Makunudhoo Kandu (Kuda Faru) - Maldives Dive Site
Type of Dive Site: Saddle, Shark Point, Protected Marine Area
Location: North Male Atoll, Makunudhoo Kandu
Depth Range: 13m - 25m
Coral Growth: Very Good
Features: Sharks, reef fish, coral
Fish Life: Abundant
Dive Site Map - Makunudhoo Kandu - Kuda Faru
Diving Hints and Currents:
Makunudhoo Kandu, located in Kuda Faru, is a popular 2km stretch in the Maldives, which has several dive sites. The entire north face has been declared a protected marine area, and Kuda Faru is one of the highlight in this region.
Kuda Faru is a well-coveted dive site Maldives, shaped like a finger extending into the channel about 500 meters from the outside corner of Makunudhoo Kandu. The reef is almost like a thila, with the top at 13 meters, somewhat oval in shape and around 50 meters long. It is separated from the main reef by a sand saddle at 15 meters.
The thila protrudes into Makunudhoo Kandu for quite a distance on the southern side. The northern face however, is the optimal spot for viewing white-tip reef sharks and grey reef sharks. When the current is strong, divers can hang onto the dead coral around this point and look over the deep sand valley where as many as 20 sharks can be seen at any given time, many of them juvenile.
The reef top houses a great balance of hard and soft coral and the outer slopes contain many sponges, seawhips and seafans. Between the months of November and May you will often see eagle rays gliding through the area. At around 27 meters there is a large overhang, a popular location for squirrelfish, turtles, napoleon and nurse sharks.
Be wary that currents are funneled through the sand saddle at highly accelerated speeds. Even the slightest current can potentially become a swift torrent. Strong ingoing currents may render the swim back to the main reef difficult, so a safety balloon should always be on hand in case you require and open water safety stop.
Popular Dive Spots in Maldives:
- Maldives Victory Wreck
- Nassimo Thila
- Okobe Thila
