Okobe Thila Dive Site

Okobe Thila

Okobe Thila is found in the North Male Atoll, and is considered to be one of the most uniquely shaped thilas in the area. Comprised of three large coral heads, the abounding marine life includes Eagle Rays, Jacks, Tuna, Napoleon Wrasse and Bannerfish. Given the strength of the current, divers may zigzag from one coral head to the other while observing the fish life. As always, planning for a safety spot and surface balloons are a must.

For more information, diving tips, GPS points and photos of Okobe Thila, visit this Okobe Thila information page.

Maldives Victory Wreck

Maldives Victory Wreck Dive Site

The Maldives Victory Wreck is a gorgeous dive site, but must be approached with precaution. Spanning a length of 110 meters and a depth of 35 meters, divers are advised to plan their dive with an adequate air supply. Plans should also made to allow divers to complete the entire dive safely as well as to return to the mooring lines attached to the buoy. Additional dangers at Maldives Victory Wreck come in the form of sharm jagged seashells and urticating hydroids that surround the dive site.  Jagged fragments of metal protruding from the wreck also present a source of injury for divers. A buoy is present to mark the site of the Maldives Victory Wreck’s mast, to which is attached a descent and ascent line. Divers may use this to swim from the mast to the bow following the superstructure and back to the stern. Classified as an advanced dive site, the Maldives Victory Wreck should be approached with caution, planning and experience.  When careful planning and caution are implemented, Maldives Victory Wreck is an extremely rewarding dive site.

For more information about the Maldives Victory Wreck, visit this dive site information page.

Madivaru Rangali Dive Site

Madivaru Rangali Dive Site

Madivaru derives its unique name from the local language of the Maldives, Madi standing for the word “Ray.” Manta Rays abound in this area during the North East Monsoon, and are a beautiful spectacle to behold. Although there are many cleaning stations along this reef, the point where Manta Rays are most active is halfway along the northern side. With the coral reef sloping down gently from its highest point at 8 meters to the atoll floor at about 30 meters, safety precautions are always a must. With the current being strong at times, safety precaution plans should include safety spots as well as surface balloons.

For more information, maps and diving hints for Rangali Madivaru, visit this Madivaru information page.

Maaya Thila Dive Site

Maaya Thila Dive Site

Maaya Thila is a great dive spot if you want to see schools of Grey Reef Sharks and White Tip Reef Sharks congregate around the coral. These sharks can be seen up to as shallow as 12 meters from the reefs edge. Diving at Maaya Thila is easy when the currents are not strong, and divers can easily circle the thila. Dive guides often bring the divers to view the coral formations in deeper waters in order to view the marine life. When it comes to night diving, Maaya Thila is considered to be one of the best scuba sites in the world. With a line for quick ascent tied to a dive boat, a strobe light is attached to a rope at 5 meters for easy access to the line. During the night, divers can experience swimming close to sharks, while turtles can be found resting inside caves and overhangs. Divers can also observe as Moray Eels and White Tip Sharks hunt for their food, Fusiliers. Other marine life that can be seen at night include Octopus and Stone Fish, which are often found around the top reef.

For more information about Maaya Thila dive site, including GPS points, photos and more diving hints, check out this Maaya Thila information page.

Fish Head Dive Site

Fish Head Dive Site (Musha Mas Mingili Thila)

Fish Head, also known as Musha Mas Mingili Thila, is one of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives. It used to be a shark feeding site until the government declared it a Protected Marine Area and banned shark feeding. The Fish Head dive site is famous for its huge populations of grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasse and white tip reef sharks.  Fish Head simply has an amazing amount of fish life, which is the reason for its name. If the current is not too strong, a complete circle can be made in one dive. A surface balloon is necessary.

For more information about Fish Head dive site, visit the information page.

Cocoa Corner Dive Site

Cocoa Corner Dive Site

Cocoa Corner is a dive site that can be explored in different ways.  With the right current and conditions, it has the best shark show in the entire Male Atoll. Many divers consider crossing from Cocoa Corner to Kandooma Thila.  This can be done by beginning the dive from Cocoa Corner with the right current and, while maintaining a depth of 25 to 29 metres, swimming across the current path while parallel to the edge.  This 40 metre-long landmark provides divers with a natural reference that helps them know if they are in the right position while crossing to Kandooma Thila and this way, they do not risk being taken too far inside the channel.  At Cocoa Corner, divers will see grey reef sharks, both adults and newborn babies, guarding the channel. Aside from sharks divers will also see eagle rays and jacks. By the time divers reach the Thila their bottom time should be running out and the best thing to do is to swim to the top of the Thila and continue diving in shallower waters. A safety balloon is a must and divers should always be prepared to make an open water safety stop.

For more information about Cocoa Corner dive site, visit this information page.

Broken Rock Dive Site

Broken Rock Dive Site

Broken Rock is a well-known dive site in the South Ari Atoll in the Maldives that literally comprises a broken rock with a wide canyon that splits the site in two parts: West to East. The canyon is the main attraction of this amazing dive site. It is covered in soft corals and only one diver can enter the canyon at a time. At the depth of around 30m you will see beautiful fan corals and two big coral blocks with spectacular overhangs. The top reef, which has hard coral growth, is a great place to find invertebrates like leaf fish and nudibranchs. The Broken Rock dive site is only suitable for experienced divers because of its depth and strong currents. A dive torch and surface balloon is strongly recommended.

For more information about Broken Rock, visit this information page.

Banana Reef Dive Site

Banana Reef Dive Site

Banana Reef is known to be one of the best dive sites in the Maldives.  Banana Reef dive site is named after the banana-shaped area in the north-eastern part of the dive site, where the caves, gutters and overhangs are filled with fish life and soft coral. Banana Reef was the first ever dive site to be discovered in the Maldives. An excellent way to observe the area is to begin the dive with your left shoulder to the reef. You will see different kinds of fishes including bannerfish, oriental sweetlips, giant squirrelfish and many more. Underwater turbulence can be expected when the currents are strong so make sure that you stay near the wall and don’t let the current push you away. Boat traffic can be heavy times at Banana Reef which is why a surface balloon is necessary.

To find out more about Banana Reef dive site, visit this information page.

Malediven Tauchreisen – German Website about Maldives Scuba Diving

Malediven Tauchreisen Provides Scuba Divers with Information on the Maldives in German

Malediven-Tauchreisen.com has been unveiled, an informational portal and news blog specially designed for German-speaking individuals that want to learn more about scuba diving in the Maldives.

The Maldives is a popular destination for travellers seeking a warm, relaxing holiday. Since its first resort opened in 1972, the Maldives has flourished as a tropical paradise, complete with cool ocean breezes, crystal clear water and white sandy beaches. Though best known for its resorts, the Maldives is  growing in popularity as a prime destination for scuba diving. Avid divers from around the world flock to the Maldives for the opportunity to spot some of the world’s largest underwater animals, including the whale shark, manta ray, grey reef shark, white tip shark and napoleon wrasse.

Currently, there is little comprehensive information on scuba diving in the Maldives available online in German. Last year, 69,240 German tourists visited the Maldives, representing approximately 10% of total arrivals. Furthermore, Switzerland, where German is one of the official languages, represented 4% of total arrivals.

Mona Sutherland, content editor of Malediven-Tauchreisen, said, “We are highly involved in online promotion of the Maldives. We identified a need for a comprehensive informational website about scuba diving in German, and gave the people what they want! Individuals interested in learning more about the dives sites, marine life and liveaboards can find it all at www.malediven-tauchreisen.com!”

Malediven-Tauchreisen.com, meaning “Maldives Diving Holiday” in German, is a one-stop-shop for information on scuba diving in the Maldives. Visitors can read more about:

• Maldives Liveaboards
• Maldives Dive Sites
• Maldives Marine Life
• Maldives News
• The Maldives in General

As well as information, visitors can also browse through photos and watch videos of the Maldives.

Visit Malediven Tauchreisen now!

Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

Learn more about the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) studies whale sharks in the Republic of Maldives. However, the programme is involved in an array of other activities as well.

Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme was created in 2006 by four British university graduates.

The foursome had traveled to the Maldives on a pilot study in search of the whale shark, following up on a tip  that there were a substantial number of whale sharks in the Maldives and that there were no significant studies focusing on their behaviour.

After a huge amount of research, reality struck – there was little known about this magnificent species anywhere in the world – meaning that anything these guys could learn would help to further protection efforts for an already “vulnerable species.”

At that time, the guys did not know exactly what they were about to stumble across. But, it would soon become apparent that the rich ecosystem of the Maldives played host to a year-round aggregation of the largest fish in the Ocean, a fact very few places in the world can claim – the majority of whale shark aggregation sites around the world, such as Ningaloo Reef, Australia, are only seasonal “hot spots.”

Why the sharks choose to inhabit Maldivian waters throughout the year is still not known, although the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme does have its plausible hypothesis. What is known is that the Maldives is a globally significant whale shark aggregation site, possibly the best place in the world to see and study these animals.

Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme returns to the Maldives in 2007

In 2007, the guys again returned to the picture-perfect chain of islands to continue logging whale shark encounters. This time, they secured sponsorship from Conrad Rangali Island – a resort with a great passion for protecting the environment. Conrad would, and to this day, continue to prove their commitment to the cause by providing logistical support to make the in field research possible.

The team also initiated a collaborative genetic analysis study with Dr. Jennifer Schmidt in an attempt to determine how related the whale sharks in the Maldives are to others in the Indian Ocean. The team encountered over sixty whale sharks in the two-month expedition and managed to collect sixteen skin samples from different individuals.

They would also begin to realise the very real threats that the sharks and the ecosystem faced, especially in South Ari Atoll.
With that in mind, the guys vowed to return the following year.

Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme returns to the Maldives in 2008

2008 became a real turning point for the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme. The data collected over the previous two years enabled the MWSRP to bring the issues to the government’s attention and, together with the Maldives tour and dive industries, they developed the “Whale Shark Encounter Guidelines” in an attempt to make the explosion of whale shark tourism sustainable. The Maldivian government also pledged their support for the programme and invited the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme to develop a Marine Protected Area proposal for South Ari’s whale shark “hotspot.”

The guys had also been busy working with the community and it was beginning to have tangible results – they were realising the ecological importance of the whale shark. Until quite recently, Maldivians used to hunt the whale shark for their liver oil. The older generation can vividly remember when a whale shark was caught, saying “It was a real community event. The whole island would come to the beach to help drag the shark over the reef and onto the beach where it would be cut open.”

The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme guys realised that they needed to re-establish a connection between Maldivians and the whale shark to be able to achieve their goals. They also began to understand the issues the local people faced – a lack of employment and educational opportunities, no real way of providing power to their islands sustainably, no waste management systems and no direct benefits from the tourism exploiting their natural resources. One particular conversation, with a fifteen year old student, was key to the programme’s educational focus. When asked which career path he would take his reply was, “I want to be a doctor but I cannot because there are very few higher education opportunities in Maldives. I will end up working in a resort.”

A second collaboration was also instigated in 2008, this time with Dr. Brent Stewart (Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, CA) to begin the first whale shark tagging project in the Maldives, a project that would be instrumental in the development of South Ari Atoll’s Marine Protected Area (MPA). Dr. Stewart would also become a trusted friend and integral part of the MWSRP team and advisory committee.

The tag tracks showed that the sharks were highly mobile but the tagged animals always returned to the South Ari Atoll, highlighting the Maldives as a preferential habitat for the whale shark. This data, combined with the MWSRP’s three years of photo identification work, collectively heightened the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme’s excitement that the sharks utilising Maldivian waters may be a resident population.

Even with all of the programme’s success, the year proved to be a one of transition. It was clear that to make a real difference the MWSRP would need to commit one hundred percent, but with no resources and a lack of funding it would be a real gamble.

The draw of doing “what you love doing for a great cause” was too much for two MWSRP members – Richard Rees and Adam Harman. So they decided to give up their careers, sell their possessions and pool their resources enabling the programme to exist for another year, when hopefully some long term funding would already be secured.

Richard and Adam returned to the archipelago for December 2008. The goal for the trip: recover the remaining archival tags, attempt to secure some long term funding and to develop the MPA. They also piloted a volunteer scheme which enables the MWSRP to utilise a wide range of expertise while providing each volunteer with research experience or that once in a lifetime opportunity.

The partnership proved to be a great success. Over one hundred whale shark encounters were recorded and the groundwork for the MPA was laid.

2009 – A great year for the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

2009 has been the MWSRP’s biggest year with the successful development of South Ari Atoll’s Marine Protected Area (MPA). The MPA dream: to be the first collaboratively managed, regulated, revenue generating MPA in the Maldives, ensuring the local community benefits from their natural resources whilst making tourism sustainable. Resorts are already committing to sponsoring the initiative following consultations with the MWSRP.

The year also brought the MWSRP recognition from the scientific world, the completion of a follow-up whale shark tag and release project and a vast amount of media attention – ultimately helping to raise awareness of the plight of the shark.

The guys have been present in the Maldives for six months and recorded nearly three hundred whale shark encounters this year alone. The team has grown to four, with two voluntary part time staff (Ben Fothergill and Rachel Bott) and a host of dedicated specialist volunteers and companies providing pro bono support (including Hogan and Hartson, an International Law Firm).

The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme in 2010

2010 promises to be very busy – The whole team hopes to be able to build on the MWSRP’s achievements in the coming year. 2010 goals: The development of a one hundred percent self sufficient eco-facility, to enable a year-round presence for visiting researchers, scientists, students, teachers and volunteers is being planned in partnership with Sheppard Robson (leaders in sustainable design) and the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism, two foreign student exchange schemes are in motion (one in the UK, the other in Qatar), the MPA development will continue with baseline coral reef and species specific studies and a MPA management specific NGO is being initiated. An American based ‘Friends Of’ organisation is also in the process of registration and the whale shark research will continue to provide the scientific basis behind the programme’s broader conservation goals.

The only missing aspect – funding.

To become involved with the MWSRP or for more information please visit www.mwsrp.org

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