dive holiday at the Six Senses is an unforgettable adventure, both above the ground and below the water.
If scuba diving is something of interest, don’t forget to plan a Maldives blackwater diving expedition during your next vacation. It will help conquer your fear of the dark as you plunge into the abyss of the Indian Ocean, where a world of unseen wonders awaits your presence.
