1.
Nassimo Thila
The main attractions are several large coral pinnacles scattered on the north-eastern side of the thila and the abundant fish life they attract.
Fish and Coral Life: You won't see the water for the fish... pelages of all kinds and schools of reef fish.
Diving Hints and Current: Spend as much time as possible around the scattered pinnacles and limit your depth to maximize the bottom time (the pinnacles go down to more than 30 meters, but it is recommendable to stay around 15 meters). The current is usually strong, dive site can be dived throughout the year.
Type of Dive Site: Thila
Location: North Male Atoll / West of Lanakanfinolhu (Paradise Island)
Depth Range: 10m-30m
2.
HP Reef
Spectacular reef formations - the entire length of the reef on the southern side has beautiful outcrops of corals and plenty of caves and crevices.
Fish and Coral Life: HP has it all: tons of pelages for those who are after big thrills, as well as plenty of macro attractions for those who appreciate the small wonders of the sea.
Diving hints and current: Best diving on the southern side of the reef and when the current flows into the atoll (east to west). Most of the time there is strong current. HP can be dived in both monsoon seasons.
Type of Dive Site: Thila
Location: North Male Atoll: between Himmafushi and Girifushi
Depth Range: 9m-30m
3.
Voshimas Thila
Truly amazing fish life
Fish and Coral Life: You are likely to come across plenty of sharks (gray reef and white tip), tunas and big schools of fish. Outstanding hard coral growth.
Diving Hints and Current: Best to dive when the current flows into the atoll from east to west (south-western monsoon). This dive must be timed carefully to catch the ingoing tide, since the fish life depends on it. Spend as much time as possible up-current, where the fish density is incredible and where you can watch sharks, tuna and rays parading in front of you. A quick descend is necessary, as the top reef is quite deep, at 15m to 16m.
Type of Dive Site: Thila
Location: North Male Atoll/Rasfaree and Reethi Rah
Depth Range: 16m-30m
4.
Kandooma Thila
Great fish life, corals and reef formations
Fish and coral life: Excellent, with gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, eagle rays, pelagics and lots of soft and hard corals.
Diving Hits and Current: Both in and outgoing currents work at Kandooma Thila, it's always a fantastic dive. A quick descend is necessary because of the strong currents.
Type of Dive Site: Thila
Location: South Male Atoll/between Cocoa Island and Kandooma Island.
Depth Range: 16m-30m
5.
Embudhoo Express
Super-strong currents, gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, Napoleons, rays, etc...
Diving Hits and Current: With a strong incoming current this is the mother of all drift dives. This channel is 2km long and at its best when the current flows into the atoll (north-eastern monsoon). This brings clear water into the atoll and big fish such as gray reef and white tip sharks, eagle rays, jacks and tuna patrol the edge of the channel. With ideal current conditions you should be able to cross the channel from one end to the other before ending the dive.
Type of Dive Site: Kandu (Channel)
Location: first channel south of Embudhoo Finolhu
Depth Range: 5m-30m
6.
Cocoa Corner
Drift dive, gray reef white tip sharks
Diving Hits and Current: At its best when the current flows into the atoll. Gray reef and white tip sharks, eagle rays and all kinds of pelagics gather at the entrance of the channel, giving divers a spectacular performance. To get the most out of Cocoa Corner, divers should cross the channel and finish the dive in Kandooma Thila, which can be tricky. Only for experienced divers.
Fish Life: Excellent (depending on the current)
Coral Growth: above average
Type of Dive Site: Kandu (Channel)
Location: North corner of Biyadhoo Kandu
Depth Range: 5m-30m
7.
Kuda Rah Thila
Sea fans, caves, overhangs, sharks, pelagics
Diving Hits and Current: Can be dived both in and outgoing currents, which are strong most of time, so a quick descend is necessary. If the current permits it, divers can fully circle the reef in one dive. With an ideal current the best spot would be on the up-current to watch the fish life.
Fish Life: Abundant
Coral Growth: Very Good
Type of Dive Site: Thila
Location: Dhigurah Channel, south-east of Kuda Rah
Depth Range: 14m-30m
8.
Gangehi Kandu
200m cave, coral outcrops, great drift dive
Diving Hits and Current: Best to dive when the current flows into the atoll from west to east (south-western monsoon). This is one of the longest channels in Ari Atoll and with strong current divers can drift for 2.5 km, starting the dive from the very entrance of the channel and finishing inside the atoll. Often divers encounter gray reef and white tip sharks, sting rays, eagle rays and even whale sharks. Leopard sharks are an exciting species of sharks and are known to inhabit this channel.
Fish Life: Good
Coral Growth: Above average
Type of Dive Site: Kandu (Channel)
Location: Northern side of Gangehi Kandu
Depth Range: 5m-30m
9.
Maayafushi Thila
Gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, barracudas, rays, frog fish, bat fish
Diving Hits and Current:Dive boats usually drop divers away from the reef so they can stay up-current as long as possible. Its not unusual to spend the entire dive up-current because the fish life at that part of the reef is so spectacular. Here, depending on the current, you can watch gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, huge tunas and many other species. Dogtooth tuna and jacks chasing fusiliers at lightening speed is a common, unforgettable scene here. This is also one of the most spctacular night dive sites in the Maldives.
Fish Life: Abundant
Coral Growth: OK
Type of Dive Site: Thila
Location: North-west of Maayafushi
Depth Range: 5m-30m
10.
Rasdhoo Madivaru
Unusual reef formations, hammerhead sharks (before dawn), gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, rays
Diving Hits and Current: This is one of the most spectacular reef formations found in the Maldives. Best time to dive is when the current flows into the atoll (north-eastern monsoon), starting the dive at the outside corner of Madivaru Island and drifting all the way to the middle of the channel, following an underwater ridge. Gray reef and white tip sharks, Napoleons, eagle ray, jacks, tunas and many more can be seen on this fabulous dive. This is also a hammerhead point - if you get up VERY early and with a bit of luck, you can find them circling in the open water.
Fish Life: Abundant
Coral Growth: Good
Type of Dive Site: Kandu (Channel)
Location: Outside corner of Madivaru Island.
Depth Range: 5m-30m
Read More World X Travel
