TRULY UNFORGETTABLE
Situated in Shaviyani with more than 20 spectacular dive sites, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is not only located in a prime destination but also features several manta cleaning stations on the housereef! Is there anything more to add to cater for a truly unforgettable experience?
1. SIRRU FEN FUSHI HULANGHU FARU – MANTA POINT
Description: Diving doesn’t get much better than this! This prime dive site is located to the northwest of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi and has everything a diver can dream of. We reach this top dive spot after a 15 minute boat ride. In between 12 meters and 25 meters, divers can admire the awe-inspiring view of various manta-cleaning stations during the north-east monsoon (December to April). On the deep cleaning station you’ll also find a school of humpback snappers and the top reef is home to schooling batfish!
What to expect: Manta rays, eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, tuna, lobsters, humpback snappers, batfish and the usual reef suspects.
Depth: 5 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels (depending on the season)
2. SIRRU FARU HULHANGU
Description: Sirru Faru Hulhangu is located about 15 minutes west of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. Faru is the Divehi (Maldivian language) word for a long reef on the outside of an atoll. As with most farus, it’s a relatively easy drift dive along a beautiful coral covered reef. The top is at 5 meters and then slopes down to 30+ meters. At various depths you will find overhangs, some covered in beautiful soft corals. The overhangs are also a great place to see stingrays as well as other smaller marine life like ghost pipe fish. Keep an eye out for black tip reef sharks cruising along the reef top as well as turtles.
What to expect: Ghost pipefish, soft corals, marble stingrays, black tip reef sharks as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 30+ meters
Experience Level: All levels
3. SIRRU FARU DHEKUNU
Description: Not far and yet so pretty. Sirru Faru Dhekunu is located just outside the boat channel to the south of the island. It is an easy drift dive along a long slope which is not usually affected by strong currents. The top reef features an amazing hard coral garden. In the small overhangs and cracks in the reef formation you will spot the antennas of lobsters and curious moray eels peeking out. Check the bottom for sleeping stingrays and keep an eye out for passing rays and sharks in the blue.
What to expect: Stingrays, lobster, moray eels, anemone fish as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels
4. SIRRU FARU DHEKUNU KANG
Description: A short, 5 minute boat ride to the south west of the island takes you to another pretty dive site. Sirru Faru Dhekunu Kang is a spot for the experienced diver since its main attractions lie deep: Long overhangs at 25 to 30 meters. Those overhangs are filled with beautiful gorgonians that make a photographer jump with joy. Look out for sleeping nurse sharks and stingrays in the overhangs! In between the top reef at 5 meters to about 20 meters the reef features coral blocks. It is an easy drift dive with little current. However, with a strong current the dive can be sporty .
What to expect: Nurse sharks, stingrays, snappers, napoleon wrasse, batfish, tuna,jackfish, and as well as many other beautiful reef dwellers.
Depth: 7 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: Advanced – it is deep
5. SIRRU FARU IRUMATHI
Description: A 5 minute boat ride to the east and we arrive at Sirru Faru Irumathi. Located on the house reef on Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, this is a great spot to find turtles. The endangered hawksbill turtle is a very common inhabitant on this part of the reef. The reef features large patches with beautiful leather coral – a certain kind of soft coral. Small cracks and overhangs are home to lobsters, Moray eels and lionfish. Check the sandy bottom for sleeping sting rays. The long drift along the slope is suitable for discover divers as well as divers who don’t enjoy long boat rides.
What to expect: Lion fish, stingrays, turtles, lobsters, anemone fish, Moray eels, schooling snappers as well as many other tropical reef fish
Depth: 5 meters to 25 meters
Experience Level: All levels
6. SIRRU THILA
Description: One of our best sites! Sirru Thila is located in a channel to the south of the island. A 15 minute boat ride takes us to this prime dive spot, which is only suitable for experienced divers who feel comfortable with deep dives in potentially strong currents. The rewards are great! The northern part of the thila is covered by overhangs and gorgeous coral life. Check the overhangs for sleeping nurse sharks and rays. Sirru Thila is also a great place to watch grey reef sharks hunting in the current. Nitrox recommended. A true Maldivian dive experience not to be missed!
What to expect: Sharks! (grey reef sharks, nurse sharks), stingrays, lobster, napoleon, bonito, turtles as well as many other tropical reef fish
Depth: 15 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: Advanced – it is deep with a potential strong currents
7. SIRRU COCO MIYARU THILA
Description: A 20 minute boat ride to the south takes us to Sirru Coco Miyaru Thila. Miyaru is the Divehi (Maldivian language) word for shark and the clue’s in the name! Believed to be a grey reef shark nursery, the dive site promises a great experience for the experienced diver. The thila is located in a channel, which makes it prone to strong currents. The top reef starts at 18 meters dropping to about 40 meters in total depth. Towards the west of the thila a school of humpback snappers can be found. Dogtooth tuna, napoleon wrasses and schooling fusiliers hunt in the current together with grey reef sharks. Not to be missed! Nitrox recommended.
What to expect: Grey reef sharks, humpback snappers, batfish, stingrays and many other suspects usually found at greater depths
Depth: 18 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: Advanced – it is deep with potential strong currents
8. NATTEY THILA
Description: And yet another site that should not be missed by experienced divers! Nattey Thila is located to the south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi and requires only a 25 minute boat ride. Guests have described it as colourful as a bag of Haribo. The reef features overhangs on the southern part of the thila that are filled with awe inspiring soft corals. Not only a photographers delight, also shark lovers will find what they are looking for. Make sure you won’t miss out on tuna and big eye jack fish as well as schooling fish on all sides of the thila. Located in a channel it is prone to stronger currents. Nitrox recommended.
What to expect: Grey reef sharks, sting rays, stingrays, jack fish, turtles, napoleon wrasses and many other colourful reef fish.
Depth: 12 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: Advanced – it is deep with a potential strong current
9. FAHI FARU
Description: About a 30 minute boat ride to the north of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi we find Fahi Faru, a nice and easy dive sites for all experience levels. The dive starts at about 10 meters and than slopes down to a sandy bottom at around 20 meters where you can find many garden eels as well as stingrays that nap the day away in the sand. They are not only napping, they are often cleaned by cleaner wrasses as well. Not far from that you will find another reef covered in beautiful leather corals. Look out for leaf fish hidden among the coral. Sometimes even mantas use this reef.
What to expect: Blue stripe snappers, garden eels, surgeon fish, blue and yellow fusiliers, lobsters, moray eels, leather soft coral, manta rays, leaf fish, tuna, stingray, bumphead parrotfish
Depth: 10 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels
10. FAHI THILA
Description: One of our staff’s favourite dive spot! Located in the inside of the atoll, currents tend to be minor and with the maximum depth being 20 meters, it is the perfect spot for all experience levels. This is Fahi Thila, which is located to the north of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. A 35 minute boat ride away, we will find both a reef attached to an island and a thila just off the reef. The dive site is known for its amazing hard coral life, both on the thila and the main reef. You will be amazed at how many stingrays can be found at a single dive site. It is also home to the rare guitar ray and eagle rays. Sometimes even mantas are spotted on this reef. A site not to be missed!
What to expect: Rays!! ( Sting rays, eagle rays, guitar rays and sometimes even manta rays), morey eels, garden eels and lots of reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 20 meters
Experience Level: All levels
11. FEYDHOO FARU
Description: Feydhoo Faru is another lovely dive site located about a 35 minute boat ride northeast of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The dive takes place on the east side of the local island of Feydhoo. A sloping reef starting at 5 meters and going down to around 30 meters offers an abundance of marine life as well as some nice overhangs on the north-east side of the reef. A great place to look for reef dwellers in amongst the corals and rocks, such as lion fish, lobsters and turtles. Out in the blue, a school of jack fish are never far away from the reef. Have a look out for white tip reef sharks as well as they cruise the reef or sleep in the sand.
What to expect: Lobsters, lion fish, white tip reef shark, schooling jack fish, overhangs as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels
12. NAAINFARU IRUMATHI
Description: Naainfaru Irumathi is a 30 minute boat ride away to the south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The dive takes place on a faru located on the south-east side of the island of Naainfaru. A faru describes a long reef. It is a fairly easy drift dive that takes you along a beautiful reef sloping down from around 5 meters at the top to around 25 meters at the bottom. It’s a great place to explore the many wonders hiding among the hard corals like octopus, turtles and other reef dwellers. Check the sand for sleeping sting rays. Again be careful to not miss any passing eagle rays in the blue.
What to expect: Turtles, sting rays, eagle rays, octopuses as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 25 meters
Experience Level: All levels
13. NAAINFARU UTHURU
Description: Naainfaru Uthuru is a 30 minute boat ride away to the south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The dive takes place on the reef located on the north side of the island of Naainfaru. The reef slopes from 5 meters to 30 meters and features many overhangs. Overhangs are always a great spot to find soldier fish and macro life such as nudibranches and shrimps. You will also see the occasional napoleon and of course eagle rays passing in the blue. The top reef is home to several groups of humpback snappers and the beautiful yellow coloured five line snappers. We also often find turtles here, which are feeding on the corals and sponges.
What to expect: Turtles, napoleons, humpback snapper, five line snappers, critters and of course many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels
14. NAAINFARU DEKUNU
Description: Naainfaru Dekunu is located near the beautiful island of Naainfaru, which is located a 30 minute boat ride to the south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The dive takes place in the south of this very large and pretty reef, which ranges from 10 to 30 meters. In between 20 and 25 meters you will find many lobsters. Often a pair or even more are sharing one hole and are a great sight for underwater photographers. Please don’t touch them, they are friends, not dinner. The reef is also home to humpback and blue lined snappers as well as the majestic napoleon wrasse. Eagle rays and dogtooth tuna often fly by in the blue so remember to keep an eye out!
What to expect: Lobsters, dogtooth tuna, snappers, napoleon wrasses, eagle rays and of course many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 10 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels
15. MAROSHI THILA
Description: This exceptional dive site is located south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The reef starts at about 14 meters, where you’ll fid a few rocks and hard coral blocks. Make sure to have a look underneath the various blocks to spot sleeping nurse sharks. The main thila drops steeply to 30 meters and features some nice overhangs that are teeming with life. Soldier fish, nudibranches and glass fish are common to swim in front of the divers’ mask. At 27 meters in the south, you’ll find two canyons and lots of beautiful soft coral. Maroshi Thila is always good for a surprise. We have even spotted rare guitar rays here. One of our best!
What to expect: Eagle rays, nurse sharks, schooling barracuda, surgeon fish, bow mouthed guitar ray, 2 canyons, a lot of beautiful soft coral and many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 14 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels (to venture deep an advanced rating is necessary)
16. MAROSHI IRUMATHI
Description: A nice and easy site 30 minutes to the south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. Located on the east of the local island Marosh, this dive site is usually done as a drift dive going with the current into either direction. The dive site features a very shallow top reef and a slope reaching to about 25 meters. Stingrays use sandy patches to sleep and relax. We usually find many juvenile and young barracudas as well as turtles and schooling blue line snappers. Patches of leather coral and many anemones are a common sight at Maroshi Irumathi as well as sleeping nurse sharks.
What to expect: Barracudas, stingrays, turtles, anemone fish, sleeping nurse sharks and many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 1 meter to 25 meters
Experience Level: All levels
17. MEDHU FARU
Description: A faru describes a long reef which usually has a shallow top reef and then drops to the deep. Medu Faru is located about 30 minutes south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The reef is attached to an island and starts at around 2-3 meters. From there it slopes to 30 meters and beyond. You will find some nice coral life between 20 and 25 meters as well as many beautiful reef fish. Fusiliers are plentiful on the reef and napoleon wrasses are often spotted. The sandy bottom is the perfect sleeping spot for all kinds of rays that come in great abundance in beautiful Shaviyani.
What to expect: Marble rays, napoleons, fusiliers, blue line snappers, eagle rays, black and white snappers and of course many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 3 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels
18. MEDHU THILA
Description: This thila is located about 30 minutes south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. A thila is the Divehi word for an underwater mount that does not reach the surface. It starts fairly shallow at around 5 meters then gradually drops down to 30+ meters on all sides. The dive usually takes place on the northern side of the thila where most of the action can be found as well as some overhangs. Medhukuburudhoo Thila with the right current is a good place to come eye to eye with the elusive silver tip reef shark and often eagle rays. An excellent site not to be missed.
What to expect: Napoleon wrasses, turtles, stingrays, moray eels, silver tip sharks, eagle rays, fusiliers, big eye jack fish as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 30+ meters
Experience Level: All levels (to venture deep an advanced rating is necessary)
19. LIGHTHOUSE CHANNEL
Description: Lighthouse Channel has its name because of the little lighthouse that is located in close proximity of the reef. The dive site can be reached after a 40 minute boat ride to the south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The dive itself is conducted as a drift dive. We find some extremely “fishy” blocks on the top reef. Literally thousands of snappers are at home here at a depth of around 10 meters. The divers’ delight of this site is surely the many eagle rays that are dancing in the current at a corner on the reef. If you can take your eyes away from them you will also find sleeping nurse sharks, turtles and lobsters.
What to expect: Eagle rays (many of them!), snappers, nurse sharks, lobsters, turtles, anemone fish as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 10 meters to 30+ meters
Experience Level: All Levels
20. MIYARU THILA
Description: Miyaru Thila is an excellent dive site and about 45 minutes south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. Miyaru is the Divehi word for “shark” and the clue is in the name. It’s an underwater mount (thila) with the reef top starting at about 10 meters then going down to around 30 meters on all sides. You can find beautiful overhangs all over the thila at various depths in which you may sometimes find sleeping nurse sharks and rays. On the side where the current hits the reef look out for grey reef sharks, eagle rays and other larger fish. Sometimes in the sand around the thila you might get lucky and spot a guitar ray.
What to expect: Grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, eagle rays, guitar rays, marbled sting rays, lobsters, pretty overhangs as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 10 meters to 30+ meters
Experience Level: Advanced
21. NAALAAHURAA FARU
Description: This dive site takes us about 50 minutes south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The dive site is located on the southern side of the island Naalaahuraa and is usually done as a drift dive either starting in the east or west. The reef top starts at 5 meters and goes down to 28. Some beautiful overhangs can be found starting at around 15 meters and below where you can also find lots of fan corals. Moray eels peek out from their hideouts and anemone fish are plentiful. Don’t forget to always have an eye in the blue to spot eagle rays or tuna. Both hunt in the current for their prey.
What to expect: Moray eels, anemone fish, white tip reef sharks, anemone fish, moray eels, fan corals as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 5 meters to 28 meters
Experience Level: All levels
22. NAALAAHURAA THILA
Description: The small thila is located 50 minutes south of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, close to the island of Naalaahuraa. The reef top can be found at 12 meters and the bottom at around 30 meters. Naalaahuraa Thila is an excellent dive site and can be easily counted among our best dive sites. It is located in a channel and is therefore prone to stronger currents. That combined with its depth makes it a dive site for advanced divers. Gorgonians and black coral dominate this site. You will also find schooling eagle rays and grey reef sharks dancing in the current as well as schooling fish and stingrays. Nitrox recommended.
What to expect: Grey reef sharks, schooling eagle rays, anemone fish, turtles, stingrays, moray eels, octopus, napoleon wrasse as well as many other beautiful reef dwellers.
Depth: 12 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: Advanced – it is deep with a potential strong current
23. HARU GAA THILA
Description: Haru Gaa Thila is located 60 minutes south-east of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. This thila is a little hidden gem and a seriously nice dive site. The top of the thila starts at about 10 meters and goes down on all sides to around 25 to 27 meters. It’s home to a big school of barracudas as well as nurse sharks who can be found resting in between and under the rocks, and coral bommies around the thila. Dogtooth tuna circle the reef looking for prey and to top it all off, there are often sightings of leopard sharks around the thila. A very nice dive site that is always worth the trip!
What to expect: Leopard sharks, red snappers, fusiliers, nurse sharks, schooling barracudas, dogtooth tuna as well as many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 10 meters to 27 meters
Experience Level: All levels (to venture deep an advanced rating is necessary)
24. DHAHBURI THILA
Description: This beautiful thila is located south-east of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. “Thila” is Divehi, the language of the Maldives, and describes an underwater mount that does not reach the surface. The top of the reef is at about 12 meters, going down to around 30 meters. On the south-east of the thila you will find a beautiful canyon which is often filled with blue striped snappers. Expect a few curious batfish to come and check you out. Sometimes they even suckle on your fingers if you keep them really still. Make sure to keep an eye out for the dogtooth tunas that circle the thila and hunt in the current.
What to expect: Lobsters, dogtooth tuna, humpback snapper, batfish and of course many other beautiful reef fish.
Depth: 12 meters to 30 meters
Experience Level: All levels (to venture deep an advanced rating is necessary)