|
Search Dive Hotels
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rihiveli Beach Resort
|
|
Rihiveli, Maldivian for silver sand, is surrounded by magnificently crystal clear turquoise...
|
|
more...
|
|
|
|
Maldives: Search Dive Areas
|
|
|
|
|
South Male Atoll
|
|
|
Islands surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches sloping gently into the lagoon with exotic fish and coral at the reefs. Even if this might sound like a fiction of paradise it is in fact the very picture of the South Malé Atoll in the Maldives. Although South Malé Atoll is under the administrative influence of North Malé Atoll, it has its own strong style and personality. A smaller atoll, compared to others, 11 uninhabited islands are a part of the atoll. Among these Islands are Emboodhu Finolhu or Mahanaahuraa. South Malé Atoll was one of the first atolls to open itself to tourism.
The diving in Malé is characterised by caves and reefs with steep drop offs.
The North and South Malé Atoll are separated by the 5 km wide Vaadhoo-Channel.
Most of the islands on the South Malé Atoll are dotted on the eastern rim of the atoll. Among the great dive sites to mention are 'Vaadhoo Caves'- an easy dive among myriads of reef fish that live protected in the cavities, The ' Embudhu Kandu' provides for a perfect drift dive. Here you will pass over eagle rays and sharks, and the 'Kuda Giri Wreck' further south where you may explore the remains of a cargo ship, populated with batfish and groupers. At the 'Guraidhoo Corner' you will find large sharks, entire families of humphead wrasses, barracudas, jacks and tunas.
Honeycombed with caves and overhangs from 8 m down to 40 m the Vadhoo Caves at the extreme north point of the Vadhoo reef drops of steeply to the great depths of the Vadhoo channel. At one point a very large overhang starts at a depth of 15m and curves down to 30m, cutting into the reef for about 7m. While the overhang’s ceiling is completely covered in blue soft corals, the inside is host to countless numbers of squirrelfish and soldier fish. This cave is a perfect shelter when the currents are strong and looking outside you can see the trevallies and tuna schooling on the eddies. Once passed the cave, keep the reef to your right and continue to the shallows at 8 m, where you can explore the nooks and crannies as you drift along. The site is excellent for snorkelling, although you should keep aware of the strong currents and confused waters that sometimes develop in the channel.
If you are in search of sharks and rays, Embudhu Kandu is the place to go to. With the powerful northeast currents streaming through the channel, this is indeed one of the best places to see grey sharks, white-tip sharks and schools of eagle rays.
Your point of entry for this dive is the northeast corner of the south side of the channel. Once inside, you descend to 30 m (100 ft) where the ocean reef meets the atoll plate and drops away vertically into the deep blue. It is here where the best pelagic life is waiting for you. On your way back to the surface be sure to stop at 15 m (100ft) where a fantastic drift dive opportunity through the narrow channel is awaiting you.
If wrecks is what you fancy, then the Kuda Giri wreck is the place you want to dive in the South Malé Atoll. The small intact wreck known locally as the Kuda Giri lays head first towards a giri or reef tower, with its bow at 18 m and the stern at 30 m. Various types of corals, such as stony, table or staghorn corals, have covered the surface of the wreck and every now and then a large frogfish might be spotted hiding somewhere amongst the wires of the mast. The captain’s cabin, cargo hold and machine room has been taken over by clouds of glassfish and outside, around the wreck, bluefin trevallies and hundreds of fusiliers might be seen playing cat and mouse. For the experienced diver, there are two possibilities to penetrate the wreck, the first one being through the machine room and exiting at the stern and the second one through the front cargo spaces and exiting at the bridge. Compared to some of the well known wrecks in the Red Sea, the Kuda Giri might be fairly cramped, but for smaller groups it offers an incredible dive. Make sure not to miss the reef next to the wreck, as it is a perfect opportunity to extend your dive at shallower depths. Taking a closer look at the overhangs you will find white Acabria corals, yellow Chagos calcite sponges and Faulkner corals. While circling the reef take a close look at the broken dead Staghorn coral at a depth of approximately 12 m. If you are lucky enough you may spot a resident leaf fish. When you approach the surface, be aware of the direction of the currents so as not to be washed into or away from the reef or boat.
Another great diving opportunity can be found at the southern corner of Guraidhoo Kandu. This site is well known for sightings of grey sharks and eagle rays. The break in the atoll rim south of Guraidhoo is a complex structure of two channels with a large reef in the middle. The southern channel, Guraidhoo Kandu, is 300m (330yd) across, and has sheer sides; its sea bed meets the ocean drop-off at 35m (115ft). Jump in on the outer reef of the south corner and drift with the current into the atoll. On the ocean drop-off, where the oceanic water enters the channel is where most of the pelagic action can be found. Once inside the channel, the overhangs along the reef wall are covered with plenty of sea fans and black coral bushes. Keep an eye open for the family of friendly and curious napoleon wrasse that patrols the reef. Somewhere inside the channel you will encounter a basin in the reef with a large coral outcrop in the centre. Remember to stay close to the reef as the currents here can be quite unpredictable and it is easy to be swept off the reef and be forced to make an open-water ascent.
|
|
|