Enderi Giri

Enderi Giri is a submerged coral pinnacle (giri) in South Male Atoll, offering a classic Maldivian giri dive with strong fish aggregations around a richly encrusted structure.

Overview

The giri rises from a sandy bottom at around 26 meters up to within a few meters of the surface, its entire surface colonised by hard and soft corals. The pinnacle’s position in the atoll interior means it catches current from multiple directions depending on the tide, and this current drives an impressive concentration of marine life around its walls. Schools of bannerfish and snapper hover in the midwater above the pinnacle, while grouper and moray eels hold territories in the crevices below. Grey reef sharks are frequently sighted circling at depth, and the overhangs on the deeper faces shelter resting nurse sharks and turtles. The upper section of the giri is a good site for spotting nudibranchs and flatworms among the encrusting growth. Enderi Giri is typically dived as a circumnavigation — divers circle the pinnacle at varying depths to explore the different communities occupying each face.

Site Information

• Location: South Male Atoll, Maldives
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Pinnacle/seamount
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 26 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15-30 meters
• Current: Variable; can be moderate to strong

Marine Life

Grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, moray eels, grouper, schools of bannerfish and snapper, Napoleon wrasse, nudibranchs, and diverse hard and soft coral coverage across the pinnacle faces.

Tips for Divers

Descend directly to the deeper faces on entry to catch the best shark and large-species activity before ascending to shallower depths for the safety stop and coral-top exploration. The pinnacle circumnavigation works best with moderate current — in strong current, staying on the sheltered down-current face gives the most comfortable viewing. Carry a torch for the overhangs and crevices on the deeper sections.