Some of the new dive sites
Laamu Atoll
Isclhoo Corner: 730 35′ 15″E, 02′ 08′ 00″N from this point of a radius of 2 km area
Maibaadhoo North Sea: 73″ 32′ 00″E, 02′ 02′ 15″N from this point of a radius of 1 km area
Maibaadhoo South Sea: 73o 32′ 00″E, 02o 01′ 15″N from this point of a radius of 1 km area
Gaafu Alif Atoll
Villingili Sea: 73′ 12′ 00″E, 00′ 52′ 00″N from this point of a radius of 1 km area.
Nilandhu Sea: 730 27′ 30″E, 00″ 38′ 00″N from this point of a radius of 1 km area
Maamendhoo Sea: 73′ 26′ 30″E, 00′ 43′ 30″N from this point of a radius of 1 km area
Fuvahmulaku Atoll
Fuvahmulaku North Western Corner: 73′ 24′ 00″E, 00′ 17′00″S from this point of a radius of I km area
Important Diving Spots
Lion Head
Lion’s Head, situated in a channel can be said to be a protected marine park. This deep wall reef, with its many projections, creates the perfect diving environment. A large variety of fish varying from small bassets and fusiliers to the larger pelagic species such as sharks, turtles, tunas and more can be seen at this diving site. Beautiful nudibranchs and lovely hard and soft corals cover the reef.
Location: Southern end of North Male Atoll.
Best Time to Dive: When the wind comes from the north preventing a large swell
Average Visibility: 20 – 25 meters but may reach up to 48 meters
Depth of Reef: Minimum 15 -20 meters, Maximum 30 meters
Type of Dive: Wall Drift Dive
Kuda Haa
Rising from 35 meters below the sea, Kudu is a protected marine sanctuary covered in sponges and corals. Sharks hover in the shallow areas and blue stripped snappers roam the deep. The fusiliers and butterfly fish can be seen swimming all over. Also, seen on a dive are the moray eels, leaf fish, cleaner shrimp and the rare scorpion
Location: Southern western side North Male Atoll
Best Time to Dive: Whenever you want
Average Visibility: 20 – 25 meters
Depth of Reef: 5 – 35 meters
Type of Dive: Thila Dive
Girifushi Thila
Sandwiched between two outer atolls islands, Girifushi Thilla features strong permanent currents. Girifushi Thilla is one of the most stunning dive sites on Maldives. Most of the reef is covered with corals in various hues and colors like yellow, blue and orange. In addition, beautiful sea fans adorn the corals. Various species of small reef fish and large pelagic species such as gray reef sharks and tunas are attracted by the strong ocean currents.
Location : South East North Male Atoll
Best Time to Dive : All year round during high and low tide
Average Visibility : 20 – 30 meters
Depth of Reef : 10 – 40 meters
Middle Point
Middle point is located in middle of the Tamburudhu channel. A great diving spot for indulging in drift dives, Middle Point in Maldives attracts adventurous divers from all around the world. As you dive down to the front point of the reef, you encounter marine life like a large group of gray reef, silver and white tip sharks. Looking up at the surface you will come across eagle rays accompanied by tunas and barracudas
Location: South East North Male Atol
Best Time to Dive: All year round on incoming current
Average Visibility: 20 – 40 meters
Depth of Reef: 10 – 50+ meters
Type of Dive: Drift Dive
Nasimo Thila
A Thila diving spot, Nassimo Thila is located to the South East of the North Male Atoll. Nassimo Thila is a popular diving spot in Maldives due to the abundance of marine life and beautifully colored coral reefs. Nassimo Thila is mainly characterized by pinnacles, pillars and caverns adorned with soft corals in a profusion of colors. A series of large pinnacles dot the northeastern side of the reef.
To the right of the pinnacles, a cavern system stretches over a length of 15 – 20 meters. The beauty of this underwater landscape is further enhanced by the presence of rare marine species like the Napoleon Wrasse, Squirrelfish, Orange Fairy Basslets, Scorpionfish, Butterfly fish, Turtles and Red Groupers.
Location: South East North Male Atoll
Best Time to Dive: All year round
Average Visibility: 20 – 30 meters
Depth of Reef: 10 – 35+ meters
Type of Dive: Thila Dive
Okebe Thila
Okebe Thila, is another thila diving site popular with tourists as well as professional divers. Located at a short distance from Kurumba, this diving site comprises of three coral heads. The largest coral head is shaped like an ox bow. 265 ft (80m) in length, it is separated from the two smaller mounts by a 100ft (30m) wide and 80ft (25m) deep canyon. A cavern beneath – the easterly coral head is home to 20 or more Oriental Sweetips, barracudas, batfish and jacks
As you dive to the depths of the ocean you are greeted by the Napoleon Wrasse. As you descend further, visibility of the reef decreases as the number of fishes surrounding you increase. Even though the reef is not large, the abundance of various types of coral reefs and fishes make it impossible to take it all in one dive
Location : Inner South East North Male Atoll
Best Time to Dive : All year round
Average Visibility : 15 – 30 meters
Depth of Reef : 10 – 35 meters
Type of Dive : Thila Dive
Rasfari
Rasfari is a spectacular outer reef located in the North Male Atoll. Its large sloping wall falls from 10 meters below the sea to 25, levels out and then ledges off again dropping down to 90 meters.
As you dive up to 30 meters down to the reef, you are bowled over at the sight of gray reef sharks, eagle rays, silver tip and white tip reef sharks circling right in front of you. Giant barracudas, tunas and napoleon wrasses, blue-striped snappers and surgeonfish enhance the magic of this enchanting world
Location: Outer West North Male Atoll
Best Time to Dive: All year round
Average Visibility: 15 – 30 meters
Depth of Reef: 8 – 40 meters
Type of Dive: Deep Dive.
Sunlight Thila
Sunlight Thila is a thila formed from two small reefs. A 70-meter long sand bottom lies in between the reefs, and boasts several small coral formations with plenty of cleaner wrasses
Between March and October, the winds from south make the ocean currents carry a large amount of plankton towards the Sunlight Thila. This in turn attracts the giant manta rays. This dive is popular with both beginners and professional divers due to the number of manta rays found here – ten or more at a time.
Location: Inner South East North Male Atol
Best Time to Dive: March to October
Average Visibility: 10 – 15meters
Depth of Reef: 5 – 17 meters
Type of Dive: Manta Dive
Banana Reef
Lying in the North Eastern end of Maldives, Banana Reef was the first diving site to be discovered. The reef derives its name from its banana like shape. On the eastern side of this reef, the crevices created by broken rocks create a perfect habitat for a diverse range of fishes and other marine life. The plate corals on the reef slopes are some of the most pristine in the Maldives. Napoleon Wrasse, Moray eels and the blue-striped snappers make this dive one of the most popular dives in Maldives
Location: Ineer South East North Male Atoll
Best Time to Dive: March to October
Average Visibility: 20 – 35 meters
Depth of Reef: 5 – 40 meters
Type of Dive: Wall Drift Dive
Maldives Victory
In February 1981, a 110 meter long cargo vessel sank on the western side of the Hulhule Airport Island. Popularly known as the Maldives Wreck, this vessel has become home to marine life of amazing varieties. The dive takes you down to the ships main deck, at a depth of 12 meters.
Sheltered from strong currents, you meet turtles, large groupers and tunas. This dive also gives you an amazing view of the ship’s wreck and the corals surrounding it. This dive is advised only for experienced divers
Location: Western side of Hulhule Airport Island
Best Time to Dive: All year round. Due to strong currents, high or low tides are best
Average Visibility: 15 – 25 meters
Depth of Reef: 12 – 35 meters
Depth of Reef: 12 – 35 meters
Aquarium
The Aquarium lies to the south corner of Lohifushi. Napoleon wrasse, Oriental Sweeptips, Butterfly fishes are the marine life frequently seen. The incoming current into the channel leads you to caves covered with orange and green tubastras corals
Rasdhoo
Just before the sunrise, hammerhead sharks emerge from the depths to this corner. Big dog tooth tunas and dolphin fish also lie at the reef edge together with the black snapper. Among all the Hammerhead points, Rasdhoo is the most famous diving site
