...Highlights: shark action, schooling fish & big pelagics...
...Diving environment: advanced divers, off the beaten track...
Noonu Atoll in the north of the Maldives, also known as Southern Miladhunmadulu, offers diving mostly for intermediate to experienced divers as many of the selected sites at quite deep. The main attraction of diving in Noonu are the grey reef sharks and rarely seen guitar sharks. The atoll is not for the faint-hearted; dives often involve moderate to strong currents and depths that demand good air consumption and experience.
The crown jewel of diving at Noonu Atoll, Orimas Thila is a submerged pinnacle that serves as a cleaning station for grey reef sharks. There are many spots in the Northern Atolls that enjoy conditions and food sources that sharks would find suitable, yet they remain a rarity. Orimas Thila is not one of those places. The dive begins with a drop down over a reef which meets a sandy floor of 30+ metres. Look out here for eagle rays, as well as soldierfish and blue-lined snapper in quieter areas. Currents will guide you along the side of the reef to where there is a sandy channel. This is usually where the real stars of the show appear: grey reef sharks. They tend to swim in patterns over the top of a second reef and can be viewed from the sandy channel or from a little ledge down-current from them. These areas allow them to continue their natural behaviour which becomes disrupted if you are up-current from them or in the area of the reef they consider to be "their patch".
The best spot is at the ledge down-current from them. From this viewing area you can rest, mostly out of sight and either kneel on the floor, or hook on if there is current, and observe the sharks circling around and sometimes wriggling in response to being cleaned. Seeing 20 or more sharks is not uncommon here and they range in size from juveniles under a metre long to meaty adults of 3 or 4 metres. Several females are heavily scarred from aggressive mating. It is an exciting shark dive by most gauges but particularly so since sharks are so uncommon in many parts of the Northern Atolls. As such, Orimas Thila is a highlight for many people on a scuba diving trip in Noonu Atoll.
Christmas Tree Rock is a site noteworthy for many reasons, not least its topography. Unsurprisingly, it resembles a Christmas tree. It is a pinnacle which starts from a broad low base and rises up to a thinner top with a series of ledges and plateaus, all sheltering plenty of life and with ample size for for divers to swim through. It is worth peering under the base ledge where you might find a resting white tip reef shark or marble rays which often shelter here. From the base you will then proceed to wind your way up the structure. At each higher level some of the bubbles blown below filter up in streams through pores in the reef. Yellow-lined snapper, trevally and tuna are all numerous here.
Orange basslets, blennies, dottybacks together number in their thousands and wrap around the tree like fairy lights. You will finally emerge at the top of the reef at around 12 to 15 metres depth. There is a feature where the rock juts out like an arrow with 2 tubastrea corals at the tip. Follow the direction of this arrow to a nearby shallow reef where you can run down your tank and do your safety stop while enjoying the hard coral garden that comes to within 2 or 3 metres of the surface. Christmas Tree Rock is often mentioned as a favourite site for those who dive at Noonu Atoll. This may be partly because of its interesting topography, partly due to the variety of large and small marine life, and also because it has a memorable name!
Kandholhudhoo Caves features a series of underwater caves and overhangs along a vertical wall. The cave systems are home to large schools of soldierfish and sweepers, while moray eels and lobsters lurk in the darker recesses. The wall itself is encrusted with colourful sponges, sea fans, and black corals. The caves provide shelter for resting turtles and whitetip reef sharks. The topography and sense of exploration make this a popular site for experienced divers. The caves can be navigated by following the light from multiple entrances, creating an atmospheric dive that contrasts with the open-water shark sites.
Medhu Faru is a submerged pinnacle that offers a more relaxed dive profile compared to the channel sites. The top of the thila is at around 10-12 metres, with slopes dropping to over 30 metres. The site is covered in a dense carpet of hard and soft corals, with large stands of table corals and anemones. Reef fish are abundant, including butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, and triggerfish. It is a reliable site for spotting turtles and, with luck, the occasional manta ray cruising over the pinnacle. The relatively sheltered nature of this site makes it a good option for a second dive or for those wanting a break from the stronger currents.
Maafaru Corner is a channel dive at the edge of the atoll, known for its strong currents and pelagic action. This is a classic drift dive where divers are swept along a wall, with the chance to see grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and tuna hunting in the current. The wall is covered in gorgonians and soft corals that thrive in the nutrient-rich water. Due to the depth and current, this site is strictly for advanced divers. The exhilarating ride and the consistent big-animal encounters make Maafaru Corner a sought-after experience for those seeking adrenaline during a dive at Noonu Atoll.
Funagas Thila is a collection of coral heads and small pinnacles, creating a more complex and varied topography than a single thila. The multiple structures create channels and overhangs, attracting a wide variety of fish. It is a good site for macro life, with nudibranchs, shrimps, and small gobies abundant. Larger schools of fusiliers and snappers also gather around the pinnacles. The site's varied nature rewards exploration, making it a good choice for photographers and those who enjoy a 'fish hunt' style of diving.
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The website did a good job of describing the resort and the dive experience. The trip went smoothly with everything organized as expected. The plane reservations also worked out well. You did a very nice job
