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Currents
To enhance the enjoyment and safety of a dive, consideration of the direction and strength of currents is extremely important, wherever you are diving; whether it is in the ‘kandu’, a pass between the atoll reefs or ‘thila’ a shoal, inside the atolls. The success of a dive almost always depends on these variables.
The Maldivian archipelago is swept by ceaseless currents caused by the monsoons; generally east to west during the northeast monsoon, from December to April and west to east during the southwest monsoon, from May to November. However this is not a hard and fast rule, as changes in wind directions and tides can offset the influence of the oceanic currents - especially so during the transitional period between the two seasons.

Further, the location of islands, reefs and ‘thilas’ cause great irregularity in the flow of current streams inside atoll passes. Many local boat captains show great skill in telling the direction of the current by observing tiny ripples or wave patterns on the surface. However, the dive guide often jumps into the water to determine the exact strength and direction.

Strong currents often make a dive site livelier, and that makes the additional effort worthwhile.

Tides
Tides are an important aspect to consider when diving. Tides often determine the strength and direction of the currents and often visibility depending on where you dive. A rising tide brings in clear waters from the ocean into the atoll, while receding tides carries out less clear water from inside the atolls. For instance a drift dive through a channel, taking advantage of rising tide and clear water flowing into the atoll would offer an exciting dive with high visibility. Therefore even though it may be easier to dive in slack waters at high or low tide, it does not always provide the most exciting of dives.

The time between successive high tides is approximately 12 ½ hours and divers may take the advantage of the tides depending on the time of the day when the tide moves.

Spring tides cause the maximum variation in tides - highest at 110 centimetres. On the other hand during neap tides the variation can be just a few centimetres.

Safety
With more than a 1000 dives being conducted each day in the Maldives, dive accidents have fortunately been rare and far between. Increased safety measures have further reduced the risk of accidents. However utmost care should be taken when diving, especially in difficult conditions.

Drift diving is the most common type of diving in the Maldives. It gives divers the opportunity of seeing more fish life and more coral and rock formations than they would otherwise. Drift diving is easy and safe when conducted with proper care.

These exciting dives are staged on the outside reefs and channels - usually with an ingoing current as they are safer. However if you are diving in a channel with strong outgoing currents stay close to the reefs and shallows on the outside corners. Only a knowledgeable divemaster would be able to plan and instruct you on these dives and competent boatmen are essential.

Tips for safe diving - Important tips for safety in diving

• Ensure you check your equipment and your buddy’s.

• Never dive alone, follow the buddy system procedures.

• Listen carefully to the pre-dive briefing and follow the instructions carefully

• Start your descent without spending much time on the surface, to avoid being swept off the dive point. It may help to empty your BCD before you jump in.

• Stay as low as possible on the reef without touching it or your equipment dragging on it. The lower you get the easier it is to avoid being swept by the current.

• Never swim against a strong current. The protection of coral outcrops provide a place for a rest or a good viewing point - hold-on only to dead corals if necessary.

• Make sure you do not exceed a depth of 30 metres.

• Avoid decompression stops in open water. You could get swept for kilometres in a single stop.

• For additional safety, make sure all your dives are no-decompression dives.
  Visibility is usually good- do not underestimate distance based on visibility.

• Remember that these tips are particularly important during night dives.

• Always carry a flag or a surface balloon to signal in case of distress. Use this if the dive boat cannot be seen when you surface.

Dangerous fish & corals
Although some of the species of fish and coral are extremely attractive a small percentage of them are sometimes extremely dangerous. However the danger is not from the large predatory fish that are often portrayed as villains in fiction or folklore.
Sharks for instance, although implicated for attacking humans, are totally harmless unless they are provoked by chasing or cornering them, often failing to recognise their territorial posturing. Sharks are gracefully powerful and beautifully awesome. In the Maldives, hundreds of sharks are encountered daily while diving. These creatures are to be respected and observed. Playing around with them could only pose any threat.

The real danger in the reef lies in the small creatures, too small to see or well camouflaged that they are able to blend in with the corals. These creatures rely on powerful venom and lie quietly for its prey. One of the most common species is that of the Scorpionfish which includes the highly venomous Stonefish among them. They possess sharp spines which are associated with venom glands. If these spines come into human contact the fish inject a powerful neurotoxin, causing immediate nausea followed by cardiorespiratory insufficiency, sweating and fever. Soaking the part of the body stung in hot water can reduce the effect of the sting.

Similarly the yellow fire coral launches thousands of tiny venomous darts upon contact.

While wetsuits offer some protection the best criteria for protection is to avoid touching or playing with any creatures big or small, leaning against corals and not walking on reef tops.