Okobe Thila

A thila inside the atoll west of Lankanfushi, made of three coral blocks with ledges and overhangs coated in soft coral. The north block holds snapper, sweetlips and fusilier schools, while the eastern block draws barracuda, tuna, trevally and a family of curious napoleon wrasse. Reef sharks hunt among the schools when the current runs.

Facts

• Region: Maldives – North & Central Atolls
• Area: North Malé Atoll
• Depth: 8–30 m
• Level: intermediate
• Current: moderate
• Type: pinnacle, reef
• Coordinates: 4.2946, 73.5125 (approximate)
• Highlights: napoleon wrasse, oriental sweetlips, bluestripe snapper, barracuda, trevally, tuna, soft coral, swim-throughs/overhangs
• Tips: Declared a protected area in August 2024 as an offset for the Gulhifalhu reclamation; anchoring and damaging activities are banned. Two published GPS points differ by about 1.4 km, so let the boat crew find the mooring.

Sources

• https://www.scubago.com/en/explore/divesite/okobe-thila-12751
• https://www.baros.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dive-Sites.pdf
• https://www.dive-the-world.com/diving-sites-maldives-north-male-atoll.php
• https://www.wannadive.net/spot/Asia/Maldives/Male_Atoll/North_Male_Atoll/Okobe_Thila/index.html
• https://maldivesvoice.mv/1137