Raa Atoll, the area around Fainu Corner

Raa Atoll · Maldives · Drift · Reef

Fainu Corner

Two-tier drift: overhangs at 10-15 m for beginners, 25 m for the experienced

Area photo: Samee Shafeeg · CC BY 3.0

Fainu Corner is a drift dive off Fainu island in Raa Atoll that works for two levels at once. Beginners drift past the upper overhangs at 10-15 m while more experienced divers drop to the overhangs at 25 m, and when there is current the relatively steep reef is fully covered with soft coral. Nitrox or Deep specialties are recommended for the deeper line.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Fainu Corner: typical dive 10–25 m (33–82 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m25 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

5.4598° N, 73.0433° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

This is a drift, so the boat drops the group up-current on the corner and everyone descends together before splitting by depth. The less experienced divers hold the upper reef and drift past the line of overhangs at 10-15 m; the more experienced head deeper to 25 m, where a second set of overhangs cuts into the reef. Both groups move in the same direction along the relatively steep reef face, so the guides can keep the party together.

The current is what makes the site: when it runs, the reef is fully covered in soft coral and the drift carries you along it without effort. The deeper group comes up to rejoin the shallow line as no-decompression time shortens at 25 m, and the whole party drifts on to the pick-up point, ascending from the 10-15 m tier for the safety stop while the boat follows.

Marine life and season

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

Month-by-month season rating for Fainu Corner
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFairFairFairFairFairFairGood

Season follows Raa Atoll: Dec–Apr is the calm, clear window and when mantas use the Uthuru Maafaru cleaning stations; the south-west monsoon (Jun–Nov) brings rain and a choppy surface.

Know before you go

  • It is a current-driven drift; stay with your depth group, keep the reef on the same side throughout and carry a surface marker for the boat pick-up.

Questions divers ask

Is Fainu Corner suitable for beginners?+

Yes. It is described as a drift suitable for all levels: beginners stay on the upper overhangs at 10-15 m while experienced divers go to 25 m.

Sources

  1. Fainu Corner — Scubago
  2. Fainu, Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi — OpenStreetMap

More dive sites in Raa Atoll

Pinnacle

Dheraha Thila

A broken rock in many blocks, with everything between 18 m and 30 m

18–30 madvanced

Wall

Fuggiri Wall

Straight drop from 10 m to 35 m with soft-coral overhangs at 12-18 m

10–35 madvanced

Reef

Gaagandu Faru

Gentle coral slope with overhangs, 8 m to 20 m

8–20 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Ifuru Thila

Round channel thila at the atoll's eastern end, 5 m down to 35 m

5–35 madvanced

Wall

Koroshigiri Canyon

Overhang-cut wall to 30 m with a small thila rising from 33 m to 18 m up-current

3–30 m · max 33 madvanced

Reef

Maafaru

Healthy coral and macro life on an easy reef from 2 m to 20 m

2–20 mbeginner

Reef

Madi Gaa

Two manta cleaning stations, at 13 m and 20 m, active December to April

13–20 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Reethi Thila

Overhangs on the channel side shelter stingrays and nurse sharks

6–30 mintermediate

Similar dives elsewhere

Drift

Big Rock

Mauritius · Mauritius

A drift run deep to 26 m or shallow to 20 m

to 26 mintermediate

Drift

Farikede

Fuvahmulah · Maldives

A brief, powerful drift where threshers and hammerheads come out of the blue

to 30 madvanced

Drift

Coconut Point

Christmas Island · Australia

A shallow drift with swirling current and elusive hammerheads

6–16 mintermediate

Drift

Maarikilu Caves

Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay · Maldives

A drift from a 4 m bay onto a steep wall, mantas Jan–Apr

4–22 mintermediate