Kuramathi North

4.2776°N 72.9389°E · drift

Depth
25 m
Level
Intermediate
Entry
boat
Type
drift

Kuramathi North is a drift dive site on the northern tip of Kuramathi Island in Rasdhoo Atoll, where the atoll’s currents funnel nutrient-rich water past a healthy outer reef slope populated by sharks, pelagics, and dense reef fish schools.

Overview

Positioned at the northern point of Kuramathi Island where the atoll rim meets open ocean, this site benefits from consistent currents that deliver exceptional fish life. Divers descend to the reef top at around 8–10 metres and are carried along the outer wall, which drops steeply to beyond 25 metres. Grey reef sharks and white-tip reef sharks are commonly seen cruising mid-water, while napoleon wrasse and large grouper hold station around the coral outcrops. The current keeps the corals in excellent condition — sea fans, soft corals, and overhangs draped with anthias characterise the deeper sections. Hammerhead sharks are occasionally sighted during the season from January to April when the channel current strengthens.

Site Information

  • Location: Maldives, Asia
  • Entry Type: Boat dive
  • Site Type: Drift dive
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate
  • Maximum Depth: 25 meters
  • Typical Visibility: 20-35 meters (65-115 feet)
  • Current: Moderate to strong, directional

Marine Life

Grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, large grouper, schools of fusiliers and snappers, eagle rays, anthias on the wall, sea fans, and occasional hammerhead sharks during the season.

Diving Tips

  • Time the dive with an incoming current for the best shark action on the outer wall.
  • Stay close to the reef to shelter from the current when needed and control depth on the sloping wall.
  • This is a drift dive — confirm current direction with your guide before descending.
  • Best combined with a dive at Rasdhoo Madivaru (hammerhead point) on the same boat trip.

Getting There

Kuramathi North is a short boat ride from Kuramathi Island Resort in Rasdhoo Atoll, approximately 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport.


Depth profile
0m · surface−25m max
Ocean conditions
29–31.2°CWater temp (yearly range)
0.4–1.1 mWave height
AprWarmest
MarCalmest seas
32°29° JFMAMJJASOND

Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).

Recorded marine life nearby

110 verified species observations (64 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1958 and 2022, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.

Chordata · 29Mollusca · 4Cnidaria · 23Arthropoda · 1Platyhelminthes · 6
  • 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.

Dived here recently?

Conditions change with the tide and the season. If you have dived this site, share what it was actually like — date, visibility, current, and what you saw. Real, recent reports from divers are exactly what this guide is built to collect.

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reef
Reef with anthias · illustrative · photo credit

Nearby dive sites in Rasdhoo Atoll

Source: OpenStreetMap via dive-vibe-community (ODbL) · Last updated 2026-07-04