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M/Y Monsoon Itineraries
Itineraries - The Northern Atolls
The quiet and pristine dive sites of the northern reefs are relatively undocumented by dive books or guides and offer divers a chance to escape the crowds. M/Y Monsoon departs from the popular Kuredu Island resort and visits some or all of the Lhaviyani Atoll, Raa Atoll, Baa Atoll and the newly opened Noonu Atoll. Although the itinerary is flexible to ensure the best diving experience according to weather conditions and season an example of a week cruise is as follows:
Day One
A short early morning sail brings you to the first dive of the day at the Thilla of Dhigla Haa. This deep Thilla's edges are broken away creating pinnacles and overhangs which are adorned by colourful soft corals. Look closely and you will find mantis shrimps, coral crabs and cleaning stations. large eagle rays and dolphins are often seen cruising in this area.
Nelivaru Thila, a long cigar shaped reef with deep pinnacles at either end, is used as a cleaning station by manta rays. During manta season which is usually during the south west monsoon in October, it is not uncommon to have up to fifteen manta rays circling the area in their unique formations.
Dhon Fanu Thila at Anga Faru starts at 8m where a large number of parrot fish, fusiliers, bate fish and jacks hang out. Grey reef sharks are a common sight on this dive. You can enter a swim through at 25m and exit through a canyon at 18m.
The day ends with a visit to the peaceful island of Dhon Fanu.
Day Two
Kihaddu Ridge at Valtur Khihad runs between ghiri and the island. The ridge drops off at the northern side and becomes a labyrinth of overhangs and large coral blocks perfect for divers to swim around and through. Often nurse sharks are seen sleeping on a bed of carpeting soft coral under the overhangs with frog fish camouflaged in the background.
The lagoon at Hani Faru with plankton rich water often attracts manta rays and offers an amazing snorkeling experience between dives
Further north on the outside of the Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru, lies an undulating reef covered with huge coral blocks and sloping to eventually reach a large sandy plateau. Eagle rays and other large sting rays are often seen on the plateau and octopus, scorpion fish and lion fish can be found atop the reef.
At Raa, a new atoll passing two small channels lays Fenfushigir, a shallow reef with pristine corals. On the outer side of the reef are schools of Barracuda, blue line snapper and huge Napoleon fish. The safety stop is completed over a varied coral garden carpeted by schools of big eye fusiliers.
The day ends with a late cruise north, mooring at a deserted island for a BBQ if the weather is suitable and a night dive.
Day Three
A journey north one hour brings you to Thila outside reef of Ifuru Thila. The topography of this reef is simply stunning. At the north and east sides of the plateau are numerous overhangs with cascading blue, yellow and white soft corals. Nurse sharks rest under the overhangs, mantas cruise by and there is a wide variety of moray eels.
The undeveloped Noonu atoll has many exciting dives. Orimas Thila starting at 14m is one of the most popular dives as a group of around 30 grey reef sharks patrol the reef area along with schools of barracuda. Central Noonu is a flat topped thila with a long sandbar standing on the sout east corner and encircled by small overhangs which offer shelter from the sometimes strong current.
The third dive of the day is at Dehkenan Faru, a beautiful deserted island which can also be explored on foot. The reef on the north side is shallow with small coral heads and lots of leather sponges extending from a sand plateau. The north side drops away to over 30m with amazing coral life and an array of fusiliers, snapper and clouds of anthias. Turtles and sting rays glide by and on the outer side of the reef red snapper congregate in large schools and tuna hunt. At night slipper lobsters and shrimps are often seen and the reef appears to be a hotel for parrot fish hidden in their translucent sleeping sacks.
Day 4
Often the first dive is at Orimas as the action from the previous dya demands a return visit.
Christmas Rock, a small Thila 30m away from Ghiri is shaped like a child's drawing of a Christmas tree. Starting at 14m, this site is ideal for spotting large fish such as grouper, white tips, guitar sharks and sleeping nurse sharks. The Thila itself, in line with its name, is covered with hard corals festively decorated with anthias. On the main reef lobsters hide, puffer fish swim in their pairs and octopus camouflage themselves into the reef.
The day ends at the south end of Raafushi which is a shallow reef with a wall dropping to 20m into the channel. A variety of rays, tuna and napoleons appear here with the incoming currents.
Day 5
Laying on the outer reefs of Lhaiyani is Vaarvaru which drops away to the ocean floor and features overhangs and swim throughs. Large fish such as tuna and napoleon pass the reef and turtles feed on the soft corals in the shallower water. On the outer side of the reef there is a chance of pelagic action.
Fushivaru kandoo is a channel dive with very strong currents. If the current is running out the dive is conducting on the Thila and if the current is running out the dive starts in the channel and ends on the Thila. A reef hook allows you to hang motionless in the blue water of the channel and wait for a chance to see tuna, big eye trevally and the favourites - the grey reef sharks!
The Kuredu Express, which is very tidal makes for an action packed dive with grey reef sharks, big brown sweetlips, red snapper and big eye trevally often seen. Look closely in the shallows and you may find the elusive leaf fish but beware the feisty black cheek moray which is known for aggressively defending its territory.
The last dive of the day is on a shallow wreck at 9m with corals, sponges and clown fish.
Day 6
The final dive is Kuredu. A large carver, ideal for photography, sits at 22m and is surrounded by smaller caves and overhangs. Early morning, turtles come here to breakfast on the reef while jacks and tuna pass in the blue. Giant hump head parrot fish hang out in groups leaving a trail of pure white filtered sand behind them.