Gangehi North Kandu - manta cleaning station

Gangehi North Kandu - Manta Cleaning Station

Gangehi North Kandu is one of the Maldives’ most celebrated manta ray encounters — a channel dive in North Ari Atoll that doubles as an active cleaning station where reef mantas queue up in their dozens during the right season.

Overview

This north-facing channel receives strong oceanic currents that push plankton-rich water onto a shallow cleaning station platform at 10–15 metres depth. Resident reef mantas — sometimes 5 to 7 individuals at once — hover motionless above the coral heads while cleaner wrasse remove parasites, providing divers with extended, unhurried encounters. The experience is best during the northeast monsoon (November to April), when north-facing channels are most productive. Beyond the cleaning station, the channel walls drop to 35 metres, lined with sea fans and table corals. Pelagic visitors including eagle rays, grey reef sharks, and occasional whale sharks are drawn in by the same current that attracts the mantas. Visibility typically reaches 20–30 metres in open water. Water temperature averages 27–29°C.

Site Information

• Location: Maldives, Asia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Depth: Up to 35m
• Difficulty: Advanced
• Site Type: Drift dive

Marine Life

Reef manta rays (up to 5–7 at once at the cleaning station), eagle rays, grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, cleaner wrasse, surgeonfish, and occasional whale sharks. Channel walls host sea fans, soft corals, and hard coral formations.

Diving Conditions

Condition	Details
Visibility	20–30m
Current	Moderate to strong
Water Temp	27–29°C
Best Season	November–April (manta season on north-facing channels)

Tips for Divers

Approach the cleaning station slowly and hover at the same depth as the mantas — do not ascend into their space or chase them. Fin movements should be minimal to avoid disturbing the cleaning behaviour. The current can pick up quickly once past the station; be prepared to signal the boat early for a drift pick-up. Carry an SMB.

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