North Male Atoll
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Why dive in North Male Atoll?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 8
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 54
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Cowtail StingrayPastinachus sephen
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant Oceanic Manta RayMobula birostris
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Great Hammerhead SharkSphyrna mokarran
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
LionfishPterois spp.
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Scalloped Hammerhead SharkSphyrna lewini
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Spinetail Devil RayMobula mobular
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Spotted SeahorseHippocampus kuda
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvier
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Whale SharkRhincodon typus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowmargin TriggerfishPseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Yellowspotted TriggerfishPseudobalistes fuscus
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is North Male Atoll
Indian Ocean · Maldives
Frequently asked questions about North Male Atoll
When is the best time to dive in North Male Atoll?
The best time to dive in North Male Atoll is from December to April. In those months the water is between 27°C and 31°C.
What marine life can you see diving in North Male Atoll?
Divers can encounter 62 species in North Male Atoll. Highlights include Blacktip Reef Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Humphead Wrasse, and Ocellated Eagle Ray.
When can you see the Reef Manta Ray in North Male Atoll?
The Reef Manta Ray is most often seen in North Male Atoll from April to October.
When can you see the Blacktip Reef Shark in North Male Atoll?
The Blacktip Reef Shark can be seen in North Male Atoll all year round.
When can you see the Green Sea Turtle in North Male Atoll?
The Green Sea Turtle can be seen in North Male Atoll all year round.
What is the water temperature in North Male Atoll?
Water temperature in North Male Atoll ranges from 27°C in December to 31°C in May.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in North Male Atoll?
Most divers wear a 3 mm wetsuit in December, when the water drops to 27°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in May, when it reaches 31°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in North Male Atoll?
Visibility in North Male Atoll ranges from 10 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from November to April.
What are the currents like in North Male Atoll?
Divers in North Male Atoll can expect moderate, strong, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in North Male Atoll?
After dark, North Male Atoll reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Lionfish, Oriental Sweetlips, and Painted Spiny Lobster.
Where is North Male Atoll located?
North Male Atoll is a dive destination in Maldives, in the Indian Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for North Male Atoll. Spotted something that looks off?
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