Diving the Maldives' North Male & Gaafaru FalhuThe Maldives' administrative region of Kaafu is formed from 3 atolls; tiny Gaafaru Falhu to the north below this North Male Atoll and then South Male Atoll across the deep channel of Vaadhoo Kandu. Southern North Male Atoll was the first area to be opened for tourism, and is the location of the capital Male and the main international airport. The northern half of North Male Atoll has few developed islands. It retains a remote feel as Male is over 50 minutes away by speedboat, far longer by dive dhoni. So the 40 or so named dive sites in northern North Male Atoll are beyond reach of divers from the majority of the atoll’s resorts.
A good many of northern North Male Atoll's named sites are around the atoll’s western wall with its numerous Kandu’s. There are also a number of great Thila’s and Giris in the atoll’s interior. Hard coral gardens, reef fish, turtles, schooling barracuda, even the occasional whale shark, its all here. There are sites where you can reliably experience shark diving at its best including at Himiya Kandu, Olhahali Kandu and also at Fishpoint with its Grey Reef Sharks and Eagle Rays. Diving North Male Atoll also includes one of the Maldives’ famous Manta cleaning stations at Boduhiti Thila, best during Iruvaa. During the Hulhagu season the Mantas migrate many moving to the atoll’s eastern wall at Fairy Tail reef.
Gaafaru Falhu has no resort islands and is almost enclosed by the fringing reef with just three kandus allowing access to the inner lagoon. Gaafaru Falhu is best known for its wrecks on the north-east side; Lady Christine, a survey vessel sunk in 1974; the Erlangen, a German cargo vessel sank 1894; the SS Seagull, sunk in 1879. All of which found the reef as they navigated through the Kaashidhoo Kuda Kandu which seperates Gaafaru from the island of Kaashidhoo with its lagoon and fringing reef to the north.
Overview: Diving the Maldives
Diving Holidays in the Maldives
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