Soleni Dive Centre
Baa Atoll, Maldives · Dive Center★ 5
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- Dive Center
Highlights
- PADI Resort
- 6 languages spoken
- House reef
About Soleni Dive Centre
Set on the island of Soneva Fushi in the Maldives' Baa Atoll, Soleni Dive Centre opened in October 1995 and, until December 1998, was the only diving school operating anywhere in the atoll. Founders Thomas Wälchli and Elisabetta Benini brought long experience of teaching in the Maldives to the island, and their philosophy has stayed the same ever since: quality over quantity, small groups, and instructors who share their genuine enthusiasm for the sport.
Who it suits
This is a place for divers of every level. Beginners and experienced divers alike get special attention, and the team makes a point of going beyond the usual supervisory role. As a PADI Resort with an onsite training pool and classroom, it's well set up for learning, with air fills and Nitrox available and staff speaking English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German and Italian.
Conditions shift with the seasons. From December to April visibility is at its best, reaching as much as 50 metres, with calm seas from February to April. From May to November it drops to a typical 15 to 20 metres as plankton moves in — the very thing that draws manta rays and the occasional whale shark. Expect sharks, turtles, whales and plenty of ocean fish, with a house reef right on the doorstep.
Marine life
Facilities & amenities
Location & contact
Soneva Fushi, Kunfunadhoo 0, Maldives
+960 751-4696
Reviews · 1
★ 51 guest reviews
★ 5 · Hanna Gore · 2010-02-08I decided on this island in The Maldives after seeing it on a BBC Holiday program review, and it exceeded all expectations. I spent the most amazing 10 days there, wish it was longer! The island itself is pretty large and they give you bicycles to cycle round the idyllic surroundings. We never saw another person while we were there and always had a private corner of the beach to ourselves. The only time we saw people was at dinner. The beach bungalows are out of this world! We had a 2 storey bungalow with an outdoor sundeck and huge outdoor bath and shower, it was the most luxiourious place! The food was out of this world, as good as a 5 star resort and there was some amazing menus with fabulous food choices so you won't get bored (unlike some islands that just have buffet choices). There was even an ice cream bar, as well as buffet and all types of wonderful food, you would be spoilt for choice. Snorkelling - You can snorkel off the house reef and see an abundance of fish however, when we went the coral was quite damaged apparently it had taken some of the wrath from the Sunami that year. There were so many parrot fish and some Eagle Rays that would swim right by you at 4pm every evening! The drop off is a little bit of a distance but worth it to see all the marine life. Diving - It was my first time trying out diving and it was my trip here that led to my passion of diving as the instructors were so fantastic. I completed a couple of dives off the house reef and there was an amazing amount of marine life! I only wish I had chosen to do my PADI Open water here! I would definitely recommend the dive school (Soleni Dive Center) as they were so patient and good with me as I was a pretty nervous beginner at that time! I can't comment on the boats, equipment or dive trips as unfortunatley I was wasn't there particularly for the diving at that time. I just wanted to mention this resort as it was beyond 5 Star, the manager came to greet us on arrival and say goodbye to us when we left we were treated like royalty! - I've never stayed anywhere so beautiful. I stayed at the Coco Palm resort in The Maldives in 2008, and although that was lovely it was second rate compared to Soneva Fushi. I would defintely go back and take up some more diving there. Recommended especially for honeymooners as it was fabulous.
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