Werner Lau Medhufushi
Werner Lau's SSI/PADI dive centre at Medhufushi Island Resort, Meemu Atoll's only strong resort-based dive operation, known for shark- and manta-rich channel diving.
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Medhufushi Tila
Also known as: Medhufushi Tila, Medhufushi Tilas
A coral pinnacle in Meemu Atoll topped at about 4m, with soft-coral overhangs, caves and dense reef fish down a wall of 25-30m; the current varies.
Last updated October 2026
The dive
The top of the thila comes up to about 4 metres below the surface, a hard-coral garden that gives the dive its shallow end. From there the pinnacle falls away as a steep wall, overhung in places and cut by caves, with soft corals swaying from the overhangs. Groupers, snappers and sweetlips pack the walls in high density, and morays and lionfish sit tucked into the crevices.
The wall holds the caves and the schools, and the coral top is there to come back to. Tuna and jacks hunt off the structure and reef sharks are possible in the blue. Mantas and whale sharks belong to the atoll's southwest monsoon season and are not fixtures of this pinnacle.
What makes it special
A thila that changes character with the day, this pinnacle plays two ways. When the current eases, divers with less experience can descend and enjoy the wall; when it runs, the same dive becomes a drift past the coral. It sits in a channel between two wide lagoons, and dolphins may escort divers to the start of the dive on the northern side.
Know before you go
The Open Water diver's part of the dive is the coral top and the upper wall. The wall passes the standard 18 m Open Water limit on its way to 25-30 m, and that lower part is Advanced depth.
Ask the guide what the current is doing that day, and carry a surface marker buoy if the plan is a drift. The caves are for looking into from the open wall, with steady trim to stay clear of the coral and in sight of open water.
The thila dives year-round. January to April, the northeast monsoon, gives the clearest water; May to November, the southwest monsoon, is manta season across the atoll.
Why Dive Medhufushi Tila
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Soft-coral overhangs
Overhangs along the wall are festooned with swaying soft corals
- Caves in the wall
A steep wall with overhangs and caves to scout between the fish
- Dense reef fish
Groupers, snappers and sweetlips crowd the walls in high density
- Hard-coral top at 4 m
The pinnacle peaks about 4m below the surface under hard coral
- Variable current
Reports run from still water to a drift, so the dive changes with the day
Depth & Profile
4m
Min depth
30m
Max depth
4–30m
Typical range
PinnacleReefCaveCoralRock
Location
2.8973°N, 73.5473°E
Conditions & difficulty
Temperature
27°C – 30°C
Visibility
18–30m
Current
Variable
Best season
January-April
Northeast monsoon for visibility; the southwest monsoon, May-November, is the manta season atoll-wide
ModerateMin cert: Open Water
Open Water covers the coral top; the wall at 25-30m is Advanced depth under standard agency limits. Listings grade the site beginner, though one description calls it suited to intermediate and advanced divers
Summary
Easy when the current drops, moderate when it runs as a drift
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Current: Reports range from still water to a strong driftAsk the guide for the day's plan and carry a surface marker buoy for the drift
- Depth: The wall reaches 25-30m; a guide's 35m figure is beyond the 30m recreational limitPlan gas and no-deco time, take the deepest part first and finish up on the coral top
- Overhead: Caves and overhangs run along the wallKeep trim and buoyancy under control and stay within sight of open water
Marine Life
SnappersLutjanidaeCommon lionfishPterois milesGiant morayGymnothorax javanicusSoft coralGreen sea turtleChelonia mydasGrouperEpinephelus spp.Ocellated eagle rayAetobatus ocellatus· RareReef manta rayMobula alfredi· Rare, SeasonalWhale sharkRhincodon typus· Rare, Seasonal
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Rules and permits
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medhufushi Thila drift or hang still?▾
Guides describe it three ways. One calls the current virtually non-existent and counts the thila among the few Meemu dives for every skill level. Another says it sometimes drops far enough for less experienced divers to descend. A third gives strong drift diving for a site listed as Medhu Faru, a name that may belong to a different feature. Reviewers on three dates logged none, moderate and mild. Treat it as variable, ask the guide what the day looks like, and carry a surface marker buoy in case it runs.
The wall is quoted at 35 m and the site graded beginner: who can dive Medhufushi Thila?▾
The top of the pinnacle sits at about 4 metres, and listings grade the site beginner, so an Open Water diver has coral to explore there. One description adds that the site is generally suited to intermediate and advanced divers, and the wall that holds the caves drops to 25-30 metres, which is Advanced depth under standard agency limits. One guide stretches the wall to 35 metres; the national recreational limit is 30, so a guided dive stops there.
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