Background

Kandooma Thila: A Diver's Paradise

Explore Kandooma Thila, one of the Maldives' top dive sites, with vibrant coral, diverse marine life, and thrilling shark encounters for all skill levels.

5

Kandooma Thila, also known as Cocoa Thila, is a renowned dive site in the South Male Atoll, Maldives, celebrated for its vibrant coral formations and diverse marine life. This underwater pinnacle attracts divers of all levels, offering an accessible yet captivating diving experience with depths ranging from 8 to 30 meters.

A brief summary to Kandooma thila

  • WF4H+QPP, Guraidhoo, MV

Local tips

  • Dive during a light-medium outgoing current for the best chance to see a large number of sharks.
  • Consider getting a Nitrox Specialty certification to maximize your time at the shark cleaning station at 30m depth.
  • Be prepared for strong currents and bring a reef hook to help you descend quickly and stay in place.
  • The best time to visit Guraidhoo for diving is from December to May, when the waters are warmer and visibility is optimal.
widget icon

Getting There

  • Boat

    Kandooma Thila is best accessed by boat from nearby islands such as Guraidhoo. Numerous dive centers on Guraidhoo offer daily trips to the site. A typical boat trip from Guraidhoo to Kandooma Thila costs around $50-$80 per person, including equipment rental. The journey takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

Unlock the Best of Kandooma thila

Buy tickets

    No tickets available

Book tours with entry

    No tours available

Book tours without entry

    No tours available

Discover more about Kandooma thila

Kandooma Thila, located in the South Male Atoll, is one of the Maldives' most celebrated and accessible dive sites. This underwater pinnacle, also known as Cocoa Thila, is a haven for divers of all experience levels, offering a mesmerizing underwater landscape teeming with vibrant coral gardens and an abundance of marine life. The thila rises from the ocean floor, with depths ranging from 14 to 30 meters, creating multiple diving zones suitable for beginners to advanced divers. The top of the reef is adorned with rich coral growth, providing a playground for a diverse array of marine species. Divers can encounter grey reef sharks, eagle rays, white-tip sharks, whip rays, marble rays, barracudas, tuna, trevally, and an array of colorful tropical fish. Kandooma Thila is particularly famous for its shark encounters, having been ranked among the world's top 10 shark diving spots from 2000 to 2009. Divers can witness grey reef sharks at a cleaning station, observing them in a vertical position as small wrasses clean them. The site's currents can be strong, making it a challenging dive, but the rewards are well worth the effort. The thila's diverse ecosystem and pristine coral formations create perfect conditions for encounters with an incredible variety of marine species, from tiny reef fish to larger pelagic visitors. Sea turtles, both green and hawksbill, visit Kandooma Thila to feed on algae and sponges, often seen gliding over the coral formations or resting in cleaning stations.

Popular Experiences near Kandooma thila

Popular Hotels near Kandooma thila

Select Currency