De duikbasis op het eiland is van het Duitse Sub Aqua.

Deze duikbases staat onderleiding van Uli Althoff. Het huisrif is 24 uur per dag te beduiken en voor de voorwaarden (30 duiken laatste 18 maanden) verwijs ik je naar de homepage van Sub Aqua. Een absolute must voor de duikers onder ons is de drop-off bij het eiland. De drop-off loopt steil af naar ongeveer 25 meter. Daarnaast dien je af en toe ook een blik in het (diepe) blauw te werpen. Met enige regelmaat kun je namelijk ook groot spul langs zien komen.

 Vanaf Ellaidhoo zijn zo'n 45 duikplaatsen  te bereiken maar de voor naamste duikstekken in de buurt zijn :

 Ellaidhoo Housreef
 

Dive Base Description: The housereef of Ellaidhoo is a 25 m drop-off with big caves. Near to the jetty at 30 m there is a wreck lying upside down. Lobsters, Stingrays, Groupers and Murans can be met here. The reef is easy to dive and therefore recommended for beginners. Ellaidhoo has a beautiful wall with lots of species of fish. Among them were Morays, Lionfish, and Napoleonfish. There is a wreck at nearly 30 m which is not very special as it lies upside down. We stayed close to the wall most of the time and had a great relaxing dive (not much current). 

Of all the resorts in the Maldives, Ellaidhoo has one of the best and most convenient housereef dives. Divers can literally step off the jetty or swim from the beach to a 750 metre long wall dive studded with caves full of seafans, hard coral, sponges, featherstars and soft coral. For most of the reef, the wall is undercut below 20 metres to the sand bottom at 25 to 30 metres. Most of the caves are between 10 and 15 metres, some being just big enough to swim into without damaging the coral. NEar the jetty is a 15 metre long wreck laying upside down with the bow facing west in 32 metres of water. A big grouper is usually found here. To the west of the jetty are no fewer than 15 caves between 11 and 14 metres, two of which are 20 metres long. One has a great number of large seafans and ships. Many of the caves are full of soldierfish and squirrelfish, also masked bannerfish, long-nosed butteflyfish, moorish idol, triggerfish, oriental sweetlip, midnight snapper, and blue face angelfish, to name a few. At both the west and east ends of the reef are excellent acropora and porite coral on the reef top. At the western end in 4 to 5 metres are schooling bannerfish. Divers can also see lobsters napoleon, sting rays and morays. Ellaidhoo divers can dive the housereef whenever they like and rarely complain of being bored.

Bodu Tila

To the east of Halaveli in Fussaru Kandu, are three thilas within a small area of 500 metres. Sometimes referred to as tin thila, the largest is Bodu Thila and is 250 metres long. The others are Medhu Thila and Kuda thila. Bodu thila is the closest to the outside rim of the Atoll, and has an amazing variety of marine life with spectacular cliffs and overhangs on the south side. with an outgoing current, divers usually start at a large sandy bay at the western end of the thila begining at five metres. On this sand slope is a big colony of shrimp goby which appear more tame than at most other locations. If divers approach the goby very carefully, they are quite likely to see the shrimp at the mouth of the goby's burrow. Along the cliff walls and overhangs are thick coverings of large seafans and balck coral bushes. At the south east end is a big cave dropping from the top of the reef to 25 metres where there are seafans with featherstars, large schools of big-eye trevally, humpback snapper, blue-dash fusilier and many other fish swimming out from the wall. Many of the ledges start deep at 25 metres or 30 metres and spiral upwards into the cliff wall. On the reef top is a lumpy landscape of porite coral full of chirstams tree worms.

 Fish-Head(Mushimasmingili Thila) (Protected Marine Area)

 Dive Base Description: A must for all divers. The most famous divespot in the Maldives. Grey Reefsharks, big Napoleonfishes and lots of small swarm fishes will guide us by this dive. It is a very small thila, so that you can swim around in one dive. The reeftop starts at 10 m and is falling down to 35 m in a 75 degree angle with lots of caves and overhangs. Also recommended for beginners. 

Fish Head fits the classic definition of a thila, begin a large isolated flat top reef rising sharply from the inner atoll floor at 40 to 50 metres to around 10 metres from the surface. The presence of a large school of grey reef sharks, combined with the favourable underwater scenery and the wide variety of marine life, have given this reef the reputation as being among the 10 Best Dive Sites in the WORLD.

Diving: The square-shaped reef is about 80 metres wide and can be circled in one dive if divers wish, providing the current is not too strong. There are ledges and caves at different depths around much of the reef and for the most part, there is a big undercut from about 25 to 30 metres before the reef tapers to the bottom slopes. The north and north west sides have a particular interesting landscape at reasonably shallow depths, making it ideal for the less experienced diver, while at depth, are caves with all the usual features including seafans and black coral bushes. Divers tend to stay more shallow at Fish Head, hovering around the reef edge at about 15 metres as this gives the best all round view of a family of about 20 resident grey reef sharks.

Sharks: The sharks are usually seen on the up-current side of the reef. The advantage that Fish Head has over other shark watching sites is that the habits of the sharks can observed at close range from a secure position on any part of the reef. On occasions, sharks can even beseen at cleaner stations where they expose their glistening teeth to the fastidious clearner wrasse. Photographers will get few better opportunities to photograph these graceful predators than at Fish Head.

Marine Life: The abundant fish life begins at the surface, where the water boils with the silver flashing of fusilier. Below, divers are greeted by a family of napoleon, one of them more than 150 cm long. There are many pelagics here including giant trevally and schooling barracuda, which circle like pack of wolves anticipating a kill. The reef has contrasting features and one favourable impression in deeper water is the straight wall on the northern side where a field of large seafans sprout from the reef edge.

Diving Hints: At times there may be several boats tied to the thila and many divers. Take note of which boat is yours and return with enough air to make a safety stop on the way up. Take care not to kick or break coral.

Ellaidhoo Tila
Dive Base Description: A wonderful reef in the middle of the channel in front of the island Ellaidhoo. The formation of the reef is like a terrace, falling down from 8 m to 40 m, with lots of overhangs and beautiful Gorgonias. Sleeping Nursesharks, Frogfishes, Grey Reefsharks and Batfishes are the attractions here. Recommended for beginners.
  The reef plateau begins at approx. 5m. We dive on the south side, either from east to west or vice versa, depending on the current. The greatest abundance of fish is encountered at the points where the current impinges on the reef; large swarms of fusilier, red-tooth trigger fish can be seen here. White-tip and grey reef sharks use this area as their hunting grounds and leave no room for doubt about it. In addition to oriental sweetlip and bat fish, the rarely en-countered palette surgeon and frog-fish are also found here. The south side has very large caverns and overhangs overgrown with black coral, gorgonian fans, whip coral, sponge, soft coral, feather star, common solitary ascidian and colonial ascidian. This diving spot is full of surprises! 

Summary: Worth seeing

Meddu Tila

Dive Base Description: The middle sized of three thilas makes divers surprised about the formation. The reeftop starts at 5 m and falls down very steep with some caves where it is possible to dive through. Napoleonfishes, Sharks and Eagle Rays are not rare. Also Electric Rays and Groupers are often seen, as well as Nursesharks somtimes. Also recommended for beginners.

This tila (Medu means medium sized) is situated close to Bodu Tila. The beautiful reef top begins at approx. 4m. A school of snapper is encountered on the NW-side. Overhangs and small caverns are located on the SW-SO. This reef is connected via a bridge (approx. 18m) to another, beautiful overgrown reef. You are able to swim around the tila if the current is not to strong. Many scorpion fish are at home here. They are able to imitate their environment very well. Also you will find many lion fish near the bottom. Caution ! If such a fish feels scared, it may well point its poisonous spines as its presumed adversary and suddenly attack. This results in very painful wounds and cause severe inflammations and numbness. 

Summary: This reef provides interesting motifs for UW-photographers (Hint: Macro or standard objective)
 
 

Maayafushi Tila (Protected Marine Area)

 If Fish Head is the Greay Reef Sharks capital of the Maldives, then Maayaa Thila is the White-Tip Reef shark capital. Although grey reef sharks are common here, the smaller white-tips are the centre of attention, with dozens of them circling the reef. Maayaa Thila is about 80 metres in diameter and can easily be circumnavigated in one dive - if the current is favourable - although it is not uncommon for divers to spend the entire dive in one area to digest the incredible diversity of marine life. The top strats at 6 metres and the reef edge drops from 12 metres to depths of 30 metres and more. Several coral outcrops on the north west and south sides. There are many caves and overhangs all around the thila. At a big cave on the north side are a feast of fish ranging from the white-tips (which usually frequent the side of the reef where the current is strongest), dog-toothed tuna and great barracuda to blue face angelfish, moorish idol, tallfin batfish, parrotfish, butteflyfish, clown triggerfish and lionfish. There are also other delights for the careful observer like stonefish and anglerfish. A big rock on the south side has a one metre wide swim-through at 19 metres. On the reef top are many fusilier and blue-striped snapper and a large turtle is a regular around the reef. This dive is a fish-watchers delight and the beautfiul soft coral and gogonians on the reef faces are a great attraction.

Diving Hints: Diving boats usually tie a rope to the reef on the upcurrent side or at a permanent mooring on the reef top so a controlled descent during strong currents is possible. Divers should aim to return to their rope with plenty of air where the remaining time can be spent nearby on the reef top. Diving boats come and go so don't forget which rope belongs to your boat.

Beyru Tila

This thila is a long reef lying north to south on the outer edge of the atoll to the north east of Madivaru. The sea tends to get choppy out here when there is wind and currents.

Divers can dive the length of the thila on either the east or west side. Both are interesting with caves and overhangs at 25 to 30 metres. Scattered around the thila are large tuna, napoleon and plenty of snapper. Eagle rays, barracuda and grey reef sharks are regularly seen. On the reef top, large coral rocks offer a change of scenery and sometimes nurse sharks are seen among them.

On the outside of Madivaru is a big reef known as Beyru Madivaru. The reef becomes more shallow at the southern end and on the outside of this reef hammerhead sharks are known to frequent the deeper waters.
 
 

Malhos Tila
Dive Base Description: A reef like a fairy-tale from 1001 nights. The reeftop starts at 12 m with big overhangs falling down to 35 m grown over with white-blue Softcorals. You will get the impression to be in an icecave. Swarms of Bluestripsnappers and Sweetlips are making this dive unforgettable. Only for experienced divers as there happen sometimes strong currents. 

This tila is situated on the west side of the Ari-Atoll. Diving is normally done on the south side, either from west to east or v.v., depending on the current. This reef exhibits an impressive variety of coral and abundance of fish. Intensely blue soft corals draws us away from reality into a wondrous underwater landscape. The reef plateau begins at approx. 10m and requests a direct descent. The reef drops sharp in terraces down to more than 30m. Several large, beautiful overgrown coral blocks are located at a distance of 50m from the reef. Sometimes you see here Nurse- and white-tip sharks. The numerous overhangs and caverns are lined with blue and yellow-red soft corals. Swarms or oriental sweetlips and blue lined snappers round off this dive to an unforgettable experience. 

Summary: Don't miss, but unfortunately only for experienced divers (current). 
 

Halaveli Wreck ***

The Halaveli Wreck also known as the Razza Wreck, is a 38 metre cargo vessel sunk by the Halaveli diving centre in 1991. It sits upright with the bow facing north, 40 metres from the reef. The deck is at 20 metres and the bottom is on sand at 28 metres. Apart from the wreck itself, the main attraction are four large sting rays that have been trained to take food. It took instrcutors from Halaveli six months to train them and now they are quick to surround divers in anticiaption of a free feed. Three of the rays are female black-spotted sting rays up to 1.5 metres in size. The fourth is a brown female ray of similar size. Sting rays naturally feed by smothering and crushing their prey, and sucking the contents into their mouths on the underside of their belly, so the rays tend to swim over divers, often brushing against them. A small turtle has made a home for itself on the wreck and a couple of large morays have also taken up residence. Some coral has already taken hold, most noticeably some pretty soft coral on the telegraph.

Diving Hints: The rays are most active in the afternoon and can sometimes become quite aggresive in their attempt to obtain food. Divers shoudl keep their hands away from the rays mouths as they suck so hard as to draw fingers inside. Divers should not attempt to ride or chase the rays as at least one diver has been injured while grabbing hold. They should only be fed by instructors with knowledge of their habits.
 
 

Dhonkalo Tila

On the western side of the Ari-Atoll, in the four km wide channel between the islands Mahlos and Himandhoo is a large tila called Dhonkalo Tila. The best diving here is on the south side, which has an excellent wall with overhangs and caves. There is a broken rock in about 30 mtr of depth, with marvelous variation of marine life from soft corals, sea fans, to schools of barracudas, snappers, fusiliers, tunas, white tip and grey reef sharks . Mantas are regularly seen during the north-east monsoon season (December to April). Mantas mostly focus on some coral rocks on the reef top on the out side of the tila. 

Summary: Excellent ! For experienced divers only.