Mahala

★★★★☆ (93)

Located on the inside of the channel entrance of Kuda Kandu. Can be subject to strong currents and therefore best dived on a slack or incoming current. The top reef mainly features rock formations.

Best to dive in between 15 and 25m. What to expect: Colorful gorgonians and mushroom coral blocks. Nurse and whitetip sharks, stingrays in the sand, fusiliers, napoleon, nudibranchs, sh

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

iStock-crisod

Reef Manta Ray
12 Sightings
J
4
F
5
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
12 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
4
J
0
J
1
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
10 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
5 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
3 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
Alamy/Fiona Ayerst

Tiger Shark
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross

Loggerhead Turtle
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1
AdobeStock-wildestanimal

Common Dolphin
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

iStock/Dimitrios Stefanidis

Sand Tiger Shark
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0
iStock/Divepic

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
17 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
12 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
11 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
11 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
10 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
10 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
9 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
9 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
9 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
7 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
5 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
5 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
5 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
5 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty

Silvertip Shark
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
4 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak

Nurse Shark
3 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer

Grey Reef Shark
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

iStock-Christian von Mach

Pipefish
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
1 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Stonefish
1 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Dive Centers Catering This Dive Site

Diverland Canareef

Canareef Resort Maldives, 19060 Addu Atoll, MDV

Diverland Gan

Equator Village, Addu Atoll Gan, MDV

Dive Sites Nearby

Mares

Turtle Point (★3.9)

Description: Located on the SW outer reef. Usually done as a drift dive. Reef gently slopes from 5-30m. A non-spectacular top reef but an outstanding amount of sea turtles (others call it Turtle Point).
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Gan Inside (★4.3)

This dive site is in the far south of the Maldivian Atolls, close to Gan Kandu. This dive site is perfect for beginners as it starts at 5 meters and slopes down to 14 meters.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Mullikolhu Fara (★4.3)

Located in the SE of the atoll. Formerly known as manta point (for a reason) but Mudakan took over that claim. The reef features a lovely top reef between 5-12m with beautiful table corals and an abundance of marine life.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Banana Reef Addu (★4.4)

The impressive Banana Reef in the Maldives looks like a banana when viewed from above and attracts divers from near and far. The fish are not afraid of photographers and so spectacular photos can be taken. Also very suitable for snorkeling and freediving. Depth 0-30 meters.
Scubapro

British Loyalty (Wreck) (★4.2)

This 5583 ton British oil tanker actually sunk twice! Once it got recovered and repaired and after getting torpedoed the second time, it got removed and was finally towed to its final position and sunk by British gunfire on the 5th January 1946 in Addu Atoll.
Aqualung

Canareef south (★4.3)

Canareef South is a large reef and mostly a current free dive on the SE inside. It features a shallow sandy lagoon and then slopes down to around 25m. The shallow part consists of a massive coral garden with a wide variety of corals and coral blocks mainly on sandy bottom.
Mares

Canareef Outside (★4.4)

: A diver’s delight! Located South East of Herathera Island. Nice drift dive along a gentle, deep slope covered in spectacular hard corals. Healthy top reef full of table corals.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Fihali Fara (★4.3)

Located on the inside of the channel entrance of Kuda Kandu. Can be subject to strong currents and therefore best dived on a slack or incoming current. The top reef mainly features rock formations.
Mares

Canareef north (★4.7)

It features a shallow sandy lagoon and then slopes down to around 25m. The shallow part consists of a massive coral garden with a wide variety of corals and coral blocks mainly on sandy bottom.
Mares

Kuda Kandu Corner (★4.4)

One of our best! Channel dive site located on the corner of Kuda Kandu. Only one small patch of rubble interrupts massive coral formations of table, mushroom, brain, cone and many other corals along a steep slope to 25m.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Bushy East Channel (★4.3)

Located on the eastern corner of Maakandu channel. Usually done as a drift dive. Possible on both incoming and outgoing current. . The inside of the channel features a sandy slope from 5- 25m with nice coral blocks. At the corner the reef flattens out at around 22m and is fully covered in healthy hard coral fields
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Kuda Kandu Outside (★4.6)

Outside reef. Located west of the Kuda Kandu channel mouth. Amazing dive site with a huge abundance of stunning hard coral gardens. The reef slopes from the top at 6m to 20m and drops of from there to the deep.
Janine T. (#3926769)

Addu Manta Point (★4.5)

Located in Maakandu channel. Best to be dived on incoming current (sometimes very strong!) starting on the eastern corner of the channel. Once inside, the reef features a year-round manta point in between 19-25m
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Bushy Outside (★4.4)

Outside reef. Beautiful dive site in the north behind the little island called Bushy. Top reef at around 5-8m, slopes down to 30m. The reef is covered in unbelievable coral masses and features an abundance in reef life.
Scubapro

Muda Kan (★4.5)

It does not get better! Located in Maakandu channel. Best to be dived on incoming current (sometimes very strong!) starting on the eastern corner of the channel. Once inside, the reef features a year-round manta point in between 19-25m. Of course, not guaranteed but up to 30 animals have been seen here.
Scubapro

Kuda Hoholha (★4.6)

Located in the NW just below Bodu Hoholha below a man made channel used by local fisher men. Steep drop off from 6 to 30+++m. Nice caves and overhangs at around 25m. Some huge caves starting at 28m.
Mares

Bodu Hoholha (★4.3)

Wall dive. Located in the NW of the atoll. Good to dive at all depths. The top reef at 5-8m features a beautiful coral garden. From there it drops steeply to unknown depths. The wall is full of beautiful gorgonians and covered in blue soft corals. There are also massive caves that are big enough to enter.
Aqualung

Maakandu Outside (★4.4)

Located in the NE. Outside reef. Easy wall dive not usually affected by strong currents. Top reef starts at 5-8m and slopes gradually to 30+m. On the wall and in the corner gorgeous and healthy coral gardens that make eyes tear with joy.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Nurse Shark Point (★4.6)

Located in the northern inside atoll. Top reef starts at 2 meters and is covered by staghorn coral with many colorful reef fish and turtles. This part is also used by the resort as a snorkeling point.
Mares

Meeddhoo Outside (★4.6)

Located in the NE corner of the atoll. Dramatic reef which is best dived deep with a good chance for seeing large pelagic and occasionally manta rays. Large overhangs on both sides of the corner in between 15 and 30m.