FAMOUS SITE

The Victory Wreck
The wreck lies parallel to the reef on the sandy sea bed at a depth of 35 meters (115 ft), upright and with the bowsprit pointing north. For more than a decade now, the superstructures have been patrolled by a large school of batfish, while a number of barracuda hover above the deck; those who swim around the wreck are provided with an escort of humphead wrasses. Large schools of fusiliers dart through the water, as a foreshadowing of the fact that in the pipes, passageways, nooks and crannies of this ship, one will encounter all of the animal species that can normally be found on reefs, and in grottoes and underwater caverns. During a number of dives, one will encounter a large sea turtle sleeping at the tip of the bowsprit of the Maldive Victory.

Guraidhoo Corner
On the edges of the channel the best chances are that one will be able to observe a great many grey reef sharks and the local school of eagle rays. The latter tend to swim in the open ocean, at a considerable distance from the seabed. In this same spot large hammerhead sharks, whale sharks and sailfish have been sighted frequently. Guraidhoo corner is also home to large schools of oriental sweetlips, bannerfish and large black-and-white striped snappers. And of course the large and friendly humphead wrasses are ever present

Banana Reef
Banana Reef lies on the eastern side of the North Male’ Atoll, inside the barrier reef. Nearby islands include Fullmoon Island, Farukolhu Fushi and Kurumba. Banana Reef, only drift dives are possible. The unbelievable abundance of fish and the presence of many varieties of coral are clearly the result of the virtually incessant currents, which are obviously a major factor in determining the direction of one’s dive. It is at any rate possible to halt even in the presence of the strongest currents, by taking shelter in grottoes or in the lee of enormous masses of coral. On Banana Reef, only drift dives are possible.

Kuda Rah Thila (Broken Rock)
Broken Rock lies in the southernmost corner of the Ari Atoll, on the eastern side. On the eastern side is a jutting formation with a remarkable shape, and another small plateau, at a depth of 17 metes.
The dive site is embellished by a great many soft corals and by a teeming and varied abundance of fish. There is always the possibility of running into a grey reef shark or two, or a school of barracuda. A mixed group of batfish and blue fusiliers are usually guests at Broken Rock, as are the many sea turtles. The jutting crags on the northeastern side are populated by a great many tiny animals. One can, of course, gain an overall idea of the various animals and corals by swimming all the way around the thila, which is eminently possible if the currents are weak.