Addu Atoll · Maldives · Reef
Shark Point
Tigers, grey reefs and silvertips on Addu's outer reef
Area photo: ╚ DD╔ from Male, Maldives · CC BY-SA 2.0
Addu's outer-reef shark dive, on the steep west-facing wall just south of the atoll's north-west corner. It is a baited dive: a local diver puts in tuna scraps and supervises it, and the centres book him for the trip. Tiger, grey reef and silvertip sharks are the encounters listed for it, with whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, turtles and napoleon wrasse on the reef top above. The wall runs from about 5 metres down past 30, and current on this side of the atoll ranges from slack to strong.
Also known as Sharkpoint, Tiger Shark Point, Tigershark Point.
Where it is and how deep
0.5870° S, 73.0720° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site is on the outside of the atoll, so getting there is 45 minutes of open water from the dive centre and the boat commits you for the best part of a morning. Conditions on this side of Addu range from no current at all to strong, and that is what the briefing turns on: where to drop, which way the water will carry you, and whether the dive is a hold on the reef edge or a drift along it.
The big sharks are the reason for the trip, and they are fed. A local diver puts tuna scraps in the water and runs the dive, and the centres book him rather than working the site on their own — so the encounter is arranged rather than chanced upon, and the group dives to his briefing as well as the guide's. Tiger, grey reef and silvertip sharks are the three the centres name for this outer reef. Keep the group tight and the movement slow; this is not a site to wander off on.
The top reef above is a different dive and a good way to finish. Turtles, napoleon wrasse, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks and the usual common reef fish are up here in the shallows above the main reef, which makes the last stretch of the dive productive rather than a bare ascent, and gives the boat an easy pick-up if the current has moved you along the reef.
Marine life and season
- Tiger sharks
- Reef sharks
- Sea turtles
- Napoleon wrasse
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Addu Atoll: Addu's resident dive centre rates January to April driest and busiest and July to September best for visibility; May-June and October-December are wetter. Full and new moon run the strongest currents.
Know before you go
- Tiger sharks are among the species encountered here, so the usual big-shark discipline applies: stay as a group, keep movements slow and deliberate, and do not linger on the surface.
- Current on the outside reef ranges from nothing to strong and the site is 45 minutes from base — carry an SMB and expect a drifting pick-up rather than a return to a fixed mooring.
Questions divers ask
What sharks can you see at Shark Point in Addu?+
The Addu centres list tiger, grey reef and silvertip sharks on the outer reef itself, with whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, turtles, napoleon wrasse and common reef fish on the shallower top reef above. It is a baited dive run by a local diver who puts in tuna scraps, so the sharks are drawn in rather than come across.
How far is Shark Point from Addu's dive centre?+
About 45 minutes by boat, out on the ocean-facing side of the atoll. That puts it well beyond the sheltered lagoon sites and makes it a half-day trip rather than a short hop.
Sources
- Dive sites in Addu Maldives — Aquaventure Maldives
- Tauchplätze Equator Village, Gan (Addu Atoll) — Diverland Maldives
In The Logbook
- Where to see reef sharks on your first divesBig animals · 14 min read
- How long should a surface interval be?Body & health · 8 min read
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