Anga Faru Thilas

Reef Extension from Anga Faru to Dhigu Thila. Consists of 3 reef top formations that are slightly deep.

Anga Faru, meaning “Mouth Reef” in Dhivehi, is a series of reef extensions and pinnacles. Which also serve as Manta cleaning stations where checking them all requires some swimming. Top reef depth is around 16 meters or deeper.

Marine Life

Reef life is lush with hard corals and sea fans. Schools of fusiliers and Striped Jacks patrol the waters. Mantas can appear from as few as two to more than five at each cleaning station.

Manta Feeding Phenomenon

The bay-like topography traps plankton, attracting Reef Manta Rays and occasionally Whale Sharks to feed on concentrated zooplankton. This phenomenon intensifies during the Southwest Monsoon (May-November) when tidal currents push nutrient-rich water through the area. The famous “cyclone feeding” behavior can occur here, where mantas form rotating circles up to 20 meters in diameter to concentrate their food source.

Conservation Status

The site lies within a 769-hectare protected region designated in 2009 as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area (EBSA). It forms part of the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve and is recognized as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA).