This dive site, Candice Faru, is a renowned reef located approximately 25 minutes North East of Hilton Maldives Amingiri. It is famously named after British Marine Biologist Candice Gunning, who was left speechless by its pristine beauty and abundant life on her inaugural dive. The reef spans a depth range of 3 to 19 meters, offering varied topography including beautiful overhangs at all depth levels, making it a captivating and immersive experience for divers. Navigation is typically straightforward along the reef structure, but divers often find themselves lingering due to the sheer volume of life.
Candice Faru is truly a benchmark in terms of biodiversity, boasting healthy and vibrant hard coral life that forms the foundation of its rich ecosystem. Divers can expect to encounter an incredible amount of marine life, ranging from countless species of colorful reef fish to potentially larger inhabitants such as reef sharks and turtles, which are common in the Maldivian waters. The complex reef structure with its numerous overhangs provides shelter and hunting grounds for a diverse array of crustaceans, mollusks, and other small critters, making it a vibrant macro and wide-angle photography subject.
The best time to visit Candice Faru, like much of the Maldives, is typically during the dry season from December to May, offering calmer seas and optimal visibility, though diving is excellent year-round. This site is suitable for both scuba divers and freedivers due to its accessible depth range and stunning shallow reef areas. Divers are advised to pace themselves, as the sheer amount of things to discover can make moving forward a challenge, encouraging multiple dives to fully appreciate its unparalleled marine splendor.
