Sunlight Thila

Sunlight Thila is a thila, a submerged reef pinnacle, in North Male Atoll in the Maldives. Its name reflects how sunlight penetrates the shallower coral formations on top before the reef drops toward deeper water, and it is typically dived by boat from resorts and liveaboards operating in North Male. The site is known for overhangs and caves cut into the thila where reef fish and smaller marine life shelter, with the surrounding open water drawing occasional larger pelagic visitors typical of Maldivian channel and thila diving. Depths commonly range from around 5 metres on the reef top down past 25 metres along the sides. Current can run over the pinnacle and through nearby channels, so it is often considered a dive suited to those with some experience.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Powder Blue TangAcanthurus leucosternonReported here · unconfirmed
• Blacktip Reef SharkCarcharhinus melanopterusReported here · unconfirmed
• Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
• Striped SurgeonfishAcanthurus lineatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Checkerboard WrasseHalichoeres hortulanusReported here · unconfirmed
• Lined BristletoothCtenochaetus striatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Spiny Cushion StarCulcita schmidelianaReported here · unconfirmed
• Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkiiReported here · unconfirmed
• Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Indian Redfin ButterflyfishChaetodon trifasciatusReported here · unconfirmed