Diving at Diamonds Atharuga
Diamonds Atharuga is a tiny island in the South Ari Atoll, one of the most beautiful atolls in the Maldivian archipelago. South Ari Atoll is best known for the larger marine life species, which includes Hammerhead Sharks, Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. In fact, Mantas and Whale Sharks are seen here almost all year round if you’re lucky but the main season is January to April
Hopefully Mantas have read the above….
It’ll be a voyage of discovery as Paul has decided to update his underwater video equipment so it will be a sharp learning curve as you don’t get second chances when filming underwater and also often don’t realise the mistakes until you’re on the surface and then its way too late.
The dive facility on the island is run by idive and the guys who managed it are Philipe, Davide and Marco. It’s a really professional operation and everything runs like clockwork with dives at 8.30, 11.00 and 3.00. Some dive sites are very close to the island and in fact the night dive is on the house reef, but most dives are a 45 minute boat ride away. They are happy to arrange dives so that it’s not to repetitive and Mantas are virtually guaranteed throughout the season although whale sharks are few and far between. The variety of diving was great from Manta, sharks, turtles, all manner of reef life to beautiful corals. The reefs around here are in really good shape
As you can see below there are about 40 dives sites to choose from but that will depend on the weather, amount of people diving and also where the best places to see the manta are
SHARK THILA
Shark Thila, also known as Fish Head or Mushimasmingili Thila. A famous dive-site in the middle of Ari Atoll. Grey Reef Sharks, Turtles and big Trevallys are common guest.
One of the most exciting dive Sites
Emboodhu Thila
This was primarily about corals, which really aren’t my thing. However there was a small shark at the beginning and some nice clown fish throughout the dive.
Maafaru or Manta Point
This was about 40 minute chug away from our island. It was right next to Moofushi, where we went quite a few years ago. The dive there was brilliant as every day it was Mantas and most days whale shark. Today, it didn’t really disappoint as within 15 seconds of diving in we came across the single manta, we then saw one later on the feeding station. The same place is used as both a feeding station and cleaning station, when feeding they are constantly circling but when cleaning they almost come to a stop so the small fish can do their job. The visibility wasn’t good, but I guess you need the plankton to get the mantas.
This is only Manta
This is highlights of the dive
HIMANDHOO KANDU
Himandhoo Kandu is a drift dive on the west side of the Ari Atoll in the channel between the islands of Himandhoo and Moofushi. Full moon meant there was a decent current which picked up quite a bit towards the end. As it was just across the channel from Maafaru we were keeping our fingers crossed for manta. We saw the odd shark and single manta, but only at distance, and an eagle ray at the end. Towards the end the coral was very healthy with lots of colour. Spectacular landscape colored by several butterfly fish, white tip reef sharks and in the right season, manta rays.
Maafaru/Manta Point or in our case Shark Pass
Today we went to dive with Mantas in the morning, hoping that visibility would be better than a previous afternoon. We dropped in and headed to the drop off around 30 m and progressed along the reef. We saw many sharks and a couple of eagle rays, but unfortunately we spent too long with the sharks and missed the manta station, then got stuck in a current and weren’t making any headway so eventually head up. We ended up along the top of the reef but unfortunately way past the manta station. Shame as mantas were what we wanted and to add insult to injury all of the other divers saw a manta. The sharks were at a distance so videos aren’t great but may give an idea of numbers. In my books 1 manta is worth 100 sharks so no more 30m diver and no more sharks!
Maafaru or Manta Point
A gentle drift past quite a few shark along the top brought us to the Manta station. Initially we drew a blank but then found one chilling out lower down. Once the guys on DPVs left we waited. Another one came and approached quite close, perhaps checking the area out, it quickly left only to return closer than ever. Perhaps inconveniently it was too close for the camera as it doesn’t have a zoom facility and as I was hooked to the reef due to current there wasn’t a lot I could do about that. The video below is the encounter with the mantas, the one below with the sharks and the last the highlights of the full dive.
This is only Manta
This is only Sharks
This is highlights
SHARK THILA
This trip to shark Thila was slightly different, we basically hooked onto the reef where the current was hitting it and watched over the drop-off where all the sharks were. We saw grey reef, white tip and black tip. There was also an Eagle Ray went over our head, and once we finished, we just let the current gradually take us over the reef
Panetonne and Thudufushi Thila
This was a trip using DPVs. These are diver, propulsion vehicles or more commonly known as underwater scooters. We dropped onto panettone had a quick look around and then proceeded along the drop-off where we saw sharks and Napoleon Wrass. We also saw Eagle Ray, we then crossed the channel to do Thidufushi Thila and again we were shark watching. Videoing isn’t easy when you’re trying to manoeuvre the scooters so this trip was all about the ride
KUDA FARU THILA
It’s funny how peoples perception of a dive site changes, both of the pictures above are of the same dive site, although look completely different.
A very easy dive site in all conditions due to its protected location. This large circular reef or faru reaches the surface and slopes down to a 20m sandy bottom. You can see turtles, moray eels, angelfish, red-tooth triggerfish and much more. Apart from the above we saw an octopus and also a mantis shrimp.