Miyaru Kandu - Vaavu Atoll
Miyaru Kandu in Vaavu Atoll is a classic channel dive, often with a decent current. You're mostly here for the reef sharks that patrol the channel entrance, though the coral walls have some nice staghorn and lettuce corals, and we’ve often spotted olive ridleys or green turtles gliding past. It's a solid choice for divers who enjoy drift dives and want a reliable shark encounter without too much fuss.
- Location
- Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.599641, 73.504220
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 15-30m
Marine Protected Area: V.Miyaru Kan'du
Best Time to Dive in Vaavu Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Vaavu Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.5°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.7°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.4°C
- April: 30.5°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 29.9°C
- September: 29.8°C
- October: 29.3°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 29.2°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Vaavu Atoll
- Alimatha Circus - 10-30m (channel)
- Alimatha Jetty - 8-18m (reef)
- Boulder Spot - 19m
- Broken rock (reef)
- Coral Ridge - 17m (reef)
- Deep Boulder Thila - 22m (pinnacle)
- Deep Thila - 29m (pinnacle)
- Devana Kandu (drift)
- Dhidhoo corner (out reef) (reef)
- Dhigurah Arches (cave)
- DiveOceanus - 5-20m (reef)
- Farikede Faru
- Fish Bank - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Fish Thila - 23m (pinnacle)
- Five rocks (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Miyaru Kandu
- Aquafanatics @NH Havodda - ["PADI"]
- Blue Journeys - ["PADI"]
- Deep - ["PADI"]
- Dive point - PADI
- DivePoint Vadoo - SSI
- Fuvahmulahdive Dive Maldives
Marine Life in Vaavu Atoll
Home to 53 recorded species including 20 reef fish, 9 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 4 sharks & rays, 4 crabs & lobsters, 3 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cloudy Dascyllus (Dascyllus carneus) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- Nightlight Lanternfish (Myctophum lychnobium) - Reef Fish
- Racoon (Chaetodon lunula) - Reef Fish
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Hunchback Locust Lobster (Petrarctus rugosus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum nitidulum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- Stony coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) - Hard Corals
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Spine coral (Hydnophora exesa) - Hard Corals
- Mimka Bobtail Squid (Euprymna morsei) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for Miyaru Kandu
Based on average water temperature of 29.6°C, currents 19 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