Madivaru Corner

Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

A highlight in the Rasdhoo Atoll for many reasons. This reef is located just in front of the island Madivaru and has some superb overhangs between 26 to 30 meters before a breathtaking drop-off. The real beauty of the dive will be when the current runs along the reef on the right shoulder and into the Atoll. Because with this current you don’t have to swim much because most of the time on your dive you just hold onto some dead coral on the drop-off around 18 meters where the breathtaking show begins. Everybody can find here almost anything they are looking for, from macro to big pelagic species like grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, shoals of barracuda, jack fish and even giant travellis and dog-tooth tunas chasing baitfish etc. Always worth a dive. Anything is possible, however the current can be medium to very strong.

Hammerhead Shark Point

Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

Another highlight, an early morning dive to meet the famous Scalloped Hammerhead shark which can only be seen in a few places in the Maldives.A blue water dive with no reference. In otherwords, no reef or bottom where the blue plankton let you think you are flying among the stars. Even without sharks an unforgottable experience. Only for experienced divers with Deep Dive Training or Advanced level, of course good buoyancy control required! While hammerhead sightings are very rare, the dive remains an incredible and exhilarating experience.

Madivaru Channel

Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

A channel with lots of small thilas (pinnacles) between Madivaru island and Rasdhoo local island along with the Atoll drop-off edge. This dive site is possible only when current runs into the Atoll, especially reef on left shoulder which means your dive profile starts from deep to shallow where the deepest thila top starts about 25 meters. On your way, you get to see tons of fish, sharks and all kind of rays can be seen.
Sometimes a bit challenging if the current picks up but its worth to try if you get the right current! Only for experienced divers with Deep Dive Training or Advanced level because of the negative entry and the depth

Rasdhoo Beyru

Estimated travel time: 05 minutes

A beautiful wall on the south side of Rasdhoo island with three small thilas (pinnacles) which are located on the drop-off edge a bit further away from the island wall. Thilas top starts from 18 to 20 meters which is suitable for beginners to experienced divers but the current can be medium to strong.
Napoleon, white-tip reef sharks and grey reef sharks can be seen here regularly. Sometimes sting rays resting on the sandy bottom between 25 to 30 meters deep between the wall and thilas. If you are lucky eagle rays, and on very lucky days mantas !! This is also a great dive spot for macro fans because so many small creatures can be found here

Rasdhoo Channel

Estimated travel time: 05 minutes

Another great dive site for the experiened divers with Deep Dive Training or Advanced level because of the negative entry and the depth ! All thilas (pinnacles) are already well-colonised on the atoll drop-off edge at the depth between 20 to 25 meters between Kuramathi and Rasdhoo island. On the sandy bottom between the thilas, look for sting rays or white-tip reef sharks. While crossing the channel, almost anything is possible like grey reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleon, dog-tooth tunas, and many more. On some very lucky days you may see silver-tip reef sharks ! However, this dive can be done only when the current runs into the Atoll.

Holhi Faru

Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

Outside of Kuramathi, we find 3 bays along the main reef of the island. Each bay is surrounded with coral blocks at different depths between 16 – 25 meters where moray eels and lobster are not rare. Very often you can see sting rays resting underneath coral blocks. On the sandy bottom you can find white-tip reef sharks, in the shallow part of the bays black-tip reef sharks – do not forget to have a look to the blue for a surprise…

Three Palm

Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

A very nice wall with a reef top starting in shallow water and which can be dived at any depth. Along the dive, we encounter three big coral blocks in three different area beteen 16 – 23 meters, just like « Three Palms ». Anything is possible here, like white-tip reef sharks, sting rays and even more… ! Eagle rays also like to drift in the current along this wall. Looking down, beautiful sea fans can be seen. If you are lucky sometimes green turtle or hawksbill turtle will come and say Hello…

Bodu Gaa

Estimated travel time: 25 minutes

Bodu Gaa means Big Stone in Dhivehi. This Bodu Gaa can be seen on the reef top just a few inches below the surface and is fully covered by multi-coloured fish. On the wall between 25- 28 meters are two sandy areas whereit is not rare to meet white-tip reef sharks or sting rays relaxing for the day. Around 25 – 26 meters, a couple of nice coral blocks are well-located on this sandy bottom. These blocks are full of kashmir-snappers, oriental sweet-lips, glass fishes even sting rays are possible underneath any of the coral blocks. When there is some current, eagle rays may show-up.

Caves

Estimated travel time: 45 minutes

The furtherest dive site in the Rasdhoo Atoll which takes about 20 minutes to get to from Rasdhoo. This beautful wall is part of our atoll barrier reef which is connected along the very end of the Kuramathi Sandbank on the South West side. Very nice reef formation with lots of overhangs between 17 to 30 meters. If you start with the reef on your right shoulder – of course if you are Deep Dive Training or Advanced level then 30 meters swim-through will be the best to start. Even if you are a beginner you could start within your allowable depth limit and keep drifting because soon you will reach 17 to 20 meters overhang which you can go inside but do not forget to get proper buyancy under the overhang, otherwise you may hit the ceiling or kick on the sandy bottom which may lead to poor visibility or disturb the sting rays who rest often here! Apart from these two specific overhangs, there are still so many small ones where it is possible to find baby white-tip reef sharks or nurse sharks. It’s great to stay above 20 meters because very often eagle rays pass long the edge of the reef – above your head.Do have a look into the blue for a surprise !

Miyaru Faru

Estimated travel time: 45 minutes

Another wall dive from the atoll barrier reef, but an easy dive site on the outside of the North of the Atoll. The reef slowly goes down between 3 to 10 meters then a steep wall follows. On the bottom 30 to 40 meters, we often see white-tip reef sharks relaxing. On the reef itself you can see moray eels, lionfish and for expert eyes even scorpionfish. A nice and easy dive ! During manta season even mantas… !

North Channel

Estimated travel time: 30 minutes

The only channel in the northern part of the Rasdhoo Atoll where 5 reef fingers are lying towards the outside reef. The tops of the five fingers-shaped thilas (pinnacles) are 8 meters below the surface. Between each and every thila there will be a sandy bottom around the depth of 20 to 22 meters. Each finger provides home for many fish and of course as we are in the channel, there is a very high chance of big pelagic species. Sometimes eagle rays, sharks, turtles and dog-tooth tuna are seen, especially when the current runs into the Atoll. During manta season, mantas are coming here often, especialy when plankton is present! Current can be medium to strong but suitable for beginners to experienced divers.

Madi Gaa

Estimated travel time: 30 minutes

Inside the North Channel, in the manta season (from November to April) there is a good chance of seeing mantas on this dive. A big coral block in 14 metres, with top at 10 metres is an attraction for many species of fish. Best is to sit next to the block when mantas are around and watch them circle !

Veligandu North

Estimated travel time: 20 minutes

This dive site offers a top reef separated by a sandy plateau between 5 to 9 meters’ depth, below is a very nice steep wall dropping to around 25 to 30 meters continuing to the atoll drop-off. Along the wall you can find some overhangs from a depth of 12 to 16 meters in different areas. Sometimes these overhangs are covered by glass fishes, through the glass fishes you may find lobsters or even sting ray resting. Lots of macro stuff possible here. If you look carefully, you may find ghost pipefish and even leaf fish inside the overhangs or at the edge of the overhangs. If Madivaru is the capital of the sharks then Veligandu Noth will be the Capital of the moray eels. Please do not forget to have a look in to the blue – sharks and more !!!!

Veligandu East

Estimated travel time: 15 minutes

ALI PLACE AND ALI REEF 1h30

Only 15 minutes away from Rasdhoo, this reef slowly goes down to 30 meters. Big coral blocks can be found between 10 and 30 meters and many of them are full with glass fishes. Very friendly turtles, sometimes eagle rays, mobulas or white-tip reef sharks can be seen swimming along the reef. But don’t forget to look out for macro-life like nudibranchs, scorpion fish or stonefish which can also inhabit these blocks. In the shallow part you will find lots of anemones with plenty of clown fishes.

Reef Explorer Wreck

Estimated travel time: 05 minutes

A 30 meter fishing boat that sank in the Rasdhoo channel that lies on its side on a sandy bottom, surrounded by garden eels and shrimp in a depth of 12-16 metres. Some big groupers have been spotted here, and a few mantas occasionally patrol the area. Good buoyancy control is need to avoid kicking up sediment which ruins visibility, and take care to avoid many metal structures protruding from the wreck and in the sand. Some nice coral blocks around. Look out for the cleaner shrimp and goby pairs in the sand around the wreck.

Queen Explorer Wreck

Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

A well-protected area – just inside the lagoon of Kuramathi. The Kuramathi Queen sits on a sandy bottom, the top of the wreck is at 16 metres, bottom at 20+m. Great for a night dive, very spooky !