Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls · Maldives · Pinnacle
Anemone Thila
Leopard sharks sheltering on the sand at nearly 30 m
Area photo: Kirill Flerov · CC BY 3.0
An east-west thila off Theefaridhoo Island in Haa Dhaalu, dived from its north side down to a sandy bottom close to 30 m. Leopard sharks shelter on the sand from the south-to-north current, with stingrays and marble rays part-buried beside them, and the absence of other boats makes the encounter close to guaranteed.
Where it is and how deep
6.7402° N, 73.0335° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The thila stretches from east to west and you begin on its north side. The plan is to descend quickly to the sandy bottom close to 30 m, because that is where the leopard sharks are: they shelter on the sand from the south-to-north current that runs across the site. Get down promptly, settle without stirring the sand, and take your time along the seabed.
The water is clear and warm, 29 degrees C, and with the sun overhead the visibility is such that you could be forgiven for thinking you were at 10 m rather than close to 30 m, so watch your depth and no-decompression time. Along the seabed look for stingrays and marble rays partially covered by sand with only their eyes showing. Few other boats dive here, which is why the leopard shark encounter is described as almost guaranteed. Work back up the pinnacle to finish shallow.
Marine life and season
- Stingrays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls: January to April is calm and clear with visibility to 30 m; the far north is dived most of the year, with June and July the roughest months of the southwest monsoon.
Sources
- Diving Sites in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives — Dive The World
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