Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Maldives . Recreation
House Reef
 Banyan Tree is the only place in the Maldives enabling you to dive on two house reefs (Vabbinfaru and Ihuru) and participate in a variety of rewarding marine conservation projects at the same time and a great wreck which can be done from the shore. A good reason to stay a little bit longer! For experienced divers after the initial ‘orientation dive’ with an instructor, you can explore the reef as a buddy pair. Our House Reef: Vabbinfaru Don't miss the beautiful house reef enclosing Vabbinfaru Island, whether for snorkeling or diving. While the reef's top is only one meter deep, it slopes gradually to the sandy bottom some 30 meters below revealing many surprises along the way. Starting your dive is effortless, as you can walk straight from the beach into the well-protected lagoon and its many channels. If you are lacking experience, you could spend some time in the lagoon to relax prior to heading out to the reef. Look out for friendly fusiliers and batfish, large schools of reef fish and a variety of sharks including the white tip, black tip and nurse shark. Stunning caves with nurse sharks, moray eels and giant lobsters await you in shallower waters, where you will also find the curious turtles that have become the focus of our Green Turtle Research Project. Water temperatures have risen all over the Maldives due to El Nino, causing coral bleaching. The islands of Vabbinfaru and Ihuru have both pioneered important eco-initiatives to rejuvenate the reefs. In a joint effort with marine biologists and the Maldivian government, a coral reef project unique to the Maldives has been initiated. Its aim is to stimulate coral growth through electrolysis. This process sees a steel structure powered by small amounts of electricity placed in the sea, thereby producing the minerals so crucial to the birth of new corals. Above the sea, Ihuru is the most photographed and, arguably, the most picturesque island in the Maldives, whilst under water it is one of the country's best-kept secrets. Ihuru has been blessed with a magnificent house reef suitable for snorkeling and diving. It is only 5 minutes away from its sister island, Vabbinfaru. The reef cocoons this island with a marine paradise that falls gradually to a depth of 30 meters. With nice reef walls, caves and an interesting wreck lying at perfect depth hiding an abundance of marine life such as large schools of big-eyed trevallies, sharks, moray eels and octopus, there is plenty to discover on this beautiful dive. Environmentalists and nature lovers will be delighted to find out that Ihuru, like Vabbinfaru, also houses a coral growth project in order to rejuvenate the fantastic marine heritage that makes the Maldives such a wonderful place to visit. |
