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1. Aah Thila
A small narrow reef which starts at 12 metres. Overhangs, crevices, seperate coral
blocks make the topography of this reef very interessting. Look for scorpionfish,
the rare porcelain crab hiding in anemones, baby whitetip reef sharks hiding underneath
table corals, turtles, napoleons and many more.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 60 m, Width 15 m
Depth: 12 - 30 m
2. Ali Thila
Steep walls on all sides end at 35 - 40 m in sandy bottom. The reef is covered in
black coral trees, which are the preferred hiding place for the long nose hawkfish.
Many bright pink anemones with clown fish and the rare fimbriated moray can be found
here. The current facing side of the reef is home to a school of batfish and a school
of bannerfish.
Position: West of Vilamendhoo Island
Boat Trip: 35 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 90 m, Width 10 m
Depth: 8 - 40 m
3. Angaga Thila
A reef well protected of currents in the middle of the atoll. The reef slopes steeply
down to all sides and ends at 35 metres in sand. Between 15 - 24 metres you can
find different sized overhangs. Hunting tunas, schooling barracudas, the fastest
animal on earth - the mantis shrimp, octopus, a rare and beautiful patterned pufferfish,
whitetip reef shark, a school of banner fish, turtles and stonefish all live here.
Position: South of Angaga Island
Boat Trip: 50 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 70 m, Width 70 m
Depth: 8 - 30 m
4. Bodufinolhu Thila
A deep and small Thila seperated by a 10 - 20 metres wide sandy plateau at about
22 metres from a sloping outreef. This Thila is covered in hard coral. Look underneath
the coral blocks for baby whitetip reef sharks hiding. On the sandy plateau look
for stingrays and whitetip reef sharks. On the current side of the Thila we regulary
see schooling mobula mantas and of course the highlight - the gentle giants, the
whalesharks in the right season.
Position: Outreef south of Bodufinolhu Island
Boat Trip: 90 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 50 m, Width 10 - 20 m
Depth: 22 - 30 m
5. Broken Rock
One of the famous dive sites in the South Ari Atoll, it has a canyon splitting the reef in two. It is possible to swim through, taking care not to damage the fancorals. Napoleon wrasse are resident here, turtles, scorpion fish and a stunning variety of marine life including many species of moray eels with an abundance of soft corals. The bignose unicornfish will accompany you from the reef to the saftey stop. While playing in your bubbles he will change colour from brown to blue.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 60 m, Width 30 m
Depth: 12 - 30 m
7. Dhangethi Corner
A sloping outreef where the top reef starts at seven metres, leading to a channel
entrance. Along the outreef look in the blue water for pelagic fish passing by.
Also very interessting is a coral peninsula starting at 12 metres leading down to
25 metres directly at the channel entrance. Schools of batfish and clouds of fusiliers,
turtles, napoleons and whitetip reef sharks have been sighted here.
Position: Outreef east of Dhangethi Island
Boat Trip: 35 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 100 m, Width 15 m
Depth: 7 - ∞ m
8. Dhidhoo Beru Faru
A sloping outer reef at the southern tip of the Ari Atoll diveable with any current.
The reef starts at seven metres and is dominated by hard coral growth. Many moray
eels, lionfish and nudibranches can be found. But also eagle rays and mobula mantas
are not a rarety. The highlight at this divesite are whaleshark encounters in the
right season.
Position: Outreef south of Dhidhoo Island
Boat Trip: 60 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 450 m, Width 20 m
Depth: 7 - 25 m
9. Dhigurah Beru
The reef starts between five to eight metres and slopes down to a terrace at 30
- 35 metres. Here you can see schools of fusiliers, turtles, eagle rays, moray eels
and if you have good eyes leaf fish. Between the beginning of September until the
end of November there is a good chance of encountering whalesharks on this divesite.
Position: Outreef east of Dhigurah Island
Boat Trip: 30 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 450 m, Width 15 m
Depth: 5 - ∞ m
6. Dhangethi Beru
A sloping outer reef that starts at about seven metres. Near 20 metres you will
find some smaller overhangs, many times with glassfish inside. Clouds of fusiliers
pass by in the blue water, look for pufferfish, porcupine fish, moray eels, lionfish
and nudibranches as well as for eagle rays, turtles and napoleons.
Position: Outreef east of Dhangethi Island
Boat Trip: 35 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 450 m, Width 15 m
Depth: 7 - ∞ m
10. Dhigurah Beru Thila
A reef that lies across the channel close to the edge. The side facing the channel
edge has beautiful overhangs and terraces where as the opposite side slopes into
a sandy area at 20 metres. The reef is dominated by hard corals but also soft corals
can be found. Being close to the edge this reef is home to big schools of fish,
big napoleon wrasse, whitetip reef sharks, stingrays and the occasional grey reef
shark.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 250 m, Width 20 m
Depth: 10 - 25 m
11. Dhigurah Etere
This is the house reef of Dhigurah Island, the reef drops off from 5 metres down
to 25 metres. Here you find many inlets, caves and overhangs with some swim-throughs.
Morays, lionfish and stingrays can be found, in the summer months we occassionaly
see Mantas here. Good night dive site!
Position: Inner reef west of Dhigurah Island
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 450 m, Width 20 m
Depth: 5 - 25 m
12. Dhigurah Etere Thila
A medium sized reef with overhangs covered in softcorals and fancorals on either
end. The occasional nurseshark and plenty of lobster can be found in the overhangs.
Turtles, scorpionfish and baby eagle rays have made this divesite their home. On
the sandy bottom at about 22 metres look for sleeping whitetip reef sharks.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 200 m, Width 35 m
Depth: 8 - 25 m
14. Hane Thila
A long and partly narrow reef is covered in beautiful corals and surrounded by schools
of fusiliers, jackfish and snappers. A saddle that parts the reef in two makes an
interesting area to see eagle rays or grey reef sharks as here the current will
slightly pick up.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 20 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 200 m, Width 20 m
Depth: 10 - 30 m
15. Hudu Thila
A circular shaped reef starting at six metres with sandy bottom at 30 metres. Walls,
overhangs, crevices, sandy slopes make it a colourful place. In the sandy area look
for stingrays, sleeping whitetip reef sharks, sand eels and little blind crabs with
their partner gobies. Also scorpionfish, nudibranches and big barracudas can be
seen.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 20 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 100 m, Width 100 m
Depth: 6 - 25 m
16. Hukuru Elhi Faru - Marine Protected Area
This reef is a recent addition to the protected marine areas in the Republic of
Maldives and during the season from January until April it is famous for it's manta
cleaner stations. The mantas come up from the deeper parts of the ocean where they
feed and use the shallower waters of the reef to free themselves of unwanted parasites.
During the dive these majestic creatures with a wing span of 3 - 4 metres are hovering
just above your head. The cleaner stations are also used by giant napoleon wrasse.
Position: Reef at the Rangali and Hukuru channel
Boat Trip: 90 min.
Size of Reef: Length 500 m Width 50 m
Depth: 12 - 25 m
17. Kahambu Thila
Kahambu in Dhivehi (the local language) means Hawksbill Turtle and these are frequently
sited on this small reef. The striking feature are the black coral trees surrounded
by small glassfish. The reef is also the home of Fred the frogfish. Here you also
find lionfish, scorpionfish, the very shy cometfish and whitetip reef sharks cruising
arround.
Position: West of Vilamendhoo Island
Boat Trip: 30 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 70 m, Width 70 m
Depth: 5 - 30 m
18. Kalu Giri
A small reef protected from currents that comes up to six metres. A small stingray
has made one of the caves his home and longnose hawkfish are hiding in the black
coral that are growing around the reef. Mantis shrimp, many scorpionfish and different
species of moray eels can be found on the top reef.
Position: West of Vilamendhoo Island
Boat Trip: 35 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 70 m, Width 70 m
Depth: 6 - 25 m
19. Kudah Rah Thila - Marine Protected Area
One of the most famous dive sites in the South Ari Atoll! A stunning small reef
covered in soft corals of all colours. There are two large overhangs with lots of
yellow daisy corals on the ceilings and fancorals on the bottom. At one end there
is a small archway covered in soft coral. The reef is surrounded by large schools
of bluestriped snappers. Regular visits from turtles and napoleons as well as the
occasional whitetip or grey reef shark can be expected.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 15 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 45 m, Width 20 m
Depth: 13 - 25 m
20. Kuda Thila
A medium sized reef close to the channel edge. The top starts at 12 metres and the
reef is sloping down to all sides. Big groupers and many schools of fish can be
found here. As this reef lies close to the channel edge look out for big pelagic
fish. Grey reef sharks are a common sight here.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 100 m, Width 50 m
Depth: 12 - 30 m
21. Kudhimaa Wreck
A medium sized steel wreck lying very close to the house reef of Machafushi. It
was purposely sunk in 1998 to provide divers visiting the region with a wreck dive.
They made a great job of scuttling the wreck as it lies directly on its keel. The
wreck has easy access to the cargo holds on both sides. On and around the wreck
you will find a school of Batfish, pufferfish, boxfish and very large Lionfish.
One of the interesting things about a new wreck / reef is the competition for space;
algi, sponges, sea squirts and coral. Where the wreck is covered with these you
will find very little corrosion.
Position: Eastern side of Machafushi
Boat Trip: 10 Minutes
Size: Length 52m, Width 10m 15m
Depth: 12-31m
22. Maamigili Kandu
An outer reef that leads into a channel entrance at the southern tip of the Ari
Atoll. Big schools of fish, napoleons, big green turtles and whitetip reef sharks
are seen here. But mainly this reef gained its reputation for frequent whaleshark
encounters in the right season.
Position: West of Maamigili Channel
Boat Trip: 60 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 200 m, Width 20 m
Depth: 5 - 30 m
23. Noo Giri
Starting at three metres, overhangs at different levels the reef slopes out at 30
metres. Noo Giri is covered in disc anemones and some black coral trees. Smaller
crevices in this reef are often cleaner stations covered in glasfish. Look for cleaner
wrasse and different kind of cleaner shrimp behind the glassfish as well as for
fish being cleaned. Moray eels, nudibranches, scorpionfish and big lionfish can
be found in the overhangs, fusiliers and bannerfish surround the reef.
Position: West of Vilamendhoo Island
Boat Trip: 35 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 70 m, Width 60 m
Depth: 3 - 30 m
24. Randhi Wreck
A 25 metres long steel wreck lying on its side at about 27 metres in sand. The shallowest
part of the wreck comes up to 22 metres. You can get a closer look at the keel,
the railing, the propeller and into the cargo hold. It is covered in soft corals
and tube anemones. Many big lionfish and pufferfish live here.
Position: Wreck near the housereef of Dhigurah Island
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 25 m, Width 10 m
Depth: 22 - 27 m
25. Ranvelhi Thila
A long Thila with beautiful pyramid corals. Consists of two Thilas - a smaller round
one that starts at about 10 metres and a larger Thila that reaches up to five metres.
The sandy saddle that separates the two is home to stingrays, sleeping whitetip
reef sharks and sand eels. The most beautiful species of nudibranches and flatworms
can be found here.
Position: Ranvelhi Channel
Boat Trip: 40 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 250 m, Width 30 m
Depth: 5 - 30 m
26. Rheeti Thila
A small circular reef, divided by one to three metres wide canyons into four sections.
The top reef starts at 12 metres and the sandy bottom at 30 metres. Interesting
overhangs between 18 and 26 metres, beautiful fan and whip corals, different kind
of anemones, fusiliers being hunted by jack fish, big barracudas, scorpionfish,
nudibranches, schools of oriental sweet lips and whitetip reef sharks. All that
can be found on this reef and makes it live up to its name "Rheeti Thila"
which means "Beautiful Thila" in the local language.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 20 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 50 m, Width 50 m
Depth: 12 - 30 m
27. Thinefushi Beru Thila
A big reef that is situated across the channel close to the edge. The long reef
that starts at 10 metres is interrupted by two saddles that reach down to 18 metres
where schools of fish are congregated around big coral blocks. Due to its location
close to the channel entrance you can expect to see some of the larger pelagic fish.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 300 m, Width 25 m
Depth: 10 - 30 m
28. Thinefushi Etere Thila
A medium sized reef with big overhangs on either end. The top reef starts at eight
metres whereas the overhangs start at 20 metres. Beautiful corals like fancorals,
whipcorals and daisy corals grow in these overhangs. A sandy alley divides four
blocks from the original reef. Turtles, oriental sweetlips, schools of snappers,
scorpionfish and whitetip reef sharks are often found on this reef.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 20 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 200 m, Width 40 m
Depth: 8 - 30 m
29. Vakarufalhi Beru Thila
A large reef close to the channel edge with a fantastic 100 m long wall covered
in soft corals and a lovely undamaged top reef with a wonderful variety of hard
corals. Frequent visitors are whitetip reef sharks, napoleons, stingrays, eagle
rays, turtles, tuna, large school of fusiliers and batfish.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 25 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 300 m, Width 40 m
Depth: 12 - 30 m
30. Vakarufalhi Etere Thila
A long and narrow reef starting at eight metres, reaching a sandy area below 30
metres. Big overhangs with large fancorals and whip corals inside, coral blocks
covered in soft corals make it a stunning reef. Napoleons, whitetip and grey reef
sharks are encountered in the deeper areas. On the top reef look for beautiful anemones,
pufferfish, nudibranches and turtles.
Position: Dhigurashu Channel
Boat Trip: 20 Minutes
Size of Reef: Length 250 m, Width 30 m
Depth: 8 - 30 m
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