Trigger Valley is one of the top 10 dive sites: There is a Thila inside the channel with 2 narrow sandy channels on either side. These narrow channels in this amazing dive site are occupied by the Titan Triggerfish and used as a mating ground. Be aware of the Titan Triggerfish and don’t get close to them. If they start to behave strangely keep an eye on them and try to swim away. Early morning Hammerhead Dive: Fotteyo Kandu is not only famous for the day dive but also for an early morning Hammerhead dive. This dive is performed very differently from the day dive as divers spend most of the time in the blue water. During the early morning hours Scallop Hammerheads rise to shallower depths and divers get take a glimpse at them.

Filitheyo Kandu is one of the best dive sites in world. Filitheyo Kandu is a hugely popular dive site in the Maldives, a channel spanning 2 kilometers which is comprised of 3 smaller dive sites; Filitheyo Outside, Filitheyo Thila and Dolphin Corner. The dive location Filitheyo Thila is a “U”-shaped reef, with the top ranging from 10m – 20m. This reef encapsulates a beautiful little sand valley; a popular spot for sting rays and large schools of fish. Around this thila you will also find numerous caves, a majority of them surpassing 20 meters in depth. Near the outside reef are two smaller reef outcrops, with a top depth at around 10 meters, and caves on the outside averaging around 20 meters. This particular area attracts a variety of exotic marine life, such as sharks, napoleon and eagle rays. For the more experienced scuba diver, there are further caves for exploration beyond the outside drop off point, starting below a whopping 30 meters. Filitheyo Outside This beautiful dive spot in the Maldives is formed like a protruding reef, gradually decreasing into the channel along a narrow ridge of about 20m width, to a depth of over 30 meters.

Broken Rock may be amongst the best dive sites. Apart from Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock is most probably one of the the most well-known dive sites in the South Ari Atoll. This Thila is literally a broken rock with a 2-metre wide canyon that splits the small Thila in two parts, from the west to east, giving the reef its name. This canyon is the main attraction on this wonderful submerged reef. Broken Rock is covered in soft corals and only one diver can enter the canyon at a time. On the north side at a depth of around 25-30m, there are two big coral blocks with overhangs and beautiful fan corals which are well worth a visit. The top reef at Broken Rock has great hard coral growth and is an ideal place to find invertebrates like leaf fish and nudibranchs. Depth and strong currents make this Thila suitable only for experienced divers. A dive torch and a surface balloon are both strongly recommended at Broken Rock.

The dive sites on the top of the thila is like untouched reef with stunning table corals. These layered coral formations offer plenty of protection for the Maldivian marine life such as the morays and shy reef fish. There are cleaner wrasse stations peppered all around the reef and it is not uncommon to spot large schools of fish or mantas congregating in the area. More often than not you will catch sight of black snapper fish, blue-dash fusilier, yellow-black fusilier, and aggregations of the oriental sweetlip, cruising around these depths. The rapid currents that stream through the channel accentuate the brilliant soft corals, as they compete for all available space.

Dhigali Haa is amongst the best world dive sites for scuba enthusiasts looking for a varied balance of spectacular marine life and coral formations. In the past this top diving location used to be busy location for shark hunters, and therefore is now a protected marine area. It remains a good location for sharks and other fish; it is not uncommon to find up to 6 grey reef sharks cruising in the depths at any given time. There is also an abundance of fish in Dhigali Haa – you will find all kinds of Maldives marine life, such as: blue-fin jacks, fusilier, blue-striped and humpback snapper, batfish, barracudas, eagle rays, lionfish, angelfish, basslets, trumpet fish, blackcoral bushes, oyster clams, yellow sea fans, sponges, soft corals, trevally and more. This relatively small dive site is a favorite for divers looking to mingle with sharks, and can be explored in one dive session. Make sure you do not miss out on this stunning dive location on your Maldives holiday; sharks, corals, fish and more, Dhigali Haa has it all!

Fotteyo Kandu is one of the top diving sites. Many scuba divers consider Fotteyo Kandu to be the best dive site in Maldives and it is also rated among the top 5 dive spots 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. Animals commonly spotted at Fotteyo Kandu 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.

Fushi Kandu in Maldives is one of the best diving sites. This is a spectacular Maldives scuba diving site spanning a one kilometer wide channel containing five separate thilas. The thilas are mainly very narrow and long, initiating from a sandy bottom of around 20m – 25m. Once inside the main channel, the depth drops to over 30 meters, with the outside ledge decreasing steeply from 30 meters. These thilas attract many schools of fish, along with moray eels, eagle rays and even sharks. The main location to spot sharks would be along the outside drop off, whereas returning to the thilas for a leisurely dive across the entire channel would bring you face to face with sting rays and possibly nurse sharks, dwelling in the sandy channels. This dive location is a strong favorite of scuba divers visiting the Maldives on holiday, do not miss out on this spectacular dive route; it is an aquatic experience not soon forgotten.