Rangali Madivaru

Rangali Madivaru is a reef dive site in South Ari Atoll near Rangali Island, one of several “madivaru” (meaning “manta point” in Dhivehi) sites in the Maldives — a reef known for its regular manta ray and eagle ray encounters, particularly during the northeast monsoon season.

Overview

The name madivaru signals that this reef sits along a manta ray cleaning and feeding route. Rangali Madivaru extends along the outer reef face of the Rangali area in South Ari Atoll, descending from the shallows to around 25 metres. Manta rays visit the site regularly, particularly during the northeast monsoon months (November–April), and are seen either being cleaned by wrasse at specific cleaning stations on the reef or feeding in plankton-rich water near the surface. Beyond the mantas, the reef itself is in excellent condition with diverse coral formations and a strong fish community: turtles, reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, and schools of snapper all frequent the wall. Eagle rays are an additional highlight during their seasonal presence.

Site Information

Location: Maldives, Asia
Entry Type: Boat dive
Site Type: Reef
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Maximum Depth: 25 meters
Typical Visibility: 15-30 meters (50-100 feet)
Current: Moderate, variable

Marine Life

Manta rays (seasonal, October–April peak), eagle rays, turtles, white-tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, schools of snappers, parrotfish, moray eels, and healthy hard and soft coral formations.

Diving Tips

The best manta encounters occur during the northeast monsoon (November–April) when plankton concentrations are highest.
If mantas are at the cleaning station, maintain distance and depth — never chase or block their path.
Stay still and patient at depth while mantas circle overhead; approaching them will cause them to leave.
Combine with Rangali Manta Point for a complete manta ray diving experience in the same area.

Getting There

Rangali Island and South Ari Atoll are accessible by seaplane from Malé (approximately 30 minutes). The Conrad Rangali Island resort (now Hilton) is the primary access point, though liveaboards also regularly visit.

Rangali Madivaru