Lion's Head
A wall on the southern edge of North Malé, next to Hans Hass Place, named after a coral outcrop shaped like a lion's head. The reef starts at about 3 m and drops to around 40 m; the wall is covered with sponges, sea fans and crinoids, while grey reef sharks, turtles, napoleon wrasse, eagle rays and tuna cruise in the blue. It was once a shark-feeding site and the coral is recovering.
Facts
- Region: Maldives – North & Central Atolls
- Area: North Malé Atoll
- Depth: 3–40 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: strong
- Type: wall, reef
- Coordinates: 4.1725, 73.442 (approximate)
- Highlights: grey reef sharks, turtles, napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, tuna, batfish, nudibranch, sea fans, sponge
- Unverified: No published GPS found; the pin is an estimate south of the Thilafushi reef towards Gulhifalhu, based on the EPA name (south Thilafalhu) and the description 'adjacent to Hans Hass Place'. Land reclamation around Thilafushi/Gulhifalhu may have changed the area.
- Tips: Protected since 1995 (Thilafalhu Miyaruvani). Marine Protected Area: fishing, anchoring and taking coral, shells or rock are prohibited. Use the outcrops as shelter when the current is strong.