Kuramathi house reef
4.2595°N 72.9682°E · reef
Kuramathi house reef is the accessible fringing reef surrounding Kuramathi Island in Rasdhoo Atoll, one of the Maldives’ most diver-friendly house reefs and a prime reason the island resort has earned a strong reputation among diving visitors.
Overview
Stretching along the island’s outer edge in Rasdhoo Atoll, the Kuramathi house reef is shallow enough for beginners and snorkellers yet rich enough to reward experienced divers. The reef top sits at just 3–5 metres before sloping gently to around 15 metres, making it ideal for dusk and night dives when nocturnal species emerge. Nurse sharks rest in sandy channels during the day, and white-tip reef sharks patrol the outer slope. Schools of batfish hover at the reef edge, while the coral gardens host pufferfish, lionfish, moray eels, and an abundance of reef fish. Visibility typically reaches 20–30 metres. The site is accessible directly from shore or by short boat transfer to reach the outer corners.
Site Information
- Location: Maldives, Asia
- Entry Type: Boat dive
- Site Type: Reef
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
- Maximum Depth: 15 meters
- Typical Visibility: 20-30 meters (65-100 feet)
- Current: Mild to moderate
Marine Life
Nurse sharks, white-tip reef sharks, moray eels, lionfish, pufferfish, batfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, juvenile reef fish, octopus (night dives), and occasional eagle rays along the outer reef slope.
Diving Tips
- Night dives here are outstanding — book through the resort dive centre for guided evening excursions.
- The northern corner of the reef frequently has the best coral health and fish density.
- Current is generally mild, making this a relaxed dive at any time of day.
- Beginners can stick to the reef top at 5–8 metres while more experienced divers explore the sloping wall to 15 metres.
Getting There
Kuramathi Island Resort is reached by a 45-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport or via a short domestic flight to Rasdhoo. The house reef is accessed directly by the resort dive centre.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
109 verified species observations (63 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1958 and 2022, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Sargocentron diadema
- Scarus
- Ariosoma
- Gnatholepis anjerensis
- Valenciennea sexguttata
- Fusigobius neophytus
- Asterropteryx semipunctata
- Blenniella periophthalmus
- Epinephelus merra
- Plectranthias raki
- Nectamia fusca
- Parapercis millepunctata
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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