Dive sites Diverland Gan
1. DEMON POINT
Description: Outside reef. Located on the NW corner of the atoll. The reef features mainly a gentle slope to 30+ meters with steep parts inbetween. It has beautiful coral all over and due to the location even large pelagic can be seen in the blue. Large swells and strong currents can be present.What to expect: Massive coral formations with sea fans, soft corals and hard corals. Often reef sharks, barracuda, tuna, napoleons, eagle rays and feathertail stingrays, large green turtles, moray eels including the rare honeycomb moray and lots of tropical reef fish
Depth: 3m to 30+m
Experience Level: Advanced (Depth, Current)
2. TIGERSHARK POINT
Description: Outer reef, wall dive. Located directly below the NW corner of the atoll. The reef drops almost steeply from 5m to 30+m. Very beautiful coral formations with sandy patches in between. A local diver regularly feeds on tuna leftovers at this site. This leads to encounters with special shark species that you would otherwise not see. Silvertips, blacktips and even tiger sharks are very common here. We book an appointment with this Maldivian to guide and supervise our dive. It costs a little extra, but it's worth it.
Depth: 5m to 35m
Experience level: All levels
3. BODU HOHOLHA
Description: Outside reef. Wall dive. Located in the NW of the atoll. Good to dive at all depths. The top reef at 5-8m features a beautiful coral garden. From there it drops steeply to unknown depths. The wall is full of beautiful gorgonians and covered in blue soft corals. There are also massive caves that are big enough to enter. Chunky green turtles and a curious school of batfish is almost always present. What to expect: Caves, gorgonians, soft coral, tuna, sharks, eagle rays in the blue, turtles, barracuda, the typical reef fish and some stunning macro life (nudibranchs, shrimps). Bring a torch!
Depth: 3m to 30+++m
Experience Level: All levels
4. KUDA HOHOLHA
Description: Outside reef.Located in the NW just below Bodu Hoholha below a man made channel used by local fisher men. Steep drop off from 6 to 30+++m. Nice caves and overhangs at around 25m. Some huge caves starting at 28m. On the wall purple gorgonians, towards the south a steep slope with healthy coral gardens. What to expect: Wall, caves, overhangs, gorgonians and table corals. Large green turtles, reef sharks, napoleons, lobsters, moray eels, jack fish, grouper, snappers and lots of tropical reef fish.
Depth: 3m to 30+++m
Experience Level: All levels
5. UMARU’S PLACE
Description: Outside reef. Located just below Kuda Hoholha. Drift dive along a wall. Long and beautiful reef which starts at 5m and drops to 30+m. Staircase like coral formations in places and large coral blocks. In between gorgeous coral gardens featuring soft and hard corals. Look for small creatures but always have an eye in the blue for manta rays and sailfish. What to expect: Table coral gardens, gorgonians and soft coral. Reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, turtles, the typical reef fish and sometimes manta rays and sail fish.
Depth: 5m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels
6. KUDA KANDU OUTSIDE
Description: Outside reef. Located west of the Kuda Kandu channel mouth. Amazing dive site with a huge abundance of stunning hard coral gardens. The reef slopes from the top at 6m to 20m and drops of from there to the deep. Current is usually not much of a consideration. What to expect: Beautiful hard coral gardens, sea fans, reef sharks, tunas, jack fish, barracuda, napoleons, eagle rays and all the other tropical reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels
7. KUDA KANDU CORNER
Description: One of our best! Channel dive site located on the corner of Kuda Kandu. Only one small patch of rubble interrupts massive coral formations of table, mushroom, brain, cone and many other corals along a steep slope to 25m. The channel itself features a sandy slope with coral blocks from 8-22m. Usually more schooling fish than anywhere else and many grey reef sharks in the channel mouth. What to expect: Coral, coral, coral! Grey reef sharks, napoleons, turtles, barracuda, tuna, rainbow runners, lobsters and many, many other tropical reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 33m
Experience Level: All levels, advanced skills beneficial.
8. FIHALI FARA
Description: Located on the inside of the channel entrance of Kuda Kandu. Can be subject to strong currents and therefore best dived on a slack or incoming current. The top reef mainly features rock formations. Along the reef wall large coral blocks where sometimes sleeping nurse sharks can be found. Best to dive in between 15 and 25m. What to expect: Colorful gorgonians and mushroom coral blocks. Nurse and whitetip sharks, stingrays in the sand, fusiliers, napoleon, nudibranchs, shrimps and all the others.
Depth: 5m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels
9. MAAHALA
Description: Located on the inside of the channel entrance of Kuda Kandu east of Fihali Faru. Best to be dived with little current as the dive site is quite small. The channel part is covered in green finger like plants and fan corals. Further south in between 2 and 10 meters and on the corner to the inside reef dense table coral formations and a lot of schooling fish. What to expect: Table corals, coral blocks and anemones. In the sand rays and sleeping whitetips.Furthermore eels, turtles, lobster, feather stars, napoleons and many other schoolings reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels
10. BUSHY WEST CHANNEL
Description: One of our highlights! Located on the western corner of Kuda Kandu channel. An awesome drift dive on an incoming current from Bushy Beyru into the channel. The reef features some of the nicest and most colorful coral gardens the atoll (and the Maldives) have on offer. In the channel a steep drop to 30m. Outside a gentler slope which at about 25 meters drops off very, very deep. At the corner look for sharks and rays. Turtles and napoleons are present all over the reef. What to expect: Most beautiful coral in the atoll! Sharks, rays, turtles, napoleons, humphead parrot fish, napoleons, trigger fish and a myriad of other tropical reef fish.
Depth: 6m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels, with curren
11. BUSHY OUTSIDE
Description: Outside reef. Beautiful dive site in the north behind the little island called Bushy. Top reef at around 5-8m, slopes down to 30m. The reef is covered in unbelievable coral masses and features an abundance in reef life. Towards the east a few patches of rubble but watch out for mantas heading in and out of the channel. There is macro life. However, this is hard to find because the eyes are too stunned by all the corals. What to expect: Massive coral formations (table, mushroom, leather, staghorn, all other imaginable corals). Manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, napoleons, barracuda, humphead parrot fish, eagle rays, tuna, and many other little colorful reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels
12. BUSHY EAST CHANNEL
Description: Located on the eastern corner of Maakandu channel. Usually done as a drift dive. Possible on both incoming and outgoing current. The inside of the channel features a sandy slope from 5- 25m with nice coral blocks. At the corner the reef flattens out at around 22m and is fully covered in healthy hard coral fields with an abundance of reef fish. Around the corner a steep drop and some areas of sand. Watch out for mantas heading in and out of the channel.What to expect: Large coral formations. Barracuda, napoleons, eagle rays, sometimes mantas, turtles, humphead parrot fish, reef sharks and many, many, many other tropical reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels
13. MUDAKAN – MANTA POINT
Description: It does not get better! Located in Maakandu channel. Best to be dived on incoming current (sometimes very strong!) starting on the eastern corner of the channel. Once inside, the reef features a year-round manta point in between 19-25m. Of course, not guaranteed but up to 30 animals have been seen here. With strong currents hold on to something (or use a reef hook) and stay clear of the block. Don’t touch or chase mantas. They will come close to you.Very close! If the mantas are not there you will have the pleasure of enjoying the company of up to 30 odd napoleons of all sizes. What to expect: Manta rays, napoleons, reef sharks. All other fish become boring even though they are there.
Depth: 5m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels, stronger currents require experience
14. MAAKANDU OUTSIDE
Description: Located in the NE. Outside reef. Easy wall dive not usually affected by strong currents. Top reef starts at 5-8m and slopes gradually to 30+m. On the wall and in the corner gorgeous and healthy coral gardens that make eyes tear with joy. Huge coral formations further up and massive gorgonians further down. Have an eye in the blue for rays and sharks passing by. What to expect: Massive coral formations of all kinds. Reef sharks, rays, turtles, humphead parrot fish, barracuda, tuna, trigger fish and an abundance of beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels
15. ISMAHELAA OUTSIDE
Description: Located in the NE. Outside reef. Another interesting drift dive site which can have current and usually awesome visibility. The top reef is at around 5-8m; gradually slopes down to 30m and far beyond. Good coral coverage from top to bottom. Check underneath the large coral blocks for nurse sharks and have an eye in the blue for large pelagic. What to expect: Beautiful hard coral formations. Reef sharks, barracuda, napoleon, eagle rays, nurse sharks, moray eels, sometimes mantas and large pelagic. Of course, the usual and colorful tropical reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels
16. MEEDHOO OUTSIDE
Description: Located in the NE corner of the atoll. Dramatic reef which is best dived deep with a good chance for seeing large pelagic and occasionally manta rays. Large overhangs on both sides of the corner in between 15 and 30m. Many anemones and large gorgonians. The east side of the corner was affected by coral bleaching and is recovering nicely. What to expect: Big overhangs, gorgonians, table corals and anemones. Grey reef sharks, whitetips, barracuda, turtles, mantas, sometimes marlin and sailfish.
Depth: 5m to 44m
Experience Level: Advanced
17. CANAREEF OUTSIDE
Description: Located in the east of the atoll. Nice drift dive along a wall ranging from 6-35m. On the sandy bottom often whitetip reef sharks and sting rays. In between the hard corals sometimes nurse sharks. What to expect: Various hard and soft corals and anemones. Turtles, parrot fish, reef sharks, rays, schooling reef fish and many other beautiful sea creatures.
Depth: 3m to 40m
Experience Level: All levels
18. MULIKOLHOO FARA
Description: Located in the SE of the atoll. Formerly known as manta point (for a reason) but Mudakan took over that claim. The reef features a lovely top reef between 5-12m with beautiful table corals and an abundance of marine life. A nice vertical wall from 10 to 28 meters with lots of overhangs, covered by soft corals and gorgonians. The historical values of this dive site are the left overs of anti-submarine nets across the channel during WWII. What to expect: Table and other hard corals, gorgonians. Lobsters, grouper, napoleons, reef sharks and often manta rays.
Depth: 5m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels
19. BANANA REEF
Description: Located inside Villingili channel. This is a perfect nice-n-easy dive site not too far away and is suitable for every level of diver. It’s not a large dive site and the best part is located on the NE side. A sandy slope takes you to a healthy coral garden that drops down to about 27m. Due to its size the best way to dive it is in a zig-zag fashion starting deep. What to expect: Lots of macro life (leaf fish, shrimps and pipefish) can be found in between the corals but also whitetip reef sharks, moray eels and large turtles. Sometimes even eagle rays swim pass.
Depth: 1m to 27m
Experience Level: All level
20. TURTLE POINT
Description: Located on the SW outer reef. Usually done as a drift dive. Reef gently slopes from 5-30m. A non-spectacular top reef but an outstanding amount of sea turtles (others call it Turtle Point). Reef sharks and batfish can also be found very often. Watch out for macro life and schooling fish. What to expect: Turtles, turtles, turtles, white/black tips, batfish, lobster, nudibranchs, schooling fish
Depth: 3m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels
21. Wreck "British Loyalty"
History: The 5,583-ton tanker was launched in New Castle in 1928. During the war, the ship was torpedoed twice. The first attack was by a Japanese midget submarine in Diego Suarez Harbor in Madagascar on May 30, 1942. The tanker grounded and was later repaired. The second attack came on March 9, 1944, in Addu Atoll. The German submarine U-183's shot through the anti-submarine nets blocking the entrance to Gan Kandu was an ingenious maneuver. Although damaged, the ship did not sink and remained in place until after the war. On January 5, 1946, the British finally scuttled the British before they left Gan. According to Mr. Mohammed Ibraheem Loutfi, a former Maldivian liaison officer during the war, the ship was towed by a tugboat to its final resting place and finally sunk by the guns of a British warship. Diving: The wreck lies just a 20-minute dhoni journey from the Equator Village Resort, between the islands of Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. It rests on its starboard side at a depth of 33 meters, while its port side lies at a depth of 16 meters. The bow points due north. The ship's overall length was 133 meters and its beam 20 meters. The growth of hard and soft corals is excellent. In some places along the gunwale, thick clumps of coral have formed, resembling large, natural fenders. The propeller is located at 28 meters and originally had four blades of solid naval bronze, each two meters long. The upper blade is missing, but the other three are covered with dense bushes of black coral. In front of the engine room, about 60 meters from the stern, there are two holes, one near the deck and the other near the keel. They are large enough that one can dive through them. They are presumably the result of the torpedo. Visibility at the wreck is about 20 meters. Schools of blue-striped trevally and large turtles swim along the deck, while on the upper side, small fish have found a new home among the coral.
Depth: 16m - 33m
Experience: Advanced
22. KOTTEY OUTSIDE
Description: Located in the NW corner of the atoll. The north side of the reef starts at about 8m, then gently drops down to around 18m and deeper as you get closer to the corner. The west side slopes down from 8m to around 30m where you can find huge fan corals, then drops down rather steeply to ‘very deep’. Currents can sometimes be strong here and especially around the corner be careful not to get dragged away from the reef. What to expect: Stunning variety of marine life. From a massive school of jackfish to sharks and sometimes mantas; even dolphins and thresher sharks have been spotted here.
Depth: 5m to very deep
Experience Level: Advanced
23. SANDRA TILA
Description: Inner atoll in front of Hulhumeedhu. Easy dive site sheltered from currents and waves. It consists of a large plateau with two tilas on top, the larger one of the two almost reaches the surface, the smaller starts at around 8m. On all sides it gently slopes down to a sandy bottom at around 30m. It used to be the site where the resort dumped the food leftovers and the sharks quickly figured that out. What to expect: Both tilas are covered with healthycoral life where you can find an abundance of macro life. Deeper down you’ll find nice coral blocks with lots of glassfish. Turtles are often seen here as well as batfish, barracudas and sometimes eagle rays.
Depth: 2m to 30m
Experience Level: All levels
24. NURSE SHARK POINT
Description: Located in the northern inside atoll. Top reef starts at 2 meters and is covered by staghorn coral with many colorful reef fish and turtles. This part is also used by the resort as a snorkeling point. What the snorkelers usually don’t see is a gentle slope to 16 meters with sandy patches and coral fields alike. What they for sure don’t see are the sleeping nurse sharks which are hiding in outcroppings of the tila 1 (13-20m) or underneath coral blocks. What to expect: Healthy hard coral life, macro life (squat shrimp, pipefish, nudibranchs and many more), nurse sharks and turtles
Depth: 3m -30+m
Experience Level: All levels
26. Canareef South
Description: Canareef South is a large reef and mostly a current free dive on the SE inside of the atolls outer reef. It features a shallow sandy lagoon and then slopes down to around 25m. The shallow part consists of a massive coral garden with a wide variety of corals and coral blocks mainly on sandy bottom. Plenty of spaces for marine life to hide. What to expect: A very healthy coral reef with some sandy patches on which you can often find sting rays and sleeping whitetip reef sharks. Turtles are common and so is the orange banded pipefish and other macro life. A joy for photographers.
Depth: 1m to 25m
Experience Level: All levels
27. Canareef Coral Garden
Description: Canareef South is a large reef and mostly a current free dive on the SE inside of the atolls outer reef. It features a shallow sandy lagoon and then slopes down to around 25m. The shallow part consists of a massive coral garden with a wide variety of corals and coral blocks mainly on sandy bottom. Plenty of spaces for marine life to hide. What to expect: A very healthy coral reef with some sandy patches on which you can often find sting rays and sleeping whitetip reef sharks. Turtles are common and so is the orange banded pipefish and other macro life. A joy for photographers. Also very often are Green Turtles to see.
Depth: 2m to 25+m
Experience level: All levels
28. Canareef North
Description: Canareef North is a large reef and mostly a current free dive on the SE inside of the atolls outer reef. It features a shallow sandy lagoon and then slopes down to around 25m. The shallow part consists of a massive coral garden with a wide variety of corals and coral blocks mainly on sandy bottom. Plenty of spaces for marine life to hide. What to expect: A very healthy coral reef with some sandy patches on which you can often find sting rays and sleeping whitetip reef sharks. Turtles are common and so is the orange banded pipefish and other macro life. A joy for photographers. Also very often are Green Turtles to see.
Depth: 2m to 25+m
Experience level: All levels
29. Hangover
Description: Located in the NE. Outside reef. Another interesting drift dive site which can have current and usually awesome visibility. The top reef is at around 5-8m; gradually slopes down to 30m and far beyond. Good coral coverage from top to bottom. Check underneath the large coral blocks for nurse sharks and have an eye in the blue for large pelagic. What to expect: Beautiful soft coral formations. Mainly uge Gorgonia. Reef sharks, barracuda, napoleon, eagle rays, nurse sharks, moray eels, sometimes mantas and large pelagic. Of course, the usual and colorful tropical reef fish.
Depth: 5m to 30+m
Experience Level: All levels
30. Gan Inside
Gan Inside is a beginner's dive site near the eastern end of the airport runway. Towards the outside of Gan Kandu, there is a small steep wall that begins at a depth of five metres. On the reef top there are wide sandy corridors where sometimes ten or more rays rest. Further inside the channel, the reef slopes down to 14 metres. There are many coral blocks on the sandy bottom, where a large variety of marine life has colonised. Divers encounter schools of mackerel here, as well as stingrays and eagle rays.
Depth: 2m to 25+m
Experience level: All levels
31. Bushy Inside
Description: Bushy Inside is a sheltered area with no currents. It's a beautiful coral garden where you can find lots of schools of fish, such as snappers. Small barracudas and napoleons can be found in the blue. The reef is home to turtles, snappers, lobsters and many more species.
Depth: 2m to 25+m
Experience level: All levels
