Banana Reef, Nord-Male-Atoll: a classic Maldivian dive curve

Banana Reef in Nord-Male-Atoll is a protected curved coral formation in the Maldives, long known as Gaathugiri, that helped define the country’s diving scene.

Banana Reef in Nord-Male-Atoll is one of the Maldives’ classic coral dive sites, a curved underwater formation known locally as Gaathugiri that helped establish the atoll’s reputation among divers in the late twentieth century.

A reef shaped like its name

Seen on charts and from passing boats, Banana Reef traces a long curve inside the eastern side of North Malé Atoll, its outline giving the site both its English name and the Maldivian name Gaathugiri.Gaathugiri in North Malé Atoll The reef lies within Kaafu Atoll, not far from the capital island of Malé and the airport island to its north.on the eastern rim of the atoll

The coral formation runs roughly from the north-east towards the south, forming a distinctive arc that has been described as stretching a few hundred metres along the atoll’s inner side.the reef stretches along the atoll interior Its submerged slopes shelter a mix of cliffs, ledges and small caves, with an outer drop-off that reaches diving depths around 30 m (98 ft).depth ranges from 5 to 30 metres

From early discovery to protected marine area

Banana Reef appears among the earliest explored dive sites in the Maldives, with reports of organised dives here dating back to the early 1970s and marking it out as a formative location in Maldivian scuba tourism.among the very first explored in the Maldives By the late 1980s it had gained official recognition as a protected marine area, a status that helps safeguard its coral and fish communities within North Malé Atoll.designated as a protected area

The reef lies near resort islands such as Farukolhu Fushi, sometimes known for a historic Club Med property, and other tourism islands on the inner side of the atoll.located near Farukolhu Fushi Its combination of accessible location, recognisable curved shape and formally protected status has made Banana Reef a standard entry on dive centre maps of Kaafu Atoll.

Diving the contours of Banana Reef

The underwater topography at Banana Reef offers several distinct zones for divers, from shallow coral gardens to steeper outer walls, all lying within a depth band of about 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft).depth between 4 and 30 metres Many descriptions highlight an inner plateau with coral growth around mid depths and an outer face that drops more steeply towards the atoll channel.outer wall and shallower inner plateau

Along the curve of the reef, divers encounter features such as overhangs, small caves and pinnacles, together with hard and soft corals, table corals and sponges.shallow coral gardens with mixed corals Marine life commonly reported here includes bannerfish, oriental sweetlips, groupers, snappers, jacks and barracudas, with reef sharks and larger pelagic species sometimes present along the deeper sections.pinnacles, caves and varied fish life

Visiting Banana Reef: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Banana Reef lies inside North Malé Atoll in the Maldives, a short boat journey from Malé and the neighbouring airport island, and is reached exclusively by sea transfer.reachable by day-trip boat from Malé
• The terrain is entirely marine: access is from boats over deep water, with dives descending from around 5 m to near 30 m (16 to 98 ft) along reef slopes and walls.depth ranges from 5 to 30 metres
• Banana Reef forms part of a protected marine area within Kaafu Atoll, and organised visits are conducted by licensed dive centres or resort operators using dedicated dive boats.one of the first protected marine areas
• The official language is Dhivehi and the currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Banana Reef

Where is Banana Reef located?

Banana Reef lies within North Malé Atoll in the Maldives, inside Kaafu Atoll near the capital island of Malé and the airport island to the north.

What should visitors expect on a trip to Banana Reef?

Visitors can expect boat-based access to a curved coral formation with dive routes between about 5 m and 30 m, featuring walls, ledges, overhangs and varied reef fish.

What makes Banana Reef distinctive among Maldivian dive sites?

Its recognisable banana-like curve, early role in Maldivian dive exploration and formal status as a protected marine area combine to give Banana Reef a particular standing within North Malé Atoll.