Maalhos Thila - Rasdhoo Atoll
Maalhos Thila in Rasdhoo Atoll isn’t just a dive site; it’s a masterclass in current diving done right. We love the way the reef starts shallow, then drops away into the blue, creating a perfect amphitheatre for the pelagics. Drift along the reef edge, and you’ll find yourself eye-level with schools of fusiliers, their silver bodies flashing like sequins. This thila truly shines with its soft corals. Think blues and purples so deep they almost glow, swaying gently with the surge. Keep an eye out for leopard hind tucked into the overhangs and dusky angelfish flitting between the staghorn formations. We’ve had some cracking encounters with reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections here. Our tip: go during an incoming current if you can, it really brings the big stuff in. It’s a site for those who appreciate a bit of a drift and want to see the Maldivian currents at their most productive, less about intricate macro, more about the grand scale.
- Location
- Rasdhoo Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 4.002326, 72.719290
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 10-25m
Marine Protected Area: Aa.Maayaa Thila
Best Time to Dive in Rasdhoo Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Rasdhoo Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.7°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.6°C
- February: 28.8°C
- March: 29.6°C
- April: 30.7°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.7°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 29.8°C
- September: 29.6°C
- October: 29.3°C
- November: 29.4°C
- December: 29.1°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Rasdhoo Atoll
- Ari Atoll
- Bathalaamaagaa Kanthila - 10-30m (pinnacle)
- Bathala Maga Khan Faru - 24m (reef)
- Bathala Maga Khan Thila - 25m (pinnacle)
- Bidu Thila (pinnacle)
- Bojaha Madi (Moofushi Rock) - 25m
- Divebase - 5-15m (reef)
- Dive base Albatros House Reef (reef)
- Ellaidhoo Chaaya Reef (reef)
- Ellaidhoo house reef (reef)
- Etheremadivaru house reef (reef)
- Fesdhoo - 15-30m (channel)
- Fesdhoo thila - 10-30m (pinnacle)
- Fesdu Wreck (wreck)
- Fish Head (pinnacle)
Nearest Dive Centres to Maalhos Thila
Marine Life in Rasdhoo Atoll
Home to 104 recorded species including 42 hard corals, 42 reef fish, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 seagrass & algae, 2 sharks & rays, 2 other.
Notable Species
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Cloudy Dascyllus (Dascyllus carneus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Maalhos Thila
Based on average water temperature of 29.5°C, currents 16 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