Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls · Maldives · Wall · Reef · Pelagic & blue water
Maamigili Beyru
The best-known whale shark spot on South Ari's outer reef
Area photo: John Hepburn · CC BY 4.0
The outer reef on the corner of Maamigili island at the southern end of Ari Atoll, and the best-known diving spot in the area for whale sharks. The reef slopes gently to about 10 metres, then turns into a more or less steep wall running past 40, with smaller overhangs and crevices and plenty of schooling fish along the edge.
Where it is and how deep
3.4673° N, 72.8420° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The site is the corner of Maamigili island at the southern end of Ari Atoll, the same island that carries the airport. The outer reef slopes gently down to about 10 metres and then becomes a more or less steep wall dropping past 40, broken by smaller overhangs and crevices. Most of the diving is done along the top of that wall, following the reef edge where the schooling fish stack up.
It is best known as a whale shark site, and the blue side of the dive matters as much as the reef: the source calls it the best-known spot for them in the area, so the wall is worked with one eye out into open water. That popularity is also the main hazard. There is often heavy boat traffic above the reef, so an SMB is highly recommended and the ascent is planned as carefully as the rest of the dive.
Marine life and season
- Whale sharks
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls: Dry NE monsoon (Dec-Apr) brings the calmest seas and clearest water; the SW monsoon (Jun-Oct) lowers visibility but pushes plankton onto the western sides, the best manta months.
Know before you go
- Heavy boat traffic is common above the site, drawn by the whale sharks; surface with care and send an SMB up before you ascend.
Questions divers ask
Can you see whale sharks at Maamigili Beyru?+
It is the best-known whale shark spot in the area, on the outer reef at the southern end of Ari Atoll. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the site is dived along the reef edge with an eye on the blue.
Sources
- Maamigili Beyru — Scubago
More dive sites in Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls
Pinnacle
Ocean-facing pinnacle at the mouth of Bathala channel
Pinnacle
South-side overhangs with gorgonian fans and black corals
Pinnacle
An estimated sixteen resident grey reef sharks
Pinnacle
A pinnacle eroded into five separate pieces, 12 m to 40 m
Wreck
Upright cargo wreck, deck at 21 m and sand at 28 m
Pinnacle
Blue sponges and black-coral overhangs on a small pinnacle
Pinnacle
Shallow top reef from 5 m, with anthias over the safety stop
Cave & cavern
Two swim-through caverns, at 18-20 m and 28-30 m
Similar dives elsewhere
Sea fans and a cave at 40 m under a reef top anyone can dive
A Montipora stand owning the wall from 16 to 35 m
Sharks called in over a wall that slopes past 40 m
Large overhangs on the wall with sleeping stingrays and turtles