UNEARTH THE MARINE MARVELS ABOVE AND BELOW
Nestled within the pristine embrace of the North Male Atoll, Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island is a sanctuary of unspoiled natural beauty. Here, among the breathtaking lagoon, lively house reef, and a stunning beach adorned with powdery sands kissed by turquoise waters, we extend a heartfelt invitation to embark on an extraordinary journey into the Maldives' rich marine world.
Venture into a World of Wonder
The Maldives, celebrated for its vibrant marine life, beckons you to immerse yourself in its warm waters and explore the underwater realm. Our resort offers a diverse collection of excursions and diving experiences that allow you to encounter the Maldives' wonders both above and below the surface.
Dive into the depths aboard a semi-submarine or embrace the world just beneath the waves through snorkelling amid the coral gardens, where a kaleidoscope of marine life dances before your eyes. For certified divers, our exhilarating dive excursions unveil the secrets of the Maldivian marine ecosystem. Nurse sharks in secluded caves, graceful turtles, majestic mantas, eagle rays, sharks, and playful dolphins are just a glimpse of what you might encounter. Macro enthusiasts will delight in discovering nudibranchs, shrimp, and other captivating small creatures. With over 20 dive sites within proximity to the resort, each dive promises a new revelation. Notable dive sites to explore include Mahal Caves, Olhahali Ugol, and Olhahali Thila.
If you prefer to stay closer to the surface, join us on a romantic sunset cruise or a thrilling dolphin quest. For those with a penchant for angling, try your hand at pole and line fishing, or indulge in a myriad of other offerings. Whether you choose group adventures or seek the intimacy of private trips, we cater to your every desire.
Legend - Scientific Name Dhivehi Name
In
the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.
-Baba Dioum
Don’t try to touch or to chase: most of the animals are afraid of human. If you approach slowly, you might have agoo encounter.
TROPICAL FLUTTER
Max. Size (102 cm)
They can be easily be spotted walking around the
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Maakana
of
Tern
Sterna sp.
Valla
Max. Size (63-99 cm)
These are the birds you can see diving into surface waters on shallow reefs and lagoons to catch baitfish.
Habitat: Breeding on tree-covered tropical and subtropical islands, foraging over lagoons, atolls, and at sea.
Curiosity: Sometimes referred to as the fairy tern.
They play a crucial role in the Maldives for seed dispersal and pollination.
Habitat: Banyan or Almond trees.
Curiosity: One of the few animals capable of traveling between islands for up to 150km.
Maldivian Fruit Bat
Pteropus medius ariel
Vaa
Max. Size (150 cm)
Max. Size (37 cm)
These lizards are able to change their colouration, generally grey or brown; small in size, reaching up to 37 cm including their tail.
Habitat: Island vegetation.
Curiosity: During mating season, males exhibit bright orange heads and shoulders, with black throats to attract mates.
Shy and harmless, climbing smooth surfaces and walking upside down on ceilings.
Habitat: Walls and ceilings.
Curiosity: Geckos are known for their vocalisations.
Gecko
Hemidactylus sp.
Hoanu
Max. Size (10 cm)
Swift-footed Rock Crab
Grapsus albolineatus
Kakuni
Max. Size (20 cm)
Their bodies are coloured in a multitude of greens, blues, oranges, and blacks; feed on algae and detritus from rocks.
Habitat: Beach rock, walls, boat ramps, and jetties.
Curiosity: Exhibits varied colouration throughout their ranges.
Stalk-eyed Ghost Crab
Ocypode ceratophthalma
Size (20 cm)
Hermit Crab
Coenobita perlatus
Baraveli
Max. Size (8 cm)
They are not true crabs because they do not have their own shells. Instead, they use shells from dead gastropods for protection of their soft abdomens.
Habitat: Leaf litter or sheltered areas.
Curiosity: Often mistaken for marine animals; they cannot survive submerged in water for extended periods.
The largest tropical ghost crab. Can be distinguished by pointed stalks protruding above the eyes of adults.
Habitat: Sandy beaches, cays
Curiosity: They live in burrows dug deep into the sand during the day, and are mostly seen at night.
Kakuni
Max.
MARINE
Max. Size (200 cm)
These corals form wide, circular platforms with a rounded growth pattern.
Habitat: Reef environments at depths ranging from 3 to 25 metres.
Curiosity: Table corals can live for over 100 years, making them some of the longest-lived organisms on the reef.
Easily recognised by its evenly spaced branches and distinctive rosette-like appearance.
Habitat: Shallower waters between 3 to 10 metres deep.
Curiosity: The thin coral's delicate, lace-like branches provide intricate hiding spots and shelter for small reef fish and invertebrates.
Table coral
Acropora cytherea Muraka
Thin Coral
Acropora tenuis Muraka
Max. Size (20 cm)
Verrucose Pocillopora Coral
Pocillopora
verrucosa
Muraka
Max. Size (17 cm)
A vibrant coral that can display pink, cream or blue hues, with unique red-brown nodules on its branches.
Habitat: Upper regions of the reef, at depths less than 10 metres.
Curiosity: This coral's coluorful polyps can spontaneously detach and drift away, allowing the colony to reproduce and spread to new areas.
Sinuous Coral
Platygyra
sinensis
Muraka
Max. Size (17 cm)
A delicately patterned species, characterised by the distinctive cross-sections of its ridged septa.
Habitat: Reef areas between 3 to 30 metres deep.
Curiosity: The sinuous coral's meandering growth pattern is thought to help it maximsze the surface area exposed to sunlight for photosynthesis.
Max. Size (17 cm)
Colour can be green, red, brown or yellow with a number of growth forms. The corallites are generally well formed with blade-like septa.
Habitat: Reef environments at depths ranging from 3 to 25 metres. Curiosity: Their tentacles are covered in specialised stinging cells that it uses to capture small prey passing by.
Bristle Coral
Galaxea fascicularis
Muraka
Warrior Coral
Goniopora sp.
Muraka
Max. Size (17 cm)
Large coral colonies, sometimes several meters across, with polyps that have 24 tentacles.
Habitat: Found at depths of 5 to 20 metres on the reef.
Curiosity: Their large, tough polyps deter many predators, earning them the "warrior" name.
Magnificent Sea Anemone
Heteractis magnifica
Muraka
Max. Size (100 cm)
One of the largest tropical sea anemones, with a column that can reach up to 50 cm in diameter and tentacles ranging from bright green to dark greenish-black.
Habitat: A wide depth range of 1 to 50 metres on the reef.
Curiosity: This anemone's bright colours and large size make it a favourite with scuba divers and snorkellers.
Merten's Anemone
Stichodactyla mertensii
Muraka
Max. Size (100 cm)
Habitat: 5-10 depth range
A carpet sea anemone that has an oral disc that can be described as more ovoid than circular that contours to the surrounding substrate and is attached to the substrate by adhesive verrucae, which are wart-like projections.
Habitat: Typically situated in reef areas between 5 to 10 metres deep.
Curiostiy: Merten's anemones can split and divide, allowing a single anemone to populate a wide area of the reef.
Mushroom Coral
Fungia sp.
Muraka
Max. Size (17-30 cm)
These corals exhibit a variety of colours, including brown, grey, yellow and white, and are characterised by their highly developed triangular septal teeth.
Habitat: Depths ranging from the surface down to 40 metres on the reef.
Curiosity: They can retract their polyps to conserve energy during times of stress, such as when the water temperature rises.
Hawksbill Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Max. Size (100 cm)
Green Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Velaa
Max. Size (150 cm)
Distinguished by the four or more scales behind its eyes and its shorter beak, the green turtle is one of the most commonly sighted turtles around Olhahali Island.
Habitat: Coral reef environments.
Curiosity: Green turtles are one of the few vertebrates that are entirely herbivorous, feeding exclusively on seagrasses and algae.
The hawksbill turtle has three scales behind the eyes. Also known as "tortoiseshell" because young hawksbills have exceedingly beautiful shells.
Habitat: Coral reef environments.
Curiosity: They are the only sea turtle species with a hooked beak, which they use to access food trapped in coral crevices.
Velaa
Spotted Unicornfish
Naso brevirostris
unbi
Max. Size (50 cm)
Very common in the Maldives. A distinctive fish with a single, horn-like projection on its head, used for grazing on algae and plants.
Habitat: Upper part of reef slopes and drop-offs.
Curiosity: Males can quickly change colour, showing a broad bluish white band to impress other members.
Regal Angelfish
Pygoplites diacanthus
Dhonkokamas
Max. Size (25 cm)
Identified by alternating dark-edged white and orange crossbars.
Habitat: Abundant coral and rocky structures.
Curiosity: Regal angelfish have the ability to change colour dramatically depending on their mood or environment.
Pinstriped Butterflyfish
Chaetodon trifasciatus
unbibee
Max. Size (15 cm)
Small, disc-shaped fish with distinctive vertical black stripes. They feed mainly on coral polyps.
Habitat: Shallows of coral-rich reefs.
Curiosity: Pinstriped butterflyfish are known to form monogamous pairs that mate for life, working together to defend their territory.
Moorish Idol
Zanclus cornutus
Dhonkokamas
Max. Size (22 cm)
Identified by elongate snout, dorsal fin filament, shape and colour.
Habitat: Tropical reef environments.
Curiosity: The Moorish idol is considered one of the most challenging saltwater fish to care for in home aquariums due to its specialised diet.
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Max. Size (35 cm)
Titan Triggerfish
Balistoides viridescens
Rondu
Max. Size (75 cm)
Also as known as Giant Triggerfish, they are large and powerful with a distinct hump-like profile.
Habitat: Sheltered inner reef slopes.
Curiosity: Titan triggerfish have incredibly strong jaws that allow them to crush the hard shells of their prey, including clams and sea urchins.
Identified by black body with large white spots on lower half of the body and yellow to orange mouth.
Habitat: Coral reefs and rocky outcrops.
Curiosity: Clown triggerfish are known to be incredibly territorial and will aggressively defend their home reefs from intruders.
Rondu
Powder-blue Surgeonfish
Acanthurus leucosternon
Maagandumas
Max. Size (20 cm)
Identified by the black face, white chin, blue body and yellow dorsal fin. Look like the cartoon character 'Dory'.
Habitat: Coral reefs and lagoons.
Curiosity: The powder-blue surgeonfish gets its name from the scalpel-like spines on its tail that it can use to defend itself.
Max. Size (35 cm)
Blackfoot Anemonefish
Amphiprion nigripes
Maagandumas
Max. Size (10 cm)
A common species easily recognised by the single white bar over the head and black lower fins.
Habitat: Reside in the tentacles of host sea anemones on coral reefs.
Curiosity: The Maldives' very own anemonefish, not sighted anywhere else except nearby Sri Lanka.
They are all blue in colour with distinctive black tips on the tail fin.
Habitat: Large, fast-moving schools in open ocean environments.
Curiosity: Known for their ability to change colour rapidly, resembling a shimmering moonlit reflection underwater.
Moon Fusilier
Caesio lunaris
Dhonkokamas
Emperor Angelfish
Pomocanthus imperator
Dhonkokamas
Max. Size (38 cm)
They have a unique, brilliant pattern of colouration. The adults are striped with blue and yellow horizontal stripes, a light blue face with a dark blue mask over the eyes and a yellow caudal fin.
Habitat: Abundant coral and rocky structures.
Curiosity: Emperor angelfish undergo a dramatic colour transformation as they mature, changing from a juvenile pattern to the iconic adult colouration.
Long-nose Butterflyfish
Forcipiger flavissimus
unbibee
Max. Size (22 cm)
Bridled Parrotfish
Scarus frenatus
Landaa
Max. Size (47 cm)
Males distinguished by abrupt colour to pale green on lower half of head that continues along the body to the tail, females by the brown to pink fins.
Habitat: Reef slopes and drop-offs.
Curiosity: Parrotfish can generate more than 85% of the sand found on white sandy beaches. One parrotfish can poop up to 250g of sand in just one day.
Slender, disc-shaped fish with an elongated, protruding snout.
Habitat: Shallow inner reefs.
Curiosity: The long, protruding snout of the long-nose butterflyfish allows it to access food in tight coral crevices.
Yellow Boxfish
Ostraction cubicus
Gonu
Max. Size (45 cm)
Easily identified by the square yellow body and black spots when they are small. More elongate when they become adults.
Habitat: Protected reefs.
Curiosity: Yellow boxfish can inflate their bodies as a defense mechanism, making them harder for predators to swallow.
Fanihandhi
Max. Size (100 cm)
Oriental Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus vittatus
Langa
Max. Size (50 cm)
Adults easily recognised by their yellow lips and horizontal black striped pattern.
Habitat: Caves along drop-offs on outer reefs.
Curiosity: The striking patterns and colours of the oriental sweetlips help them blend in with the complex, colourful reef environments.
Sleek, fast-moving fish with a distinctive blue and silver coloration.
Habitat: Reef slopes. Blue-fin jacks are fast, agile swimmers that often hunt in large, coordinated groups to herd and capture small prey.
Blue-fin jack
Caranx melampygus
Coral Rabbitfish
Siganus corallinus
Oriya
Max. Size (35 cm)
They have blue spots on yellow background colour and a black area on the throat.
Habitat: Shallow, coral-rich reefs.
Curiosity: Coral rabbitfish are known to be highly cooperative, working together in small groups to forage and defend their territory.
Dhonreedhumas
Max. Size (30 cm)
Lionfish
Pterois sp.
Fannhaamas
Max. Size (35 cm)
They have long feathery dorsal fins and tentacles above eyes.
Habitat: Tropical reefs and rocky environments.
Curiosity: Lionfish have a unique hunting strategy, using their large, fan-like pectoral fins to herd and corner small fish before striking.
A medium-sized snapper with a distinctive blue and silver striped pattern.
Habitat: Coral reefs and rocky reef areas.
Curiosity: Bengal snappers are known to form large schools, working together to hunt and ambush small prey.
Bengal Snapper Lutjanus bengalensis
Peacock Rock Cod
Cephalopholis argus
Faana
Max. Size (45 cm)
Identified by colouration, often by a white blotch in front of the pectoral fin base.
Habitat: Reefs and rocky areas.
Curiosity: The peacock rock cod has the ability to change colour and pattern to match its surroundings, making it a master of camouflage.
Honeycomb Grouper
Epinephelus merra
Fannhaamas
Max. Size (28 cm)
Smooth Flutemouth
Fistularia commersonii
Langa
Max. Size (150 cm)
A very elongate fish that has a long filament projecting from the caudal fin.
Habitat: Protected areas, near the reef.
Curiosity: The smooth flutemouth's long, tubular snout is an adaptation that allows it to feed on small invertebrates and plankton.
Robust-bodied fish with a distinctive honeycomb-like pattern.
Habitat: Coral reefs. Honeycomb groupers are known to form large, coordinated hunting parties to increase their chances of catching prey.
Shadowfin Soldierfish
Myripristis adusta
Hiyani dhanbodu
Max. Size (35 cm)
A deep-bodied fish with a large head and distinctive black fins. It has a dark spot behind its head, as opposed to the bar of similar species.
Habitat: Near large reef overhangs.
Curiosity: Shadowfin soldierfish are nocturnal, emerging at night to feed on plankton and small crustaceans.
Max. Size (25 cm)
Reef-top Pipefish
Corythoichthys haematopterus
Fuhthundu
Max. Size (17 cm)
A thin, elongated fish with a long, tube-like snout and a segmented body. Often found in pairs and males have dark blotches along the pouch.
Habitat: Shallow water areas.
Curiosity: Reef-top pipefish are known for their unique courtship rituals, where the male carries the fertilised eggs in a pouch until they hatch.
They are small to medium-sized fish characterized by a slender body with lattened head and teeth-filled jaws.
Commonly found buried in the sand or among coral and rocky structures.
Curiosity: Lizardfish are ambush predators, using their camouflage and stealth to surprise and capture their prey.
Lizardfish
Synodus sp.
Mooda
Needlefish
Platybelone argalus
olhi
Max. Size (45 cm)
A slender, elongated fish with a long, pointed beak-like jaw.
Habitat: Open ocean and lagoon environments, often in large, coordinated schools.
Curiosity: Needlefish are capable of jumping out of the water and gliding short distances, a behavior known as "breaching."crustaceans.
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
ila miyaru
Max. Size (225 cm)
Blacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Falhu miyaru
Max. Size (180 cm)
Identified by the prominent black tips on its fins, this small shark has a streamlined body. Juveniles are specially common in lagoons and often form small schools hunting small fishes.
Habitat: Shallow coral reef and lagoon areas.
Curiosity: One of the most noted species by snorkellers. They are skilled predators, using their speed and agility to ambush and capture smaller fish and invertebrates.
A medium-sized, stocky shark with a gray coloration and a rounded snout.
Submerged reefs, particulary in channels. Mature females disappear from shark-watching dive site for a few weeks every year between March and May, probably for breeding.
Grey Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Faana miyaru
Max. Size (160 cm)
A small, stocky shark with distinctive white-tipped fins and a flattened, rounded snout. They are nocturnal hunters, usually seen during the day resting on sand patches.
Habitat: Coral reefs.
Curiosity: Whitetip reef sharks are one of the few shark species that can be safely approached by experienced divers.
Nidhan miyaru
Max. Size (320 cm)
Jenkins' Whipray
Pateobatis jenkinsi
Naru nagoo madi
Max. Size (150 cm)
A large, slender ray with a long, whip-like tail and distinctive patterning on its back. Feeds primarly on a variety of sand-dwelling molluscs and crustaceans.
Habitat: Large lagoons.
Curiosity: Non-aggressive, but each of them has up to 3 venomous spines.They are skilled at camouflage, able to bury themselves in the sand to ambush unsuspecting prey.
A large, bottom-dwelling shark with a flattened body, broad head, and two pairs of barbels near its mouth. Mostly nocturnal and hunts primarly for squid and octopus. During the day, often seen in small resting aggregations inside sheltered crevices and caves, or under ledges.
Habitat: Shallow lagoons. Known locally as the sleeping shark.
Nurse Shark
Nebrius ferrugineus
Cowtail Stingray
Pastinachus sephen
Naru nagoo madi
Max. Size (180 cm)
A large, diamond-shaped ray with a long, whip-like tail tipped with a venomous spine.
Habitat: Large shallow lagoons.
Curiosity: Cowtail stingrays are usually very shy and will flee from approaching divers when disturbed. They are known to be social, sometimes forming large aggregations in their preferred habitats.
Blotched Fantail Ray
Taeniurops meyeni
White-spotted Eagleray
Aetobatus oscellatus
Vaifiya madi
Max. Size (300 cm)
A large, eagle-like ray with a broad, wing-like disc and distinctive white spots on its back. Often forming large schools well above the bottom or near the surface.
Habitat: Open ocean, as well as coastal reefs and lagoon areas.
Curiosity: White-spotted eaglerays are known to be curious and may approach divers cautiously in the wild, they are fast swimmers.
Naru nagoo madi
Max. Size (180 cm)
A medium-sized ray with a distinctive, spotted "wing-like" disc and a long, thin tail. Largely nocturnal, feeding on a great variety of sand dwelling invertebrates as well as bony fishes.
Habitat: Deeper lagoons. One of the largest species of ray, their unique spotted patterns helps them blend in with the dappled light and shadows of the reef.
Reef Manta Ray
Manta alfredi
En madi
Max. Size (500 cm)
The world's largest ray, with a wide, flat body and long, wing-like pectoral fins. They follow the seasonal fluctuations in productivity of their planktonic food.
Habitat: Commonly seen gliding over coral reefs and seamounts in tropical and subtropical oceans.
Curiosity: The Maldives is home to the world's largest known population of reef manta rays. They are filter feeders, using their large mouths to capture tiny plankton as they swim.
Short-fin Pygmy Devil Ray
Black Cheek Moray
Gymnothorax breedeni
Kalhu ven
Max. Size (65 cm)
A large, predatory eel with a distinctive black coloration around its mouth and gill openings.
Habitat: Reef walls and steep slopes.
Curiosity: Black cheek morays are known for their aggressive nature and can deliver a painful bite if threatened.
A small, compact ray with a triangular disc and a relatively short, whip-like tail. Most commonly encountered by divers and snorkellers.
Habitat: Outer atoll reef crests and slopes.
Curiosity: The short-fin pygmy devil ray is one of the smallest species of ray, they can sometimes be mistaken for baby manta rays.
Mobula kuhlii
En madi
Max. Size (120 cm)
Honeycomb Moray
Gymnothorax favagineus
Ven
Max. Size (200 cm)
A medium-sized eel with a unique honeycomb-like pattern of yellow and black markings.
Habitat: Reef walls and steep slopes.
Curiosity: Individuals living on clear coral reefs usually have proporcionally less black than those in turbid waters. They are known to be highly territorial and will fiercely defend their hiding spots from other eels and predators.
Spotted Garden Eel
Heteroconger hassi
Ven
Max. Size (40 cm)
A unique, burrowing eel that lives in colonies, with only its head and upper body protruding from the sand.
Habitat: Sandy or muddy areas adjacent to coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Curiosity: Easily recognised by two large black spots on its sides. Spotted garden eels can quickly retract into their burrows if they sense any potential danger, making them difficult to observe up close.
The largest species of moray eel, with a thick, muscular body and a large, gaping mouth.
Reef walls from intertidal to 50m. Giant morays are apex predators on the reef, capable of hunting and consuming a wide range of prey, including small sharks and large fish.
Giant Moray Gymnothorax javanicus
Kalhu ven
Max. Size (100 cm)