Best snorkeling in the Maldives for underwater photography
Chaaya Reef Resort - Ellaidhoo - North Ari Atoll - The Maldives
Recommended as a friendly, unpretensious, value for money, holiday destination and for underwater photography
Ellaidhoo is on the East side of North Ari Atoll (west by south of the Maldivian capital, Male). 25
minutes by seaplane from Maldive's Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.
The airport on Hulhule island is right next door to the capital, Male.
If your first visit to the Maldives, experience the seaplane and the views. The atolls are stunning from the air - a must do.
The airport on Hulhule island is right next door to the capital, Male.
If your first visit to the Maldives, experience the seaplane and the views. The atolls are stunning from the air - a must do.
Alternatively, 85 minutes by speedboat. Actually, the speedboat gets to Chaaya reef in about the
same length of time as the plane due to lack of check-in and plane-related time-wasting stuff.
Ellhaidoo is a medium-sized island by Maldivian standards - (350 x 250 metres), with 112 villas. 15 minutes and you can walk around it.
A more sociable place than many more expensive resorts. Some Brits when we were there (2013).
Ellhaidoo is a medium-sized island by Maldivian standards - (350 x 250 metres), with 112 villas. 15 minutes and you can walk around it.
A more sociable place than many more expensive resorts. Some Brits when we were there (2013).
There is restrained entertainment until 11PM, giving the chance to meet people.
Not rowdy - just relaxed and friendly.
Having something to do in the evening is nice.
Not a flash resort but a nice feel and comfortable.
Having something to do in the evening is nice.
Not a flash resort but a nice feel and comfortable.
'5 o'clock' bar (see map below), is less formal and with entertainment, than the one near the over-water bungalows.
Unfortunately the island is surrounded by protective walls, which is probably the new reality for the Maldives due to global warming.
Unfortunately the island is surrounded by protective walls, which is probably the new reality for the Maldives due to global warming.
The night snorkel is a 'MUST'. Lasts an hour
and goes from 7 o’clock position to 3 o’clock (see map at bottom of page)
Head out with guide, each with torches. A little daunting at first but quickly becomes the best and most exciting snorkelling of the trip.
Giant Trevallies use your torch lights for hunting. Sharks look menacing lurking over the drop off.
Best part is smaller stuff, which could be missed without the guide. Octopus, red-banded shrimp, lobsters and yellow eel plus lots of Lionfish.
Head out with guide, each with torches. A little daunting at first but quickly becomes the best and most exciting snorkelling of the trip.
Giant Trevallies use your torch lights for hunting. Sharks look menacing lurking over the drop off.
Best part is smaller stuff, which could be missed without the guide. Octopus, red-banded shrimp, lobsters and yellow eel plus lots of Lionfish.
The corals, 'normal' by day, by night totally transform, teaming with colour and variety.
At $25 per person, the best money spent at Ellaidhoo.
Tip - try to pick an evening when there aren’t too many people as it can get crowded.
It’s fairly fast paced. The guide highlights what he finds with his torch. You race to photograph it. You get 'finned' by others doing the same. So, essentially, the fewer people the better.
Don’t miss out on it if it’s booked up. Ours was a group of 8 but still totally worth it.
Tip - try to pick an evening when there aren’t too many people as it can get crowded.
It’s fairly fast paced. The guide highlights what he finds with his torch. You race to photograph it. You get 'finned' by others doing the same. So, essentially, the fewer people the better.
Don’t miss out on it if it’s booked up. Ours was a group of 8 but still totally worth it.
Gallery below to give a feel for Chaaya Reef Resort
pass cursor over thumbnails left and right to see what Chaaya Reef resort is like
Ellaihdoo is said by some to be one of the best house reefs in the Maldives and it doesn’t fail to live
up to this in terms of fish and critters.
Map of Chaaya Reef
B = bar; DC =
dive centre; FP = football pitch; J = jetty; P/R/B = pool,
restaurant, bar: R = restaurant;
Map of Chaaya Reef
B = bar; DC =
dive centre; FP = football pitch; J = jetty; P/R/B = pool,
restaurant, bar: R = restaurant;
(Based on a 9-day stay in March 2013, so conditions and currents could well change).
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What wont change - step out of your room, enter the lagoon via steps. It is the ultimate easy access.
Usually lagoon is pretty sparse of wildlife but more regularly than you’d expect you’ll meet a Giant Moray or Reef Shark making their way along the inside of the lagoon wall.
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Outside the wall - the width of the reef ranges dramatically.
Wherever you are you’ll find a very steep 30m drop off beyond the reef.
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Current - around island was rarely strong and it didn'’t limit the wildlife seen.
Dive centre says current arrives at either 3 o’clock position or 9 o’clock position.
This means the opposite 'end' is then the most sheltered from the current.
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What wont change - step out of your room, enter the lagoon via steps. It is the ultimate easy access.
Usually lagoon is pretty sparse of wildlife but more regularly than you’d expect you’ll meet a Giant Moray or Reef Shark making their way along the inside of the lagoon wall.
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Outside the wall - the width of the reef ranges dramatically.
Wherever you are you’ll find a very steep 30m drop off beyond the reef.
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Current - around island was rarely strong and it didn'’t limit the wildlife seen.
Dive centre says current arrives at either 3 o’clock position or 9 o’clock position.
This means the opposite 'end' is then the most sheltered from the current.
3 o'clock - it’s around here we found the best snorkelling. Best corals on the reef here and
most fish (although very few schools of fish).
From 3 o’clock anti-clockwise to 11 o’clock the reef gradually expands out and offers a lot of space.
8 o’clock position - the schools tended to be around this position, although this area lacks much decent coral.
From 3 o’clock anti-clockwise to 11 o’clock the reef gradually expands out and offers a lot of space.
8 o’clock position - the schools tended to be around this position, although this area lacks much decent coral.
Around half way between the wall and the edge of the reef the coral is pretty
much non-existent but this is where we most often spotted a turtle.
7 o’clock position - visibility seemed to reduce here but as continued anti-clockwise it quickly became clearer again.
6 o’clock - at the pier the reef is very narrow so best to quickly scoot past in case a boat arrives, on your way back to 3 o'clock position.
7 o’clock position - visibility seemed to reduce here but as continued anti-clockwise it quickly became clearer again.
6 o’clock - at the pier the reef is very narrow so best to quickly scoot past in case a boat arrives, on your way back to 3 o'clock position.
At a reasonable finning pace the island can be circumsnorkelled in just over an hour. Why a photographer
would want to do that though I have no idea.
With what you’ll see and want to photograph on the east side of the island (12 - 3 – 6) you can easily spend much more time even in a small area. The fish vary according to the current.
Link to Chaaya Reef Resort - Ellaidhoo.
With what you’ll see and want to photograph on the east side of the island (12 - 3 – 6) you can easily spend much more time even in a small area. The fish vary according to the current.
Link to Chaaya Reef Resort - Ellaidhoo.
Gallery below of close-ups of fish and critters. Go to Chaaya Reef to photo these more than for the seascape and corals.
pass cursor over thumbnails left and right to see what is under the surface at Chaaya Reef Ellaihoo
Gallery below with shots to give an idea of the seascape at Chaaya reef resort.
pass cursor over thumbnails left and right to see what is under the surface at Chaaya Reef
Gallery of night snorkel
pass cursor over thumbnails left and right to see what is under the surface at night
Any comments? To email please click on the envelope.
(captions below needn't be read as you will have seen them with the gallery pictures -
repeated below so are visible to Google/ search engines)
captions to Ellaidhoo 'fish and critters' gallery pictures
captions to left 'fish' thumbnails
- Schooling bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes) - length 19cm - swimming along the drop-off with table coral (Acropora clathrata) on right. Regularly seen fish in Ellaidhoo as is this coral - nice formations
- Regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) are stunning and at 25cm, a reasonable size so easy to see but often, slowly move off, ensuring a lot of frustrating 'tail' shots, as shown here
- blacktip grouper or the red barred cod (Epinephelus fasciatus), up to 40cm so bigger than appears here, slow 'stationary!' and easy to photograph - choose your pose
- the relatively common black pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys roster) - length about 18cm. Almost always in a school. Nice table coral (Acropora clathrata) formation in background
- Blotched porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus) - moderate length at 65cm - the Wrasse seemingly a constant companion - porcupine fish usually nocturnal although often seen during the day at Ellaidhoo
- highly camourflaged!!! - not - the 50cm long clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum). Eats urchins, crustaceans and hard-shelled molluscs - often seen but not always easy to approach
- Oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) - 70cms - stopping off at the Cleaner wrasse station. Common, colourful and very approachable - juvenile a vastly different little black and white job
- the colourful and common Lined surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - 38cm - fairly active, not that approachable and often over extremely shallow coral so not always easy to get a good shot
- Orange-finned emperor (Lethrinus erythracanthus) - 50cm (occasionally 70cm) over the drop-off - not that common, usually solitary, and often not very approachable so not easy to get a good shot
- Striped triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - to 30cm - looking for lunch - quite common and reasonably approachable so apart from being fairly active, a good shot is likely
- the business end of a Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) - large at 75cms - reasonably common in shallow water - can be aggressive if nesting - don't get too close - a nasty bite apparently
- the quite common Blue-fin jack (Caranx melampygus) - 115cm - this time showing his spots - always on the move so found it hard to snap - photo doesn't do justice to this streamlined, pelagic
captions to right 'critters' thumbnails
- Faulkner's corals (Tubastraea faulkneri) under the jetty. Mainly closed during the day (which contrasts with the night shot below)
- Faulkner's coral (Tubastraea faulkneri) at night - when open, spectacularly different to the day view
- common - one of the colour forms of the Multi-pore sea star (Linckia multifora)
- another colour form of the common Multi-pore sea star (Linckia multifora)
- the colourful blue-finger lobed sponge
captions to Ellaidhoo 'seascape' gallery pictures
captions to left 'seascape' thumbnails
- photographic assistant getting in the way of an Ellaidhoo seascape shot :-). Plateau of table corals (Acropora clathrata). A spectacular formation in great condition
- a few corals, a multi-pore sea star and a Meyer's butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri) up to 20cm
- outcrop with Sergent majors (Abudefduf saxatilis) - up to 15cm - and gold-spot emperors ( Gnathodentex aurolineatus) - up to 30cm
- a coral-filled valley with blue-green chromis (Chromis viridis) - up to 8cm - over Acropora
- various and numerous fish over a coral outcrop on edge of the drop-off - table coral (Acropora clathrata) lower left - an Oriental sweetlips left (Plectorhinchus vittatus) and pair of Phantom butterflyfish (Heniochus pleurotaenia)
captions to right 'seascape' thumbnails
- dominant coral is possibly a finger-lobed coral (lobophytum sp.)
- blue-green chromis (Chromis viridis) - up to 8cm - around coral outcrop near the drop-off
- various corals with Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) - up to 40cm
- Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) - up to 1M - critically endangered - here cruising through various corals - totally confiding - please do not touch or disturb
- extensive table coral (Acropora clathrata) formation with some brassy rudderfish (Kyphosus vaigiensis) - up to 70cm
- inner lagoon with a few fish, (Picasso or Lagoon triggerfish in foreground - Rhinecanthus aculeatus), but disappointing seascape typical of inner lagoon
captions to Ellaidhoo 'night snorkel' gallery pictures
captions to left 'night snorkel' thumbnails
- despite appearances, a stony coral - Faulkner's coral (Tubastraea faulkneri) open at night. Under the jetty - camera's flash only - no torches
- Red hermit crab (Dardanus megistos) - up to 25cm - in the spotlight. Mainly predatory but some scavenging. Maldivian colour form - bright red orange, white antennae and white spots
- Yellowhead moray eel (Gymnothorax rueppellii) - up to 80cm - less than happy at being disturbed. Nervous and readily bites - night hunter (crabs, fish and octopus)
- Palm-frond or Regal feather star (Stephanometra sp) - up to 20cm - plankton feeders so like current - only opens at night - can move around, even swimming and can regenerate lost arms
- Soft didemnums or sea squirts (Didemnum molle) to the right of Faulkner's coral (Tubastraea faulkneri). Used camera's flash only - no torches
captions to right 'night snorkel' thumbnails
- Whiteline lionfish (Pterois radiata) - up to 20cm - mainly nocturnal - feeds on crustaceans and fish - highly venomous pectoral and dorsal fins. Will charge if cornered
- appears to be Hempriche's anemone (Megalactis hemprichii) - up to 25cm - is a virulent stinge
- Banded boxer shrimps (Stenopus hispidus) - up to 6cm - as usual as a pair - a fish cleaner shrimp. Attracts fish by waving it's white antenna
- spot the Reef or Day octopus (Octopus cyanea) - up to 30cm - as name implies, also feeds during the day. amazing example of camourflage and justifaction alone for the snorkelling guide
captions to Chaaya reef resort gallery pictures
captions to left 'resort' thumbnails
- arrival at a nice little jetty
- the reception area
- restaurant - right on the edge of the infinity pool - some of the overwater bungalows - not worth the extra cost according to one couple
- small bar near the jetty were there is evening entertainment until 11PM
- bar patio area - nice of an evening - some food also available here - friendly staff
- Ellaidhoo large enough to have football pitch in the centre - cricket also played
- every resort seems to have to have it's heron - a Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
this one is as scruffy as usual - a modest but comfortable villa which fits with the island
- your villa backyard
captions to right 'resort' thumbnails
- lagoon at end of your backyard - shallow and clear but very little underwater stuff worth photographing. Are numerous access gaps in outer protective wall - such walls increasingly likely due to global warming
- access steps to the lagoon - this brings a new meaning to 'easy access' - don your gear and just fall in
- crab on the inner lagoon wall - guess you don't have to go underwater for some critters. A common sight - a Swift-footed rock crab (Grapsus albolineatus) - up to 20cm
- beach by jetty, shot from about 7 o'clock on the map - good snorkelling over outer reef here
- resort heron enjoying the sunset
- jetty at departure time