Kimud Shoal

Kimud Shoal is a submerged pinnacle with a flat, hard-coral-covered top at about 10–15 m that drops steeply on all sides; the site is a world-famous cleaning station for pelagic thresher sharks and also attracts hammerhead sharks, manta and devil rays and large pelagic fish. The plateau and walls support diverse reef growth with soft corals, sponges, overhangs and crevices that harbor morays and other invertebrates. The site is accessed by boat, typically on early-morning trips, with divers descending a mooring line onto the reef top and circling the plateau (notably the eastern cleaning areas). Shallow reef top lies around 10–15 m while dives commonly reach down to about 40 m; water temperatures are typically in the mid- to high-20s °C and visibility often ranges 15–30 m. Conditions are open-ocean with moderate to strong currents and possible drift, so experienced (often Advanced) divers are recommended and divers should be aware of steep walls and strong down-currents near the edges.