Maya Thila
Discover one of the Maldives' most spectacular thila dives - where pristine coral formations, manta rays, whale sharks, and exceptional marine biodiversity create world-class underwater adventures in the heart of Ari Atoll
World-Class Dive Destination
Located in the renowned Ari Atoll, Maya Thila offers world-class diving with regular manta ray and whale shark encounters, making it a bucket-list destination for divers worldwide
The Jewel of Ari Atoll
Maya Thila stands as one of the most celebrated and pristine dive sites in the Maldives, offering divers an unparalleled thila diving experience. Located in the heart of Ari Atoll (North Ari Atoll), this underwater seamount has earned its reputation as one of the world's premier diving destinations through its exceptional coral formations and incredible marine biodiversity.
What makes Maya Thila extraordinary is its perfect ecosystem balance and megafauna encounters. The thila rises from depths of 30 meters to just 5 meters below the surface, creating diverse habitats that support everything from tiny reef fish to massive whale sharks. The site's strategic location in Ari Atoll's nutrient-rich waters attracts manta rays, whale sharks, and an abundance of pelagic species.
Maya Thila's pristine coral formations remain largely untouched, showcasing some of the healthiest reef systems in the Maldives. The combination of excellent visibility, diverse marine life, and stunning underwater topography makes it an essential destination for any serious Maldivian diving adventure and a highlight of scuba diving in the Maldives.
Maya Thila Quick Facts
- Location: Ari Atoll (North Ari)
- Distance from Male: 90 minutes by speedboat
- Depth Range: 5-30 meters (16-98 feet)
- Visibility: 30-50 meters (98-164 feet)
- Current: Mild to moderate
- Experience Level: All levels
- Best Time: Year-round
- Famous For: Manta rays & pristine corals
Spectacular Marine Encounters
Maya Thila's pristine ecosystem and strategic location in Ari Atoll create perfect conditions for encounters with some of the ocean's most magnificent creatures, from gentle giants to colorful reef inhabitants.
Reef Manta Rays
Maya Thila is renowned for its regular manta ray encounters. These graceful giants visit the thila's cleaning stations and feed in the plankton-rich waters, providing divers with unforgettable close encounters with these gentle giants.
Best Viewing: Cleaning stations and open water, 10-20m depth
Whale Sharks
Ari Atoll is famous for whale shark encounters, and Maya Thila's location provides opportunities to encounter these magnificent creatures. The world's largest fish visit the area to feed on plankton-rich waters.
Best Viewing: Open water areas, surface to 15m depth
Grey Reef Sharks
Grey reef sharks patrol the deeper sections of Maya Thila, using the thila's currents for hunting. These impressive predators provide thrilling encounters while maintaining respectful distances from divers.
Best Viewing: Deeper thila sections, 20-30m depth
Pristine Coral Gardens
Maya Thila boasts some of the healthiest coral formations in the Maldives, with vibrant hard and soft corals creating a kaleidoscope of colors. The pristine reef supports an incredible diversity of marine life.
Best Viewing: Throughout the thila, 5-25m depth
Thila Topography & Dive Zones
Understanding Maya Thila's underwater landscape helps maximize encounters with marine life across different depth zones and coral formations.
Shallow Gardens
Pristine coral gardens with abundant reef life
Cleaning Stations
Manta ray cleaning and feeding areas
Deep Slopes
Shark patrol areas with dramatic overhangs
Open Water
Pelagic encounters and whale shark zone
Diving Conditions & Seasonal Patterns
Maya Thila offers exceptional conditions year-round, with excellent visibility and manageable currents making it suitable for divers of all experience levels.
Current Strength
Visibility
Exceptional most of the year
Water Temperature
Perfect year-round
Best Dive Times
Peak manta ray activity
Underwater Photography at Maya Thila
Maya Thila's exceptional visibility, diverse marine life, and pristine coral formations make it one of the world's premier underwater photography destinations.
Manta Ray Photography
Position yourself at cleaning stations and wait for mantas to approach. Use natural light and capture their graceful movements. Never chase or block their path - patience yields the best results.
Whale Shark Encounters
When whale sharks appear, maintain distance and swim parallel to capture their massive size. Use wide-angle lenses and natural lighting to showcase these gentle giants in their natural environment.
Coral Landscapes
The pristine coral formations provide stunning wide-angle opportunities. Use the excellent visibility to capture the thila's structure with divers for scale, showcasing the reef's impressive biodiversity.
Macro Opportunities
Explore the healthy coral formations for macro subjects including nudibranchs, cleaning shrimp, and juvenile fish. The pristine ecosystem supports incredible biodiversity perfect for close-up photography.
Seasonal Diving Highlights
Maya Thila offers world-class diving year-round, with seasonal variations providing different experiences and optimal conditions for various marine life encounters and diving activities.
Northeast Monsoon
Best for: Manta rays and optimal visibility
- Peak manta ray encounters
- Exceptional visibility (40-50m)
- Perfect for underwater photography
- Calm surface conditions
- Ideal for all diving levels
- Consistent marine life activity
Southwest Monsoon
Best for: Whale sharks and enhanced marine activity
- Peak whale shark season
- Increased plankton brings more life
- More dynamic underwater conditions
- Better value diving packages
- Fewer crowds on the reef
- Enhanced feeding behaviors
Access and Accommodation
Getting to Maya Thila
Maya Thila's location in Ari Atoll makes it accessible via various options, from day trips to liveaboard expeditions, offering flexibility for different diving preferences and budgets.
Access Options:
- Day Trips from Male: 90-minute speedboat journey
- Ari Atoll Resorts: Dedicated dive centers nearby
- Liveaboard Expeditions: Multi-atoll diving safaris
- Seaplane Transfers: Scenic aerial approach
Nearby Accommodations
- Ari Atoll Resorts: Rasdhoo Island area
- Luxury Resorts: World-class diving facilities
- Local Island Stays: Budget-friendly guesthouses
- Liveaboard Vessels: Multi-day diving expeditions
Dive Requirements
- Certification: Open Water or higher
- Experience: Suitable for all levels
- Skills: Basic buoyancy control
- Medical: Valid diving medical certificate
- Equipment: Standard diving gear
Typical Costs (USD):
- Day Trip from Male: $150-220
- Two-Tank Dive: $120-180
- Resort Dive Package: $100-150 per dive
- Equipment Rental: $35-50 per day
- Underwater Camera: $30-45 per day
What's Included:
- Professional dive guide
- Safety equipment and briefing
- Boat transfers to dive site
- Light refreshments
- Emergency oxygen on board
Other Outstanding Sites in Ari Atoll
Combine your Maya Thila dive with other exceptional sites in Ari Atoll for a complete diving experience and explore the best of Maldives diving spots in this renowned atoll.
Manta Point
Dedicated manta ray cleaning station with year-round encounters. Perfect complement to Maya Thila for guaranteed manta ray experiences in different settings.
Depth: 8-25 meters | Level: All levels
Whale Shark Point
Premier whale shark encounter site in Ari Atoll. Combine with Maya Thila for the ultimate megafauna diving experience in the Maldives.
Depth: Surface-20 meters | Level: All levels
Fish Head
Famous cleaning station and shark encounter site. Excellent for combining with Maya Thila for diverse underwater experiences in Ari Atoll.
Depth: 15-35 meters | Level: Intermediate
Safety Protocols & Conservation
Maya Thila's pristine ecosystem requires careful diving practices to preserve this underwater paradise. Learn more about diving safety standards and marine life conservation in the Maldives.
🌊 Responsible Diving
Follow strict no-touch policies and maintain proper buoyancy to protect the pristine coral formations. Maya Thila's health depends on responsible diving practices from all visitors.
🐋 Megafauna Etiquette
Maintain respectful distances from manta rays and whale sharks. Never chase, touch, or block their path. Allow these gentle giants to approach naturally for the best encounters.
📸 Ethical Photography
Capture the reef's beauty without disturbing marine life. Use natural light when possible and avoid flash photography near sensitive species. The exceptional visibility allows for stunning natural lighting.
🪸 Reef Protection
Maya Thila's pristine condition is the result of careful conservation. Help preserve this underwater paradise by following all environmental guidelines and supporting sustainable diving practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maya Thila is renowned as one of the Maldives' premier thila dives, offering pristine coral formations, exceptional marine biodiversity, and regular encounters with manta rays and whale sharks. Located in Ari Atoll, it provides world-class diving with excellent visibility and diverse depth zones suitable for all experience levels.
Maya Thila is suitable for all diving levels, from Open Water divers to advanced technical divers. The multiple depth zones (5-30 meters) allow beginners to explore the shallow coral gardens while experienced divers can venture to the deeper slopes and overhangs.
Manta rays can be encountered year-round at Maya Thila, with peak sightings during the northeast monsoon (December-April) when plankton concentrations are highest. Early morning and late afternoon dives often provide the best encounters when mantas come to feed and be cleaned.
While whale shark encounters are not guaranteed, Maya Thila is located in Ari Atoll, which has some of the highest whale shark encounter rates in the Maldives. The best chances are during the southwest monsoon (May-November) when whale sharks visit the area to feed on plankton.
Maya Thila can be reached via 90-minute speedboat journey from Male, seaplane transfer to nearby resorts, or as part of liveaboard expeditions. Many Ari Atoll resorts offer dedicated dive packages including transfers and multiple dives at Maya Thila and surrounding sites.
Experience Maya Thila
Discover the pinnacle of Maldivian diving where pristine coral formations, manta rays, whale sharks, and exceptional marine biodiversity create world-class underwater adventures in the renowned Ari Atoll.
Explore Ari Atoll Diving