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 There
are three distinctly different types of diving: inside the atolls,
outside the atolls and inside the channels or passes, which is where
the currents are strongest and you'll find the greatest congregation
of fish life. Most intriguing are the cleaning stations, found around
every corner and under every ledge. Groupers, Snappers, Surgeonfish,
Eels, Parrotfish, even Giant Napoleon Wrasse park casually in corners,
oblivious to all, (including cameras) while armies of wrasse, shrimp
and other assorted cleaners pick at debris in their open gills and
cavernous mouths.
 The
biggest attraction, however, are the schools of fish that patrol
the reefs in colorful packs: Humpback and Black and White Snappers,
Trevally Jacks, Barracuda, Batfish, Unicornfish, Yellowback Fusiliers
and Harlequin Sweetlips almost comical in design. The reef's larger
inhabitants are often seen cruising in the blue.
This parade
of awesome marine life combines with exquisite coral covered backdrops
to create many of what is surely some of the world's most extraordinary
dives. Dive sites in the Maldives are widely scattered while hotel
base clients only have access to a limitednumber of good diving
spots; a far greater number can be reached on a live-aboard, making
it the ideal holiday for experienced divers.
| LIVEABOARD
CRUISE DIVE LOCATIONS |
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North
& South Ari Atoll (Alifu Atoll)
Alifu Atoll is comprised of three geographical atolls - Ari Atoll,
one of the largest atolls in the Maldives, measuring 80 kilometres
in length and 30 in width, Rasdhoo Atoll and the tiny Thoddoo Atoll.
If you visit a resort in Ari, you will be surprised to learn that
this is one of the most highly developed tourist areas in the Maldives.
This atoll also boasts some exceptionally exciting dive sites; the
hammerhead point in Rasdhoo Atoll, Maaya Thila in Northern Ari Atoll
which is a protected site and dive sites in the south famous for
its sighting of whale sharks are just some of the highlights.
North and
South Male' Atoll (Kaafu Atoll)
 Kaafu
Atoll consists of four geographical atolls; North and South Male’
Atoll, Gaafaru and Kaashidhoo Atolls. The atoll is located almost
in the centre of the Maldives atoll chain. With 80 islands in all,
only 12 are inhabited. The atoll is dotted with dive sites, many
of them well known in the diving community. Manta points, interesting
reef formations, coral gardens and wrecks are all part of the diving
experience in these atolls. The Maldives Victory, which sank on
Friday the 13th 1981 near the airport island of Hulule, is now an
exciting diving attraction.
Vaavu
Atoll (Felidhoo Atoll)
Vaavu Atoll is comprised of two geographical atolls; the main Vaavu
Atoll and the large circular atoll, 9 kilometres in diameter, Vattaru
with just one uninhabited island on it. Vaavu Atoll is a true geographical
wonder. It is a boot-shaped atoll and the ‘toe’, Fotteyo
Muli is the easternmost point of the Maldives archipelago. In addition
to this, the 55 kilometres long unbroken reef that stretches from
the ‘toe’ to the ‘heel’ of the ‘boot’
is the longest reef in the Maldives. Vaavu atoll has been exposed
to tourism since 1975 and the atoll has been a great favourite with
safari and cruise operators. However it is more isolated and less
commercialised than any of the other tourist atolls. Vaavu Atoll
hosts some of the best diving in the Maldives. Fotteyo Kandu is
considered by many as the best dive site in the country and one
of the top five in the world. The reefs of the eastern side of the
atoll are in pristine condition and are wonderful for divers and
snorkellers alike. There are many thrilling shark dives in the atoll,
where divers may be lucky enough to see hammerhead sharks as well
as the more common grey reef sharks.
TOP
DIVE SITES OF THE MALDIVES
Location:
The wreck of the Maldives Victory lies on the western side of the
airport-island, Hulule, precisely near the first quarter of the
southern side of the landing strip. The wreck lies parallel to the
reef on the sandy sea bed at a depth of 35 metres (115 feet), upright
and with the bowsprit pointing north.
History:
In the early morning hours of Friday, 13 February 1981, this 35,000-ton
freighter ran at full speed onto the southern tip of the airport
island. Since it had not been built with watertight bulkheads, the
ship sank in the space of about an hour even though the hole was
fairly small. The sailors and the few passengers aboard managed
to make their way to the landing strip, only about thirty metres
(a hundred feet) away; all were rescued, and none were even injured.
The freighter was only ten years old, and hailed from Singapore;
the holds were full of merchandise, chiefly for the tourist facilities.
Life Forms:
Even just a few hours after the Maldive Victory sank, a great number
of fish had begun to establish residence in and about the ship.
For more than a decade now, the superstructures have been patrolled
by a large school of batfish (Platax teira), while a number of barracuda
(Sphyraena sp.) hover above the deck; those who swim around the
wreck are provided with an escort of humphead wrasses (Cheilinus
undulatus). Large schools of fusiliers (Caesio sp.) dart through
the water, as a foreshadowing of the fact that in the pipes, passageways,
nooks and crannies of this ship, one will encounter all of the animal
species that can normally be found on reefs, and in grottoes and
underwater caverns. During a number of dives, one will encounter
a large sea turtle sleeping at the tip of the bowsprit of the Maldive
Victory.
Location:
This site lies on the east side of the South Male’ Atoll, outside
of the reef. To be more exact, this is the south side of the channel
mouth. Nearby islands are Losfushi, Guraidhoo and Kandooma. The
reef top drops from ten metres (33 feet) to 30 metres (100feet)
and more; there are grottoes and projections just about everywhere.
The edges of the channel drop down to a depth of 30 metres (100
feet). Large isolated coral blocks grow, from the scarp of the reef
upward.
Dives: At
Guraidhoo Corner only drift dives are possible. It is therefore
necessary to be quite an experienced diver on the reef; all the
more so because there are powerful vertical currents all around
the site at certain hours of the day. The direction of the principal
horizontal current is towards the interior of the atoll. At the
edge of the channel, which is also the deepest point, one comes
drifting along the reef. The dive comes to an end along the wall
of the channel or at the edge of the reef.
Life Forms:
Because of its location outside of the reef, and because of the
water movements and the topography, this place is destined to be
the home of larger fish.
On the edges
of the channel, which is to say, at depths ranging from 25 to 30
metres (80 to 100 feet), the best chances are that one will be able
to observe a great many grey reef sharks (Carcharthinus amblyrhynochos)
and the local school of eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari). The latter
tend to swim in the open ocean, at a considerable distance from
the seabed. In this same spot large hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini),
whale sharks (Rincodon typus) and sailfish (istiophorus platypterus)
have been sighted frequently. Guraidhoo corner is also home to large
schools of oriental sweetlips (Plectorhyncus orientalis), bannerfish
(Heniochus diphreutes), and large black-and-white striped snappers
(Macolor niger). And of course the large and friendly humphead wrasses
(Cheilinus undulatus) are ever present.
Location:
Banana Reef lies on the eastern side of the North Male’ Atoll,
inside the barrier reef. Nearby islands include Fullmoon Island,
Farukolhu Fushi and Kurumba. This reef, with its elongated form,
which is in fact reminiscent of a banana in shape, stretches from
northeast to south over a length of some 300 metres (about a 1000
feet). Ever since scuba divers began to visit this part of the
North Male’ Atoll, 20 years ago, Banana Reef has remained
an ideal spot. As in a great many other places around the Maldives,
the divers have caused no adverse effects upon the seascape and,
if we may, fishscape. Indeed, it seems that year after year on
Banana Reef the fish population simply continues to grow. The
upper section of the reef lies at a depth of just three metres
(10 feet) beneath the surface of the water, but on the western
side the reef plunges to a depth of 30 metres (100 feet) and more.
The western side is also the best place to dive, since there are
seven major coral agglomerations here that form an uncanny seascape.
Dives:
On Banana Reef, only drift dives are possible. The unbelievable
abundance of fish and the presence of many varieties of coral are
clearly the result of the virtually incessant currents, which are
obviously a major factor in determining the direction of one’s
dive. It is at any rate possible to halt even in the presence of
the strongest currents, by taking shelter in grottoes or in the
lee of enormous masses of coral.
Life Forms:
The stars of this reef are certainly the 500 or so bannerfish (Heniochus
diphreutes) which tend to concentrate on the northeastern side of
Banana Reef. If the currents are right, however, one can sight a
number of grey reef sharks (Carcharhinu amblyrhynchos), even without
making use of bait. Normally, moreover, divers almost always enjoy
the company of humphead wrasses (Cheilinus undulatus). Among the
enormous masses of coral, swim oriental sweetlips (Plectorhyncus
orientalis). Large moray eels (Gymnothorax sp.) peek out of their
grottoes. Further out to sea, instead, huge number of school-dwelling
fish swim, foremost among them metallic-blue fusiliers (Caesio lunaris).
| KUDA
RAH THILA - BROKEN ROCK |
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Location:
Broken Rock lies in the southernmost corner of the Ari Atoll,
on the eastern side. The closest islands are Dhangethi to the north
and Dhigurah to the south. The thila, which seems to have been cleft
asunder by a blow from a giant axe, is some 70 metres (230 feet)
in length, and rises to a depth of some 13 metres (43 feet) beneath
the surface. The remarkable aspect of this coral base is the enormous
canyon that runs diagonally across the centre, from southeast to
northwest. With a depth of 22 metres (72 feet), this cleft was the
source of the name, Broken Rock. On the eastern side is a jutting
formation with a remarkable shape, and another small plateau, at
a depth of 17 metres.
Dives:
Aside from the considerable depth of the reef top, diving in this
site is fairly easy. There are several decisive factors in any decision
regarding the techniques to be used on this dive: the currents,
which can be very strong at times, but also the level of experience
of the participating divers. With weak currents, one can dive directly
on to the top of the reef. The most elegant technique, which is
also the simplest in the presence of powerful currents, is to dive
at some distance from the reef, in the open ocean, and then to swim
in the reef with the current. It is also possible to moor the boat
on the reef itself, if it becomes necessary to enter and emerge
from the water by means of a line.
Life Forms:
The dive site is embellished by a great many soft corals and
by a teeming and varied abundance of fish. Depending on how the
current is running, a scuba diver can always encounter different
species. Unlike the situation in other sites, the true, permanent
inhabitants are few in number.
There is however
always the possibility of running into a grey reef shark (Carcharhinus
amblyrhynchos) or two, or a school of barracuda (Sphyraena sp.).
A mixed group of batfish (Platax teira) and blue fusiliers (Caesio
lunaris) are usually guests at Broken Rock, as are the many sea
turtles (Eretmochelys inbricata). The jutting crags on the northeastern
side are populated by a great many tiny animals. One can, of course,
gain an overall idea of the various animals and corals by swimming
all the way around the thila, which is eminently possible if the
currents are weak.
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