Lhazikuraadi (Hakuraa Thila) - Maldives Dive Site
Dive Site: Protected Marine Area
Location: Mulaku Atoll, Inside Mulee Kandu
Depth Range: 2m - 30m
Coral Growth: Excellent
Features: Caves, eagle rays, hard coral, fishlife
Fish Life: Abundant
Dive Site Map - Lhazikuraadi - Hakuraa Thila
Diving Hints and Currents:
Lhazikuraadi - Hakuraa Thila dive site is a stunning dive location and a favorite of divers visiting the Maldives, not only due to its stunning visual beauty but also the plethora of features it has to offer.
Lhazikuraadi dive site is a thila about 75 meters in length rising to 2 meters, with many attractions on every side of the reef. On the northeast side is a spot on the reef with caves, overhangs and ledges that decline in small steps from five to 35 meters. The eastern ridge also houses a large cave between 10 and 15 meters with loads of invertebrate life. It is best to bring a torch into this cave to enjoy it to its full potential. On the northern side the reef gradually slopes down to 30 meters. A touch further west you will find a ridge at 25 meters with a sheer vertical drop to about 40 meters.
The rock face of this outside wall at Hakuraa Thila dive site contains many seawhips, black coral and seafans. On the western edge are three protruding ridges culminating in sharp drop-offs with overhangs. In between these ridges you will find valleys, one sheltering a sandy corridor. Slightly beyond the southernmost ridge is a lone thila, ascending from the sea bed at 40 to 30 meters, which can be clearly seen under good visibility conditions.
Located inside Mulee Kandu, Hakuraa Thila receives the currents that bring with it the usual array of big fish such as grey reef sharks, eagle rays, sweetlips, needlefish, jacks, trevally, snapper, barracudas and fusilier. There are also numerous caves dotted around the region, which you can explore and catch a glimpse of the worms, sea stars, sponges, nudibranchs and shrimps congregating around the entrances. If you are lucky you may even catch sight of a ribbon eel. The reef top has plenty of hard coral and table coral all over the reef edge and down the sides. Here you will also find loads of seargents, damsels, surgeons, butterflyfish, angelfish, basslets and anemonefish.
Longnose hawkfish in shallow waters at Lhazikuraadi - Hakuraa Thila dive site
The northeast side of the reef is a great spot to initiate your Maldives dive when the currents are flowing in from this direction. The reef point at this location acts like an arrowhead, diverting the current either side of the reef, giving divers a choice as to which route to follow.
This Maldives dive site Lhazijuraadi can be navigated in one dive, and even though strong currents may carry you to either end of the reef, both sides have plenty of exciting features and marine life to explore.
Famous Scuba Diving Sites in the Maldives:
- Maalhos Thila
- Maaya Thila
- Makunudhoo Kandu - Kuda Faru
