Mahibadhoo Rock (Manta Point) - South Ari Atoll
Mahibadhoo Rock, often called Manta Point, is a good spot for a relaxed dive in South Ari. It's a shallow cleaning station, maxing out at 17 metres, which means it’s ideal for newer divers or those who just want to chill out without a strong current. We usually find ourselves settling onto the sandy bottom, around 10-12 metres, and waiting. If you're patient, you'll see a steady stream of mantas coming in for their clean. We've often seen several at once, gracefully circling the rock. The visibility is usually pretty reliable here, making for some great photo opportunities when those big shadows glide overhead.
- Location
- South Ari Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.716700, 72.970500
- Maximum Depth
- 17m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Aa.Kudarah Thila
Best Time to Dive in South Ari Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in South Ari Atoll occur in January, averaging 28.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
- February: 28.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- March: 28.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- April: 28.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- May: 28.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- June: 28.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
- July: 28.7°C (air: 28.1°C)
- August: 28.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 28.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- October: 28.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- November: 28.7°C (air: 27.3°C)
- December: 28.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in South Ari Atoll
- 1000 Rocks - 27m
- Aah Thila - 10-30m (pinnacle)
- Aiyabe Thila (pinnacle)
- Ali Thila (pinnacle)
- Amazing reef s (reef)
- Ari Beache Beru - 5-20m (reef)
- Ariyadhoo Corner - 15-30m (reef)
- Biledhdhoo Kandu - 24m (drift)
- Bobana Thila - 5-30m (pinnacle)
- Bodu Beru - 21m
- Bodufinolhu Thila (pinnacle)
- Bodumiyarugau
- Bulaloghi Faru - 21m (reef)
- Chapati Tilas - 30m (pinnacle)
- Dangheti Port
Nearest Dive Centres to Mahibadhoo Rock (Manta Point)
- Aquaholics-Kandima - ["PADI"]
- Aquaholics-Nova - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Machchafushi - ["PADI"]
- Coral - ["PADI"]
- diveOceanus Villa Park Sun Island - ["PADI"]
- Endheri Marine Center - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in South Ari Atoll
Home to 152 recorded species including 85 hard corals, 50 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 sharks & rays, 2 other.
Notable Species
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora acuminata) - Hard Corals
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora horrida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
- Wrinkle coral (Coscinaraea monile) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora millepora) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Mahibadhoo Rock (Manta Point)
Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C.
- 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