Banana Reef

Banana Reef on North Male Atoll is the Maldives dive in many respects. It was one of the first places to draw visitors and divers from all over the globe, and it gives a taste of everything that makes diving in the Maldives so special: corals, caverns, huge fish, and overhangs.

The divers like Banana Reef because it's easy to get to; even snorkelers can get their fins wet at this rather protected location. The reef begins at 5m/16ft and declines to a maximum depth of 35m/114ft. Divers will encounter deep holes, fissures, and great coral cover along the sloping sides.

Things to see: All of the hiding places on the reef are ideal for moray eels, whereas sharks and groupers like to hang out in the blue near the reef. Jacks swarm, and snapper and wrasse dart in and out of the corals. Napoleons are very regularly observed here. People are another item you may expect to see on Banana. The same factor that makes this spot so popular with day-trippers, divers, and snorkelers is its accessibility.