Banner Reef - South Malé Atoll

Banner Reef, in South Malé Atoll, offers a pretty relaxed dive. It’s a good spot if you’re looking for a gentle drift over a healthy reef. We’ve seen nice colonies of wrinkle coral, the kind with those intricate brain-like patterns, and both lesser and larger star corals, often dotted with tiny Christmas tree worms. Keep an eye out for the seagrass beds, too – they’re a bit different from the usual coral formations and attract smaller crabs like *Leptodius sanguineus* picking through the blades. We’d suggest this one for a calm afternoon dive, maybe as a warm-up or wind-down.

Location
South Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
3.893078, 73.469350
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
5-20m

Marine Protected Area: K.Guraidhoo Kan'duolhi

Best Time to Dive in South Malé Atoll

The warmest water temperatures in South Malé Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.5°C
  • February: 28.8°C
  • March: 29.4°C
  • April: 30.4°C
  • May: 30.1°C
  • June: 29.6°C
  • July: 29.7°C
  • August: 29.6°C
  • September: 29.4°C
  • October: 29.3°C
  • November: 29.3°C
  • December: 29.0°C

Nearby Dive Sites in South Malé Atoll

Nearest Dive Centres to Banner Reef

Marine Life in South Malé Atoll

Home to 106 recorded species including 44 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Banner Reef

Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C, currents 19 cm/s.

  • 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