North Male Atoll
Maldives · Indian Ocean
The most accessible Maldivian atoll, North Malé wraps the capital and the international airport. Channels (kandus) between the atoll's outer reefs funnel current and pelagics — grey reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, the occasional manta — while protected lagoon thilas suit calmer diving.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Maldives saw widespread bleaching in 2024. Manta and whale shark encounters don't depend on coral but the reef itself has thinned noticeably.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · GCRMN reef surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across surveys in 2014 and 2024, live coral cover here has fallen from 41% to 24%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 41% |
| 2024 | 24% |
What you will see
29 species across the dive sites here
Spotted Towhee
Seen 21 days ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Least concern
American Robin
Seen 21 days ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Least concern
Anna'S Hummingbird
Seen 23 days ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Least concern
Oriental sweetlips
Seen 24 days ago
at Banana Reef
Least concern
Dark-Eyed Junco
Seen 28 days ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Least concern
Indian Garden Lizard
Seen 28 days ago
at Banana Reef
Least concern
Blacktip Reef Shark
Seen 1 month ago
at Banana Reef
Vulnerable
White-Breasted Waterhen
Seen 1 month ago
at Banana Reef
Least concern
Yellowtail snapper
Seen 1 month ago
at Maldive Victory Wreck
Giant moray
Seen 1 month ago
at Lankan Manta Point
Least concern
Lingcod
Seen 2 months ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Rockfish
Seen 2 months ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Giant Pacific Octopus
Seen 2 months ago
at HMCS Chaudiere
Least concern
Bigeye trevally
Seen 2 months ago
at Maldive Victory Wreck
Least concern
Reef manta ray
Seen 2 months ago
at Lankan Manta Point
Vulnerable
Hawksbill turtle
Seen 3 months ago
at Lankan Manta Point
Critically endangered
Powder Blue Tang
Seen 3 months ago
at Banana Reef
Least concern
Grey reef shark
Seen 3 months ago
at HP Reef
Endangered
Green turtle
Seen 4 months ago
at Maldive Victory Wreck
Least concern
Honeycomb grouper
Seen 4 months ago
at Maldive Victory Wreck
Least concern
Bannerfish
Seen 7 months ago
at Banana Reef
Least concern
Napoleon wrasse
Seen 7 months ago
at Banana Reef
Endangered
Batfish
Seen 7 months ago
at Maldive Victory Wreck
Least concern
Whitetip reef shark
Seen 10 months ago
at HP Reef
Vulnerable
Common lionfish
Seen year round
at Maldive Victory Wreck
Least concern
Schooling fusiliers
Seen year round
at HP Reef
Spotted eagle ray
Seen year round
at Lankan Manta Point
Endangered
Eagle ray
Seasonal visitor
at HP Reef
Endangered
Mobula ray
Seasonal visitor
at Lankan Manta Point
Dive sites
Banana Reef
oriental sweetlips · bigeye trevally · napoleon wrasse · bannerfish
HP Reef
grey reef shark · whitetip reef shark · schooling fusiliers · eagle ray
Lankan Manta Point
reef manta ray · spotted eagle ray · whitetip reef shark · napoleon wrasse
HMCS Chaudiere
lingcod · rockfish · giant pacific octopus · american robin
Maldive Victory Wreck
bigeye trevally · batfish · yellowtail snapper · common lionfish
What divers say
First Maldives trip, easy logistics, and I still saw three grey reefs, two eagle rays and a turtle on my checkout dive.
Good to know
Transfer
Speedboat from Malé to most resorts is 20–60 minutes — far cheaper than seaplane.
Protected species
All sharks and rays are protected nationally. Spearfishing and shark feeding are banned.