REAL SEAHAWKS PRIVATE LIMITED G. REYNIS, RAHDHEBAIMAGU, 20145 MALE’, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES TEL: (960) 3300794, (960) 7974520 EMAIL: [email protected]

Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Scuba Diving around the Maldives has recently become hugely popular among the diving community. The hundreds of isolated and deserted Islands offer an enormous playground for divers to explore.

Between the Islands, there are channels connecting the Indian Ocean to the Lagoons. This water coming from the ocean is full of plankton and nutrients which, in turn, attracts an incredible marine life. The coral is beautiful in Maldives but what makes it so special is the high density of marine life!

You are likely to be able to spot Eagle Rays, Napoleon Wrasses, lots of pelagic fishes such as the Giant Trevally or the Barracuda, the magnificent Manta Rays and the very rare Whale Shark!

You will also encounter the Whitetip and the Grey Shark, and if you are very lucky the rare Hammerhead Shark! The best location for big pelagic fishes is called the Ari and most of the visit it.

Inside the lagoon, the shallow water has a teeming fish life with myriads of reef fishes and bright, colourful coral gardens.

The water is very clear around Maldives and you can expect a visibility ranging from 20 to 40 meters. That combined with the amazing marine life, makes Maldives an excellent destination for .

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 1 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Famous Diving Sites In Ari Atoll Maldives

Kudarah Thila - Situated within an atoll lagoon where you would normally expect shelter, this pinnacle sits directly in line with a channel opening to the ocean, and is therefore swept by incoming currents. Kudarah Thila is another marine protected area where the numbers of Fish are testimony to the effectiveness of these programs in the Maldives.

This is in fact a relatively small reef but offers plenty of variety both in terms of fish and topography. Starting at about 12 metres and dropping to 40 metres, the pinnacle features 4 coral heads that enjoy fabulous coral growth, particularly in the shallower sections. You can see large gorgonians and black coral bushes in cavern walls and ceilings. There are soft corals of pink and orange, and yellow daisy corals and gorgonians proliferate in the overhangs.

Your dive guide may wish to swim around the entire perimeter of the pinnacle which is around 100 metres in diameter. However it is more likely that you will cover less than the full pinnacle, particularly if there is present. Then you will likely spend more time on the lee-side.

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 2 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Fish Head Dive Site

Mushimasmingili Reef also knows as Fish Head is protected by the Maldivian government. No anchoring, no fishing, no collecting of shells or coral allowed. This is the most famous diving spot in our area and one of the most famous in the whole of Maldives. It is a coral hill (Thila) lying on a sandy bottom at 40 meters, the top of this hill being at 8 to 12 meters. It is inside the atoll but in front of an important channel of the atoll, so the current can sometimes be really strong at Fish Head. Due to the strong current and it’s position, the dive is spectacular. There are lots of caves on the sides with a great variety of marine life hiding in them. The current pleases a school of grey reef sharks, all females, as well as an incredible quantity of fusiliers and other schools of hunting fishes like big snappers, tuna and jack fishes. It is sometimes dark at 12 meters and difficult to see the surface under a real roof of glass fish. The hunting sessions are where Jacks, Giant Trevallies and other predators dart in to catch the glass fish and the fusiliers are impressive.

The main attraction is the quantity of fish on this reef. Fish soup would be the correct term here, variety, quantity, quantity and more….it’s often impossible to see your buddy only a few meters away due to a wall of fish.

The side attraction is a couple of napoleon fish, very curious and friendly. One is a huge male with an impressive forehead very reminiscent of the fish given name. Besides all this we see schools of batfishes, white tip reef sharks, barracudas, a turtle, moray eels and stone fishes.

This is a perfect spot for all kind of divers, from beginners to experts. This is one of the dives we record on video for our guests. Absolutely fantastic!!!

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 3 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Maayaa Thila

Type of Dive Site: Thila (Pinnacle), Protected Marine Area

Location: North Ari Atoll

Best Time to Dive: All year round

GPS Position: 04.05470, 072.51730

Depth Range: 5m – 30m

Coral Growth: Above average

Features: Caves and coral heads

Fish Life: Abundant

Experience Level: Novice

Another great dive, as Fish Head, also protected as a Marine Reserve by the Maldivian government. Although grey reef sharks are also quite common at Maaya Thila, the smaller white tips are the center of attention, often with dozens of them circling the reef. Maaya Thila is about 80 meters in diameter and can easily be circumnavigated in one dive – if the current is favorable – although it is not uncommon for divers to spend the entire dive in one area to digest the incredible diversity of marine life. The top starts at six meters and the reef edge drops from 12 meters to depths of 30 meters and more. Several coral outcrops occur on the northwest and south sides. There are many caves and overhangs all around the Thila. At a big cave on the north side is a feast of fish ranging from the white tips (which usually frequent the side of the reef where the current is strongest), dog-toothed tuna and great barracuda to blue-faced angelfish, Moorish idol, tall fin batfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish, clown triggerfish and lionfish. There are also other delights for the careful observer like stonefish and anglerfish. A big rock on the south side has a meter wide swim-through at 19 meters. On the reef top are many fusilier and blue stripe snapper and a large turtle is a regular around the reef. This dive is a fish watchers delight and the beautiful soft coral and gorgonians on the reef faces are a great attraction. When the weather permits, we also do Maya Thila at night….a real treat! Another top top top dive site!!!!

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 4 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Famous Dive Sites In Felidhe Atoll Maldives

Fontteyo Kandu - Maldives Dive Site

Type of Dive Site: Channel Location: Felidhe Atoll, Hurahu Kandu Best Time to Dive: North East Monsoon GPS Position: 03.29260, 073.41875 Depth Range: 5m – 30m Coral Growth: Excellent Features: Caves, overhangs, swim-through Fish Life: Abundant Experience Level: Advanced

Many scuba divers consider Fotteyo Kandu to be the best dive site in Maldives and it is also rated among the top 5 dive sites in the world. The mouth of the channel is exposed to the ocean and during north east monsoon when the currents are incoming, a good variety of fish species gather at the entrance to the channel.

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 5 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Fishes commonly spotted at Fotteyo Kandu dive site include Gray Reef Shark patrolling the channel mouth, Jack and Tuna in the deeper water, schools of Midnight Snappers and Red Snapper form in huge groups. The wall features caves, overhangs and swim-thoughs at different depths. These caves and overhangs are filled with colourful yellow color like soft coral, deeper caves and overhangs are filled with huge bushes of black corals. The Thila in the middle of the channel entrance is the best place to do the safety stop. A surface balloon is a must at Fotteyo Kandu.

Alimathaa Kandu or Dekunu kandu Dive Site.

Dhekunu Kandu and Devana Kandu which also feature reef sharks, Manta rays and several other types of Rays and, Alimathaa Jetty which is an incredibly popular night dive spot known for the larger specimens of nurse sharks that can be found there. Overall, Vaavu is a great spot to include on a live aboard itinerary with dive sites that can keep one busy for quite some time and enough diversity in the type of dives to be pleasurable for both beginners and experienced divers alike.

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 6 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Famous Dive Sites in Lhaviyani Atoll Maldives

FushiFaru Kandu

Average depth 20 m / 65.6 ft

Max depth 25 m / 82 ft

Current Medium ( 1-2 knots)

Visibility Good ( 10 - 30 m)

QUALITY

Dive site quality Good

Experience CMAS ** / AOW

Bio interest Interesting

Protected marine area. Typical channel. The amount of fishes depends on current. Morays, sting rays, eagle rays, sometimes manta rays.

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 7 Scuba Diving in the Maldives

Kuredhu Express Dive Site

Kuredu Express is one of the most famous dive sites in the Lhaviyani Atoll. Express gets its name from the strong currents that can flow here. There is a sandy channel leading to the corner of the reef, where there are terraces at different depths – a great place to stop and watch the action going on around you. Grey reef sharks, eagle rays, large tuna, napoleons, stingrays and barracuda are all found here along with a huge school of jack fish. Along the outreef there are 2 large bays in the reef which have some brightly coloured soft corals, lots of collared butterfly fish and schools of humpback snappers. The dive is rounded off with a leaf fish close to the top reef.

Real Seahawks Maldives Pvt Ltd , G.Reynis ,Rahdhebaimagu , Male Rep of Maldives | Hotline : +960 7974520 Page 8