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> Diving Spots |
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New Dive Spots
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The new dive sites notified by the Maldives
Tourism board are the following:
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Laamu
Atoll:
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Isclhoo Corner: 730 35' 15"E,
02' 08' 00"N from this point of a radius of 2 km area.
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Maibaadhoo North Sea: 73"
32' 00"E, 02' 02' 15"N from this point of a radius of 1 km area.
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Maibaadhoo South Sea: 73o
32' 00"E, 02o 01' 15"N from this point of a radius of 1 km area
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Gaafu
Alifu Atoll:
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Villingili Sea: 73' 12' 00"E,
00' 52' 00"N from this point of a radius of 1 km area.
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| 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. |
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Fuvahmulaku Atoll:
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Fuvahmulaku North Western Corner: 73' 24'
00"E, 00' 17'00"S from this point of a radius of I km area.
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Important Diving Spots
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Lion's Head:
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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.
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Location: Southern end of
North Male Atoll.
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| Best Time to Dive: When the wind
comes from the north preventing a large swell. |
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Average Visibility: 20 - 25 meters but may
reach up to 48 meters.
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| Depth of Reef: Minimum 15 -20 meters,
Maximum 30 meters. |
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Type of Dive: Wall Drift Dive.
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Kuda Haa:
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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.
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Location: Southern western side North Male
Atoll.
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| Best Time to Dive: Whenever you
want. |
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Average Visibility: 20 - 25 meters
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| Depth of Reef: 5 - 35 meters |
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Type of Dive: Thila Dive.
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Girifushi Thila:
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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.
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Location : South East North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive : All year round
during high and low tide. |
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Average Visibility : 20 - 30 meters
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| Depth of Reef : 10 - 40 meters
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| Middle Point:
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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.
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Location: South East North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive: All year round
on incoming current |
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Average Visibility: 20 - 40 meters
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| Depth of Reef: 10 - 50+ meters
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Type of Dive: Drift Dive.
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Nasimo Thila:
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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.
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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.
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Location: South East North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive: All year round
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Average Visibility: 20 - 30 meters
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| Depth of Reef: 10 - 35+ meters
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Type of Dive: Thila Dive.
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Okebe Thila:
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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.
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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.
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Location : Inner South East North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive : All year round
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| Average Visibility : 15 - 30 meters
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| Depth of Reef : 10 - 35 meters
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| Type of Dive : Thila Dive. |
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Rasfari:
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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.
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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.
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Location: Outer West North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive: All year round
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| Average Visibility: 15 - 30 meters
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| Depth of Reef: 8 - 40 meters |
| Type of Dive: Deep Dive. |
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Sunlight Thila:
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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.
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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.
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Location: Inner South East North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive: March to October
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| Average Visibility: 10 - 15meters
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| Depth of Reef: 5 - 17 meters |
| Type of Dive: Manta Dive. |
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Banana Reef:
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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.
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Location: Ineer South East North Male Atoll
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| Best Time to Dive: March to October
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| Average Visibility: 20 - 35 meters
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| Depth of Reef: 5 - 40 meters |
| Type of Dive: Wall Drift Dive.
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Maldives Victory:
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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.
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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.
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Location: Western side of Hulhule Airport
Island.
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| Best Time to Dive: All year round.
Due to strong currents, high or low tides are best. |
| Average Visibility: 15 - 25 meters
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| Depth of Reef: 12 - 35 meters |
| Type of Dive: Wreck Dive. |
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Aquarium:
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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.
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Rasdhoo:
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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.
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