Mantas, Morays & Mayhem: Diving with TGI at Cora Cora Maldives
For those seeking the best diving in the Maldives, TGI Maldives offers world-class underwater adventures with expert dive instructors, vibrant coral reefs, exhilarating drift dives, and unforgettable encounters with manta rays, whale sharks, and turtles—all from the comfort of a luxury island resort in one of the most breathtaking marine environments on Earth.
TGI Diving Cora Cora Maldives
Diving with TGI: Beneath the Surface with the Best in the Business
The TGI Diving Centre at Cora Cora Maldives sits right where you’d want it—tucked along the powder-soft beach, just off the main jetty, with the lagoon practically knocking on its door. It’s a PADI 5-Star outfit, which basically means they’ve got their fins in order and won’t let you wander off into the blue without knowing which way is up. They offer everything from discovery dives for the curious-but-clueless, all the way to Divemaster certifications for those wanting to add “oceanic legend” to their LinkedIn profile.
Read my Cora Cora Maldives review here.
On my very first morning—bleary-eyed, jet-lagged, and barely upright—I managed to sign up for a Nitrox dive at 8:30am. That’s either admirable commitment or sheer lunacy. My dive buddy, Pius, was a delight – calm, knowledgeable, and cheerfully tolerant of my early-morning daze. We boarded the dhoni and headed out across the glass-clear waters to our first reef.
Once the tanks were strapped on (with assistance from the marvellously efficient team), we did the mask-holding leap into the big blue and began our descent. I was instantly enveloped in a kaleidoscope of marine life. The water was so clear you could barely see it. Down at 12 metres, we drifted alongside the reef wall, gliding effortlessly past coral formations, shimmering fish, suspicious eels, and grasses wafting gently in the current. Every hue from neon to metallic to almost implausibly luminous was represented.
At Magic Reef, I spotted not one, but two manta rays gliding out in the deep blue like ghostly flying carpets. They moved with a slow, imperious elegance, the kind usually reserved for opera divas and ballet dancers in Swan Lake. Further along, a pair of white-tipped reef sharks cruised past with all the casual menace of bored nightclub bouncers.
Pius regularly checked my air, shone his torch on various lurkers (including a particularly grumpy moray eel doing its best sinister sock puppet impression), and finally released the marker buoy for our textbook five-minute safety stop. Then it was a serene fin back to the boat and onwards to our second site.
With a fresh tank of Nitrox, we plunged again, down to 18 metres – a moment that never loses its thrill. That sudden drop from air into aquatic weightlessness always feels like stepping off the spaceship into another world.
This time we explored Nadi Reef, where we ticked off eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, technicolour parrotfish, and some extremely debonair trumpetfish. Modu, our dive leader, briefed us beforehand with hand-drawn maps and a weathered sort of charm that only comes from spending most of your life underwater. He read the currents like a salty oracle and led us expertly around every reef curve.
Above the Waves: Watersports Worthy of 007
When I wasn’t impersonating a marine biologist below sea level, I was indulging in every other aquatic thrill available, thanks to the fabulous TGI team.
First up, a Waverunner safari. Naturally, I selected a sleek Yamaha VXC (having recently reviewed the 2025 range in Portugal, I considered myself practically overqualified). The expert young guide led the way as we zoomed across the aquamarine sea. There’s nothing quite like throttling full-speed between the islands, with nothing but the glinting horizon ahead and the occasional seaplane passing overhead like a flying yacht.
We zipped across the open ocean to a nearby deserted island, the kind you imagine Tom Hanks muttering to a volleyball on. I opened the throttle and let rip—doughnuts, wave jumps, rooster tails of spray—it was utter, brilliant mayhem. Being certified to ride solo meant I could indulge in a bit of aquatic foolishness. My guide, a super-fit local who could probably ride jet skis in his sleep, egged me on with polite concern and mild terror.
And then there was the stillness. We pulled up by a deserted sandbank, no one in sight, just the hum of the engine slowly winding down and the vast silence of the sea around us. Absolute, glorious solitude—like starring in your own luxury survival film, only with better catering.
Windsurfing: Still the Most Satisfying Way to Break a Sweat
Old-school windsurfing remains one of my greatest joys, and Cora Cora delivered a perfect breezy afternoon. I clambered aboard, mast up, and took off across the bay with all the elegance of a pelican on roller skates, pumping the sail back and forth.
The wind picked up, and suddenly I was flying—leaning back into the sail, catching the wind just right, gliding past the water villas with their turquoise pools sparkling in the sun. As seaplanes roared overhead, I felt like I was starring in an unusually genteel Mission Impossible chase scene.
It’s not the fastest of sports, nor the flashiest, but when you catch a gust just right and skim across the reef-shadowed lagoon, it’s utter poetry.
Flyboarding: Because Apparently I’m Iron Man Now
And another day, another water sport—this time, Flyboarding, which I’ve done before. You strap what look like futuristic twin boots onto your feet, each connected to a thick hose that runs back to the jet outlet of a Waverunner. The water from the jet ski gets pumped at high pressure through the hose and shoots out of nozzles under your feet. Sounds completely mad, I know—but it’s all controlled by the rider on the Waverunner, making it far safer (and more civilised) than you’d expect.
It appears fiendishly difficult—something only for the Red Bull stunt crowd—but it’s surprisingly achievable. Within minutes, you’re lifted by sheer hydraulic force, levitating above the water like Iron Man’s slightly damp cousin. Tricks like diving in and out of the sea like a show-off dolphin take a bit more practice—and often a bruised ego or two—but they’re definitely within reach for the mildly coordinated.
Monoskiing: The One True Watersport
On my final day, I indulged in my all-time favourite: the mighty monoski. For the uninitiated, it’s like water-skiing’s cooler, sleeker cousin. No wobbly knees required – just lean back, let the rope do the work, and carve gloriously across the wake on one ski. And no, it’s not wakeboarding, though they do that too.
The real thrill is veering far out from the boat, catching massive speed, then slashing back across the waves, skipping like a stone. It’s wildly satisfying, and if you wipe out, the water is deliciously forgiving. Though when you fall at high speeds, expect to bounce like a rag doll. It's not dignified, but it is hilarious.
My boat driver, Muaz, was a hero. He got me up on the ski in seconds – which, post long-haul flight and with mild exhaustion, is nothing short of miraculous. For me, a good boat driver is everything. If they can launch me without dragging me face-first through the lagoon like an uncooperative mop, they’ve passed the test. Muaz didn’t just pass—he got a round of applause.
TGI Dive Centre Excellence: Where Your Aquatic Dreams Come True
From the jaw-dropping dives to the exhilarating water sports, the TGI Dive Centre at Cora Cora Maldives runs a tight (and very fun) ship. Whether you're diving with mantas, flying like Iron Man, or monoskiing like a Bond extra, they’ve got you covered with safety, charm, and sheer enthusiasm.
Top marks to the entire crew – Pius, Modu, Muaz, and the rest – for making every aquatic moment a brilliant one. They’ve set the bar high, or should I say, about 18 metres below the surface.
Their full range of diving services includes guided dives, PADI-certified courses from beginner to Divemaster, and a smorgasbord of specialty dives like night diving, Nitrox, and underwater photography. All delivered with humour, competence, and the vibes? Immaculate.
From manta rays to monoskiing, from reef walls to windsurfing, TGI at Cora Cora made every splash, glide, and crash-land feel exhilarating and utterly safe. I’d dive (and monoski) with them again in a heartbeat.
