Manta Passe - Rasdhoo Atoll
Manta Passe in Rasdhoo Atoll lives up to its name. We often find ourselves drifting along, eyes peeled, waiting for the mantas to cruise by, especially during the right season when the plankton blooms. It’s a straightforward drift dive, generally suiting those comfortable with moving water. Look out for white tips and grey reef sharks in the deeper channel too.
- Location
- Rasdhoo Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.970100, 72.712910
- Type
- drift
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 Manta Passe
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 Manta Passe
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