Fushifaru Thila * * * Even the most experienced divers will
spoilt at this site. The area within a 100 metre radius of the centre of fushifaru thila
has been declared a protected marine area. The thila can be dived in 2 ways. The deeper outside part is the entrace to the atoll at 30 metres. The entrance and the thila can be dived seperately or by one dive. Along the cliff edge, drey reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, barracuda and eagle rays can be seen, depending on current. On the top of the thila is an unspoiled reef with brilliant table coral. This layered coral formation offers plenty of protection for morays and shy reef fish. There are cleaner wrasse station all over and reef fish and mantas take advantages of this cleaning service whenever they are in the area. Big school so black snapper, deep-fusilier, blue-fusilier, yellow-back fusilier and aggregations of oriental sweetilip are common. The swift currents streaming through the channel give life to beautiful coft corals and they compete for any available space. Lying on the sand sourrounding the thila at 20 metres are white-reef sharks and sting rays while around the edges are nurse sharks and turtles. Diving Hints: Currents can be extremely strong in this channel especially during the north east monsoon. An ingoing current provides excellent visibility and enables divers to dive the deep outside rim of the atoll before moving onto the thila. Mantas are more likely to be seen with the current flowing outside the atoll. Care should be taken when diving with an outgoing current. Safety ballong should be carried at all times. |
The
thila lies near the edge of the Atoll in the middle of a 500 metre wide channel that
seperates the reefs of Fushifaru and Madhiriguraidhoo Faru. The thila is about 150 metres
long and 50 metres wide and rises to about 10 metres at its highest point. At the either
end, the top is around a depth of 16 metres.