Hukurudhoo reef

Hukurudhoo Reef is a fringing outer reef near Hukurudhoo Island in South Ari Atoll, offering a scenic drift along a well-preserved coral wall with consistent reef shark encounters.

Overview

The reef surrounding Hukurudhoo Island stretches along the outer atoll rim, where the reef slope descends from the crest at 5 metres to around 25 metres before the wall drops away into deeper water. The coral is notably healthy for this section of South Ari Atoll — massive Porites bommies, broad table corals, and encrusting formations support dense fish communities across all depth zones. Grey reef sharks cruise the deeper sections of the wall with regularity, and the current-exposed sections of the reef attract schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally that hover in the water column. Hawksbill turtles are frequently encountered in the mid-reef zone at 10–18 metres. The lagoon side of the reef, where it meets calmer water, has sandy areas with garden eels and blue-spotted stingrays. Visibility is typically 15–25 metres. Water temperature averages 27–29°C.

Site Information

• Location: Maldives, Asia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Depth: Up to 25m
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Site Type: Reef

Marine Life

Grey reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, barracuda, big-eye trevally, blue-spotted stingrays, garden eels, Napoleon wrasse, and grouper. Healthy Porites and table coral formations.

Diving Conditions

Condition	Details
Visibility	15–25m
Current	Light to moderate
Water Temp	27–29°C
Best Season	December–April

Tips for Divers

Follow the reef in the direction of current for a relaxed drift experience. The deeper wall sections (18–25 m) are most productive for shark encounters; the mid-reef zone is best for turtles and coral photography.

---