This dive site, Madi gaa, is renowned as a very famous manta cleaning station located on the north corner of Uthuru Maafaru (You&Me) in the Raa Atoll. The site features two distinct cleaning stations: a shallower one at 13 meters and a deeper one at 20 meters, though the maximum recommended dive depth for this site is 16 meters, with an average of 8 meters. Divers typically navigate between these stations, observing the majestic mantas as they are cleaned by smaller reef fish, making it a truly unique underwater experience. Access to Madi gaa requires a 25-minute boat journey from the nearby resort.
The vibrant marine ecosystem at Madi gaa offers an impressive array of life. Divers can expect encounters with magnificent Giant reef mantas, elegant eagle rays, and gentle nurse sharks. The reef also hosts schools of oriental sweetlips, snappers, and silver jacks, alongside swirling fusiliers. While not explicitly mentioned, the presence of such diverse fish life indicates healthy coral formations that provide shelter and food.
Madi gaa is an excellent destination for divers and freedivers seeking interactions with large marine life, particularly manta rays. The shallow cleaning station makes it suitable for snorkelers as well. The best time to visit typically aligns with the specific monsoon patterns that bring the mantas to this side of the atoll, offering consistent sightings. Be prepared for variable currents, which are common at cleaning stations and contribute to the rich marine activity.
