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Aerial view of Helengeli island's tree-lined shore rising from a shallow reef flat — North Malé Atoll

North Malé Atoll · Maldives · Pinnacle · Reef

Maha Thila

Black-footed and Clark's clownfish in the thila's anemones

Area photo: Genet (Diskussion) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Maha Thila is a deep submerged reef in North Malé Atoll, swept by strong current and often dived in clear water. Its anemones hold good numbers of clownfish, both the local black-footed species and the more widespread Clark's clownfish.

Also known as Maha Tila.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Maha Thila: typical dive to 35 m (to 115 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit35 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

4.6197° N, 73.5178° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The thila is dived to 35 m, often with visibility past 30 m. The anemones on the reef hold the local black-footed clownfish alongside Clark's clownfish, and as the current picks up it lifts the anemones' skirts. The current here can exceed 2 knots.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Maha Thila
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFairFairFairFairFairGoodPrime

Season follows North Malé Atoll: December to April is dry with gentle breezes; late May to July is the weakest stretch, when most liveaboards leave the atoll.

Know before you go

  • The current can run strong, at over 2 knots, across the thila.

Sources

  1. Maha Thila - Diving in North Male Atoll — Wannadive.net
  2. Why I never tire of the Maldives — Divernet

More dive sites in North Malé Atoll

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Back Faru

The standard check dive, an hour from Malé City

20–30 mintermediate

Reef

Banana Reef

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Bandos Rock

House-reef wall with caves, table corals and a canyon

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Fairytale Reef

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to 30 mintermediate

Reef

Fish Tank

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10.2–20.8 mbeginner

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Helengeli House Reef

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to 20 mintermediate

Wreck

Hembadhoo Wreck

An upright 16 m tug covered in soft and black corals

15–22 m · max 25 mbeginner

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