Maaya Thila Dive Site — Maldives

About Maaya Thila

A cylindrical pinnacle in Ari Atoll rising from 30m to just 6m below the surface, draped in stunning soft corals of every colour. Maaya Thila is considered one of the Maldives' best night dives – after dark, whitetip reef sharks emerge to hunt, octopuses crawl along the reef, and giant moray eels patrol the overhangs. By day, expect schools of oriental sweetlips, blue-striped snappers, and glasseye fish sheltering under the ledges.

Site Information

• Depth: 6–30 m
• Difficulty: advanced
• Site type: Pinnacle
• Current: Currents at Maaya Thila can be unpredictable and strong, often attracting more sharks and pelagics. Divers may spend the entire dive in one area to observe marine life, especially in favorable currents. Given the potential for strong and unstable currents, this site is generally not recommended for novice divers.
• Best time: Year-round
• Region: Maldives

Highlights

• Whitetip Reef Sharks
• Moray Eels
• Octopus

Marine Life at Maaya Thila

• Anthias
• Reef Manta Ray
• Tiger Shark
• Oceanic Manta Ray
• Bull Shark
• Whale Shark
• Bottlenose Dolphin
• Eagle Ray

Liveaboards visiting Maldives

• Emperor Leo — 4.8/5, from €243/day
• Emperor Voyager — 4.8/5, from €228/day
• Maldives Blue Force 3 — 4.8/5, from €211/day