Boduhiti Thila

This dive site, Boduhiti Thila, consists of two slightly separated seamounts located within the renowned Bodu Hithi Channel in the North Male Atoll. The reef begins around 7 meters and steeply drops to approximately 30 meters on its westerly side. It is particularly celebrated for a famous cleaning station for manta rays, found at around 25 meters, making it a critical hub for these majestic creatures. The primary attraction at Boduhiti Thila is the seasonal aggregation of manta rays at their cleaning station. Beyond the mantas, the nutrient-rich channel waters attract a diverse array of reef fish, including snappers, fusiliers, and jacks. White-tip reef sharks are also common visitors, along with various hard and soft coral formations that adorn the seamounts, providing a vibrant ecosystem for smaller marine life. The best time to visit Boduhiti Thila for optimal manta ray sightings is seasonally, corresponding to local plankton blooms. Divers should be proficient in drift diving and capable of handling strong currents, which are characteristic of this channel location and often bring the mantas in. Both scuba divers and freedivers can enjoy this site, with freedivers able to explore the shallower reef sections and potentially encounter mantas closer to the surface.