Akirifushi
4.6382°N 73.3972°E · reef
Overview
Akirifushi is a sheltered reef in North Malé Atoll offering accessible, relaxed diving suited to beginners and those looking for a calm reef experience. The site features a broad reef flat at snorkelling depth transitioning to a sloping outer reef wall. Coral coverage is varied, with healthy sections of staghorn and brain corals alternating with sandy patches that attract resting marine life.
Diving
The dive profile follows the outer reef slope from shallow to around 25 m, with most marine life concentrated in the 5–18 m range. The reef flat is a productive area for spotting smaller reef fish and juveniles among the coral heads. The slope itself hosts a range of reef fish including trumpetfish, scorpionfish, and pufferfish tucked into coral recesses.
Because the site is protected from strong tidal flows, it is frequently used as a training dive for newly qualified divers or for easy recreational dives. Larger animals such as turtles and the occasional Napoleon wrasse pass through the area.
Practical Notes
Conditions here are generally calm, making it a reliable all-season site. Visibility ranges from 15–25 m. Best accessed from resort day boats in the North Malé Atoll area. Suitable for beginner divers and as a gentle second dive after a deeper morning site.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
2894 verified species observations (414 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1964 and 2010, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Appendicularia
- Cavoliniidae
- Terebra argus
- Conus gubernator
- Lambis lambis
- Creseis acicula
- Staphylaea staphylaea
- Creseidae
- Mitra mitra
- Rhinoclavis aspera
- Semelangulus tenuiliratus
- Cnidaria
Scientific survey records skew toward sampled taxa (molluscs, corals) and do not reflect what you are guaranteed to see on a dive.
Source: OBIS (obis.org), aggregated Darwin Core occurrence records.
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