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Explore Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (South Huvadhoo)

Southern Huvadhu Atoll, also known as Gaafu Dhaalu, offers a diving experience like no other in the Maldives. Its location in the Southern Atolls provides a distinctive dive adventure, with the coral reef barrier offering protection from strong ocean currents, making it accessible for divers of all skill levels. This atoll is renowned for its diversity of dive sites, ranging from breathtaking reefs to dramatic walls and intriguing caves. Vaadhoo Thila, with its network of caves, and Maarehaa Kandu, known for wall and drift diving, are just a couple of the many sites awaiting exploration.

What sets Southern Huvadhu Atoll apart is its vibrant marine life. The southwestern channels are a treasure trove for shark enthusiasts, hosting 26 different shark species, including magnificent hammerheads and elusive tiger sharks. Divers can expect encounters with large pelagic species and, during the right season, may even spot whale sharks. Liveaboard trips offer the best way to experience the atoll's remote and diverse sites, while boat diving trips from local islands allow for more convenience. With some of the deepest dives in the Maldives, Southern Huvadhu invites divers to discover its underwater wonders and the giant creatures that call it home.

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Top Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (South Huvadhoo) Dive Sites

Vaadhoo Thila

Vaadhoo Thila is renowned for its vibrant soft coral gardens adorning caves and overhangs, perfect for scuba diving enthusiasts. This site is suitable for both easy and advanced levels, offering macro photography opportunities with sights of delicate sea fans and whip corals. Divers should be cautious not to disturb the corals.

Maarehaa Kandu

Best accessed via liveaboard, Maarehaa Kandu provides thrilling drift dives alongside grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and giant trevally. It's an advanced scuba dive site where hawksbill turtles and whale sharks are occasionally seen. The walls enable excellent macro photography. This site is a haven for big fish encounters.

Thinadhoo Thila

Located 6km east of Thinadhoo Island, this thila ranges from 5 to 30 meters in depth and suits all skill levels. It features vibrant coral-coated walls and is often a drift dive. Strong currents may require a negative entry. Look for leopard sharks on the sandy 30m bottom, a highlight for many divers.

Blue Corner (Freediving Possible)

Blue Corner is an exhilarating site suitable for both scuba and freediving, offering advanced diving experiences. Known for its strong currents, it hosts a variety of pelagic species like barracudas and eagle rays. The site is also famous for its dramatic underwater topography, including steep drop-offs and overhangs.

Kondey Kandu (Freediving Possible)

Kondey Kandu is ideal for both scuba and freediving, providing easy to advanced level adventures. It's known for its diverse marine life, including schools of jacks and snappers. This dive site features interesting underwater landscapes with channels and coral formations, making it a captivating exploration spot.

The best Months to dive in Atoll (South Huvadhoo)

Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll diving is available year round, but the best diving conditions are from December to April. This is known as the dry season and has low winds, minimal rain and the most sunshine - all of which lead to warm, flat and clear ocean conditions, perfect for diving.

The monsoon season runs from May to November and brings higher winds and more frequent downpours, though there is still plenty of sunshine. The winds mean that the sea is often rougher and this can mean that some dive boats do not operate around the month of June - be sure to check before you book! The winds also blow in plankton blooms - this reduces the visibility upon occasions but it draws in oceanic giants like manta rays and whale sharks.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (South Huvadhoo)

Gaafu Dhaalu is a deep atoll and as such has lots of large life. In addition to healthy reef life that contains an abundance of macro life, moray eels, parrotfish, triggerfish, damselfish and more, there are big fish to see on almost every dive. Schools of fish like bluefin trevally, jacks and snapper swim alongside turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, leopard sharks, grey reef sharks and even the occasional tiger shark or hammerhead. 

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
21 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
5
A
6
M
3
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
1
O
2
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.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
12 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
6
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
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.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
8 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
1
O
4
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
6 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
2
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
5 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
1
O
2
N
0
D
0
Alamy/Fiona Ayerst
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark
3 Sightings
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0
F
1
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
3 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
3 Sightings
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0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
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.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
3 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
18 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
2
A
2
M
3
J
0
J
3
A
3
S
2
O
1
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
18 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
4
A
3
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
1
O
2
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.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
14 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
4
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.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
11 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
2
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
3
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark
9 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
1
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.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
5
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.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
9 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
2
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
2
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.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
9 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
3
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.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
9 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
3
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.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
7 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
2
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.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
6 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
2
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.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
5 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
1
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.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
5 Sightings
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0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
2
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.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
5 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
3
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.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
1
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.: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
1
O
0
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.: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish

Garfish
4 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
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.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
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.: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
3 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
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.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
3 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
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.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
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.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
3 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0