Maarehaa Kandu (★4.4)
This channel dive site, located to the east of the atoll, is a protected area where fishing has been banned. Due to this you can encounter sharks in large numbers.
© Aqualung
Explore Gaafu Alifu Atoll (North Huvadhoo)
Northern Huvadhu Atoll, also known as Gaafu Alifu, offers a captivating dive experience in the tranquil Southern Atolls of the Maldives. What makes diving here truly special is the blend of serene environments and thrilling underwater adventures. The region is quieter than the bustling Northern Atolls, yet it boasts established dive sites that cater to both beginners and seasoned divers. The outer reef provides a shield, creating calm spots perfect for novices, while the more daring can explore steep drop-offs, caves, and exhilarating drift dives.
Diving in Gaafu Alifu is like entering a vibrant marine metropolis. The diverse reef life is teeming with colorful corals, schools of tropical fish, and an array of large pelagic animals that make every dive a spectacle. Notably, the Nilandhoo Kandu is a favorite, renowned for its strong currents and the presence of impressive predatory creatures such as tiger and leopard sharks. This site is a magnet for professional underwater photographers and adventurous divers, offering breathtaking scenery and encounters with astounding marine life. With its growing popularity, thanks to the nearby airport on Vilingili, Northern Huvadhu Atoll is becoming an unmissable destination for those seeking both adventure and tranquility beneath the waves.
Dive Activity
Diving in Gaafu Alifu Atoll (North Huvadhoo)
Diving in Gaafu Alifu Atoll can be catered to many levels. It has several dive resorts available if dive courses are on your wish list, but not many dive centres if you wish to stay elsewhere. A liveaboard is economical if you want to dive a lot and means that the long boat journeys can be done while you sleep or chill out onboard. Some require a minimum number of dives to join and many do not operate all year round due to unpredictable weather conditions in certain months, so enquire before you book.
Much of diving in the Southern Maldives is characterised by drifts and Gaafu Alifu is no different. Some offer gentle drifts suitable for beginners but the kandu drift dives have strong currents which draw in stunning pelagic life.
Dive Sites
Top Wildlife Sightings in Gaafu Alifu Atoll (North Huvadhoo)
Like most of the Maldives, diving in Gaafu Alifu Atoll is available all year round. The best conditions for diving are from December to April, when the low winds and minimal rain lead to excellent ocean conditions. The seas are calm and offer visibility of 40 meters/131 feet or more.
During the monsoon season from May to November, the seas can be rougher due to increased winds, and there are more frequent rainstorms. The ocean conditions can affect some dive boats, so if you plan to dive in June, contact your dive operator ahead of time. However, this time does bring in plankton blooms, which draw in more manta rays and whale sharks.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Gaafu Alifu Atoll (North Huvadhoo)
Gaafu Alifu Atoll, part of the Maldives, offers an incredible marine experience with its vibrant reefs adorned with delicate sea fans, staghorns, and sponges. Divers exploring these coral gardens will often encounter hidden gems like anemonefish and boxfish. The waters are rich with life, featuring schools of bluefin trevally, jacks, and snapper, which sometimes form bait balls, creating an unforgettable spectacle.
Reef sharks and turtles are common sights across the atoll, providing frequent encounters for divers. Seasonal highlights include the chance to swim with whale sharks at night from January to April around Kooddoo Island. Manta rays are a year-round attraction, though they are more commonly seen from May to September. Divers might also spot nurse sharks hiding on the reefs, with oceanic black tips, grey reef sharks, and even hammerheads making regular appearances, drawing enthusiasts from around the globe.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
741 Sightings
J
43
F
226
M
380
A
34
M
2
J
2
J
6
A
7
S
7
O
11
N
17
D
6
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
452 Sightings
J
27
F
135
M
224
A
23
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
11
S
6
O
6
N
8
D
8
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
213 Sightings
J
20
F
66
M
95
A
11
M
8
J
0
J
1
A
5
S
0
O
2
N
2
D
3
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
201 Sightings
J
14
F
69
M
77
A
8
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
3
S
6
O
2
N
13
D
5
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
166 Sightings
J
9
F
48
M
81
A
7
M
5
J
0
J
3
A
3
S
2
O
4
N
2
D
2
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
130 Sightings
J
6
F
52
M
65
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0
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
117 Sightings
J
6
F
21
M
47
A
15
M
6
J
1
J
2
A
5
S
4
O
4
N
2
D
4
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
37 Sightings
J
1
F
13
M
13
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
2
D
2
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
34 Sightings
J
2
F
8
M
16
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
3
D
0
iStock/HakBak1979
Bull Shark
33 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
24
A
5
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
0
