South Malé Atoll · Maldives · Reef
Medhu Faru
Coral blocks from 5 to 15 m above a drop-off to 30 m
Area photo: Saaremees · CC BY-SA 4.0
An outside-reef dive scattered with big and small coral blocks between 5 and 15 m, then a gentle drop-off running down to about 30 m, where blue-spotted rays and ribbon eels live among soft coral formations. It is best dived in an east-to-west current, which turns the block field into a slow drift.
Where it is and how deep
3.8928° N, 73.4703° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The reef's upper section, between 5 and 15 m, is a field of coral blocks, big and small, and most of the dive is spent weaving among them. Below the blocks a gentle drop-off runs down to around 30 m, where Dive The World notes blue-spotted rays, ribbon eels and soft coral formations — worth a planned excursion rather than a drift-by.
Scubago's advice is specific: the site is best dived in an east-to-west current. No current rating is published for the reef itself, so plan the timing with your operator. The block field is shallow enough for a long dive, and the 30 m base of the drop-off is there for divers certified to reach it.
Marine life and season
- Stingrays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows South Malé Atoll: The dry northeast monsoon, late December to May, is the main season; mantas clean May to August and whale sharks are reported in August on the outer reef.
Sources
- Medhu Faru — Scubago
- Maldives South Male Atoll dive sites — Dive The World
More dive sites in South Malé Atoll
Drift
One of the best shark shows around Malé on the right incoming current
Channel & pass
A channel protected for its grey reef and whitetip sharks
Channel & pass
Collapsed reef blocks sheltering sharks in a protected channel
Channel & pass
An overhang whose ceiling opens to a window at 10 m
Pinnacle
A current-swept thila where barracuda stack in groups
Wreck
An artificial-reef wreck beside a hard-coral giri
Manta cleaning station worked from April into November
Reef
A one-way drift along the atoll's southeast outer reef
Similar dives elsewhere
A gentle slope to 34 m with arches and overhangs
An open-water-friendly pass with turtles and eagle rays
Coral slopes and a vertical wall between 5 m and 30 m
Canyons and overhangs from 12 to 30 m, with a shark nursery