Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls, the area around Barefoot Thila

Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls · Maldives · Pinnacle

Barefoot Thila

Open-ocean thila pair, advanced divers only

Area photo: Kirill Flerov · CC BY 3.0

Two separated thilas in Haa Dhaalu surrounded by open ocean, the first topping out at around 14 m and dropping to a base at 30 m. The operator lists it for advanced divers only. It is an open-water pinnacle dive where eagle rays, tuna and sharks may pass the rock alongside the resident reef fish.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Barefoot Thila: typical dive 14–30 m (46–100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit14 m30 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

6.7476° N, 73.1109° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

Barefoot Thila is two separated thilas sitting in open ocean, so the dive begins with a boat drop and an open-water descent onto the rock. The first thila has its highest point at around 14 m and drops to its base at 30 m, and the dive works down to the base or the depth you have planned, then around and up the rock so that you cover the formation from bottom to top.

Because there is open water on every side, the blue is as much a part of the dive as the thila. Eagle rays, tuna and sharks are possible here, with all sorts of reef fish on the rock itself. The operator lists the site for advanced divers only, and the ascent is made off the top of the thila at around 14 m into open water for the safety stop, so stay close to the group and the guide's marker.

Marine life and season

  • Eagle rays
  • Tuna
Month-by-month season rating for Barefoot Thila
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

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.

Know before you go

  • The thilas are surrounded by open ocean: carry a surface marker and stay close to the group for the ascent and pick-up.

Sources

  1. Barefoot Thila — Scubago

More dive sites in Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls

Wall

Alidhoo Caves

Large overhangs on the wall with sleeping stingrays and turtles

5–30 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Anemone Thila

Leopard sharks sheltering on the sand at nearly 30 m

to 30 madvanced

Wall

Baarah Corner

Cleaning stations along the top reef of an 8 to 30 m wall

8–30 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Baarah Thila

Up to 30 manta rays reported over one cleaning-station boulder

15–30 madvanced

Cave & cavern

Buda Cave

A 60 m wide cave mouth with sleeping nurse sharks inside

25–30 madvanced

Wreck

Filladhoo Wreck

Four chimneys stand out of the water above an 80 m wreck

5–18 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Hanimaadhoo Thila

Open-water descent to 30 m, then circle the thila upward

14–30 madvanced

Similar dives elsewhere

Pinnacle

Dhonfanu Thila

Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay · Maldives

A narrow swim-through and mantas on a current-split point

18–30 m · max 35 madvanced

Pinnacle

Ave Maria

Praslin & La Digue · Seychelles

Granite canyons in the channel between Praslin and La Digue

5–25 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Booby Island

Praslin & La Digue · Seychelles

Big granite passages, 20 minutes out from Praslin

10–30 madvanced

Pinnacle

Ile au Vache

Seychelles · Seychelles

Granite boulders and small caves to a maximum of 30 m

to 30 madvanced