Origandu Finolhu
3.8072°N 73.3862°E · reef
Origandu Finolhu is a reef dive site associated with a small sandbank island (finolhu means “small island” or sandbank in Dhivehi) in South Malé Atoll, where the fringing reef around the sandy islet delivers an accessible and picturesque dive combining hard coral gardens and open reef with a pleasant, sheltered setting.
Overview
Finolhus are the quintessential Maldivian landscape — tiny sandbank islands fringed by reef — and Origandu Finolhu offers diving that mirrors this idyllic setting. The reef surrounds the sandbank and slopes gradually from the shallows to around 25 metres, with the upper sections providing prime hard coral gardens rich in table corals, staghorn formations, and coral heads that teem with small reef fish. The outer reef base is favoured by white-tip reef sharks and stingrays, while eagle rays occasionally pass by in the open water beyond the reef edge. The site is calmer than exposed outer reef and channel sites, making it an excellent choice for less experienced divers or as a relaxing second dive.
Site Information
- Location: Maldives, Asia
- Entry Type: Boat dive
- Site Type: Reef
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Maximum Depth: 25 meters
- Typical Visibility: 15-25 meters (50-100 feet)
- Current: Light to moderate
Marine Life
White-tip reef sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, parrotfish, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, grouper, moray eels, and an abundance of small reef fish among table and staghorn coral formations.
Diving Tips
- The shallower reef (5–15 metres) around the sandbank is ideal for photography — light penetrates cleanly in the sheltered conditions.
- Check sandy areas at the reef base for stingrays and resting sharks.
- This site is well suited to Open Water divers and those building confidence on reef dives.
- The finolhu itself makes a beautiful surface interval stop — check with your operator if landing is permitted.
Getting There
Origandu Finolhu is in South Malé Atoll, reached by boat from local resorts or from Malé, approximately 30–60 minutes by dhoni or speedboat.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
11 verified species observations (11 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1984 and 1987, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Cyphastrea microphthalma
- Favites pentagona
- Coscinaraea monile
- Galaxea astreata
- Actinodendron arboreum
- Goniastrea pectinata
- Ocypode ceratophthalmus
- Leptodius gracilis
- Lydia annulipes
- Pilodius areolatus
- Pseudoliomera speciosa
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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