Ari Atoll - Best diving spots in Maldives

Ari Atoll is considered to be home to one of the best dive sites in the Maldives and is featured prominently on the itineraries of many Maldivian liveaboards. Diving in Ari differs from other areas in the Maldives mainly since it does not feature many long stretches of barrier reef, instead, there are a lot of thilas here where submerged pinnacles both inside and outside the atoll lagoons act as sites of marine aggregation, making for wonderful diving both in and around the pinnacles and in the channels.

Sharks, manta rays and other pelagic fish are more commonly encountered around Ari Atoll while the mighty whale shark is spotted too regularly, especially in its marine protected areas. Although there are spots elsewhere for sharks and mantas the most reliable sites for this ever popular passing trade are located in Ari Atoll.

 

Maaya Thila - If not the premiere dive site in the Maldives, then it surely is one of the best. This pinnacle has a tumultuous assortment of sea life, with an amazing variety and volume of creatures. Brightly coloured nudibranchs vie for your attention with giant frogfish. Turtles can be seen happily munching on the reef, and the elusive guitar shark can be spotted by the alert diver.

Fish Head - Another Ari Atoll pinnacle, this one being a favourite for packs of grey reef sharks, that buzz past in search of food. Never ending trains of fusiliers and batfish often shoot past on the ocean highway, to further destinations at the atoll.

Hammerhead Point - located in Rasdhoo Atoll, a short hop north east of Ari Atoll, and is often dived by liveaboards travelling between South Male and Ari Atoll. The reef features a ridge that rises up to about 10 metres below which you can explore a number of overhangs and caverns between a depth of 25 and 30 metres. Keep an eye out for sightings of dog-toothed tuna, dolphinfish, schools of black snapper, and even an occasional sailfish.

Broken Rock - The name Broken Rock comes from the unusual structure in the reef featuring a large diagonal split down its middle.

Divers can enjoy an array of soft corals, gorgonian fans and sponges throughout the canyon and its smaller cracks and crevices. Napoleon wrasse, turtles and moray eels are often spotted here. To the east of the thila is another rock formation which plateaus at around 17 metres abundant with schools of blue-lined snapper and barracuda. The very fortunate may be lucky enough to spot a whale shark or two here in May and November.

The Fesdu Wreck - An artificial reef formed by a 30 metre long fishing trawler sunken to the sea bed. The bow of the wreck points north and at 30 metres is slightly deeper than the stern which sits at 27 metres deep. Within the wreck you can spot a vast array of life including huge, dense clouds of glassfish in the wheelhouse as well as anthias, butterfly fish and slow-moving lionfish. There are also more substantial residents in what is quite a large wreck so look out for moray eels, red-mouthed groupers and blue-fin trevally.