Pelagic Magic (April - July)

North Ari Atoll

Ari Atoll (also called Alif or Alufu Atoll) is one of natural atolls of the Maldives. It is one of the biggest atolls and is located in the west of the archipelago. The almost rectangular alignment spreads the islands over an area of about 89x30 kilometres. It has been divided in two sections for administrative purposes, Northern Ari Atoll and Southern Ari Atoll.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Hafsa Thila - Known for its grey reef shark cleaning station, this site is like fish soup. Pick the side with the current, drop in and swim through the fish until you see the pinnacle. If the sharks are already on top of the pinnacle then simply stay there mesmerised by the sharks in circle. Dog-tooth tuna, bonito and giant travelly shepherd the thousands of fusiliers, which creates quite a spectacle when the bonito finally decide to go for the kill and when the others follow suit you can feel the energy of thousands of fish accelerating in unison.
• Maaya Thila - Maaya Thila is one of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives and is known as a great spot for both daytime and night-time scuba diving. The marine life depends largely on the currents, which vary greatly; when the currents are not strong, it is an easy dive site, suitable for less experienced divers, but when currents are strong Maaya Thila is recommended for only advanced divers and they will need to use a surface balloon.
  Maaya Thila is most famous for the white tip reef sharks that can nearly always be seen here, both during the day and night. A night dive at Maaya Thila also allows divers to encounter moray eels, turtles, octopus and stonefish.
• Gangehi Kandu - Recommended only for advanced scuba divers, the Gangehi Kandu dive site is located in the northern part of the Ari Atoll. Currents here can also be an issue, and the site should only be dived when the currents are flowing into the site. Gangehi Kandu is known as one of the best dive sites in the Maldives for spotting sharks, including gray reef sharks, white tip reef sharks and the occasional leopard shark. Coral formations at this dive site are particularly colorful, and divers here can expect to see moray eels, nudibranch, mantis shrimp and trigger fish. Large pelagic species are also frequent visitors to the site.
• Maalhos Thila - Maalhos Thila is only suitable for experienced scuba divers because the best part of the dive site lies deeper than 25 metres. Maalhos Thila is an attractive dive spot, featuring several coral heads about 28 metres below the surface, all of which are covered with beautiful corals. Common visitors to the reef here include oriental sweetlips, white tip reef sharks and blue-lined snappers. Because of the strong currents at Maalhos Thila, a safety balloon must be deployed here to ensure the divers' safety.
• Mushi Mas Mingili Thila (Fish Head) - Fish Head, or Mushi Mas Mingili, is one of the most popular dive sites in Maldives. Prior to the site being declared an official Protected Marine Area by the Maldivian Government it was a common shark feeding spot among scuba divers. Marine life typically seen at Mushi Mas Mingili Thila includes gray reef sharks, white tips, napoleon wrasse, jacks and tuna.

South Ari Atoll

Ari Atoll (also called Alif or Alufu Atoll) is one of natural atolls of the Maldives. It is one of the biggest atolls and is located in the west of the archipelago. The almost rectangular alignment spreads the islands over an area of about 89x30 kilometres. It has been divided in two sections for administrative purposes, Northern Ari Atoll and Southern Ari Atoll.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Maamigili Beyru - 11km of reef stretches along the south of Ari Atoll, which is home to whalesharks coming up for a feed. Thought to be a 'nursery' for whalesharks, the South of Ari Atoll is a place where you can find juvenile whalesharks all year round. Normally, if we find one, we snorkel with it but sometimes we get lucky and see them on the dive too!
• Rangali Madivaru - Madivaru is Dhivehi (Maldivian language) for Manta Point and Rangali Madivaru doesn't disappoint! As one of the best manta cleaning stations in the Maldives during the north east monsoon (December - April), this long stretch of reef starts at 8m going down to a sandy bottom at 24m - 30m. Teeming with cleaner wrasse as well at moray eels, scorpion leaf fish and lionfish. mantas come in for a clean after having a feed; and with the reef acting as one long cleaning station from 8m to 12m, this is a great site for getting photos of mantas with good light.
• Rahdhiga Thila - A beautiful pinnacle just 10 minutes from Rahdhiga Island and a popular stop for the 'BBQ on the Beach' under the stars. Rahdhiga Thila is impressive from the second you swim down to 30m to look at some grey reef sharks, then moving up to the overhangs with their beautiful dripping blue, yellow and orange soft coral between 8m and 18m. Then finish the dive at 3m to 6m with some impressive table-top coral for a pleasantly relaxing safety stop.
• Broken Rock - Named for a large broken rock at the center of this dive site, Broken Rock is home to a beautiful array of soft and hard coral formations that attract a wide variety of reef. Where the rock is broken, there is a channel that divers can swim through, giving the dive an interesting dimension. Broken Rock varies in depth from 40 to 100 feet. Sometimes, there can be very strong currents at Broken Rock, so divers should be cautious to avoid being thrown against the coral. Among the marine life often seen at Broken Rock, common sightings include the puffer fish, trigger fish, moray eels and napoleon wrasse.
• Kudarah Thila - Declared a "Protected Marine Area" by the Maldivian government, Kudarah Thila is a popular dive site which enjoys many incoming currents. Coral reef formations at Kudarah Thila are bright and colorful, including a variety of soft and hard corals. Thila means "Pinnacle" in Dhivehi, and at Kudarah Thila there are actually four pinnacles, which can be all visited in one dive. A swim-through at the south-east corner of the dive site makes this a particularly popular dive, as does the rich variety of marine life, which typically includes trumpet fish, snapper, gobies, dartfish, oriental sweetlips and groupers. A little further away from the reef, divers are likely to see gray reef sharks, napoleon fish and sea turtles.
• Pannettone (Kalhahandi Kandu) - Kalhahandi Kandu has earned the nickname Pannettone from the many Italian divers who believe it resembles the traditional Italian fruitcake. It is an attractive dive site, recommended mainly for advanced scuba divers, except for when the currents are not strong. There are some spectacular coral formations here, featuring a variety of soft and hard coral species, which attract a wide selection of fish including angelfish, basslets, butterfly fish, scorpion fish, trigger fish, puffer fish and . The corals here are in good condition and weather conditions at Pannettone mean the dive site can be explored year-round.

Rasdhoo Atoll

The small atoll of Rasdhoo lies off the northeastern corner of Ari Atoll proper. The atoll's main island, also called Rasdhoo, is the administrative capital of North Ari Atoll, despite not being within the natural atoll itself. Good chance to see mantas on various dive sites throughout the year.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Madivaru (Hukrueli Faru) - Madivaru is home to a very colorful coral reef. The site is named for the abundance of manta rays seen here (Madi means manta ray in the Maldivian language Dhivehi) during the northeast monsoon season. Depths range from 25 feet to almost 100 feet, making the dive particularly interesting and varied. Manta rays are attracted to Madivaru because of the strong currents that form a whirlpool effect in the deeper parts of the site, where the manta rays can hover over the currents. The mantas are also attracted to the several cleaning stations located around Madivaru.
• Hammerhead Point - Popular dive site for Maldives liveaboards. Its proximity to deep waters lends the location the best chances of getting close to these magnificent creatures. Often considered to be the highlight of many Maldives liveaboard trips.

North Male Atoll

North Male Atoll is one of the most developed atolls in terms of hotel and resort development. There are at least 20 resort islands operating in the North Male Atoll. It is also home to some excellent diving spots.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Lankan Manta Point - Lying along the channel reef of Lankanfushi (now Paradise Island Resort), this large block of coral is home to hundreds of cleaner wrasse. During the south west monsoon (May to November) the current runs from west to east, so the mantas feed on the outside of the eastern side of the Atolls. After they have had a feed, they come into cleaning stations such as Lankan Manta Point and get cleaned by the cleaner wrasse; a perfect chance for divers to get up close and personal with these majestic mantas.
• Banana Reef was the first dive site to be discovered in the Maldives continues to be one of the most popular. The dive, which ranges in depth from 5 to 30 meters, has several interesting characteristics including a pinnacle and some overhangs. Coral formations here are prolific and colorful, attracting an extensive variety of fish, including squirrelfish, bannerfish and oriental sweetlips. Currents can be strong at times around the reef, with occasional turbulence occurring around the overhangs. As such, the use of a surface balloon is recommended.
• Kuda Haa is a dramatic pinnacle, or thila, dive, which is widely considered one of the highlights of diving in the Maldives. Diving at Kuda Haa is at its best when the currents are not strong, when it is easy to navigate between the two parts of the pinnacle. Marine life to be expected at Kuda Haa is diverse and plentiful, including many macro species, including nudibranchs, flatworms, leaf fish and frogfish.

South Male Atoll

The atoll of South Male is separated from North Male by the Vaadhoo Kandu channel. Channel diving is a major feature of diving in South Male. These channels, whilst currents can be challenging, do bring with it an abundance of nutrients to feed and attract all types of marine life. Here are some possible sites you may visit:

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Kandooma Thila - A magnificent long thin pinnacle in the middle of a channel between Cocoa Corner and Kandooma Island Resort, this is one of the few channels in the Maldives where it doesn't matter which way the current is going - it will be a spectacular dive! Grey reef sharks and eagle rays are likely companions here. Due to its position in the channel, this is a dive site for advanced divers who understand the current. Magnificent overhangs with draping colourful soft coral and shark cleaning stations await those who dive this challenging but rewarding dive site.
• Kuda Giri Wreck - This beautiful 30m long wreck lies along the side of a small pinnacle in South Male Atoll, sloping from 18m down to 33m at the stern. A great dive for macro lovers with the wreck having leaf fish, false-cheeked pipefish and other interesting little creatures to entertain. Explore the wreck and then work your way over to the shallow pinnacle that has an interesting overhang and little swim-throughs as well as a good coral garden at 5m where you can finish your safety stop.
• Cocoa Corner (Cocoa Thila) - 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.
• Guraidhoo Kandu South is sometimes also known as Guraidhoo Corner. Currents at Guraidhoo Kandu are strong, making this a dive site appropriate only for advanced, experienced scuba divers. Gray reef sharks are common visitors at Guriadhoo Kandu when the currents are incoming, along with several pelagic species and eagle rays. Divers should be very cautious at this dive site, as the currents can pull you away from the reef and there is often underwater turbulence.

Vaavu Atoll (Felidhoo Atoll)

Vaavu (or Felidhoo) Atoll is an undeveloped paradise comprised of 19 beautiful isles and the natural atolls of Felidhoo Atoll and the Vattaru Reef. It is the smallest and among the least commercialised atolls in the Maldives. The pristine, warm waters here are teeming with fish and larger marine life providing superb diving for both beginners and advanced divers.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Fotteyo Kandu is one of Maldives' signature dive sites and is considered, by some, to be one of the best dive sites in the Maldives. This dive site is at its best between January to April, a time when the currents predominantly come into the atolls from the east and brings a copious diversity of fish life looking to feast. This narrow channel entrance is covered in colourful soft corals leading to an overhanging drop-off with more beautiful soft corals draping in the blue to finally reach the pinnacle in the middle of the channel. Like most channel dives in the Maldives, this formation allows for an extended dive time for you to explore the swim-throughs, small caves and gaze out into the blue for eagle rays, grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, tuna, barracuda and the occasional hammerhead.
• Bodu Miyaru Kandu, or 'Big Shark Channel', is another top dive site and certainly lives up to its name. Dropping in at the south eastern corner you keep the reef on your left until you reach the drop off at the channel entrance which is approximately 30 metres deep. This site features small caves and numerous overhangs, and there is a sloping section on the left side of the channel covered in hard coral and some soft coral.

Baa Atoll

Baa Atoll was designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in June 2011. It harbors globally significant biodiversity in its numerous reefs and demonstrates a long history of human interaction with the environment. Covering approximately 139,700 ha of coastal/marine areas, the site is representative of the Maldives' high diversity of reef animals, with stony and soft corals, reef associated fish species, marine turtles, manta rays and whale sharks.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Hanifaru Bay - The famous Hanifaru Bay, which is known locally as Vandhumaafaru Adi, is thought to be one the few places in the world where whale sharks congregate in to mate, although recent research suggests otherwise with the vast majority of the whale sharks seen there being young males. The bay also regularly sees some of the largest gatherings of Manta rays worldwide with up to one hundred individuals in the small inlet when the tide pushes plankton into the bay.
• Nelivaru Thila - With high chances of spotting Manta rays, especially during rising tides. The Thila (pinnacle) has several overhangs, with the most interesting parts are the west, east and south sides where you may encounter ghost pipefish, stingrays and Manta rays.
• Dhigu Thila - Dhigu in the Maldivian language means Long and Thila means pinnacle, and that is exactly what this dive site is, a long thin pinnacle in Baa Atoll, starting at 6m and descending down to 30m. Between 12 and 25m there are some interesting overhangs with some soft coral and Gorgonian Fan coral. Look out for Leaf Fish, Frog Fish and Stonefish, as well as nudibranchs, white tip reef sharks and perhaps the odd Manta passing in its way to it from Hanifaru Bay.

Meemu Atoll

Enchanting channels with pelagic action, sailfish, grey reef sharks, eagle rays and beautiful soft coral. Manta cleaning station.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Muli Corner is one of the top dive sites in the Maldives and is always good for a surprise! The channel corner slopes down from about 16m to the channel bottom at about 35m. There are small overhangs with soft corals. Here look out for leaf fish and ribbon eels. Once on the corner divers hook up at a depth at 26-28m and just enjoy the show. Tuna, jacks, white tip sharks and grey reef sharks come in quite close. Mantas, whale shark, bull shark and sailfish have been seen here as well. With the right current you will be in big fish country.
  Between April and October Muli Corner is also an excellent active manta cleaning station.
• Vanhuravalhi Kandu is a very narrow channel with its channel edge at about 28m and can be easily crossed if the current runs the right direction. Big swarms of big fish can be seen during the cross - big eye trevallies, barracudas, huge tunas and jacks, but the highlight is definitely groups of grey reef sharks. On your way to the other side you will pass small overhangs staffed with yellow soft corals. Finishing the dive in the shallow area at the channel corner with blue strip snapper, batfish and turtles.
• Kurali Kandu is a sandy channel with a maximum depth of 12-16m. Here you can find some smaller coral blocks, which appear to be cleaning stations for manta and other rays coming in for some cleaning.
• Raadbandhihuraa Kandu, a channel in the west of the atoll with an incoming current you will be swimming in fish soup with shoals of fusiliers, surgeon fish and snappers to name but a few. The reef slopes downwards in terraces with very healthy coral life mimicking a Japanese garden! Don't forget to glance out to the blue every once in a while, to check for sharks, tunas and jacks.

Gaafaru Atoll

The small atoll of Gaafaru lies off the northern point of North Male Atoll. The channel between Gaafaru and the tiny atoll of Kaashidhoo is one of the main shipping routes through the Maldives; over the years a number of ships have drifted too far south in the channel and found themselves wrecked on Gaafaru Atoll. Some of these wrecks lie in very deep water, but our journey will take in the SS Seagull and Lady Christina.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• SS Seagull - Wrecked in 1879, this 1012 tonne vessel now lies on the eastern edge of Gaafaru Atoll. Covered in coral and surrounded by fish, the anchor, deck ribs and winch can all be found in 6 metres of water resting on the reeftop. As the reef plateaus out at around 30 metres you can see the giant boilers and the mainly intact stern section of the ship which lies on its starboard side.
• Lady Christina - Wrecked in 1974, this 863 tonne iron vessel lies on the western edge of Gaafaru Atoll. The mast and bow lie on the upper part of the reef and at low tide can be seen above the water. The main part of the wreck is scattered down the reef wall which drops to more than 55 metres. The wreck provides a protected environment for a wide range of marine life such as parrotfish, moray eels, pufferfish and grouper. At 30 metres the caves and overhangs are home to nurse sharks, rays and napoleon wrasse.al.

Lhaviyani Atoll

Lhaviyani (or Faadhippolhu) Atoll is situated 120km north of Male and is relatively undeveloped with just 5 of its 58 islands dedicated to resorts. The diving here is famed for its thrilling channels, walls and reefs teeming with a myriad of marine life.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Kuredu Express - This famous dive site gets its name from the strong currents that flow through the channel here. Reef terraces provide shelter to watch the grey reef sharks, tuna, eagle rays, sting rays, napoleons, schools of jack fish and barracuda that come to swim in the currents. Large bays in the outreef are scattered with soft corals, schools of humpback snappers and collared butterfly fish.
• Kuredu Caves - Famed for its overhangs starting at 8 metres and dropping down to 20 metres, this site is also known locally as 'Turtle Airport' due to the large numbers of resident green sea turtles. Soft corals covered in soldier fish coat the ceilings of the overhangs which are also home to lion fish, porcupine fish, leaf fish, scorpion fish and moray eels to name a few! The deeper ledges give an opportunity to hang with sting rays and huge napoleons.
• Fushivaru Thila - Fushivaru is described as one of the best diving areas in the Lhaviyani Atoll for its abundance and diversity, such as a manta cleaning station, grey reef shark sightings, interesting small cave formations and colourful unspoilt reefs. Fushivaru Thila is a protected area and a channel where you can find a large plateau covered by blocks of corals, which hosts a Manta rays cleaning station. In the central part of the pinnacle at around 15 meters, Mantas often swim by the blocks and you will have more chances to spot them during the outgoing current.

Noonu Atoll

Noonu (or South Miladhunmadulu) Atoll is the gateway to the relatively undiscovered northern atolls of the Maldives. With just a handful of resorts now open in this remote atoll the famous pinnacles, and the yet undiscovered dive sites, are yours for exploring.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Christmas Tree Rock - This beautiful reef formation features a colourful Christmas tree shaped reef teeming with marine life at the top of a pinnacle at 12 to 15 metres. White tip reef sharks can be seen at the pinnacle base and as you wind your way up through the overhangs and plateaus keep your eyes open for stingrays, blue striped snappers and nudibranchs.
• Orimas Thila - A fantastic big fish dive which promises dozens of sharks and schools of barracuda. This underwater mound, starting at 14 metres and dropping to 30+ metres, also acts as a nursery and cleaning station for grey reef sharks - a number of large females accompany the juvenile sharks. Leopard and guitar sharks are often seen along with eagle rays and sting rays. This thila is a highlight of any dive trip!
• Miyaru Thila - Another big fish dive, Miyaru Thila is located in the centre of Noonu Atoll and attracts grey reef sharks who come in to feed in large numbers. Eagle rays, tuna and schools of snapper are commonly seen along with leopard and guitar sharks.ck.

Thaa Atoll

Thaa Atoll (also known as Kolhumadulu) is among the least visited dive destinations in the Maldives. This round atoll has a combined landmass close to 9 km, with no single island larger than a square kilometre. The mesmerizingly beautiful series of 66 tiny islands that make up the atoll are surrounded by spectacularly clear water with underwater wonders and beauty yet to be discovered. Some dives have strong currents, but this brings in the pelagic such as hammerheads, whale sharks and dolphins especially at night. Expect large reefs, coral gardens, steep walls and overhangs plus action packed channels. Advanced divers can explore deep, steep walls that are decorated with coral.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Dhiyamigili Corner is most probably the site with the highest chance of spotting schooling hammerhead sharks in the Maldives. Wake up early, head out into the blue and try your luck at spotting these majestic sharks.
• Dhigu Giri is not a dive site, yet a great place to spot whale sharks coming up behind the boat at night. The crew set out the big spot light, which attracts the krill, which in-turn attracts the whale sharks that come in for a midnight feed.

Laamu Atoll

Laamu Atoll (also known as Haddhunmathi Atoll) is an oval shaped southern atoll. It measures 48 km in length and 35 km in width and has some of the top dive sites in the world such as Guraidhoo and Gan; this Maldives Atoll is situated 32 km south east of Kolhumandulu Atoll and 95 km north of Huvadhoo Atoll. Laamu Atoll boasts numerous pristine dive sites with many different features like caves, steep drop offs, swim-throughs, not to mention the abundance of marine life and beautiful topography. Expect beautiful fish-filled channels with great shark encounters.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Fushi Kandu has a fantastic channel with a relatively shallow entrance at 15m allowing for an extended channel dive, which permits crossing the channel to maximise the sightings. This dive site is commonly described as Fish Soup, and it rarely disappoints with its resident grey reef sharks, barracuda, big eye jacks, and abundant fish life.
• Laamu Manta Point; simply relax and watch these graceful beasts do a fly-by over your head to join the queue of Manta each waiting their turn for a clean-up from cleaner wrasse, resident to an active, nearby coral block.

Huvadhoo Atoll

Huvadhoo Atoll, also known as Gaafu Atoll, is one of the southern and the deepest atoll in the Maldives. Here are numerous pristine dive sites filled with caves, steep drop offs and beautiful underwater landscapes, as well as breath-taking coral formations and fish life.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• Diving at Nilandhoo Kandu sees divers likely to face the strongest current near the entrance of the channel and the drop-off. Expect to see mantas, leopard sharks, grey reef sharks, silky sharks, schools of barracudas, eagle rays, schools of jacks and turtles on the sandy bottom. Nilandhoo Kandu is popular with 'shark trips' and underwater photographers.
• Mareehaa Kandu is a channel dive perfect for underwater photographers wanting some macro shots. At this site divers drift the reef, wall and look out for big fish. At the entrance of the channel it is possible to see grey reef sharks, eagle rays and trevallies. There are also schools of silversides and bluefin trevallies, as well as various shrimp and crabs near the hard corals. Hawksbill turtles and whale sharks are spotted occasionally.

Foammulah Island/Atoll

Tiger sharks, oceanic manta and thresher sharks. Oceanic Island rising from the deep with incredible visibility.

• Foammulah Thila is a deep reef with the shallowest part at about 22 m. However, we don't jump on top of this reef but some 100 metres off in the blue water. While descending to about 30 metres in the blue water we wait for the big fish to appear. Here we have a very good chance of tiger shark and hammerhead shark encounters! Back on the reef we might meet some thresher sharks. This is a blue water dive.

Addu Atoll

The most southern atoll of the Maldives, which is located south of the equator and used to be a British Royal Air Force base.

Here are some possible sites you may visit:

• The Manta Cleaning Station in Maa Kandu is located inside the northern channel at a depth of 16-20 metres. Here the manta rays fly in to get cleaned. Divers just hook on and hover above the corals and enjoy the show. Keep an eye to the blue to spot eagle rays and white tip sharks swimming by.
• HMS British Loyalty, a WWII wreck is, with its 140 metres length, the biggest shipwreck in the Maldives. It lies at a depth of 31 metres with its port side about 16 metres below the surface. It has a good covering of soft corals. Turtles, jacks and other reef fish can be seen here.

Vattaru Atoll

Vattaru Kandu is a protected marine area, located in the channel south of Vattaru Atoll. The outside corner declines very sharply to about 45 meters, then steadily slopes to a deep sandy bottom where you will often find big sea fans and leopard sharks. The entrance of the channel is at around 32 meters, around which there are several caves and overhangs, not to mention outside of which, where you will find even more caves, ledges and overhangs. Near this corner, most caves are between 10 and 20 meters. The fish life here is very rich, with tuna, barracudas, trevally, schools of fusilier, turtles, manta rays, parrotfish, napoleon and white-tip reef sharks. At around 30 meters outside the channel entrance you will find a series of caves covered in soft coral, and many of them house black coral trees and seafans.