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.
Top Gaafu Alifu Atoll (North Huvadhoo) Dive Sites
1. Kooddoo Corner
Kooddoo Corner is renowned for its thrilling drift dives, primarily for advanced scuba divers. The strong currents attract oceanic black tips, grey reef sharks, and occasionally hammerheads. This site offers exhilarating encounters as you drift along the channel.
2. Vilingilii Kandu
Known for its powerful currents, Vilingilii Kandu is suited for advanced scuba divers. The dive is best with an incoming current, allowing divers to witness grey reef sharks, silky sharks, and schools of tuna against stunning underwater walls. Photographers should use reef hooks for stability.
3. Hithaadhoo Nature Reserve
Located to the north, this site is ideal for both scuba and freediving enthusiasts. It shelters numerous green turtles sustained by vibrant coral reefs. During nesting seasons, divers can witness turtle hatchlings. The area is ecologically significant, providing vital habitat for marine life.
4. Maamendhoo Channel
This advanced scuba diving site offers strong currents, ideal for observing barracudas, eagle rays, and reef sharks. The channel's underwater topography includes rocky formations and abundant coral gardens, making it a visually captivating experience for divers.
5. Dhigurah Lagoon
Perfect for both scuba and freediving, Dhigurah Lagoon offers an easier adventure relative to other sites. The lagoon's calm waters host vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful fish species. It's a serene spot for divers wanting a gentler dive with rich marine life.