Black Coral - North Malé Atoll
Black Coral, in the North Malé Atoll, is a nice, relaxed spot. It’s a good beginner dive, topping out at 20 meters, so you’ve got plenty of bottom time to take things in. We’ve drifted along the reef here with schools of snappers and sweetlips hanging out in the overhangs. Keep an eye out for moray eels tucked into the reef structure. It’s a comfortable dive, good for getting back into the swing of things, or for newer divers building confidence.
- Location
- North Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 4.268200, 73.424200
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: K.Giraavaru Kudahaa
Best Time to Dive in North Malé Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in North Malé Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.6°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.8°C
- April: 30.9°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.6°C
- July: 29.6°C
- August: 29.6°C
- September: 29.4°C
- October: 29.2°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 29.0°C
Nearby Dive Sites in North Malé Atoll
- 5 Palms, Thulusdhoo - 18m
- Abaandance Faru - 21m (reef)
- Ahmedbe Thila - 24m (pinnacle)
- Airport Beyru - 25m
- Akirifushi - 5-20m (reef)
- Akirifushi Kandu - 25m (drift)
- Ali Giri (pinnacle)
- Amin Faru - 21m (reef)
- Amingiri Sandbank Reef - 17m (reef)
- Amra - 26m
- Anemone Thila - 19m (pinnacle)
- Anniela Thila - 20m (pinnacle)
- Asdhoo Wreck - 21m (wreck)
- Asdu House Reef (reef)
- Back Faru
Nearest Dive Centres to Black Coral
- Agua Zone
- Amba Dive Maldives - ["PADI"]
- Amphibuzz Dive
- ATD Conte Max and Duke of York - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Centara Mirage Lagoon - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Olhahali - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in North Malé Atoll
Home to 101 recorded species including 42 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cytherea) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Black Coral
Based on average water temperature of 29.5°C, currents 10 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°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