Lhaviyani Atoll · Maldives · Pinnacle
Salleydhoo Thila
Two tongues of reef descending to 20–22 m on the southern side
Area photo: asands from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
A thila about 15 minutes by boat north of Le Méridien Maldives with an unusual shape for a Maldivian underwater mount: its southern section splits into two distinctive tongues that descend to 20–22 m. It is a short boat ride from the resort, and the dive follows that topography rather than a single headline animal.
Where it is and how deep
5.3457° N, 73.5522° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
A thila is a typical Maldivian underwater mount, a reef that rises from the atoll floor without reaching the surface, and Salleydhoo Thila is one of those with an unusual topography. The boat ride is short, about 15 minutes north of Le Méridien Maldives, and you descend onto the mount and work around its edges, following the reef contour with the boat waiting above.
The southern section is the distinctive part: here the reef splits into two tongues that run out from the main body and descend to 20–22 m, the deepest published depth on the site. Work the tongues first, while bottom time is longest, then move back up the mount and finish on the shallower top of the thila for the safety stop before returning to the boat.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime |
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.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Salleydhoo Thila?+
The two tongues on the southern section of the thila descend to 20–22 m, which is the deepest part of the dive.
Sources
- Salleydhoo Thila — Scubago
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