Villa Park

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South Ari Atoll is renowned as a top destination to marvel at the breathtaking presence of whale sharks and manta rays in the Maldives. Villa Park is nestled within the largest Marine Protected Area in the Maldives, spanning 42 km² of coral reef known as SAMPA (South Ari Atoll Protected Area). This designation aims to safeguard the area, as it serves as a crucial aggregation site for whale sharks on a global scale. Additionally, Manta Rays grace the waters of South Ari Atoll from December to late April, often spotted in our very own house reef during night dives.
The area to be covered is vast, offering a diverse range of marine life encounters. Spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are a common sight, while the yearly migration of pilot whales can be observed from March to April. The Atoll provides a variety of dive sites, including reefs for leisurely drifts, thrilling channel dives, and exploration of Thilas and Giris. Marine life is abundant, with vibrant hard and soft coral formations, making it a truly unique and remarkable atoll to explore.

A Marine Protected Dive Site since 1995, Kuda Rah Thila is approximately 35 to 40 minutes away from Villa Park. Recommended for Advanced and Open Water divers, the shallowest part of the thila is 12-15 meters in depth.
To reach the dive site, the entry is coordinated and divers usually drift into the dive site. It is covered with bluestripe snapper, sometimes so densely that these fishes dominate the scene. The ambiance on the dive site is remarkable, with Giant Trevallies and Jack fishes hunting in the blue, while at times grey reef sharks are also observed. The eastern side of the dive site has some of the bigger overhangs and also a small archway. Magnificent giant gorgonian fans are common at depths ranging from 25 to 30 meters.

Bodufinolhu Thila is reached within 40 minutes from Villa Park. This beautiful submerged reef is located on the outer reef, approximately 20 meters away from the main reef. The entry is done on the main reef, and depending on the current, divers will be navigated towards the Thila. As you crossover from the main reef, lots of batfish come to greet divers. The bottom is sandy, and often there are whitetip reef sharks resting on the bottom, as well as stingrays.
The very top of the Thila is about 25 meters, resembling a small reef dune in the blue. Grey reef sharks and silvertip sharks patrol this area. The Thila serves as a cleaning station for many pelagic fishes due to its location out in the blue. Many shark species, manta rays, and other species come here to groom or take advantage of the cleaner fish that inhabit this area. Sharks can be seen hovering while the cleaner fish eat the parasites from them. Sometimes, sharks will open their mouths and hover, allowing the cleaner fish to go inside their mouths.
Bodufinolhu Thila is an eventful place where whale sharks, mantas, and schools of devil rays are seen in groups. A Nitrox profile is highly recommended for this dive to catch more bottom time. Towards the end of the dive, divers can navigate towards the main reef and drift along for the safety stop. The top of the main reef is covered with table corals and is also an eventful reef.

Hurolhi Corner is approximately 30 minutes from Villa Park. The dive site is best experienced with a medium drifting in going current. Divers jump away from the channel on the main reef and start drifting. As the site faces the open ocean, pelagic fishes are very common here. Schools of batfish can be seen on entry and also in the mid-section of the dive site. Grey reef sharks patrol the sandy bottom and sometimes venture into shallow waters when the currents are just right. Juvenile Grey Reef sharks are also observed at this dive site. Napoleon wrasse, stingrays, and eagle rays are very common. The dive is recommended for advanced divers, and a nitrox profile will add more bottom time, which is much needed for this type of dive.

Maamigili Beyru, known for its frequent sightings of whale sharks that patrol the main reef all year round. The bay offers a higher probability of encountering these magnificent creatures than anywhere else in the Maldives. The very long outside reef of Maamigili Island is sometimes prone to drift dives, where it’s easy to navigate. From the top of the reef (2-5 m) to the sandy bottom (30 m), the descent is quite steep, except at the corner leading into the atoll. This area is more gradual with many overhangs adorned with soft coral. The reef is always home to many large fish: tunas, barracudas, snappers, groupers, Napoleon wrasse, and many more, making this area very interesting. Along this reef, you can also see whit tip sharks resting on the sandy bottom or cruising around, as well as stingrays, eagle rays.

Manta Point, located approximately 45 minutes by boat from Villa Park, is a gathering point for Manta Rays, which come to feed on the plankton-rich waters between December and April. Some of the adult manta rays can reach a disc size of 2-5 meters giants and have distinctive special markings on their bellies, making each manta unique like fingerprints. The Mantas are quite used to divers; many make close passes within inches of divers. This reef top starts from 2-8 meters and gradually descends to 10 meters. After 10 meters, most of the reef drops vertically down to 25-30 meters. Some overhangs of all sizes line the north side. Out of manta season, the dive site is still worth visiting due to its abundance and richness in fish life. Along the reef top, you can always find Morays, Scorpionfish, Octopus, and Napoleon Wrasse. Triggerfish sometimes seem to obstruct the view of the surface due to the high number present on this reef. Along with Mantas, other pelagic species can be found, such as White-tip Shark and Stingrays, which stay near the sandy bottom at the base of the reef. On this dive, pay attention to the water off the reef; look into the blue, where you can also see Mantas flying past, along with large Tuna patrolling the reef water.