About Ellaidhoo House Reef
The Ellaidhoo House Reef is located just offshore from Ellaidhoo Island in the Maldives, offering easy access for divers and snorkelers staying on the island. It stands out as a prime site for introducing beginners to diving and exploring the rich Maldivian underwater environment, known for its extensive coral formations and diverse marine inhabitants. The reef presents as a wall dive, starting at the surface and gradually descending to a maximum depth of approximately 25 meters. It features a prominent terrace teeming with vibrant corals and numerous reef fish. The island's reef system, particularly its tips, boasts large shoals and grand vistas of coral, with notable table coral fields on the east side that can spiral up to three layers. Divers can navigate along a drop-off that leads to deeper waters, observing the varied topography that includes overhangs and areas of colorful reef growth. Marine life at the house reef is abundant and includes a wide array of species such as groupers, moray eels, and a plethora of general reef fish. Regular encounters with green sea turtles and whitetip reef sharks are common, with blacktip reef sharks also observed. Large shoals of lunar fusiliers, red-toothed triggerfish, and sergeant majors are frequently seen, alongside smaller groups of turquoise parrotfish and convict fish. While rays and larger sharks are typically found deeper than 26 meters, the shallower sections offer plenty of captivating sights. The reef is accessible year-round, with water temperatures ranging from 26°C to 31°C. This site is ideal for beginners, offering a safe environment for first dives and open water courses, often starting with an introductory dive on the reef. It can be experienced as a drift dive when currents are present, allowing divers to flow with the current into sheltered positions. Shore entry is common, with rope lines guiding divers out and back from the concrete wave breaker surrounding the island. The accessibility and calm conditions make it suitable for multiple daily dives.
Highlights
Wall dive topographyAbundant reef fish speciesGreen sea turtlesWhitetip reef sharksExtensive table coral fieldsBeginner-friendly drift diving
Best Season
Diving at Ellaidhoo House Reef is possible year-round, as the Maldives generally offers consistent warm water temperatures and reliable visibility. This allows for continuous enjoyment of the accessible coral and reef fish populations.
Dive site facts: Ellaidhoo House Reef
- Depth
- 0–25 m
- Current
- Mild
- Entry
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Level
- Beginner
- Dive type
- Wall, Wall, Drift
- Region / port
- Maldives
- Coordinates
- 4.0200° N, 72.8440° E
Conditions & Currents
Currents at Ellaidhoo House Reef can vary, and when strong, the site transforms into an accessible drift dive, guiding divers naturally into sheltered areas. Divers can enter from the shore, utilizing rope lines that lead out from the wave breaker surrounding the island, which also mark the way back. The ideal tactic when currents are present is to go out on the middle rope on the north side and drift with the tide to the next rope. While currents can be strong, the site's design ensures a safe experience for beginners by funneling them into calm zones. Visibility typically ranges from 25 to 40 meters, and water temperatures remain warm, between 26°C and 31°C, making exposure suits light. The predictability of current direction helps divers manage their dive profiles and air consumption effectively, making it suitable for newly certified divers.
Why dive Ellaidhoo House Reef from a liveaboard?
Ellaidhoo House Reef is one of Maldives's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Ellaidhoo House Reef on their Maldives itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Ellaidhoo House Reef
These liveaboards may visit Ellaidhoo House Reef on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Horizon III
Maldives
25 guests
$204/day
Ocean Divine
Maldives
16 guests33.528 m
$287/day
EcoPro Mariana
Maldives
16 guests30 m
$236/day
Maldives Blue Force 3
Maldives
26 guests42 m
$236/day
Amba
Maldives
20 guests
$178/day
White Pearl
Maldives
26 guests
$375/day
Maldives Master
Maldives
26 guests
$207/day
Adora
Maldives
22 guests
$297/day
Emperor Leo
Maldives
24 guests35.1 m
$339/day
Maldives Legend Zen
Maldives
24 guests41 m
$316/day
Emperor Voyager
Maldives
20 guests29.9 m
$332/day
Felicity
Maldives
26 guests41 m
$229/day
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
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