On the eastern fringe of the reef in 15 metres is a school of up to 1000 schooling bannerfish. These distinctive fish have long dorsal fins and vertical black and white bands and always inhabit the same area. At times they are so thick that divers can barely see through them. Here also are large morays that entwine themselves in green coral trees. The caves have several species of grouper and some, like the snoutspot grouper, have become quite tame, mainly through fish-feeding. There are some pufferfish and many smaller apecies of wrase. Cleaner wrasse are common, often swimming well out from the reef and inot schools of blue-dash fusilier. Big schools of fusilier afre everywhere, most noticeably the smaller striped fusilier and the moon fusilier. At the western end a semi-circular wall drops steeply to 25 metres. There is a big cave here between 10 and 15 metres with a multitude of squirelfish, including sabre squirelfish, immaculate soldierfish. Many swim upside down and all have big eyes to see in the dark. A little deeper is a small cave at 20 metres often with a moray and grouper inside. During strong currents this concave wall, known as the "Washing Machine", generates swirling down currents. The Maldivian grubfish thrives on the rubbly bottom near the "Washing Machine" at around 20 metres. Grey reef sharks are regularly seen. On the reef top is some of the best table coral seen in North Male' Atoll and on cliffs and ledges between three and 10 metres are colourful sponges and coral. Diving Hints: During the north-east monsoon, spring tides combine with north easterly winds creating extremely strong currents from the east. Be wary if diving at these times and if caught in the "Washing Machine", don't fight it but stay close to the reef and ride it out. _________________________________________________________
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Banana Reef, named after its shape when viewed from
the air, was one of the first dive sites to be discovered in the Maldives. It is the most
northern of the two reefs west of