One day prior, all information for next days boat diving is available including description, type of dive, dive plan and variety of marine life. This information together with the assistance of the diving instructors, guides or base leader himself, enables you to decide on the optimum choice of dives for the next day. All of the dives are in small groups and are guided free of charge regardless as to whether it is an easy, advanced or professional dive. Diving on inside and outside reefs, channels, steep drop-offs, overhangs, farus, tilas and giris. In only 15 minutes the diving boat is in the largest Maldivian Marine Nature Reserve - the Guraidhoo Area. With its brillant white, sandy bottom and mini coral blocks each with their eco-system, is one of natural wonders of the world. At the manta rock, the huge manta rays play around, gracefully making loops as if performing on a stage. Specially built diving dhonies, with trained personnel, limited numbers on the boat, first aid and safety equipment plus a DAN oxygen set on everey boat. Safety precautions are high priority.
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Reefs are usually called "faru" which is a coral reef partially exposed at low tide and often a reef encircling a lagoon, sometimes with an islands inside, where already in shallow water, snorklers and divers will find an increadible marine life.
A "giri" is the name for a small coral reef close to the surface, rising from the Atoll floor and nearly reach the surface, while most of the time its covered with water. A few island resorts have their own "Kuda Giri" (Small Reef) like Villi Varu Giri, which is just a stonethrough away from the Villi Varu Resort.
A " thila" is a coral reef usually a few metres below the surface below at depths between 5 and 15 metres. Dive sites, such as Maafushi Tila, Nagili Tila, Gulhi Tila, Dighu Thila are outstanding among thilas with different fish and coral formation offering excellent diving experience. Itīs the home of different kind of sharks, barakudas, green turtle and at times to Manta rays. Soft coral such as seafan and gorgony grow in different size and colours.
The channel between two reefs is called a "kandu". There are many other names describing the natural features of the islands which the curios traveller will come across, but it is "maa kandu" or also called "corner " the big sea outside the Atoll, in which most divers will discover the real attraction of the Maldives.
The "outer reef " slope of the Atolls are generally distinguished by greater depths and increased clarity of water. The visibility may exceed 50 metres. Looking down the reef slope, the coral communities change rapidly with increasing depth. The upper parts of the outer reef may be affected by wave action, restricting the growth of more delicate plate coral. A great variety of fish life occurs among the coral in this zone.
Lagoons with good circulation of water may have large stands of branching acropora growing on the sand. Lagoons can trap many fish varieties as the tide recedes On the inner reef coral growth may be rich if the slope is not too steep. Steep or vertical slopes may be bare. Many interesting caves, overhangs and gullies can occur in this zone. The Atoll floor consists mostly of sand and rubble and is usually at a depth of between 30 to 50 metres.