Diving in Maldives
The Maldives are made up of 26 individual atolls that together hold more than 1,100 islands, Most are small and uninhabited, and surrounded by fringing reefs formations that create sheltered shallow lagoons near the islands, along with more expansive bodies of confined water within the ring-like atoll. Points around the ring are cut by channels, known locally as kandus. Tidal water exchanges create brisk currents in the kandus, and the narrower the channel, the stronger the flow. Within each atoll's ring of islands, numerous rock pinnacles rise from the sea bottom almost to the surface. These formations are essentially islands that did not quite make it to the surface, and they are known as thilas. They are washed by nutrient-rich upwellings that feed sponges and soft corals, and sustain a wide range of marine life, from resident crustaceans and reef fish to blue-water visitors. The tidal waters that ebb and flow through the kandus and wash over the thilas account for the abundance of marine life and big animals that are the hallmark of diving in the Maldives. When the currents are running, sharks, tunas and mantas gather in the passes, and Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, snappers, jacks and sweetlips swarm pinnacle walls. Many dives are performed as drifts, allowing participants to go with the flow rather than fight the current. At some sites where currents flow around an underwater headland, the plan may call for divers to anchor themselves in place to watch the passing show. In years past, this involved holding on to rocks on the sea floor, but most operators now employ reef hooks. These devices consist of a length of line attached to a metal graphing hook line that a diver places into a crevice in the reef then clips the other end to their BC harness.
Currents around thilas can range from mild to strong, and dive plans are formulated to match conditions. On larger thilas, eddies form on the down-current side of the pinnacles, giving divers a respite from the flow. The walls of thilas are often carved into canyons and caverns that create hiding places for reef dwellers such as octopus, moray eels and scorpion fish. The vertical faces hold resident schooling fish such as blue striped snappers, big eyed jack and fusiliers, and attract passing tuna, eagle rays sharks and manta rays. There are a number of dive resorts scattered across the archipelagos of the Maldives. Most sit on small or private islands, and often feature idyllic over-water accommodations, Equally popular are the first-class liveaboards that give passengers access to a broader range of sites on multiple atolls.