Haven Auctioneers

Lhazikuraadi (Hakuraa Thila) – Maldives Dive Sites. This stunning dive location is a favorite of divers visiting the Maldives, not only due to its stunning visual beauty but also the plethora of features it has to offer. Lhazikuraadi is a thila about 75 meters in length rising to 2 meters, with many attractions on every side of the reef. On the northeast side is a spot on the reef with caves, overhangs and ledges that decline in small steps from five to 35 meters. The eastern ridge also houses a large cave between 10 and 15 meters with loads of invertebrate life. It is best to bring a torch into this cave to enjoy it to its full potential. On the northern side the reef gradually slopes down to 30 meters. A touch further west you will find a ridge at 25 meters with a sheer vertical drop to about 40 meters.

The Maldives are group of small beautiful islands. Where are the Maldives? The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean, about 450 km Southwest of SriLanka. Temperatures in the Maldives average 85 degrees Fahrenheit year round, and have a population of 314,000 who maintain local traditions and Muslim faith. Thirty percent of the population lives in the capital of Mali and tourism is the main source of income for the country, but fishing is as well. Divehi is the primary language, but English is spoken at all hotels, resorts and most shops. Another interesting thing about the Maldives resorts is their coral reefs and alluring marine life that make it a top destination for scuba divers. Seafaring and exploration are one with the Maldives, so live aboard cruises are big attractions. These live aboard cruises anchor at a different lagoon everyday and have access to all the top dive sites. To get a good price for a trip to the Maldives, visit maldivesdivetravel.com. Don’t pay too much for a trip to the Maldive; so take advantage of maldivesdivestravel.com special offers, last minute deals, and their best price guarantee.

Included in the list of great dive sites, the reef wall at Kalhahandi Kandu is covered from floor to ceiling with a plethora of multi-coloured soft corals, sea fans, sea whips, and sponges. Squirrelfish, Angelfish, Fairy Basslets, Butterfly Fish, Scorpion Fish, Coral Cod, Triggerfish, Pufferfish and Pipefish in various combinations of colours lurk among the corals and gaps. The shallow part of the scuba diving location reef at Kalhahandi Kandu is the most ideal place at Pannettone to do the required safety stop. The endless table corals, all in perfect condition, make this reef one of the most important dives in the Maldives. Kalhahandhi Kandu can be dived in both seasons and when current is outflowing, a safety balloon is necessary.

Gangehi Kandu is without a doubt one of the best dive sites. Gangehi Kandu is one of the longest channels in the Ari Atoll, with a drift of more than 2.5 km from the channel’s entrance to the end of the top dive site at the inside of the Atoll. When the current is incoming at Gangehi Kandu, the dive begins a bit further out and drifts inside the channel. Once inside the channel, this is where you start seeing the caves and overhangs and a few outcrops away from the reef. These outcrops have interesting features and are covered with excellent hard and soft coral. The bottom of the entire channel at Gangehi Kandu is sandy, making it a perfect resting ground for Stingrays, White Tip Reef Sharks and the Leopard or Zebra Shark which is commonly spotted here at Gangehi Kandu.

Kalhahandhi Kandu (Pannettone) is amongst the best dive sites in the world. Kalhahandi Kandu or Pannettone as it is also known can be subject to some strong currents at times and washing machines and underwater turbulence is created here, so it is only suitable for novice divers when there are no currents. This premier diving location in the Maldives has a long overhang between 12 and 25 metres has fallen to the bottom due to underwater disturbance to the bottom, which is easily noticed when you begin the dive. Because of the currents, the water is constantly flushing back and forth, giving the channel continuous and constant replenishment.

Guraidhoo Kandu is amongst the top scuba dive sites. Guriadhoo Kandu, also known as Guraidhoo Corner, is famous for its notorious incoming current. Guriadhoo Kandu is well known for spotting Gray Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays and Pelagic species. The dive at Guriadhoo Kandu begins at the outer reef close to the channel corner and divers swim towards the corner during an incoming current. Once at the corner of this Maldives diving location, divers can use the current to hook on a coral and observe the entrance of the channel. When the current is flowing into the channel, Grey Reef Sharks patrol the edge of the entrance and other pelagic action can be observed on the ocean drop-off.

Kandooma Thila is clearly one of the top 10 dive sites. Shaped like a teardrop, Kandooma Thila is one of the most spectacular dives in the South Male Atoll, for scenery as well as for prolific fish life. Subjected to strong currents, a quick descend is necessary at Kandooma Thila. The best dive locations begin at the up-current and dive guides usually set the jumping point a few metres away from the reef. Be prepared to make an open water safety stop and to use a surface balloon, which should be deployed as soon as divers reach shallower water and while making the safety stop. Keep the balloon visible on the surface at all times until the dive boat locates the divers.

Kuda Haa is according to scuba divers one of the best diving sites. Kuda Haa is definitely considered as one of best top diving spots and the highlights of scuba diving in the Maldives. Kuda Haa is best dived when the currents are not strong. Located on the Southwestern side of North Male Atoll, Kuda Haa is a Thila (Pinnacle) consisting of two parts. Both parts are easily visible, and navigating from one to the other is easy. Both parts of the Kuda Haa Thila are covered with delicate corals making Kuda Haa an ideal site to find rare invertebrate species such as Nudibranchs, Flatworms, Leaf Fish and Frog Fish. Divers should be prepared to make an open water safety stop and a surface balloon is necessary.

Hans Hass Place (Gulhifalhu) is one of the top dive sites in the world. Also known as Kikki Reef, this Maldives top dive spot is a firm favorite of scuba divers and holiday-goers to the Maldives, due to its spectacular features. Hans Hass Place is an amazing wall dive 100 meters long, overlooking the depths of Vadhoo Kandu. It is located half way along the Gulhifalhu. This dive site in Maldives is situated along a large cavity in the reef, and initiates at either end with jagged overhangs, slicing through the reef between five and 30 meters. A long swim-through found in the wall at 28 meters is a good starting point for a dive, if the current is flowing to the West. The best diving is between five and 15 meters, where you will find many caves and ledges. This area is well populated with purple seafans covering the ceilings of the overhangs; inside the caves are many different species of grouper.

You are almost likely to see several diving maldives whales sharks here, which also thrive on this planton. Diving Hanifaru Bay is just one of the many places where you can enjoy shark diving in Maldives. Maldives shark diving is possible throughout the archipelago, where you will see many different species of sharks, although whale sharks are perhaps the biggest attraction to divers in the diving Maledives, because of their enormous size and docile nature. If you’re keen on shark diving Maldives, you’ll be interested to know that you can also expect to see a variety of reef sharks and zebra sharks while in the Maldives. The other great thing about diving holidays in the Maldives is that they can be enjoyed year-round. There are several Maldives diving season. The best time to enjoy Maldives scuba diving holidays is between December and March, when the weather is at its driest and the visibility at its best. Diving holidays February is probably the best month of all to enjoy Maldives diving trips, but since most of us don’t have the luxury to enjoy holidays in the month of February, Christmas diving holidays are a great idea and you might even see Santa Claus diving!