The Shipyard
Lhaviyani Atoll · Maldives
The Shipyard is Lhaviyani Atoll's most iconic dive site, a sprawling reef system named for the large number of nurse sharks that congregate here as if moored in a dry dock. Divers navigate shallow coral gardens alive with lionfish and pufferfish before descending to sandy channels where 20 or more nurse sharks rest in overlapping piles. The site's gentle currents and exceptional biodiversity make it accessible to all certification levels.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 25 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
6 to 15 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
27 to 31°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 18 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Indian Garden Lizard
Last confirmed May 7, 2026 · 32 records
Very likely
Most dives
Blacktip Reef Shark
Last confirmed May 7, 2026 · 36 records
Very likely
Most dives
Nurse Shark
Last confirmed May 6, 2026 · 10 records
Very likely
Most dives
Porcupine Pufferfish
Last confirmed May 6, 2026 · 6 records
Very likely
Most dives
White-Tailed Tropicbird
Last confirmed May 6, 2026 · 28 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Tawny Hermit Crab
Last confirmed May 7, 2026 · 26 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Checkerboard Wrasse
Last confirmed May 6, 2026 · 20 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Lionfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear