Reefwander
Reefwander
Full calendar

Destinations at their peak each month

  1. Jan167
  2. Feb183
  3. Mar192
  4. Apr216
  5. May186
  6. Jun272
  7. Jul307
  8. Aug313
  9. Sep296
  10. Oct180
  11. Nov119
  12. Dec145

Americas

Europe, Africa & Middle East

Indo-Pacific

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

North Malé Atoll · Maldives · Pinnacle · Drift · Pelagic & blue water

Miayru Thila

Grey reef sharks off the thila's ocean step on the incoming tide

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

Miayru Thila is a submerged reef in North Malé Atoll dived on the incoming current, when divers hang off its ocean-side step. It is a deep drift dive in strong water, where grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays come by in the current.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Miayru Thila: typical dive to 33 m (to 108 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit33 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

4.5239° N, 73.6487° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The dive is planned for the incoming current. Divers drop in over the blue with negative buoyancy and descend straight to 28 m, then settle in front of the thila on the ocean step at about 32 m. From there grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse and turtles pass in the current, with snappers and sweetlips around the reef.

Marine life and season

  • Reef sharks
  • Eagle rays
  • Napoleon wrasse
  • Sea turtles
Month-by-month season rating for Miayru 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 runs strong, over 2 knots, so descents are made negatively buoyant to reach the step without being swept off.

Questions divers ask

What certification does Miayru Thila need?+

Advanced Open Water or CMAS two-star. The dive reaches 33 m in a current that can exceed 2 knots, with a negative descent to the ocean step.

Sources

  1. Miayru Thila - Diving in North Male Atoll — Wannadive.net

More dive sites in North Malé Atoll

Reef

Back Faru

The standard check dive, an hour from Malé City

20–30 mintermediate

Reef

Banana Reef

One of the first dive sites ever found in the Maldives

10–25 mintermediate

Reef

Bandos Rock

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

3–30 mintermediate

Reef

Fairytale Reef

A gentle drift along a reef with big reef fish

to 30 mintermediate

Reef

Fish Tank

Stingrays and morays drawn to a fish-factory outflow

10.2–20.8 mbeginner

Reef

Helengeli House Reef

A long, thin island reef with pelagic fish along its edge

to 20 mintermediate

Wreck

Hembadhoo Wreck

An upright 16 m tug covered in soft and black corals

15–22 m · max 25 mbeginner

Similar dives elsewhere

Pinnacle

Dhonfanu Thila

Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay · Maldives

A narrow swim-through and mantas on a current-split point

18–30 m · max 35 madvanced

Pinnacle

Baarah Thila

Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls · Maldives

Up to 30 manta rays reported over one cleaning-station boulder

15–30 madvanced

Pinnacle

Dispa Rock

Weligama & Mirissa · Sri Lanka

Barracudas hunting over a pinnacle top carpeted in blue triggerfish

to 32 madvanced

Pinnacle

Kandooma Thila

South Malé Atoll · Maldives

A current-swept thila where barracuda stack in groups

13–35 m · max 40 madvanced