Velassaru Cave

A reef-wall cave dive on the outer reef at the northern tip of South Malé (Kaafu) Atoll, off Velassaru island, facing the channel between the two atolls — about 25 minutes by boat from Malé. The reef drops as a steep, serrated wall from a top around 5 m, and along it between roughly 10 and 30 m runs a string of caves, overhangs and a daylight swim-through. The cave mouths shelter glassfish and sweepers, soldierfish and squirrelfish, with sponges and soft corals on the walls and resting hawksbill turtles and stingrays tucked inside; lionfish, scorpionfish, moray eels and plenty of nudibranchs reward the macro hunters. Out along the open wall and in the blue, eagle rays and cruising pelagics drift past when the current runs. Currents are usually gentle but tide-driven and can build along the wall, so start into the flow and use the structure for shelter — calm days suit all levels, with drift comfort helping when it picks up. Finish on the lively 5 m reef top. Boat entry.