Hudhu Thila

Hudhu Thila

Hudhu Thila is a submerged coral pinnacle in South Ari Atoll, rising from the sandy atoll floor to within a few metres of the surface and hosting a thriving reef ecosystem with reliable shark and ray encounters.

Overview

Like all Maldivian thilas, Hudhu Thila acts as a gathering point for marine life — the elevated structure interrupts tidal currents, creates upwellings, and provides hard substrate for coral growth that then attracts the entire food chain. The pinnacle top sits at 5–6 metres, giving divers a generous shallow zone for safety stops and macro photography. The flanks descend steeply to 28 metres, with the deeper sections supporting impressive soft coral and sea fan growth where current exposure is greatest. Grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks are consistent sightings, particularly in the 15–25 metre range around the base. Napoleon wrasse and large grouper inhabit the mid-reef zone, and schools of batfish are a fixture on the shallower parts of the pinnacle. Eagle rays cruise past occasionally on the open-water side. Visibility averages 20–25 metres. Water temperature is 27–29°C.

Site Information

• Location: Maldives, Asia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Depth: Up to 28m
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Site Type: Pinnacle/seamount

Marine Life

Grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, large grouper, batfish schools, eagle rays, sea fans, and soft coral growth on the deeper flanks.

Diving Conditions

Condition	Details
Visibility	20–25m
Current	Moderate
Water Temp	27–29°C
Best Season	December–April

Tips for Divers

Circumnavigate the pinnacle at depth first to maximise shark and ray encounters, then work your way up the structure to spend the safety stop exploring the coral-rich summit. Current direction varies — check with the boat crew which face will be most productive on the day.

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