World-renowned dive spot in Fuvahmulah has been declared a protected area by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, upon the recommendation of the Cabinet.

During the Cabinet sitting held on Tuesday morning at the President’s Office, the Ministry of Environment presented a paper following which the ministers held deliberations on granting protected area status to ‘Farikede Faru,’ a renowned dive spot in Fuvahmulah City.

The marine site was declared protected area under Article 4 of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives (Act No: 4/93) and the Administration’s Strategic Action Plan.

The dive spot is best known for an area on a rocky limestone plateau known as Thresher Point, named after two species of thresher sharks that frequent the area. Other marine life commonly seen in the area include whale sharks, ocean sunfish (Mola Mola) and oceanic manta rays (Manta birostris).

As such, 11 eco-rich sites in Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani and Noonu Atolls were also granted protected area status on 15 June 2019.