Maldives reefs in danger. Help report Crown Of Thorns Starfish

Crown Of Thorns Starfish or COTS are known to eat up live corals. The population of COTS have been noticed as over growing in some parts of the Maldives. If not taken action this could mean the COTS could make several reefs lifeless rocks.

Overgrowing Crown of Thorns is real. This is not science fiction or Hollywood movie. At some reefs divers have collected and killed thousands of them.



Maldives Finest has observed it is not happening everywhere in the Maldives. There are some, possibly many, reefs that have no sign of over populating Crown Of Thorns. Saving every single reef may be difficult but not impossible. As old proverb says "thousand mile journey starts with a single step" we the locals and tourists need to start saving the Maldives coral reefs.

Maldives Research Centre and Ministry Of Tourism have recently sent a circular to resorts asking for help in collecting data, to formulate strategies and take action.

The circular said if you see more than 2 COTS in a 20 minute dive its more than usual. While resorts are to report data to the government, we would like to request you to share your experiences here on this forum. We would like to know the locations endangered by Crown Of Thorns and areas that seem free from infestation.

If you have not a diver or snorkeler you can contribute by SHARING this on social media.


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seen some at Machafushi reef on the way to Kudhimaa Wreck, two big ones within a few meters
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Miyaru Faru, South Malé atoll, next to the local island of Gulhi.
Also the reef adjascent to Fesdhu Wreck in Ari atoll... I counted over 15 COTS in less than 10 mins dive time !!!
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A good plan of action would also be to ban the fishing & selling of all Triton shell (the only known predator of COTS).
They can't be doing their "job" from the shelves of souvenir shops from Malé and nany other local & resort islands !!!
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@marc thank you for your valuable input. Hope more people like you will share your observation and thoughts to overcome to safe our reefs. Thanks to @margot as well.
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I've seen few right on the beach area of maafushi while snorkeling. Three or four
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Saw 3 of this while snorkelling at fourseasons reef today. They stuck themselves to corals.
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yesterday, 19.11.15, I saw 20 crown of thornes at Hoholha Thila :-(
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yesterday, 19.11.15, I saw 20 crown of thornes at Hoholha Thila :-(
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@margot where exactly is that place?
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@maldivesfinest North Ari Atoll about 1hr south west from Ellaidhoo
Geographic data
Latitude: 3.56 / N 3° 33.6'
Longitude: 72.55 / E 72° 33'
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@margot ohh that is very exact to the pin point. Thanks.
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seen just now one in Hudhuranfushi
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@theoharis Just one is ok. Too many it dangerous. It seems there are many reefs in Maldives infested with these.
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Seen two of them today in Thulusdhoo while snorkelling in the bikini beach right behing rocks.
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In Athuruga, this summer in agoust ,so many i couldn't belive !!!
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@1004 thank you for sharing your experience
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@giovanna That seems to be something of great interest for us to look deeper. Many thanks for sharing.
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Fish Head I saw already a few. Question to an other topic. I found a fishing hook with a new line on Fish Head - it is a marine protected area, so fishing is not allowed there, right? Anything to do about that?
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@1013 which area are you talking about? Baa Atoll?
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Seen two on top deck of British Royalty at Addu Atoll today 18.11.2019
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We saw 4-5 COTS while snorkeling at Dhaalu Atoll, Kedhigandu island.

Google map location: 2.6849303, 72.8625371
December 2019

Hope this helps.
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Dhaalu Atoll, found 2 COTS in 10 min while snorkling.

Location: 2.6971765, 72.8523950
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