Discover barefoot paradise among miles of idyllic white sand beaches and unspoilt coral reefs. The Ari-Atoll officially known as Alif- or Alifu-Atoll, is the second largest ring in the Maldives, with an almost rectangular shape of 89 km in length and 30 km in width. The Atoll consists of 105 islands and boasts with 29 resorts such as the world-renown Rangali Island.
In the mid 80ies, the Ari-Atoll opened to tourism. Halaveli, Bathala, Maayafushi and Ellaid-hoo (in the north-east of the atoll) became quickly known to the dive scene. Dive sites such as the Fish Head (Mushimasmigili Thila) or the Maayafushi Thila (a “thila” is a submerged reef inside the Atoll) quickly rose to stardom. On both reefs, the variety of fish is nothing short of being spectacular. Both situated in the northern part of the Ari-Atoll, both sites have been known for the shark feedings. Although the dive masters do not feed them anymore, they still gather every time they hear a boat approaching. The whole Ari Atoll is dotted with exciting dive sites.
Named after a small brown fusilier that is found in huge numbers on the thila Mushimasmigili there is a protected marine, home to napoleon wrasse, grey reef sharks and great schools of fusiliers and yellow grunts. About 100 m (328 ft) long and 60 m (197 ft) wide the southern side of the thila drops down, first from 8 m (25 ft) to 20 m (65 ft) and then down to the Atoll plate at 42 m (138 ft). It is here at the south-eastern corner of the step that a large overhang commonly known as The Fish Head is projecting out from the thila, boasting thousands of blue-lined snappers. The north and western sides of the thila drop down more steeply, and at 20m (65ft) the reef is undercut with an overhang around a large portion of the thila. In this overhang there are many large sea fans and black coral trees decorated with featherstars.
'Ukulhas Thila', rising from the northern ridge of the outer reefs, is famous all over the world for its sightings of manta rays. From January to March this is a site where mantas are often seen being cleaned on top of the large porites corals. About 300 m (984 ft) long and just 30 m (98 ft) wide Ukulhas Thila offers something all year long and not just during manta season. A huge school of blue-lined snappers, glassfish in the coral overhangs and various types of moray eels are just some of the regular guests at Ukulhas Thila. Just off the edge of the thila in the depths, grey sharks, white-tip sharks and tuna can usually be seen. With its coral top at an average depth of 20 m (65 ft) and the drop-offs at the edge the thila is quite deep, so take great care not to go into decompression. Blue-water decompression stops should be avoided at all costs as the currents can run across the top of the thila very strongly and you will be carried a long way from the cover boat.
Then there is 'Maaya Thila', four kilometres north of the island resort of Maayafushi, 'Maaya Thila' offers one of the best dives in the Maldives. A protected site, a thila, which is about 80 m in diameter, with depths ranging from 6-30 m, 'Maaya Thila' has abundant fish life and intricate coral growth - a thrilling dive with sharks everywhere. You will get the chance to see grey sharks, white-tip sharks, turtles, stonefish, frogfish, zebra morays, batfish and many more. If you head to the top of the thila and swim north you come to the edge, where there is a large overhang full of bright orange Tubastrea corals. Take a look out into the blue to see a large satellite rock. At 15 m (50 ft) the top of the rock is covered in colourful hard and soft corals while the vertical sides drop down to the atoll plate at 40 m (130 ft). The channel between the thila and the satellite rock is a good place to spot grey reef sharks on their patrol, while on the channel floor white-tip sharks can often be seen resting in the sand. Maaya Thila is an excellent site for a night dive. Although a bit deep for snorkelling, as the top of the tila stands at 8 m (25 ft), it is still shallow enough to get a good birds-eye view of the action.
To the south is the 'Kuda Rah Thila'- extremely rich with marine life due to the ever-present currents that carry in nourishment for large tunas, schools of jacks, humphead wrasses and eagle rays. Kuda Rah Tila is situated between the two fisher islands Dangethi and Dhingurah and boasts with an abundant variety of soft corals in every shade of colour imaginable. The spot attracts huge schools of snappers, hovering gently in the current. At the end of the dive, it is fun to hover over the reef with all the anemones and the fish within.
'Shark Thila', also in the south, is made famous by the large number of grey reef sharks, resident in the thila.
The wreck found in Halaveli has been scuttled for the sole purpose of the diver’s delight. Found in a depth of 28 m, lying on the sand at the north-eastern end of the Ari-Atoll, the wreck is home to numerous stingrays that can be observed on the way down to the wreck.