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Scuba divers explore a vibrant coral reef with a sea snake in the foreground. Exhilarating underwater adventure.
📷 Graham Henderson · Pexels

House Reef

3.6 — based on 18 community signals
4.2 12 species 25 contributors

House Reef offers year-round diving off Ellaidhoo with accessible coral and reef fish. Watch for bleaching signs.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
26–31°C
Shore entryFamily-friendlyBleachingRiskPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
26–31 °C
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Blacktip reef shark

Top operators here

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Map

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House Reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
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Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
9.1 kn
Wave
0.66 m
Water
29.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: W (46%)
Now: W (270°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.67m

Today: High 05:00 (+0.56m), Low 10:00 (+0.41m)

+0.8 m+0.1 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.56m ▼ 10:00 · +0.41m ▲ 14:00 · +0.5m ▼ 22:00 · +0.08m Now +0.2m
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 13.6 0.8 9 8mm
09-21 13.7 0.8 9 3mm
09-22 14.2 0.8 9 4mm
09-23 13.6 0.84 6 1mm
09-24 17.7 0.92 9 7mm
09-25 16 0.9 8 11mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions
DHW: 1.5°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (26–31°C)

About this spot

House Reef sits just offshore from Ellaidhoo island in the Maldives, making it an easy entry point for divers staying nearby. The reef draws a steady mix of small reef fish and coral formations typical of the region. Year-round diving is possible, though water conditions and marine life activity vary seasonally. The reef is not within a marine protected area, so access is straightforward for visiting divers. Current coral bleaching conditions warrant attention—plan your visit with recent reef health in mind. Local operators and resort staff can brief you on current conditions before descent. Observed species data from 12 documented observations gives you a solid baseline for what to expect underwater. The reef has generated community video content, which can help you scout conditions and plan your dive profile. Visibility and depth vary; check with local resources on your arrival dates for specifics.

📖 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 shark

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 · 48%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit rashguard / 1mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 8515km · ~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

When is the best time to dive House Reef?

House Reef is diveable year-round. Seasonal shifts affect water temperature, visibility, and fish activity, so check local forecasts before booking. Peak tourism months often align with calmer conditions.

What depth and difficulty should I expect?

Exact depth and difficulty ratings are not specified for this reef. Contact local dive operators or your resort in Ellaidhoo for current conditions and recommendations suited to your certification level.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve documented species observations confirm reef fish and coral are present. Community video content showcases typical marine life. Exact species lists vary by season and recent reef health status.

How do I access House Reef? Are permits required?

House Reef is not inside a marine protected area, simplifying access. Divers typically arrange trips through local resorts or operators near Ellaidhoo. No special permits are typically required, but confirm with your operator.

Operators near this spot

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

Joy Dive Safari Island

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

Ellaidhoo Chaaya Reef

0.1 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.

Scuba Diving Baros House Reef in the Maldives

theglobaltrip

SNORKELING IN THE MALDIVES 2022 🐠🦈 The 3 Best Resorts with INSANE House Reefs to Snorkel (4K UHD)

Dreamy Travels
💬 3 top comments
  • 📧 Contact us on theresortscollection.com/contact to organize a personalized trip to the Maldives

    @dreamytravels1 · 👍 1
  • Thanks for this interesting information!! Great video

    @Snorkellovers · 👍 0
  • The resort with the best house reef is ellaidhoo by cinnamon

    @Corleone1995 · 👍 2

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
wind peaks May-Oct-Jul, calmest Nov-Apr-Mar, dry Jan-Jun, water 26-31°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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