Diving
More of the Maldives is underwater than above. Therefore it is not surprising that the Maldives is known the world over as one of the premier dive destinations of the world.
The country is endowed with thousands of reefs. Over a 1000 species of fish inhabit these reefs, 300 of which were recorded for the first time in Maldives. Hundreds of species of hard and soft corals adorn the reefs providing dazzling colors. The reefs are so numerous that divers can literally swim from one to the other. However in spite of this, each dive site has its own special character and appeal.
The outside reefs of the atolls are the fortresses that defend the Maldives from the strong elements. They are solid and impenetrable. The channels through which currents flow through the Maldives chain feature interesting coral formations such as jagged walls, crevices and caves. Due to the high level of nutrients in the channels divers can find caves and overhangs full of soft coral, a wide range of invertebrates, gorgonians and sponges. There are also several canyons and the steep drop offs that provide for exciting dives. An exciting array of pelagics, predators and reef fish converge in these areas to feed in the colliding waters filled with nutrients.
Across the channels and within the atolls are thilas, sentinels of rocks that spring from the ocean floor up to within a few meters of the water surface. The thilas attract a variety of marine life and provide a spectacular change of scener
Diving Hints and Currents:
Madi in the local language of the Maldives, means “Ray”, hence the name Madivaru for this site, which is also known as Hukrueli Faru. During the North East Monsoon, Madivaru is a superb Manta Ray cleaning station. The coral reef slopes down gently from its highest point at 8 meters to the Atoll floor at about 30 meters.
There are many cleaning stations along this 1 km reef, but the point where the Manta Rays are most active is halfway along the northern side. Current at Madivaru can be strong at times and can create a funnel effect due to the coral reef formation. Divers should be prepared to make a safety stop in open water at Madivaru and a safety balloon is necessary.Diving Hints and Currents: Okobe Thila is one of the most uniquely shaped Thilas in the North Male Atoll and it comprises three large coral heads. Usually the boat is fixed to the mooring on the dive site and divers use the mooring as both the descent and ascent line. Once divers reach the end of the line at Okobe Thila, they start swimming towards the up-current. If the current allows, divers can zigzag from one coral head to the other while observing the fish life, which commonly includes Eagle Rays, Jacks, Tuna, Napoleon Wrasse and Bannerfish. A surface balloon is a must to dive at Okobe Thila.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Nassimo Thila is an oval-shaped Thila displaying a good variety of colourful, soft corals. The most interesting aspect of Nassimo Thila is the randomly scattered pinnacles. Spend as much time as possible around the scattered pinnacles but limit your depth to maximize bottom time as the scattered pinnacles go down to more than 30 meters.
Currents at Nassimo Thila are usually strong, so it is only recommended for advanced divers. Depending on the strength of the currents, many pelagics can be seen near the coral reef at Nassimo Thila or in the deeper water just off the reefs, including Giant Trevallies, Jacks, Dogtooth Tuna and many more. A surface balloon is a must as the dive site is subjected to heavy boat traffic from the nearby resort island.Diving Hints and Currents:
The Maldives Victory Wreck is 110 metres long and lies at a depth of 35 meters on a sandy bottom. The bow points to the north. Divers should plan at Maldives Victory Wreck their dive in accordance with their air supply and the time available, which will allow them to complete the entire dive safely and return to the mooring lines attached to the buoy. It is important to remember that the wreck is studded with extremely sharp jagged seashells and urticating hydroids. Moreover, injuries can be caused by sharp, jagged fragments of metal protruding from the wreck.The Maldives Victory Wreck is marked with a buoy surface marker and this is used as the descent and ascent line which is fixed to the mast of the wreck. Once divers reach the mast, they can easily swim from the mast to the bow following the superstructure and back to the stern. For safety reasons dives, the Maldives Victory Wreck is classified as an advanced dive site. The 25-metre depth (82 feet) on the deck is no particular problem, but great caution, planning and experience are required in order to deal with the currents, which can be quite powerful at times.
Diving Hints and Currents:
If the current is not strong at Maaya Thila, the diving is easy and divers can easily circle the Thila. Depending on the current, the dive begins at the up-current and dive guides will navigate to the coral formations in deeper waters. Here, divers hover or hold on to a coral and observe the fish life.
Grey Reef Sharks congregate around the coral in the deeper water at Maaya Thila. Depending on the strength of the currents, Grey Reef Sharks and White Tip Reef Sharks sometimes come as shallow as the reef’s edge at just 12 meters. It’s not unusual to spend the entire dive at the up-current observing the fish life. The top reef is the perfect place to do the required safety stop. A safety balloon is necessary at Maaya Thila.
Night Dive:
Maaya Thila is one of the best sites in the Maldives for a night dive. The dive boat is usually fixed to the mooring and a line is used for the ascent and descent for safety reasons. A strobe light is attached to the rope at 5 meters to identify the rope underwater.
On the Maaya Thila night dive, divers get to experience swimming close to White Tip Reef Sharks. Turtles rest inside caves / overhangs, while Moray Eels and White Tip Sharks hunt the vulnerable Fusiliers. Octopus and Stone Fish can be found around the top reef. The caves where the crevices are found are the ideal place for people who are interested in macro photography. Here you will find Cleaner Shrimps, Ghost Pipe Fish and many more seldom-seen species.The Maaya Thila night dive is a must for all scuba divers visiting the Maldives and is a one-of-a-kind dive.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Maalhos Thila is strictly only suitable for experienced advanced divers. The best part of this dive site is deeper than 25-metres. It is possible to dive at Maalhos Thila both when the current is incoming and outgoing. The main attractions at Maalhos Thila are the coral heads found about 28-29 metres below the surface. There are three large coral heads and these are covered with spectacularly-coloured soft coral. Close to the coral heads, you will see Giant Sweetlips and the bottom of the channel is a resting ground for White Tip Reef Sharks.
The caves and overhangs at Maalhos Thila are filled with blue color soft coral and extra cloud of yellow brought by the Blue Striped Snappers (Lutjanus Kasmira). The top of the reef displays a good diversity of hard coral and it’s worth spending sometime here before the end of the dive. A safety balloon is a must at Maalhos Thila especially when the current is running out of the Atoll.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Lion’s Head is one of the oldest shark point dive sites in the Maldives. Schools of Grey Reef Sharks as well as some excellent soft coral formations and heaps of colourful reef life can be found here.
Depending on the direction of the currents, you can follow the reef at Lion’s Head either east or west until divers reach a natural break in the reef where the Gray Reef Sharks gather. Because Lion’s Head is located on the outer reef, diving can be easy even when currents are strong.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Kudarah Thila is subject to strong currents and a quick descend is necessary here. The dive begins at the up current and usually the dive guide sets the jump point a few meters away from the reef. Divers can easily circle around the Thila and the coral head located just a few meters away from the main reef. Divers should be prepared to make a open water safety stop. A surface balloon is essential at Kudarah Thila and should be deployed as soon as divers reach shallower water and while making the safety stop. The balloon should be kept visible on the surface at all times until the dive boat has located the divers.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Kuda Haa is definitely considered as one of the highlights of scuba diving in the Maldives. Kuda Haa is best dived when the currents are not strong. Located on the Southwestern side of North Male Atoll, Kuda Haa is a Thila (Pinnacle) consisting of two parts. Both parts are easily visible, and navigating from one to the other is easy. Both parts of the Kuda Haa Thila are covered with delicate corals making Kuda Haa an ideal site to find rare invertebrate species such as Nudibranchs, Flatworms, Leaf Fish and Frog Fish. Divers should be prepared to make an open water safety stop and a surface balloon is necessary.
Diving Hints and Currents: Shaped like a teardrop, Kandooma Thila is one of the most spectacular dives in the South Male Atoll, for scenery as well as for prolific fish life. Subjected to strong currents, a quick descend is necessary at Kandooma Thila. The dive begins at the up-current and dive guides usually set the jumping point a few metres away from the reef. Be prepared to make an open water safety stop and to use a surface balloon, which should be deployed as soon as divers reach shallower water and while making the safety stop. Keep the balloon visible on the surface at all times until the dive boat locates the divers.
Diving Hints and Currents: Kalhahandi Kandu or Pannettone as it is also known can be subject to some strong currents at times and washing machines and underwater turbulence is created here, so it is only suitable for novice divers when there are no currents. A long overhang between 12 and 25 metres has fallen to the bottom due to underwater disturbance to the bottom, which is easily noticed when you begin the dive. Because of the currents, the water is constantly flushing back and forth, giving the channel continuous and constant replenishment. The reef wall at Kalhahandi Kandu is covered from floor to ceiling with a plethora of multi-coloured soft corals, sea fans, sea whips, and sponges. Squirrelfish, Angelfish, Fairy Basslets, Butterfly Fish, Scorpion Fish, Coral Cod, Triggerfish, Pufferfish and Pipefish in various combinations of colours lurk among the corals and gaps.
The shallow part of the reef at Kalhahandi Kandu is the most ideal place at Pannettone to do the required safety stop. The endless table corals, all in perfect condition, make this reef one of the most important dives in the Maldives. Kalhahandhi Kandu can be dived in both seasons and when current is outflowing, a safety balloon is necessary.
Diving Hints and Currents:
If you were asked to choose the best dive site between HP Reef and Nassimo Thila, the wise thing to do would be vote for both and rank them both equally as they are two of the most spectacular sites in the Maldives. Both HP Reef and display excellent soft coral growth and an abundant fish life. The best diving at HP Reef is found on the southern side of the reef and when the current is flowing into the Atoll (East to West). During mild current, you should swim slowly, while observing the coral blocks, caves and overhangs. The coral blocks and the caves at HP Reef are filled with multicolored soft coral and you should keep your eyes open for the many invertebrates, including nudibranchs, leaf fish and many more. Eagle Rays, schooling Silver Jacks and Batfish are common at HP Reef. Strong currents are sometimes found at this site and a surface balloon is necessary.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Guriadhoo Kandu, also known as Guraidhoo Corner, is famous for its notorious incoming current. Guriadhoo Kandu is well known for spotting Gray Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays and Pelagic species. The dive at Guriadhoo Kandu begins at the outer reef close to the channel corner and divers swim towards the corner during an incoming current. Once at the corner, divers can use the current to hook on a coral and observe the entrance of the channel. When the current is flowing into the channel, Grey Reef Sharks patrol the edge of the entrance and other pelagic action can be observed on the ocean drop-off. Divers should remember to stay close to the reef once they leave the corner. During strong currents, underwater turbulence can be experienced within the channel near the caves and coral blocks. If divers are pushed away from the reef at Guriadhoo Kandu toward the deep blue water, do not try and fight against the current. Instead, they should drift with the current, try ascending to shallower waters and deploy the surface balloon. The balloon should remain visible on the surface until the dive boat has located the diver.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Gangehi Kandu is one of the longest channels in the Ari Atoll, with a drift of more than 2.5 km from the channel’s entrance to the end of the dive at the inside of the Atoll. When the current is incoming at Gangehi Kandu, the dive begins a bit further out and drifts inside the channel. Once inside the channel, this is where you start seeing the caves and overhangs and a few outcrops away from the reef. These outcrops have interesting features and are covered with excellent hard and soft coral.
The bottom of the entire channel at Gangehi Kandu is sandy, making it a perfect resting ground for Stingrays, White Tip Reef Sharks and the Leopard or Zebra Shark which is commonly spotted here at Gangehi Kandu.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Many scuba divers consider Fotteyo Kandu to be the best dive site in Maldives and it is also rated among the top 5 dive sites in the world. The mouth of the channel is exposed to the ocean and during north east monsoon when the currents are incoming, a good variety of fish species gather at the entrance to the channel. Animals commonly spotted at Fotteyo Kandu include Gray Reef Shark patrolling the channel mouth, Jack and Tuna in the deeper water, schools of Midnight Snappers and Red Snapper form in huge groups. The wall features caves, overhangs and swim-thoughs at different depths. These caves and overhangs are filled with colourful yellow color like soft coral, deeper caves and overhangs are filled with huge bushes of black corals. The Thila in the middle of the channel entrance is the best place to do the safety stop. A surface balloon is a must at Fotteyo Kandu.
Trigger Valley: There is a Thila inside the channel with 2 narrow sandy channels on either side. These narrow channels are occupied by the Titan Triggerfish and used as a mating ground. Be aware of the Titan Triggerfish and don’t get close to them. If they start to behave strangely keep an eye on them and try to swim away.
Early morning Hammerhead Dive: Fotteyo Kandu is not only famous for the day dive but also for an early morning Hammerhead dive. This dive is performed very differently from the day dive as divers spend most of the time in the blue water. During the early morning hours Scallop Hammerheads rise to shallower depths and divers get take a glimpse at them.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Fish Head, or Mushi Mas Mingili is every diver’s favourite dive and one of the most prominent dive sites in Maldives. Famous for populations of Grey Reef Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse and many other pelagic, this used to be a shark feeding site until the government declared it a Protected Marine Area and banned shark feeding. Simply put, the fish life at Fish Head is excellent and also includes Trevallies, Jacks and Tuna. If the current is not too strong a complete circle can be made in one dive. A surface balloon is necessary at Fish Head.
iving Hints and Currents:
Cocoa Corner is a dive site that can be explored in several different ways and with the right current and conditions, it’s is the best shark show around Male Atoll. Many dive guides consider crossing from Cocoa Corner to Kandooma Thila. With the right current, divers begin the dive from Cocoa Corner and while maintaining a depth of 25 to 29 metres, they swim across the current while parallel to the edge at 40 metres. This gives a natural reference that divers are maintaining the correct position while crossing to the Thila and divers are not taken too far inside the channel. The Thila lies in the middle of the channel about 15 metres from the channel edge. Here, divers will see heaps of Grey Reef Sharks from big mother sharks to newborn babies patrolling the edge of the channel together. Eagle Rays and schooling Jack Fish are also common at the beginning of the Thila. By the time divers reach the Thila, their bottom time should be running out and the best thing to do is to swim to the top of the Thila and continue diving in shallower waters. A safety balloon is a must at Cocoa Corner and divers should be prepared to make an open water safety stop.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Apart from Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock is most probably the most well-known dive site in the South Ari Atoll. This Thila is literally a broken rock with a 2-metre wide canyon that splits the small Thila in two parts, from the west to east, giving the reef its name. This canyon is the main attraction on this wonderful submerged reef. Broken Rock is covered in soft corals and only one diver can enter the canyon at a time. On the north side at a depth of around 25-30m, there are two big coral blocks with overhangs and beautiful fan corals which are well worth a visit. The top reef at Broken Rock has great hard coral growth and is an ideal place to find invertebrates like leaf fish and nudibranchs. Depth and strong currents make this Thila suitable only for experienced divers. A dive torch and a surface balloon are both strongly recommended at Broken Rock.
Diving Hints and Currents:
Banana Reef was the first dive site to ever be discovered in the Maldives and is still among the best. The best diving at this site is on the banana-shaped area in the northeastern where there are caves, gutters and overhangs filled with fish life and soft coral. Spend as much time as possible near the coral heads; if you begin the dive with your left shoulder to the reef, this is an excellent way to observe the area. At Banana Reef, you are likely to see many fish, including Oriental Sweetlips, Giant Squirrelfish, Bannerfish and many other species that congregate in this spot. When the currents are strong, underwater turbulence can be experienced near the near the large overhang. Stay near the wall and don’t let the current push you away. A surface balloon is necessary as boat traffic can be heavy at times.
