Banana Reef Protected Marine Area (Gaathugiri, North Malé Atoll)

Banana Reef (Gaathugiri) was the first protected dive site (1989) and the Maldives' first declared protected marine area, located about 8 km from Malé in North Malé Atoll. Fishing, anchoring and coral collection are prohibited inside the protected dive-site area, reinforcing the nationwide spearfishing ban.