Explore Dhaalu Atoll
Dhaalu Atoll (South Nilandhe) is actually half of the Nilandhe Atoll which also includes Faafu. It is made up of 56 islands of which only 7 are inhabited. The capital is Kudahuvadhoo, it has an airport with regular flights from Malé. This is a rapidly developing area but for the moment, it is still relatively remote. The chances of you being the only dive boat in sight are very high.
The diving here is classic of the region. The channels are wide and shallow making for more beginner friendly drift dives. For the more advanced, deeper and stronger drift dives can be explored too. With caves, wrecks, wall dives and swim throughs to explore, there is something for everyone.
Dive Activity
Diving in Dhaalu Atoll
Dhaalu is a very quiet atoll, without a huge amount of choice. There are several resorts available, though 2 are at the luxury end of the market. Most of these have dive centres attached to them. There are no independent dive centres in the atoll so check with your local resort if you are interested in dive courses. Some liveaboards frequent this atoll but there are less options than in some of the busier areas.
Dhaalu Atoll has a good mix of dive sites for beginners as well as more advanced divers. There are wide, shallow drop offs on the inner edges of the atoll perfect for new divers. There are deep and strong drift dives with caves and swim throughs that will satisfy experienced divers. There are also 2 wrecks to explore - the Liffey and Utheemu, which offer great macro hunting and are perfect for beginners.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Dhaalu Atoll
The reefs come alive in Dhaalu Atoll - colourful reef fish float in their thousands amongst bright corals and sponges. Certain times of the year bring specific spectacles for example, during April and May, Octopus can be seen mating! One of the distinctive characteristics of Dhaalu Atoll is the number of turtles, which swim around almost every dive site. People often come to the Maldives to see big pelagic life and, though they are less common than elsewhere, manta rays, whalesharks, sailfish and hammerheads can still be seen if you’re lucky!
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
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Green Turtle
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Total number of species: 600
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Wrasse
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Reef Manta Ray
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Common Dolphin
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Total number of species: 25
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Eagle Ray
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Alamy-National Geographic Creative
Leatherback Turtle
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Whitetip Reef Shark
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Total number of species: 85
iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish
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Total number of species: 40
iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish
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The best Months to dive in Dhaalu Atoll
Diving in Dhaalu Atoll is available all year round. The water temperatures stay above 26°C/79°F and the air temperatures above 27°C/81°F. The dry season is from December to April. With little wind and rain, lots of sunshine, and gin clear waters, it provides perfect diving conditions.
The monsoon season is from May to November. The days still have plenty of sunshine, but there are more frequent rain storms and winds pick up. As a result, the seas are choppier and some dive companies suspend trips in June. The benefits of this season, though, are that prices come down, and the plankton brought in by the winds and tides attract manta rays.
