UKULHAS & SHARK TANK, MALDIVES

December 26, 2026 - January 2, 2027

We’ve dived most of the atolls in Maldives – and the one place that we feel offers the best bang for the buck, for divers of all levels, is Ukulhas.   Excellent diving at reasonable prices, easy to get to and laid back island vibe to relax after the dive.   What’s not to like?  You want mantas?   You got mantas.   You want to do a wall dive?   We got you sorted.     You want sharks as well?    Ok, sharks coming.    What’s that – you prefer turtles?    Ok, you get turtles as well.       

And if that isn’t enough and you want to get up close and personal with some Big Sharks, well then, there is always Shark Tank – where you can encounter tiger sharks, bull sharks, great hammerhead, oceanic blacktips and even guitar sharks, all at the same locations.

Overview

Located in North Ari atoll -a mainstay of live boards – Ukulhas is a very small island:  about one kilometre long and 250m wide, and easily accessible by a 90′ speedboat ride.   Despite is tiny size, it is blessed by its proximity to some absolutely fantastic dive sites, including the world-famous Medhivaru Channel, as well as Maya Thila, which Vinnie ranks as one of the top 3 dive sites in all of the Maldives.    A manta cleaning station, and various other wall and thila dives make for an absolutely fantastic few days of diving.

Shark Tank, on the other hand, is unique.    Located near a fish processing plant, this site has become home to a large number of pelagic sharks who have been drawn here by the detritus from that plant.    So here the diving involves swimming over sand and waiting for the sharks to reveal themselves.   But there are a couple of other really interesting sites, including the old Fish Factory, that we will also visit.    Along with the sharks, you can expect to see more rays than you will see anywhere else, as well as large schools of jacks and more.

The plan is as follows:

  • Dec 26:   Arrive at Male airport by 2:30pm, in time to take the 4:00pm ferry to Ukulhas
  • Dec 27 – 3 dives
  • Dec 28 – 3 dives and optional night dive (surcharge applies)
  • Dec 29 – 3 dives
  • Dec 30 – 2 dives and take afternoon ferry back to Hulhumale
  • Dec 31 – 3 dives (incl 2 at Shark Tank)
  • Jan 1 – 3 dives (incl 2 at Shark Tank)
  • Jan 2 – fly back to reality

As always, the diving plan and site choices are indicative – we will try to make sure we get to the best sites possible, but it depends on conditions and the advice of the local dive operators as well.

Like most of Maldives diving, the best part of the dives are in the 20-30m range.   So an Advanced or Deep speciality is required – or you can choose to complete it while on the trip at a discounted rate.   Beyond that, the diving difficulty is what we would call “moderate” – many of the sites involve drifting along a wall, which is easy.   Some sites, like Maya Thila and Medhivaru Channel, do have a current that you have to swim against for some time (and it is this current that makes the dive so action packed!).    And Shark Tank is unique in the sense that we will be swimming in the middle of the water column at 20-25m, with the seabed 5-10m below us, as we scan for sharks.

 

But these currents usually are fairly manageable and should be within the abilities of most divers.    And as always, we will have an instructor along on the trip who is happy to work with you on fixing any skills that you want to work on.   This trip falls into what we call an experience builder trip – it is a great way for divers to level up their skills and also get in some great diving while they are at it, as well.      

 

 

Accommodation in Ukulas will be in locally-owned guesthouses.   The rooms will be tiled, air-conditioned and with attached bathrooms.

Every time we have gone, we have had a different place arranged by our dive center.    The rooms have all been more than satisfactory in all of them, but the guest houses, in general, tend to be chunky, concrete buildings and not beachside resorts.     Since we are diving most of the day, or hanging out at a beachside restaurant afterwards, it is typically not an issue, but if you want a more traditional resort-style accommodation, let us know and we will arrange that (a price surcharge will apply).

In Hulhumale, we are not arranging accommodation – there is a wide variety of options all close to each other, and you can get better rates booking directly on an aggregator, so we will let everyone pick a place according to their budget.

As far as meals go, the Ukulhas guest house will provide breakfast.      In Hulhumale, it depends on the accommodation you book.   In both locations, we leave lunches and dinners free so that we can go and try out various local places.

VISA:

The Maldives offers visa-on-arrival – completely free of charge, valid for 30 days. No embassy visit or pre-approval is required. You will need to show a valid passport (with at least 1 month validity), a confirmed return ticket, and proof of accommodation at the immigration counter in Malé.    All travellers must complete the mandatory IMUGA Traveller Declaration online at least 96 hours before departure. This is a straightforward online form – we will share the link with all the divers closer to travel. 

FLIGHT INFO:

Plan to land by 2:30-2:35pm, so that there is ample time to collect luggage and head to the ferry terminal for the 4pm ferry.

For departure, our last dive on January 2 will end at about 3pm, so plan a 18-24 hour surface interval accordingly.

INSURANCE:

Dive insurance is mandatory, and we provide options for both short term and annual insurance from Diveassure and DAN. Additionally, travel insurance is strongly recommended.

 

You can buy using the following links:

DiveAssure all plans: https://app.diveassure.com/da2/en/registration/main/process/0/int/0/17014

DAN Annual plan: https://apps.dan.org/join-dan/?do=dw&rc=3209485

DAN Short-term plan: contact us

Double/ Twin sharing occupancy: Rs 136,000 per person.

Single occupancy: Rs 161,000 per person.

INCLUSIONS

    1. 4n stay in Ukulhas with breakfast
    2. Airport-Ukulhas-Airport round trip transfers via speed boat
    3. 11 dives in Ukulhas and 6 dives in Hulhumale 
    4. 2 Hanifaru Bay snorkeling trips (with an option to do more at an additional cost)
    5. Nitrox tanks in Hulhumale (if needed)
    6. GST 

EXCLUSIONS

    1. International Flight tickets
    2. Instructor Fees (if pursuing a course)
    3. Lunch/ dinner, or any meals not listed under inclusions
    4. Equipment w/ dive computer rental (USD 15 per day)
    5. Night dive in Ukulhas
    6. Tips/ gratuities for diving crew – $40-50 in Ukulhas, $20 in Hulhumale recommended
    7. 2% TCS (which can be applied towards your annual tax filings)

Payment Schedule:

  • Rs 20,000 to confirm the booking
  • Balance due 30 days before the start of the trip

Payments, Cancellations & Transfers

  • A deposit is required to secure your place on the trip. Full payment is due 4 weeks before departure. We will confirm the exact schedule on booking.
  • All payments are non-refundable once made. If you need to withdraw from the trip, please let us know as early as possible. If we can find a confirmed replacement for your spot, we will carry your deposit forward for the replacement to reimburse you directly. You are always welcome to nominate a replacement diver yourself.
  • We reserve the right to vary the price of the trip in the event the INR/USD exchange rates goes over Rs 96/$.    The revised rate will be applied on the unpaid portion of the funds.
  • We have been running trips to the Maldives for a good part of the past decade, and cancellations on our or the local provider’s end are genuinely rare. If we do have to cancel due to force majeure or circumstances beyond our control, refunds will be based on the cancellation policy of the dive shop in question.    We will not retain any sum from our side as cancellations
  • Trip itineraries are indicative. Dive sites, accommodation, and schedules may be adjusted based on weather, availability, or operational requirements. We will always communicate any changes promptly and transparently.

Diving Skills & Experience

  • Divers of all certification levels are welcome on this trip.   However, the best dive sites are beyond OW depths, so if you have an Open Water cert, you will need to complete your Advanced or Deep on this trip.  
  • Basic dive skills – listening to briefings, following the dive plan and being able to manage ascents and descents are expected.   If you aren’t sure, please discuss with us before booking so we can create a plan that works for you.
  • We reserve the right to ask divers who are not comfortable in specific conditions to sit out certain dives and join an alternative, shallower site instead. This decision is always made in the interest of your safety and the safety of the group, and is never a reflection on you as a diver.
  • Buddy pairings will be arranged based on experience, comfort levels, and the conditions on the day. If you have any preferences or concerns, please let the Bangalore Scuba pro on-site know directly, ideally the evening before.
  • A dive professional will be in the water with the group at all times. Daily briefings will cover the site, depth, currents, points of interest, and emergency procedures before every dive.
  • Please discuss any special requirements, medical conditions, or dive limitations with us before booking. The Maldives is straightforward to access and the dive environment is safe and well-managed, but a little advance planning always makes the difference.

Health, Fitness & Medical

  • All divers must be in good general health and free from any condition contraindicated for diving. A standard medical declaration will be required before the first dive of the trip.
  • If you have a pre-existing medical condition, including but not limited to heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, or recent surgery, please consult a physician and share documentation with us before booking. We are happy to help with this process.
  • Dive insurance is mandatory for all participants. Links are provided and please contact us for a short-term DAN insurance link if needed. Please do not dive without valid cover.
  • The nearest recompression chamber is located in Malé. In the event of a diving emergency, evacuation will be coordinated by the Bangalore Scuba dive pro in conjunction with local operators and emergency services.
  • Flying after diving: please ensure you observe standard no-fly times (18+ hours minimum) after your last dive before your return flight. We will build this into the trip schedule and advise the group accordingly.

Practical Info

  • The Maldives operates on the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), though US Dollars (USD) are widely accepted and often preferred at guesthouses, dive centers, and tourist-facing businesses.    Do note that if you pay in crisp new USD notes, you are likely to get back crumpled old USD notes.    So we generally prefer to exchange money at the airport (although you dont get a great rate there).
  • Cards are increasingly accepted at most properties, although usually with a surcharge. There are also  ATM on the island.    That said, we still recommend carrying sufficient cash with you
  • Please dress modestly when away from the designated swimming beaches or pool. Bikinis and boardshorts are perfectly fine at the designated swimming beach (aka Bikini Beach). When walking through the village, near the mosque, or visiting local shops and restaurants, please cover up. A light sarong or a change of clothes is all that is needed. This is standard practice on all local islands in the Maldives and very easy to follow.
  • Alcohol is not available, and it’s consumption is prohibited on the local islands in the Maldives. 

Staying Connected

  • A dedicated WhatsApp group will be set up for all participants before departure, for pre-trip planning, logistics, flight timing, and updates throughout the trip.
  • A Bangalore Scuba dive pro will be available every evening for a chat with each diver. Please use this time to share how your dives went, flag anything that is not working for you, and let us know if you would like any changes to the next day’s plan. Early feedback means we can act on it quickly. We want this trip to be brilliant for everyone.
  • For any questions before booking or before departure, please get in touch with us over WhatsApp at +91 98803 34003 or +91 70440 72204, or email at info@bangalorescuba.com
Scroll to Top