Occupying an expansive space beneath the deep blue 2.5km north east of the Dhigurah channel lies the South Ari Atolls most famed diving Mecca, the Broken Rock Dive Site. Earning its curious name due to its intriguing structural formation, the location is in fact a vast canyon that has divided a massive reef in to two quarters. Thus Broken Rock encompasses a split reef or thila that has been so separated by a 2m broad canyon from the west to the east.
Other than the Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock is the single most popular dive site in the South Ari Atoll with the picturesquely positioned canyon forming the main point of interest in this idyllically submerged coral reef. Recommended for experienced divers only the dive site is perhaps best loved for the vibrant soft corals that line its environs. Due to its extraordinary structural features, varying currents and depth the site is only accessible to one diver at a time.
The northern section of the rock is 25 to 30 meters in depth with two large coral blocks complete with overhangs covering the surface. Stunning fan corals are also a feature of this quarter while the topmost reef at the site encompasses beautiful hard corals where invertebrates such as nudibranchs and leaf fish typically dwell.
Divers will be well-advised to carry along a surface balloon and a dive torch when exploring this wondrous underwater marvel which also boasts an abundance of marine life and coral varieties. Frequent visitors have been known to spot schools of scorpion fish, Napoleon wrasses, moray eels and turtles at Broken Rock which offers a unique diving experience due to the channel that runs through the spot where the reef is divided in to two. With diverse depths that extend from forty to a hundred feet other inhabitants that are frequently seen along its fringes include trigger fish and puffer fish as well.
Travellers hoping to go
diving in Maldives will be hard-pressed to find a more aptly located rest than the Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo. As a stylish establishemt belonging to the John Keells Hotel Group this is one luxury
hotel Maldives counts among its most luxurious accommodation providers.
