Lhaviyani Atoll, the area around Hudhu Thila

Lhaviyani Atoll · Maldives · Pinnacle

Hudhu Thila

Overhangs on a 5 m to 30 m thila dived for macro life

Area photo: asands from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0

A macro site northeast of Le Méridien Maldives: a thila with a reef top at around 5 m that descends to 25–30 m, its sides cut with overhangs to search for small life. It is a dive for looking closely at the reef rather than out into the blue.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Hudhu Thila: typical dive 5–30 m (15–100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit5 m30 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

5.3552° N, 73.6196° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

Hudhu Thila lies northeast of Le Méridien Maldives and is dived as a macro site. You descend onto the reef top at around 5 m and follow the mount down: the reef descends to 25–30 m, and it is along this slope that the overhangs appear. Take a light for the overhangs, which are the feature the site is dived for.

Move slowly along the side of the thila, working the overhangs one by one at the depth that suits the group, then gradually spiral up the mount. The 5 m reef top makes a natural safety stop and is itself worth searching before you surface to the boat.

Marine life and season

  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for Hudhu Thila
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeFairFairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodPrime

Season follows Lhaviyani Atoll: Iruvai, the dry northeast monsoon (Dec–Apr), is calm and clear; the wet Hulhangu monsoon (Jun–Nov) can chop the surface but brings mantas to Fushifaru Thila, peaking Oct–Nov.

Sources

  1. Hudhu Thila — Scubago

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