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Scuba diving in Maldives
22298 · Pixabay Content License · source

Guides · Price comparison

Open Water Course Prices in the Maldives: PADI & SSI

These are the Open Water prices that 8 Maldives dive centres publish on their own websites. The shops sit on local islands in North Ari, South Ari, South Malé and Fuvahmulah, plus one in Hulhumalé near the airport. All quote in US dollars. The currency switch converts to EUR or INR as an estimate.

Prices as published by each operator · checked 6 Oct 2026

Price
USD 450–USD 660
Days
3–5
Dives
10

The eight dive centres

Lowest price first. Not a quality ranking.

Prices shown in

Converted at 26 Oct 2026 rates. Shops charge in their own currency.

  1. Extreme Dive Fuvahmulah

    Lowest listed price
    USD 450

    Days: 3–4 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Materials
    • Certification fee: not stated

    PADI, to 18 m. USD 400 with e-learning or an Open Water referral. Open ocean, currents can be strong. Fuvahmulah is a domestic flight from Malé.

  2. Photo from Jerry's Dive Club Rasdhoo
    Photo: Jerry's Dive Club Rasdhoo · Supplied by the operator for this listing (WhatsApp, 6 November 2026; from their website) · source

    Jerrys Dive Club Rasdhoo

    USD 559

    Days: 4–5 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Materials: not stated
    • Certification fee: not stated

    SSI, to 18 m. Rasdhoo, North Ari.

  3. Divers with a green turtle over the reef, Rasdhoo
    Photo: Acqua Adventures Rasdhoo · Supplied by the operator for this listing (WhatsApp, 30 October 2026; from their website) · source

    Acqua Adventures Rasdhoo

    USD 595before code

    Days: 3 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Materials
    • Certification fee: not stated

    Agency not stated. Taxes included. To 18 m. Rasdhoo, North Ari.

    Code DC-ACQUA: a 5% discount on any product

  4. Thoddoo Diving Center

    USD 600

    Days: 3–4 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Digital materials
    • Certification fee

    SSI, to 18 m. Tips about USD 5 per dive extra. Dive insurance required.

  5. Hammerhead shark over sand at the Shark Tank
    Photo: changnoi, supplied by Dive Club Maldives · Supplied by the operator for this listing (WhatsApp, 13 October 2026) · source

    Dive Club Maldives

    USD 650before code

    Days: 4 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • Materials: not stated
    • Certification fee: not stated

    PADI. Hulhumalé, next to the airport.

    Code DC-DIVECLUB: 5% off and free nitrox on everything, 10% off the Shark Tank Specialty

  6. Island Divers

    USD 650before code

    Days: 3–4 days

    Dives: Not stated

    • Equipment
    • eLearning
    • Certification card

    PADI. Dhigurah, South Ari.

    Code DC-ISLANDDIVERS: free nitrox

  7. South Ari Dive Center

    USD 650before code

    Days: 3 days

    Dives: Not stated

    Not itemized on the operator's listing

    PADI. Dhangethi, South Ari. The listing doesn't say what the price includes.

    Code DC-SOUTHARI: free BCD and regulator rental

  8. The Dive Squad

    USD 660

    Days: 5 days

    Dives: 10 dives

    • Equipment and dive computer
    • eLearning
    • Certification fee: not stated

    PADI course plus fun dives. Maafushi, South Malé.

What the numbers show

USD 210 between the lowest and highest price

Equipment is included at 7 of the 8 shops. South Ari Dive Center's listing doesn't say. Only Island Divers and Thoddoo Diving Center state that the certification fee is part of the price. The Dive Squad's USD 660 also covers fun dives after the course, so it isn't the same product as a course on its own.

Ask before you book

  • Is the certification fee in the price? Two of 8 listings say so.
  • Are the learning materials or eLearning included? Five listings say yes.
  • How many open water dives does the course have? Only The Dive Squad states a number.

Compare & contact the shops

Each shop's cheapest matching offer, with the price it publishes itself. Message the shop directly on WhatsApp; we take no booking fee.

Converted at 26 Oct 2026 rates. Shops charge in their own currency.

Open Water course

Your first certification, cheapest course per shop.

Common questions

How much does an Open Water course cost in the Maldives?

USD 450-660 at the 8 dive centres we track. Extreme Dive Fuvahmulah lists USD 450, Jerrys Dive Club USD 559, Acqua Adventures USD 595 and Thoddoo Diving Center USD 600. Dive Club Maldives, Island Divers and South Ari Dive Center list USD 650. The Dive Squad lists USD 660 for the course plus fun dives, 10 dives in total.

Is PADI or SSI cheaper in the Maldives?

Neither, going by these prices. The two SSI courses cost USD 559 and USD 600. The PADI courses cost USD 450-660. The price depends on the shop, not the agency. Both certify you to dive to 18 m.

How many days does the course take?

3-4 days at most shops. Acqua Adventures and South Ari Dive Center list 3 days. Jerrys Dive Club lists 4-5 days. The Dive Squad's Ocean Explorer runs 5 days because it adds fun dives after the course.

Is there an Open Water course with accommodation?

Yes. Fulidhoo Dive sells a Learn to Dive package from USD 849 per person sharing in low season. It includes 6 nights' accommodation, half board, the PADI course and equipment. Transfers and dive insurance are extra. The other 8 prices on this page are for the course only.

What does the course cost in Indian Rupees?

About INR 43,100-63,200, at the exchange rate of 13 October 2026. Use the currency switch above the table to see every price in rupees. The shops charge in US dollars, so the amount on your card can differ slightly.

What does Advanced Open Water cost afterwards?

USD 421-550 at 7 of these shops. Extreme Dive Fuvahmulah lists USD 421, Thoddoo Diving Center USD 450, Jerrys Dive Club USD 459 and Acqua Adventures USD 475. South Ari Dive Center lists USD 500, Island Divers USD 520 and Dive Club Maldives USD 550.

Before you book

grouper underwater
1790462 · Pixabay Content License · source

Maldives

Season

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Also good: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.

Getting there

  • Fly to Velana International Airport (MLE), Malé, hub with connections from Dubai, Singapore, Colombo, Doha, and direct flights from Europe.
  • From Malé: speedboat (30–90 min for most mid-range resorts) or seaplane (15–45 min for remote islands, daylight only, so late arrivals mean a Malé overnight).
  • Liveaboards depart from Malé harbour.

Minimum stay

5 nights (7+ for liveaboards)

Good for your first trip if

Open Water minimum. Advanced OW strongly recommended for channel dives, currents can be strong and shift fast. Hyperbaric chambers are spread across several atolls, so ask your operator which is nearest. Remote resort locations make evacuation slow, dive conservatively and ensure your insurance includes dive coverage and medevac.

Know before you go

  • Chambers listed by sources include Bandos, Kuredu, Kuramathi, Kandima, ADK Hospital in Malé and the state-run centre in Guraidhoo (checked 2 Nov 2026).
  • Ask your operator which is nearest and whether it is operating; evacuation from remote atolls can take hours.
  • Dive conservatively.
  • The pull of whale sharks and mantas can tempt divers to ignore depth and time limits; a conservative computer profile is non-negotiable here.
  • Medevac cover in your dive insurance is essential, not optional.

Dive sites nearby

shark underwater
Franziska_Stier · Pixabay Content License · source

South Ari Whale Shark Point

Beginner-friendly

Depth5–30 m

Year-round whale shark aggregation in South Ari Marine Protected Area. Multiple individual sharks at any visit; most encounters at 5–15 m in open blue water.

  • whale sharks
  • year-round aggregation
  • open blue water
  • reef fish
Coral reef
joakant · Pixabay Content License · source

Hanifaru Bay

Beginner-friendly

Depth3–15 m

UNESCO-protected bay in Baa Atoll where mantas gather in the hundreds to feed on plankton blooms. Snorkel-only inside the bay, spectacle is accessible from the surface.

  • manta feeding frenzy
  • hundreds of mantas simultaneously
  • plankton bloom
  • UNESCO

How this guide was built

Source
Each operator's own published listing, checked 6 Oct 2026.
Order
By listed price, lowest first. Not a quality ranking.
Currency
Operators charge in USD; EUR and USD are conversions for orientation.