DIVE SITE
VAADHOO THILA

With the kind permission of iDive Maldives

VAADHOO THILA is a medium-sized thila located a few hundred meters east of Dheburidheythereyvaadhoo Island in Maldives, and is made of a main thila surrounded by many coral blocks. On the western side, there are many overhangs starting at 15m. The fauna is very rich and varied, and you can encounter species such as snappers, tunas and fusiliers.

When the current is strong, it is recommended to perform the water entry upstream in the current, with no air in the BCD and staying minimal time at the surface. A prior current check will be needed to determine the position the boat placement.

When the current is coming from the west, the west side, which presents many overhangs, is a good starting point for the dive. When the current is from the east, it is better to start exploring the split point and then drift along towards the section protected from the current.
Divers can then end the dive by exploring the top reef at a shallower depth.

Both the ascent and safety stop are performed in open water and using an SMB.

During strong currents, a deep thila like this one may require the guide to reposition the dhoni between the entries of different teams in order to allow everyone to reach their goal. This site is accessible to divers with some experience at 20-30m, and can be explored all year round. When the current is strong, it is better for inexperienced divers to avoid the site in order to avoid damaging the reef.