Maarikilu Caves - Baa Atoll
Maarikilu Caves is a good spot for newer divers in Baa Atoll. The maximum depth of 22m keeps things comfortable as you explore several small cave systems. Inside, we often find nurse sharks resting on the sandy bottom, along with schooling fusiliers darting through the openings. It’s a relaxed dive, ideal for getting comfortable with overhead environments without feeling squeezed.
- Location
- Baa Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 5.327600, 72.949100
- Type
- cave
- Maximum Depth
- 22m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: R.Villingili Thila
Best Time to Dive in Baa Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Baa Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.5°C
- February: 28.8°C
- March: 29.4°C
- April: 30.4°C
- May: 30.0°C
- June: 29.4°C
- July: 29.4°C
- August: 29.2°C
- September: 29.1°C
- October: 29.1°C
- November: 29.2°C
- December: 29.0°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Baa Atoll
- Aarah Bodu Thila - 23m (pinnacle)
- Aarah Dekunu Thila - 23m (pinnacle)
- Aarah Kuda Thila - 25m (pinnacle)
- Aarah Wall - 20m (wall)
- Ahga Giri - 25m
- Aidhoo - 22m
- Alidhoo Caves - 20m (cave)
- ALIGHAA BEYRU EDGE - 22m (wall)
- ALIGHAA BEYRU FARU - 24m (reef)
- Amilla Fushi - 22m
- Anga Faru - 23m (reef)
- Anga Thilas - 25m (pinnacle)
- Baa Atoll Diving: Hanifaru Bay Adventures (reef)
- Baarah Caves - 21m (cave)
- Baarah Corner - 18m (channel)
Nearest Dive Centres to Maarikilu Caves
- AQUA - ["PADI"]
- Aqua Dive & Water Sports - ["PADI"]
- Aquafanatics@Fares - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Vagaru - ["PADI"]
- Cheval Blanc Randheli Dive Centre - ["PADI"]
- Deep Blue Divers Kanuhura - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Baa Atoll
Home to 23 recorded species including 12 hard corals, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 reef fish, 1 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cytherea) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
Recommended Packing List for Maarikilu Caves
Based on average water temperature of 29.3°C, currents 24 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories