Thumba Caves - North Malé Atoll

We’ve always enjoyed a good cave or overhang, and Thumba Caves offers some nice swim-throughs to explore. It’s not a deep dive, only going down to 39 metres, but there are plenty of interesting nooks and crannies. You’ll find white-tip reef sharks often resting in the sandy patches, and the overhangs themselves shelter schooling fusiliers and glassfish. An intermediate dive, it's a solid choice for those looking to add a bit of overhead environment to their logbook without getting too technical.

Location
North Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
4.590100, 73.586500
Type
cave
Maximum Depth
39m
Difficulty
Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: K.Makunudhoo Kan'duolhi

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Thumba Caves

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

Recommended Packing List for Thumba Caves

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