...Highlights: schooling fish & big pelagics...
...Diving environment: caverns, beginner and advanced divers, off the beaten track...
Raa (also known as Northern Maalhosmadulu) is a mainly uninhabited atoll located in the northwest of the Maldives and most divers in Raa Atoll stay at well-to-do luxury resorts. However, the area's thilas and farus are also often on the itinerary of liveaboard cruises in the Northern Atolls during the northern hemisphere summer and autumn months. They do so to enjoy the huge volumes of fish at several of the sites, offering fish counts that can challenge even the most experienced observers.
Reethi Thila represents a dive that is typical of Raa Atoll: a submerged pinnacle with plenty of caverns and overhangs and with a stunning number of fish. While the coral coverage here (and in the Maldives generally) is not the best you will ever see, what is noteworthy is the volume and variety of fish life; enough to stretch even the most ardent fish identification enthusiast. By way of example, here is a brief list of some of the wrasse species you are likely to encounter here: African, Ringed, Reindeer, Lemon Meringue, Speckled, Blue-streak Cleaner, Bird, Six-bar, Half-and-half. We prefer to avoid lists of fish but the variety here calls for an exception to that rule. A similar list could be compiled for angelfish, surgeonfish and triggerfish, such is the sheer quantity of fish and the species variety at this Raa Atoll diving spot. Having feasted your eyes on the fish diversity that can be so overwhelming here, you can enjoy some down time in the sandy areas of the reef flat where you should look out for mantis shrimp, nudibranchs and even some playful octopus.
Fenfushi Giri features a number of overhangs as tends to characterise this diving area of Maldives. Look out for stingrays and Napoleon wrasse lurking on the sandy ledge below the largest overhang. After inspecting this overhang, divers usually proceed to a sloping reef with plenty of hard corals, sea whips and fish life. Expect to see butterflyfish, parrotfish, bannerfish and lots of fusiliers, unicornfish and surgeonfish all around you.
In an unusual feature, the slope then gives way to a large area of dead coral. This is seemingly the result of natural causes. It has been like that for a considerable time and no-one knows why. Yet life still finds a way here, since the nooks and crannies and patches of sand provide a good habitat for some species, including red fire gobies, as well as shrimp and goby partnerships. If you are lucky you might encounter one or two mantis shrimps darting around or peering out of their holes with their independently moving eyes. The dead zone ends with a wall covered in whips, black coral bushes and tubastrea corals sheltering schools of orange basslets and fairy basslets. As you ascend towards your safety stop towards the top of the giri, there are plenty of large table corals, swarms of fairy basslets, hunting jacks, tuna, and blue-dash fusiliers. There can be quite a strong current here so you may find, particularly over the top of the giri, that it is a good time to use a reef hook and just relax and watch the goings-on.
Milaidhoo Caves is a site is known for its dramatic overhangs and small cave systems, which create a complex and atmospheric dive. The caves and crevices provide shelter for large schools of sweepers and soldierfish, as well as resting whitetip reef sharks and moray eels. The ceilings of the overhangs are often covered with colourful soft corals, sea fans, and black coral bushes. The Raa Atoll dive is a good choice for photographers, as the interplay of light and shadow within the caves creates striking compositions. The topography also offers protection from any stronger currents, making it a more relaxed dive.
A less-visited pinnacle, Kandholhi Thila is a reliable site for encountering pelagic species. The thila rises from deeper water and is often swept by currents that attract hunting trevallies, barracuda, and tuna. The site features a cleaner station where grey reef sharks and eagle rays are frequently observed. The coral coverage on the pinnacle is healthy, with large gorgonian fans and soft corals providing a colourful backdrop to the big-animal action.
Baros Faru is an outer reef site that offers a classic wall dive with a gentle current. The wall is covered in a rich tapestry of marine life, including sea whips, sponges, and corals. The fish life is prolific, with large schools of fusiliers, anthias, and damsels creating a constant visual feast. Divers can expect to see turtles, Napoleon wrasse, and occasional eagle rays patrolling the wall. The gentle current makes this an excellent drift dive, allowing you to relax and take in the scenery as you are carried along.
A large, open-ocean pinnacle, Maalhos Thila is a magnet for big fish. The site drops from a shallow top of around 10 metres to depths of over 30 metres. The steep sides are covered in dense soft coral and gorgonians, attracting a variety of marine life. This is a regular site for encountering schools of grey reef sharks, mantas (seasonally), and large schools of jacks and barracuda. Due to the depths and strong currents, this site is best suited to experienced Raa Atoll divers.
Anga Faru is a reef known for its exceptional hard coral coverage, including large stands of table corals and massive bommies. This provides a stunning habitat for reef fish, with surgeonfish, parrotfish, and butterflyfish in abundance. The site is also a known nesting area for hawksbill turtles, which are frequently seen. The reef's health and vibrant colours make it a favourite for underwater photographers.
Hibalhidhoo Thila has a distinctive 3-tiered structure, creating different depth zones to explore. The shallowest tier (around 5-8 metres) is a garden of anemones and anthias, attracting clownfish and many small reef inhabitants. The middle tier (12-18 metres) is covered in soft corals and sea fans, home to larger groups of snappers and sweetlips. The deepest tier (25+ metres) is where pelagics like tuna and trevally are often encountered. The varied topography of this Raa Atoll dive means there is something to discover at every depth, making it a popular and rewarding site.
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