Explore Faafu Atoll

Faafu Atoll in the Central Atolls is one of the quietest and least visited. The diving here is stunning, as it is all over the Maldives, and you will probably be the only dive boat there! With only 5 inhabited islands and one dive resort, this could be the relaxed holiday you’ve been looking for. Reefs, caves and channel dives will satisfy all your desires. You can even spot manta rays!

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Dive Activity

Diving in Faafu Atoll

Faafu Atoll diving offers diverse reef structures to enjoy. Barrier reefs like Banana Reef offers a perfect reef dive for beginners with a gently sloping wall. Elsewhere, underwater pinnacles, or thilas, provide cleaning stations for manta rays and the potential for more advanced diving. The channels which connect to the deep ocean are the most challenging dives. With the potential for strong currents, these drift dives are sometimes only suitable for more experienced divers.

There is only one resort in Faafu Atoll. There is a dive centre connected to it so it is possible to undertake diving courses from beginner up to advanced specialties. As this is the only dive centre, if you are staying elsewhere and wish to dive, perhaps consider a liveaboard. Though there are less liveaboards that frequent Faafu than other atolls, there are still a few to choose from. If you know you wish to dive a lot, it is the most economical choice. Do check before you book though as some require a minimum number of dives or certification level.

Dive Sites

Mares
Biledhdhoo Kandu (★3.6)

Biledhdhoo Kandu (★3.6)

Channeldive in the east from Biledhdhoo Island. Many long Farus in depth from 8 – 14 meters. On the Tilas many different coral blocks with lots if different shoals of fish, napoleon wrasses and turtles. On the edge of the channel in depth from 25 – 33 meters nice overhangs, often eagle rays and big tunas.
Aqualung
Wall Street (★4.4)

Wall Street (★4.4)

since 2025-09-28 under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction,
Aqualung
Kuda Giri (★4.3)

Kuda Giri (★4.3)

Small Giri in the atoll inside. The reef slopes down on every side on 25 -28 meter depth. On the north-west side small overhangs with many black corals on depth between 18 – 23 meters. On the south-west side two small drop offs with beautiful overhangs on 15 and 20 meter depth.
Aqualung
The Cathedral (★4.4)

The Cathedral (★4.4)

since 2025-09-28 under construction, Werner Lau Center Out Of Business @: 2025-11-17 under construction, under construction, under construction,
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Bodu Beru (★4.2)

Bodu Beru (★4.2)

since 2025-09-28, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction,
Aqualung
Filitheyo Thila (★4.2)

Filitheyo Thila (★4.2)

since 2025-09-28, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction,
Aqualung
Filitheyo Outside (★4.2)

Filitheyo Outside (★4.2)

since 2025-09-28 under construction, Werner Lau Center Out Of Business @: 2025-11-17 under construction, under construction, under construction,
Aqualung
Filitheyo East (★4.3)

Filitheyo East (★4.3)

since 2025-09-28 under construction, Werner Lau Center Out Of Business @: 2025-11-17 under construction, under construction, under construction,
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Filitheyo Housereef (★4.3)

Filitheyo Housereef (★4.3)

Filitheyo House Reef offers easy access from shore with calm conditions suited for all levels. The reef slopes gently from shallow coral gardens into deeper sections, featuring clear visibility, mild currents, and several entry points ideal for relaxed exploring or long macro-focused dives.
Scubapro
String of Pearls (★4.3)

String of Pearls (★4.3)

since 2025-09-28 under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction, under construction,
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Seven Stingrays (★4.2)

Seven Stingrays (★4.2)

Seven Stingrays is a gently sloping reef with sandy pockets where rays often rest. Currents are usually mild, making it accessible for all levels. Coral blocks, small overhangs, and a mix of hard corals create an easy, scenic route ideal for relaxed exploration and long bottom times.
Aqualung
Takatuka Land (★4.2)

Takatuka Land (★4.2)

Takatuka Land is a playful landscape of coral formations, pinnacles, and sandy valleys. The terrain offers a varied, almost maze-like dive with gentle currents and good visibility. Its moderate depth makes it suitable for most divers, especially those who enjoy slow, detailed reef exploration.
Mares
Loabi Giri (★4.5)

Loabi Giri (★4.5)

since 2025-09-28 under construction, Werner Lau Center Out Of Business @: 2025-11-17 under construction, under construction, under construction,

The best Months to dive in Faafu Atoll

Faafu Atoll diving is available more or less all year round. The temperatures stay constantly in the high twenties Celsius/high seventies Fahrenheit, both in and out of the water. The dry season from December to April has the best diving. As the winds and rain are almost nonexistent, the visibility is 40 meters/131 feet or more in most places, and the continuous sunshine makes this an ideal time for a holiday.

The wet season from May to November means that there are more downpours, but they mostly only last for a couple of hours a day. There is still plenty of sun to enjoy. The winds also pick up, which can mean rougher seas. The winds blow in more plankton, which reduces the visibility; the caveat to this is that it draws in more manta rays and whale sharks to feast on the food.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Faafu Atoll

Diving in Faafu Atoll yields some stunning marine encounters. The reefs provide consistent sightings of turtles and reef sharks, as well as large hunting fish like tuna and trevally. Schools of fusiliers, jacks and snappers dance over the corals where you can find the colourful reef species. Parrotfish, damselfish, triggerfish and butterflyfish are all common sights and give the impression of diving in an aquarium. Macro life like nudibranch, pipefish, crabs and shrimps make this a photographer's dream, everyone will be kept happy.

Larger pelagic life is sighted here too. Manta rays are common sites particularly at the cleaning stations on some thilas. Whale sharks are also possible, though sightings are rarer.

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 approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
713 Sightings
J
16
F
60
M
73
A
44
M
48
J
53
J
106
A
57
S
59
O
101
N
49
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
384 Sightings
J
6
F
24
M
45
A
22
M
25
J
20
J
58
A
24
S
34
O
64
N
37
D
25
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
259 Sightings
J
17
F
24
M
21
A
17
M
12
J
22
J
56
A
4
S
39
O
28
N
11
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
221 Sightings
J
2
F
26
M
29
A
9
M
22
J
13
J
22
A
18
S
20
O
41
N
19
D
0
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
80 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
14
A
2
M
1
J
1
J
10
A
1
S
22
O
14
N
6
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
49 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
21
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
5
A
0
S
1
O
20
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
26 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
3
A
2
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
3
O
6
N
2
D
1
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray
26 Sightings
J
1
F
13
M
3
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
3
O
2
N
1
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
24 Sightings
J
0
F
14
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
2
O
1
N
2
D
0
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
733 Sightings
J
23
F
59
M
79
A
32
M
44
J
36
J
120
A
49
S
66
O
130
N
59
D
36

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
664 Sightings
J
18
F
55
M
80
A
40
M
50
J
48
J
92
A
46
S
72
O
100
N
36
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
493 Sightings
J
18
F
27
M
45
A
27
M
45
J
32
J
86
A
36
S
63
O
73
N
22
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
485 Sightings
J
19
F
33
M
65
A
32
M
43
J
23
J
72
A
38
S
63
O
72
N
20
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
411 Sightings
J
14
F
34
M
43
A
26
M
37
J
26
J
55
A
36
S
55
O
57
N
20
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
400 Sightings
J
17
F
34
M
51
A
10
M
38
J
27
J
68
A
29
S
51
O
47
N
24
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
397 Sightings
J
13
F
34
M
33
A
23
M
37
J
27
J
69
A
27
S
52
O
48
N
29
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
391 Sightings
J
13
F
32
M
55
A
28
M
30
J
12
J
59
A
36
S
55
O
41
N
23
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
361 Sightings
J
4
F
33
M
39
A
13
M
27
J
23
J
60
A
39
S
34
O
49
N
30
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
360 Sightings
J
15
F
35
M
39
A
21
M
34
J
21
J
61
A
20
S
48
O
51
N
8
D
7
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
316 Sightings
J
20
F
20
M
51
A
22
M
44
J
11
J
33
A
3
S
20
O
37
N
37
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
250 Sightings
J
3
F
9
M
29
A
10
M
22
J
10
J
49
A
21
S
41
O
30
N
22
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
212 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
29
A
27
M
21
J
5
J
45
A
10
S
32
O
22
N
12
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
187 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
18
A
7
M
31
J
6
J
40
A
3
S
48
O
25
N
3
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
183 Sightings
J
1
F
23
M
22
A
13
M
1
J
14
J
42
A
8
S
36
O
17
N
3
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
162 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
24
A
6
M
24
J
11
J
25
A
8
S
20
O
34
N
4
D
3
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark
147 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
14
A
8
M
19
J
15
J
19
A
1
S
12
O
45
N
7
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
145 Sightings
J
0
F
9
M
27
A
7
M
23
J
10
J
10
A
1
S
31
O
17
N
5
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
141 Sightings
J
0
F
15
M
22
A
3
M
3
J
4
J
27
A
2
S
25
O
31
N
5
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
119 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
19
A
8
M
18
J
3
J
28
A
10
S
23
O
4
N
3
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
108 Sightings
J
5
F
18
M
7
A
1
M
10
J
7
J
18
A
2
S
20
O
10
N
4
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
108 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
7
A
3
M
23
J
1
J
28
A
5
S
19
O
18
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock-Miroslav Halama
Cornetfish

Cornetfish
89 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
18
A
3
M
13
J
1
J
29
A
0
S
1
O
10
N
13
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp

Shrimp
62 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
4
A
4
M
0
J
10
J
13
A
1
S
6
O
7
N
7
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
57 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
18
A
2
M
2
J
4
J
8
A
7
S
3
O
4
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
55 Sightings
J
4
F
10
M
10
A
0
M
3
J
1
J
11
A
0
S
8
O
3
N
1
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch

Nudibranch
55 Sightings
J
2
F
7
M
4
A
5
M
5
J
6
J
5
A
3
S
5
O
4
N
7
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
43 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
5
A
0
M
5
J
2
J
5
A
4
S
4
O
7
N
4
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
40 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
6
A
2
M
12
J
0
J
11
A
1
S
4
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock-bearacreative
Emperor

Emperor
36 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
5
A
2
M
1
J
1
J
12
A
0
S
13
O
0
N
1
D
0
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark
29 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
3
A
1
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
13
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster

Lobster
20 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
3
A
2
S
4
O
1
N
2
D
2

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