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Explore the colorful marine life of a tropical coral reef with various fish and vivid corals.
📷 Francesco Ungaro · Pexels

Ellaidhoo house reef

3.6 — based on 21 community signals
4.2 12 species 24 contributors

Ellaidhoo house reef offers year-round house reef diving in the Maldives with easy access from the island resort.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
26–30°C
Shore entryFamily-friendlyBleachingRiskPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
26–30 °C
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Blacktip reef shark, Hawksbill turtle

Top operators here

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Map

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Ellaidhoo house reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
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Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
9.5 kn
Wave
0.66 m
Water
29.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: W (47%)
Now: W (275°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.67m

Next: High at 05:00 (+0.56m)

+0.8 m+0.1 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.56m ▼ 10:00 · +0.41m ▲ 14:00 · +0.5m ▼ 22:00 · +0.08m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.25 · very high Air PM2.55 · good 05:58 18:05
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 11.3 0.72 9 0mm
09-20 13.7 0.8 9 10mm
09-21 13.6 0.8 9 2mm
09-22 14.2 0.8 9 2mm
09-23 13.6 0.84 7 1mm
09-24 17.6 0.92 9 7mm
09-25 15.1 0.9 8 15mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions
DHW: 1.5°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (26–30°C)

About this spot

Ellaidhoo house reef sits directly off the island and provides convenient diving without the need for a boat. The reef runs along the house reef zone and attracts regular divers seeking consistent access to Maldivian coral systems. The site draws a steady flow of both resort guests and local dive operations year-round. The reef supports diverse marine life typical of Maldivian atolls. Community data documents 12 different species observations at this site, indicating healthy biodiversity across the dive zone. Video records from three separate dives show the reef's appeal to the diving public and provide reference footage for conditions and marine encounters. Coral health is currently being monitored, as the Maldives faces ongoing bleaching concerns. Ellaidhoo sits outside a marine protected area, meaning access is unrestricted. The year-round diving window makes this spot accessible to visiting divers any time of year, though seasonal weather patterns will influence sea conditions and visibility as they do throughout the archipelago.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Maldives: 156 Sites, Mantas & What to Know

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Blacktip reef sharkHawksbill turtle

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: rashguard / 1mm shorty
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type D/G/J/K/L · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit rashguard / 1mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 8514km · ~1958kg · €35

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 11h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 10h east · 7 days recovery

FAQ

Can I dive Ellaidhoo house reef any time of year?

Yes. The site is diveable year-round, though conditions vary by season. Monsoon patterns affect the Maldives overall, so check weather and sea state before planning your trip.

What marine life will I see?

Community records document 12 species observations at Ellaidhoo, reflecting typical Maldivian reef biodiversity. Expect reef fish, crustaceans, and other organisms common to healthy atoll systems.

Is there easy access from the island?

Yes. Ellaidhoo house reef is located directly off the island, making it accessible without a boat dive. This makes it ideal for quick dives or training.

Are there any marine protection rules?

Ellaidhoo house reef is not inside a marine protected area, so standard Maldivian diving regulations apply. Check with local operators for current rules and best practices.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Joy Dive Safari Island

7.6 km
4.7 (19 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Ellaidhoo Chaaya Reef

1.1 km
4.7 (175 reviews)
Dive centre
Booked 48+ times this month

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon House Reef Diving 4K60p

U’z works official / ユーズワークス公式
💬 3 top comments
  • You were really lucky with the visibility. We’re usually there between July and August, and depending on how strong the current is, it stirs up so much sediment at the house reef that you usually only have 5–6 meters of visibility, and everything looks brown instead of blue. It’s only better at greater depths on the house reef. However, the current will then carry you from the dive center to buoy

    @gaensemarsch · 👍 0
  • Tell us about your camera gear? Video editing by?.

    @khaledal-habib777 · 👍 0
  • When was this filmed?

    @magnushaldoficial · 👍 0

Ellaidhoo, Maldives: House Reef snorkelling at its best (and some beautiful diving)

Salty creatures
💬 3 top comments
  • So amazing! We need more of these beautiful fascinating and relaxing Videos😊

    @Turkish-cm5 · 👍 2
  • Whenever I feel low, your video helps to cheer me up ❤It‘s like a warm cup of cocoa on a cold winter‘s day! Cheers!

    @D.R-p8u · 👍 2
  • Nice footage. Ellaihoo seems to have a good house reef.

    @CityWalkDiariesSt.Petersburg · 👍 1

Scuba Diving ELLAIDHOO / MALDIVES | GoPro 7 4K 60FPS

Dive&Discover
💬 3 top comments
  • Absolutely amazing your new diving maldives video. I really envy you for your underwater videography skills. Thanks for sharing that in 4K 60fps ! Simply magnificent. 👍👍

    @MMonTour · 👍 3
  • You showed us a fantastic place, thank you for the movie.

    @arandomki · 👍 1
  • Eines Deiner besten Videos! Sehr geil!

    @kidchris · 👍 1
wind peaks May-Oct-Aug, calmest Nov-Apr-Mar, dry Jan-Jun, water 26-30°C.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Apr (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (55/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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