Safari Boats seldom visit Mulaku atoll due to the hype for the northern atolls, specifically the Baa Atoll Hanifaru bay, that in the recent years became famous for sightings of Whale Sharks and manta Rays feeding on the blooms of plankton.
Mulaku Atoll is therefore an area that has lower traffic of tourists, and uncrowded dive areas are a great boon for visitors. Mulaku Atoll, also known as Meemu atoll, has a plethora of dive spots, all with a great abundance of marine life. Types of dive range from drift dives in the channels into the atoll, pinnacles with many caves waiting to be explored, and a wreck.
On the western side of the atoll, there are about 15 channels to choose from, all excellent for drift dives. Out of these, the Hakura Thila is a great spot, in a protected marine area. Inside the Mulee Channel, the Hakura Pinnacle almost breaks the surface 1 about 1 meter below sea level. The roughly oval thila has a lot of caves and overhangs at the north eastern edge that break off into steps, and on the eastern side there’s a huge cave with plenty of nudibranch, starfish, flat worms and anemone.
Photographers would love the spectacular panorama from a distance on a day with high visibility, and marcos look good as ever. The northern wall has a ridge that falls from 25 to 40 meters and has black corals, seafans, and whips. The Hakura Thila is located in a location that gets fresh currents, bringing along with it grey reef sharks, eagle rays and smaller fish like needle fish, sweet lips, jacks, trevallies, snappers, barracuda and fusiliers.
The top of this wonder, after a drift from the north east side, is a great place to spend the final moments before leaving the water; the schools of sergeants, damsel fish, surgeons, butterfly fish and other smaller fish make up a colorful display. Read more about the Maldives marine life.