Rimmed by barrier reefs, the widest of which are topped with splendid islands covered in tropical growth, Laamu Atoll boasts 82 islands, only 12 of which are inhabited. With a deep central lagoon that offers shelter from the ocean outside, it has more than fifteen named dive sites and there are certainly more just waiting to be discovered. Here are just five of the most popular.
Sharks & Rays
As the site’s name suggests, encounters with sharks and rays are common here. With a channel approximately 250 meters across and 80 meters deep, the site is often subject to swift currents that bring pelagics in droves. Eagle rays and stingrays, along with mobulas and the occasional manta ray, plus white and silver tip reef sharks and schooling tuna and barracuda are encountered with regularity. Along the sides of the channel, the walls begin in just 8 meters of water, offering shelter to a splendid array of reef fish, invertebrates, and crustaceans.
Maayah Kanu
Along the walls inside the channel here, divers commonly encounter nurse sharks and lobsters, spindly-legged crabs, and lots of nudibranchs. Outside the reef area, eagle rays and reef sharks are often seen in large groups, and schooling tuna and jacks swim fin to fin with barracuda and shoals of baitfish with gleaming silver sides. With maximum depth at 40 meters and the reef top at just 5 meters, this site is fantastic for all divers, and while the coral is lovely, the abundance of life takes center stage.
Hulgimeedhoo House Reef
With fantastic coral blocks covered in clusters of soft coral and bouquets of sponge, plus a gentle slope that eventually meets the seabed at a depth of 35 meters, Hulgimeedhoo House Reef is ideal for all divers. Popular for night diving as well as diving during daylight hours, it is home to an endless parade of reef fish and crustaceans, along with plenty of intriguing invertebrates. Watch for butterfly fish and angel fish, along with a variety of snappers, wrasse, anthias, and others.
Hanahanaa Giri
Located in the shelter of the atoll, Hanahanaa Giri is a wonderful site for all divers, and is normally free of current. The walls are covered in soft coral and sponge, and are peppered with overhangs where dark-loving fish and other shy creatures like to hide during the daytime, and the reef itself features sandy canyons which offer endless opportunities for exploration. Home to a wealth of macro life and teeming with fish, the site features depths between 7 and 35 meters.
Aanahanah
With huge coral blocks and depths between 3 and 33 meters, Aanahanah is a magical site which is suitable for all divers. Well-sheltered, as it is located in the inner atoll, the site features a gently sloping reef covered in sponges and coral, and teeming with small reef fish in every color of the rainbow. Watch for moray eels and puffer fish here, along with the occasional turtle. On occasion, small reef sharks and stingrays can be found lounging along the bottom of the reef.
Although tourism is beginning to take root here, most diving at Laamu Atoll is done via liveaboard. While you can dive here year-round, the best time to visit is between December and April, when visibility is at its best and the possibility of encountering manta rays and whale sharks increases. Be sure to plan in advance in order to enjoy the best experience possible. You’ll be glad you did!