Banana Reef

Banana Reef takes its name from its shape and was the first site in the Maldives opened to divers, in the early 1970s, and it remains one of the busiest: a reef with overhangs, caves and a wall on the eastern side, with big shoals of snapper and fusilier and reef sharks patrolling the drop. It sits within reach of Malé and a large number of resorts, which is both its convenience and its problem.

The landscape

• The overhangs and caves - the undercut sections along the reef.
• The wall - the eastern drop where the current runs.
• The fish shoals - snapper and fusilier in numbers along the reef.
• The reef sharks - the grey and whitetip sharks patrolling the drop.

When to go

November to April has the clearest water and calmest conditions. Currents vary with the tide and can be strong. The site is dived year round.

Things to know

It is heavily dived and shows the wear, with coral damage from decades of traffic. Currents can be strong and it is not a beginner site in all conditions. Several boats are usually on it at once.

Nearby

Malé is southwest, and Thulusdhoo is northeast.