Ukulhas Thila * * * * Along the outer north eastern rim of Ari Atoll is a long chain of under-water reefs which pop up from the 30 metre bottom at regular intervals. Ukulhas Thila is one such long, narrow pinacle. The 300 metre long thila has a relatively flat top at around 15 metres with a slope that steps down to 25 metres and 30 metres. There are three sets of large coral rocks along the reef top at 13 metres that are cleaning stations for manta rays, which are found here between the months of December and April. The mantas feed around the reef top, scooping up zooplankton as it drifts with the current up the side of the thila. Schools of fusilier, are also busy feeding around the reef top. There are many other fish types attracted to this isolated outcrop of reef including grouper, tuna, morays, turtles and sharks. Blue-stripped snapper are always in abundance and eagle rays are regularly seen gliding gracefully past the reef. Diving Hints: Current can be strong and the seas turbulent here as there is little protection. Divers may have to begin their dive up-current from the thila and drift quickly down to the protection of the reef. Ukulhas Thila has an established reputation for Manta Rays and as it is regularly visited by divers; we, HelloMaldives Tours & Travel (www.hellomaldives.com) urge the divers not to frighten the mantas by chasing them. Mantas are naturally curious and if divers hold onto a piece of dead coral at a discreet distance from the cleaning stations, then the mantas will continually circle and hover above them. Since this reef is in the open ocean, a safety ballon is an essential accessory for this dive.
Maa Thila * * South West of Kudafolhudhoo is a large reef called Maa Thila. The south side is a long drift dive with an undulating terrain that rises from the sandy bottom at 25 metres to the reef edge at 10 metres. There are two sand ridges leading away from the reef; one at 18 metres, the other at 20 metres. Around these ridges are White-tip Reef Sharks. There are plenty of coral boulders around the base of the reef that are surrounded by reef fish. On the slopes are many snapper, banner fish and yello-back fusilier. This reef has an interesting shape that leads divers around corners, over ridges and into a bay before finishing the dive on the reef top around coral patches at 6 to 8 metres.
Bodu Thila * * In Dhivehi "Bodu" means "large" and this is a big 500 metre long thila starting at a depth of 8 to 10 metres. There are many coral rocks between 10 and 20 metres and in the middle of the reef is a saddle that dips to 14 metres. Sourrounding depths are to 25 metres.
Kuda Giri * In Dhivehi "Kuda" means "small". One km to the east of Bodufolhudhoo is a shallow protected reef ideal for beginners. It is an oval shaped reef with very good coral above 10 metres. It has a gentle slope to a sandy bottom at 25 metres. There are many sea anemones at shallow depths and plenty of small reef fish, especially wrasse. One attraction is a burrowing crab at 23 metres.
Gangehi Pass * * One of the longest channels in Ari Atoll is Gangehi Pass. There is good diving on both sides of the 2.5 km long channel with the better diving just inside the channel. On the north side are large coral rocks around 20 metres and a 200 metre long cave ebtween the depths of 15 and 20 metres. There are many groupers in the cave and also sting rays. Napoleon are common during the months of June, July and August
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