DIVE SITE DESCRIPTIONS

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DIVE MAP AND DISCRIPTIONS 

01. Trix Caves 

Reef type: reef wall inside the channel

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

Trix Caves is a reef full of overhangs. Even with strong currents, there will always be a place to shelter and snoop between the sea fans and brightly colored soft corals for ornate shrimps and different nudibranchs. Fan corals, whip corals, and bushes of black coral show that this is a healthy reef teeming with life. Cup corals and midnight corals have their orange and green polyps in bloom in even moderate currents. Spot-faced morays provide a bright alternative to the common giant and honeycomb moray eels. Scorpionfish and frogfish are worthy targets for sharp fish spotters. The Reef ends with an amazing coral garden perfect for the safety stop.

02. Guruwa Faru

Reef type: reef corner inside the channel

Level: beginner to advance divers 

Depth: 5-30m

Guruwa Faru is a corner dive in the channel facing the North Male atoll's reef edge. The Reef starts shallow at only a few meters of depth, sloping gently down to more than 30 meters. This location is especially indicated for advanced divers that will drop here and conduct the deepest part of their dive in the colorful slope. Here you can admire the rich tropical fish life that inhabits the area while attempting to spot octopus, peacock mantis shrimps, and nudibranchs. At the end of the slope, you will reach a corner that is best to explore at around 20 meters. Following the corner, divers will visit a small pinnacle located in the neighboring sandy area, hoping to encounter white tip reef sharks and stingrays. Finally, you can end the dive in the shallow sloping Reef.

03. Fairy Tale

Reef type: reef corner inside the channel

Level: beginner to advance divers 

Depth: 5-30m

A very nice and easy reef with overhangs from 10 to 30 meters, home of amazing blue, orange, and soft yellow corals: Fairy Tale is a diver's dream spot! Inside the two huge caves, don't be satisfied only by the kaleidoscope of colors but look in between and try to discover nudibranchs, flatworms, and the skittish little blennies and gobies.

During the southwest monsoon, between June and November, large schools of mantas can be observed as the passage gets filled by zooplankton, and they come to feed. Admire them doing circles from bottom to top with open mouth and unrolled lobes. Enjoy your safety stop on the stunning coral garden on the flat Reef.

04. Asdhoo Canyon

Reef type: reef corner inside the channel

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 12-30m

Asdhoo Canyon is where the Fairy Tale channel reef stumbles and falls onto the atoll floor with a ragged slope and some craggy overhangs. The corner, at about 15 to 20 meters, will surprise you with its incredible rock formation and a mesmerizing variety of fish life. Explore the various passages, overhangs, and cracks and enjoy the colorful sight of the soft corals, sea fans, and sponges; sometimes, nurse sharks are also spotted. If the current allows, you might cross the canyon to the opposite Reef looking for stingrays and sharks on the sandy bottom. The site ends on a plateau with a mix of sand and coral formations; napoleon or turtles are often seen, and overall sunlight can create colorful effects. This dive site can be dived in many ways according to water conditions and personal preferences. For us, it's a dive site you cannot miss!

05. Miyaru Faru

Reef type: reef corner inside the channel

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

Miyaru Faru is located at the very edge of the atoll's drop-off. The Reef starts at 1 meter and drops to more than 30 meters. Divers will follow the slope until they reach a plateau at 30 meters. If the current is strong, divers will hook onto this section and observe the critters passing by. Current can range from moderate to strong, attracting big pelagic fishes and a variety of other marine life. If the current allows, divers will cross the channel following the rocky bottom at around 25 to 27 meters of depth. While crossing the channel, divers should keep their eyes peeled for unbelievable encounters with grey reef sharks, school of eagle rays and Mobula rays, giant tunas, and trevallies. The crossing takes around 15 minutes, and finally, divers will reach the Miyaru Faru Thila, usually surrounded by schools of jackfish and bannerfish. Here, divers can shallow up and end their dive while exploring the pinnacle's top Reef. This dive is only suitable for advanced divers who enjoy the adrenaline of diving in current.

06. Kuda Kandu

Reef type: channel crossing

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

This channel's entrance has a step only 8 meters deep. A slope was never this pretty: soft and hard corals imitate the most ornate of gardens. Beyond the plateau, the Reef drops down to 30 meters, here you can often find stingrays and whitetip reef sharks nestled on the sand. When the current is in-going, look into the blue, you might spot eagle rays and grey reef sharks sailing in the stream. On the two sandy areas, at about 18 meters depth, you can encounter again sleeping whitetip reef sharks. This spot is a divers' dream.

07. Prisca Corner

Reef type: reef corner

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 10-30m

The reef crest at the corner slopes gently down to a plateau at 10 meters with some bommies to shelter and catch your breath before heading out into the stream. Or you can use it at the end of your dive to look at Shrimp-goby holes in the sand or Blennies sticking their heads out of vacant worm tubes. The reef slope on the barrier side is a steep drop to the sandy shelf at around 30 or 40 meters. Whitetip reef sharks will either be darting back and forth in strong currents or basking on the bottom when the flow is drab. When there is a reasonable current flowing, Eagle rays and Grey reef-sharks like to flex a bit of muscle casually.

Around the corner in the channel, the reef slope is a wall grooved with overhangs fringed with the lacework of sea fans and adorned with purple, yellow, orange, and pink spiky shrublets of soft coral. Squirrelfish, Bigeyes, and Soldierfish - will goggle as you drift by. Other denizens of the overhangs are Sweetlips and Morays. If you can manage, use a torch to look for Boxer cleaner-shrimp in the crevices.

08. Prisca Head

Reef type: reef corner

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 10-30m

Diving in Prisca Head is Interesting

You can find Interesting Typically, visibility is Good ( 10 - 30 m)

The average depth is 30 m / 98.4 ft

To reach Prisca head, you have to do it by boat

This dive site is best suited for CMAS ** / AOW divers

Prisca head is located near Meeru Island resort. It's the north side of the Meeru channel. In this dive site, what you can see is sometimes Manta-Ray passing by Gray Reef Shark, White Tip Reef Shark, schools of Sergeant Fish, Black Jackfish, Moray Eel, and many more. It will take 1:00 to go there by boat.

09. Cave Corner

Reef type: inside reef corner 

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 10-30m

Cave corner is inside of Dhifushi channel. This dive site is mostly for advanced divers because it's a deep dive. In this dive site, you will encounter big overhangs. Inside the overhangs, you will see Fan Coral, Soft Coral, school of Blue Stripe Snapper, Hump Head Red Snapper, Sweet Lips, Moray Eel, Mantis Shrimp, Red Snapper, Blue Fin Trevally, Napoleon Wrasse and a lot more. There are big caves to a maximum depth of 28 meters. Inside there are many sea fans and soft coral, while on the Reef are large schools of snapper. Both experienced and novice divers will find this an exceptional dive. The best diving is on the north side, where the Reef drops steadily from 3 to 25 meters to a ridge that pushes northwards for 100 meters. On the ridge are isolated coral patches surrounded by large schools of humpback and blue-striped snapper. A pair of coral pinnacles on the ridge, five meters high, is one of the most unusual coral formations to be found in the area. Around the Reef, turtles and remoras can be seen, while on the reef top are healthy stands of hard coral.

10. Meeru Corner

Reef type: reef corner inside the channel

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 10-30m

One of the most popular dives in the area is Meeru Corner. It is located on the outside corner at the north end of Dhiffushi Falhu. The Reef drops vertically from five to 30 meters to a section called the 'wall. This part of the Reef offers a unique experience to divers found in a few other locations. This unusual coral formation is like an apartment building with levels rising from 30 to 10 meters on the outside of the Reef. It has many reef-dwelling occupants, and its nooks and crannies appear overcrowded with reef fish. On the Reef at the base of the stairs are whitetip reef sharks and turtles while stingrays are regularly seen on the outlying sandy patches. Several species of grouper and giant morays prefer the ground floor apartments, while oriental sweetlips, surgeonfish, and pufferfish have staked a claim upstairs. Large schools of yellow sweepers seem to have no preference and occupy all levels.

11. Long Reef

Reef type: channel crossing

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

Inside Dhiffushi Kandu is Longreef. In a strong current, it can be dived with Prisca Head. The total length of this Reef is four kilometers, so it is not surprising that this is a popular drift diving location. The reef slope changes from steep with many caves at the eastern end to a vertical wall further inside.

12. Shallow Point

Reef type: reef wall inside the channel

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 8-20m

To the south of Nakatchachaafushi is a small Thila with the Reef top at eight meters. The reef slopes gently to around 20 meters. Coral growth is lacking, but there is plenty of blue-striped snapper, surgeonfish, and batfish. One of the main features of this Reef is hundreds of sea anemones with black-footed anemonefish. This fish is only found in the Maldives, and they thrive on this Reef. The small saddled pufferfish is common, and on the sand and coral rubble are many lizardfish.

13. Meeru outside

Reef type: reef wall 

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

The outside reefs around Meeru are easy and relaxing to dive. They are famous for their turtle population, and not only are an encounter with these gentle reptiles guaranteed. Often we also can see sharks on these reefs. The channel crossings are demanding with current and the chance to see big pelagic fish. Beginners will enjoy diving on these typical Maldivian dive sites.

14. Stairs 

Reef type: reef wall 

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 10 -30mz

This dive site is an unusual coral formation like an apartment building with levels rising from 30m to 10m on the outside of the Reef. It has many dwelling occupants, and nooks and crannies appear overcrowded with reef fishers. What you can see from there is Whitetip Reef Shark, Sting Ray, Sweetlip fish, Puffer Fish, Giant Moray Eel, and schools of Blue Stripe Snapper, Turtle and many more school of fishes.

15. Dhigu Faru Beru

Reef type: reef wall 

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

It's a long and beautiful reef which starts at 5m and drops to 30+m. A staircase like coral formations and large coral blocks can be seen here. In between gorgeous coral gardens featuring soft and hard corals, look for small creatures like nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, leaf, and frogfish. Keep an eye on manta rays and sailfish here.

16. Dolphin Reef

Reef type: reef wall 

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

It's the outside reefs around Dhiffushi, which are easy and relaxing to dive. Very good hard coral growth, big fish shoals, barracudas and blacktip sharks

17. Asdhoo Rock

Reef type: Giri

Level: beginner to advanced

Depth: 5-30m

Close to Asdhoo rock, on the sandy bay, you can enjoy the rich fish life while diving around the two giris. Look for small things such as flatworms, nudibranchs, boxer shrimps, and scorpionfish hiding in the small cracks or behind a coral. Schools of fusiliers, oriental snappers, red-toothed triggerfishes are usual inhabitants of this Reef. Turtles, tunas, and some whitetip reef sharks resting on the sand can often be spotted too. If you are lucky, you may even see some manta rays passing by.

18. Bodu Giri

Reef type: Giri

Level: beginner to advanced

Depth: 5-20m

This dive site is good for beginner divers. On the north side of the Reef, there's a wall going up to 20m. In this dive site, what you can see is Blue Triggerfish, masked Banner Fish, Moray Eel, Red Snapper, Blue Fin Trevally, Butterfly Fish, on the top reef lot of Lobster and many more.

19. Colosseum.

Reef type: Giri

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 7-25m

From the west side of Thulusdhoo, it is a 40m C-shape formation, and it slopes in the shape of a colosseum. It is a nice place to find rainbow runners, dogtooth tuna, bluefin jacks, and small barracudas. Looking down, you find turtles and looking up sometimes eagle rays. If the current is strong, it is possible to drift inside the atoll.

Colosseum is the nearest dive site to Thulusdhoo Island. This dive site is suitable for open water divers as well as advanced open water divers. Colosseum is located in a is a channel dive. In the incoming current, you'll jump a little away from the corner of the channel. The Reef is gently sloping down to 25m. The top Reef is around 7m. What you can see from there are schools Blue Trip Sapper, Red and Midnight Snapper schools, Eagle Ray schools, Whitetip Reef Shark, Leopard Shark, Batfish schools, sometimes Manta-Ray, and Whale Shark and many more. It will take 15 minutes to go there by boat.

20 Chicken Corner 

Reef type: Giri

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 7-25m

Chicken Coner is Located in the Southside corner of kuda villingili (island name). The name chicken island corner is given because the island had a poultry farm in earlier days; that's why it's called chicken corner. The dive site that you can see is Moray Eel, Tuna, Red Snapper, Blue Fin and Big Eye Trevally's, Whitetip Reef Shark, some caves with Soft Corals, swim trough's, and many more. 

21. Chicken Island Beru

Reef type: Long reef

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 8-30m

The island's correct name is Kanduoiygiri. It has a good reef on the north, northeast, and south sides, and these can be divided separately. 

22. Palm Reef (Thulusdhoo Outside)

Reef type: Longwall reef

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 8-30m

Palm Reef Cokes outside (or Thulusdhoo Outside) is the Reef leading up to the Colosseum. By diving the Reef in the opposite direction from the Colosseum, we can have a chance to see a variety of reef inhabitants, including Turtles and Reef Sharks. The site is ideal for a check dive allowing you the gentle pace along the edge of the Reef .

23.One Palm 

Reef type: Longwall reef

Level: intermediate to advanced

Depth: 7-30m

Aptly named due to the single palm tree in the resort lagoon, One Palm reef offers the chance to see a whole host of reef critters and fish. Turtle and Eagles Rays are often seen here. By dropping down deeper at the right times, there is a chance to see large predators pass by. The Reef itself is usually very easy to dive into. The outer reef edge is a small sandbank with one coconut tree growing on it. Alongside is Palm Reef. The best diving is around a series of coral rocks between 10 and 20 meters where reef fish, including parrotfish, Moorish idol, surgeon, angelfish, and snapper, all gather. Nurse sharks are often seen under the ledges. Around the base of the rocks, goatfish are found rummaging in the sand and rubble and on a sandy plateau at 20 meters on the southwest side of the rocks are several whitetip reef sharks

24.Gasfinolhu Beru 

Reef type: Longwall reef

Level: Advanced and Above

Depth: 7-30m

Gasfinolu Thila is located off One Palm reef. It is not the usual type of Thila as it is not located close to a channel and rarely suffers strong currents. However, it is a deep dive and requires some experience and not advised for beginner divers. There is the chance to see Manta Ray, Reef Shark, Grey Shark, and with a bit of luck Tiger and Hammerhead Sharks.

25. Aquarium

Reef type: Longwall reef

Level: Advanced and Above

Depth: 7-30m

The Aquarium dive site is located along the southern edge of Lohifushi Island. It harbors a treasure trove of marine life, ranging from the very smallest underwater creatures to large pelagics. Outcrops of coral rock are scattered along the Reef and provide shelter for many fish species. During the southwest monsoon (May to November), there is an excellent chance you will see manta rays. Divers can also expect to see Napoleon wrasse, oriental sweetlips, turtles, and more. Location: 80 minutes

26. Kani Reef

Reef type: Corner

Level: For beginners / Advanced divers 

Depth: 5-30m

Kani Corner can be a fascinating drift dive. Whitetip reef Sharks like to rest on the sandy slope below the Reef at 25m to 30m. Here you can often see Eagle Rays pass by in all their glory too. In the right season, encounters with Manta Rays are not uncommon around coral blocks at 25m. With this a small ledge, there is a cave. This is Kani Corner, and around this point are a variety of schooling Snapper and Fusiliers as well as Barracuda and Blue-fin Jacks. Napoleon Wrasse often passes by looking at you with their chameleon-like eyes. At 15m Oriental Sweetlips congregate amid all the confusion of fish activity.

27. H.P. Reef

Reef type: Thila 

Level: Advanced and above divers 

Depth: 7-32m 

Located just off the main Reef of Himmafushi Island. The Thila is made up of huge coral boulders with plenty of overhangs/caves and crevices. The whole area is covered in blue, orange, and yellow soft corals. Many sea fans and black coral bushes can be seen as well here. In the current, you can see a spectacular variety of fish life like sharks, eagle rays, tunas, and barracudas.

28. Himmafushi Kandu

Reef type: Channel Corner 

Level: Advanced and above divers 

Depth: 12-30m

This Reef drops steeply away in a channel from 5-6m to 30m. When the currents are flowing into the atoll, you can drift with the Reef on your left shoulder. At the corner of the channel, you can find a lot of marine life, such as whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, and Napoleon wrasse. 

29. Okobe Thila.

Reef type: Thila

Level: Advanced and above divers 

Depth: 14-30m

A spectacular dive site, with myriad features. Off this Reef is a continuous line of ledges and overhangs which are covered with a thick layer of soft corals. On the north end of the Reef is an outcrop with abundant fish life, including large groups of bluestripe snapper, oriental sweetlips, and fusiliers. On the eastern side is a bigger outcrop where barracudas, Napoleon wrasses, big tuna and trevally can be found. The Reef is also known for its excellent coral growth.

30. Nassimo Thila.

Reef type: Thila

Level: Advanced and above divers 

Depth: 7-30m

This "Thila" is considered to be one of the best "Thilas" of North Malé Atoll. This "Thila" has several pinnacles strewn randomly a few feet away from the Main Reef. The full strength of the currents hit these pinnacles, and soft corals are plentiful. Midnight Snappers, Dog-toothed Tunas, Barracudas, and White-tip Reef Sharks are seen here. The ceilings of the long overhangs and caves on the Main Reef are covered with blue and yellow soft corals. Inside the other overhangs is sea fans. The top is Reef is covered with hard corals. Schools of Snappers, Oriental Sweetlips, and Eagle Rays can be seen.

31. Lankan Manta Point.

Reef type: Long reef

Level: Beginners and advanced divers

Depth: 9-28m

A feeding and cleaning area for manta rays from May to December; some whale shark sightings Marine life: Manta ray, Napoleon wrasse, turtle, reef shark, fusilier, oriental sweetlips, cleaner wrasse Reef: Big thila on the outer reef Diving depth: Min. 9m – Max. 28m Experience: For beginners and advanced divers (when conditions are suitable)

For lovers of mantas – this Reef is irresistible to manta rays during the southwest monsoon season, with astonishing numbers congregating here. The reef slopes gently down to 40m, dotted with massive Porites corals which house colonies of cleaner wrasse that attract the manta rays. The manta rays come in from the deep water and hover over the coral heads while the wrasses get to work. Even without the manta rays, this is still a great dive site with vast schools of fusilier, oriental sweetlips, and Napoleon wrasses as well as turtles and moray eels.

32. Furana Thila.

Reef type: Thila

Level: Beginners and advanced divers

Depth: 4-24m

You can easily swim around this small thila in a single dive. The top of the thila is at 4m and gently slopes down to the atoll bed at 25m. The Reef consists of healthy hard corals and is home to a colony of thousands of redtooth triggerfish and basslets. A group of bluestripe snappers can be found around the overhang at the northeast corner of the Reef. Different kinds of moray eel can also be found here, including the beautiful honeycomb moray eel with its fantastic pattern, the giant moray eel, the bearded moray eel, and the undulated moray eel. Different kinds of moray eels; a wide variety of marine life: Large schools of basslet and redtooth triggerfish, scorpionfish, lionfish, different types of moray eel Reef: A small thila, inside the

33. Fish Factory 

Reef type: Outside Reef

Level: Beginners and advanced divers

Depth: 5-30m

The Reef starts at 5 meters and slopes steadily down to the bottom at 25 meters. The north side of the Reef makes a sharp corner to the left. On the reef slope, often honeycomb moray eels can be found, where you drift towards the corner. At the corner – in front of the overhangs, a large coral block has broken off the main Reef creating protection for plenty of marine life. Schooling reef fish, Oriental sweetlips, Napoleons, Tunas, Moray eels. It is worth spending extra time at this corner as you can see schools snappers, batfish, and fusilier. Looking from inside the cave into the blue waters with all the marine life gives a spectacular view.

34. Banana Reef.

Reef type: Thila

Level: Beginners and advanced divers

Depth: 4-30m

This Reef is one of the first dive sites discovered in the Maldives and is a protected marine area. The Reef is very popular among photographers due to the fantastic marine life and the shape of the Reef. The northeast side of the Reef features spectacular caves, canyons, and precipitous overhangs that are home to sharks, barracuda, trevally, and black snapper. Spectacular schools of yellow snapper, humpback red snapper, and oriental sweetlips also light up this beautiful Reef. Marine protected area; big overhang at the southern end of the thila packed with blue stripe snappers; spectacular canyons and caves Marine life: Green turtles, Napoleon wrasse, snappers, and fusiliers