Fuvahmulah Dive Site

Havihtha Fanno (One Palm)

North Reef - One Palm

Advanced 30m+

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Location

North Reef - One Palm

Depth

30m+

Difficulty

Advanced

Key Species

Thresher Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Turtles

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About This Site

Havihtha Fanno Dive Site

Havihtha Fanno — locally known as One Palm after the single palm tree visible from the water — is Fuvahmulah's other primary thresher shark cleaning station, alongside Kedevari (Thoondu). Located on the north reef, it features a compact reef patch with active cleaning stations at recreational depths.

The site's sloping reef extends from 10m down to 30m, with multiple cleaning station rocks where Pelagic Thresher Sharks pause for parasite removal by cleaner wrasse. The cleaning stations are at 15–25m — accessible to Advanced Open Water divers.

One Palm also produces regular turtle sightings and occasional Napoleon wrasse encounters. The compact site means all the action is concentrated in a small area, making it easier to position for encounters than more spread-out sites.

Best Conditions

Year-round thresher sightings at dawn. December–April for best visibility. More sheltered than southern sites during monsoon.

Dive Profile

How This Dive Works

Dive Type

Reef slope dive with cleaning station observation

Entry

Back-roll. Short boat ride to the north reef.

Bottom Type

Compact reef patch on a sandy slope. Cleaning station rocks at 15–25m.

Currents

Usually mild. The north reef is sheltered from the strongest ocean currents.

Bottom Time

40–50 minutes

Best Time of Day

Dawn for thresher sharks. Turtles and Napoleon wrasse throughout the day.

What You'll See

Marine Life at Havihtha Fanno

Thresher Sharks

Pelagic Threshers at dawn cleaning stations. Same species and behaviour as Kedevari — ascending from deep water for morning cleaning ritual.

Napoleon Wrasse

Large humphead wrasse (up to 1.5m) are semi-resident at the site. Curious and approachable — one of the friendliest large reef fish.

Turtles

Green and hawksbill turtles rest on the reef slope and feed on the coral top. Regular sightings throughout the day.

Diver Tips

How to Dive Havihtha Fanno

Fuvahmulah's most accessible thresher shark site. The compact reef and mild conditions make it slightly easier than Kedevari, while delivering the same dawn cleaning station encounters.

Same dawn protocol as Kedevari — be at cleaning station depth before first light

The compact reef means less swimming and more waiting. Find a good position and stay there

After the thresher window closes (~7:30 AM), explore the reef top for turtles and Napoleon wrasse

The lone palm tree on shore is a useful surface marker for boat positioning

Safety & Conditions

Before You Dive

Advanced Open Water required

The reef drops to depth on the outer edge — maintain depth awareness

Dawn conditions mean reduced visibility initially — improves as light increases

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What's the difference between One Palm and Thoondu for threshers?

Both are primary cleaning station sites with similar encounter rates. One Palm (Havihtha Fanno) is slightly more compact and sheltered. Thoondu (Kedevari) has a larger reef area. Our guides rotate between them based on recent sighting data.

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