Five Rocks

Five Rocks is a thila (submerged pinnacle) known locally as Reethi Thila, a name that means 'beautiful pinnacle' in Dhivehi, at the northern end of Dhigurahshu Kandu. It consists of five rocky outcrops lying roughly in a circle, with fissures, caverns and overhangs, in a small circular reef split into five pieces by canyons up to 3 metres wide. Criss-crossing channels cut through the reef and form a small maze, which lets divers meander around each rock.

In the caverns there are lots of little orange damsels swimming upside down, orienting themselves to the ceiling rather than the floor. In the channels between the rocks and down the reef slope there are many pink gorgonian fans, along with Tubastrea coral, sponges, anemones and encrusting algae, making for a very colourful scene. The canyons, overhangs and floor are covered with sea fans, soft coral and sea whips, and the soft corals are abundant between the canyons and overhangs. In the holes and cracks of the reef you can spot mantis shrimp and honeycomb moray eels.

Cryptic scorpionfish and nudibranchs hide among the anemones, fans and sea whips. Shoals of fusiliers and oriental sweetlips swim above, alongside jacks and barracuda. Marine life includes small clownfish, and away from the reef you can see grunts and trevallies.