Explore Vaavu Atoll
Vaavu Atoll, also known as Felidhe, offers a unique diving experience in the Maldives. As the easternmost point of the country, this atoll includes the Felidhoo Atoll and the small Vattaru reef. It's easily accessible, just 64 kilometers north of the bustling capital Malé. Despite being one of the smallest and least populated atolls, its waters are teeming with life. The Fotteyo Falhu, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Maldives, is a highlight for divers seeking vibrant marine biodiversity. Vaavu is renowned for offering thrilling channel drift dives, suitable for more experienced divers, presenting opportunities to encounter manta rays, whale sharks, and even hammerheads, making it an exhilarating destination. For divers of all proficiency levels, Vaavu Atoll ensures unforgettable underwater adventures. Beginners can explore the pristine Vattaru Reef, while more seasoned divers can challenge themselves at sites like Miyaru Kandu. Night dives at Alimatha Island reveal a different world, where the hunt for octopus and other nocturnal creatures unfolds. As a governmentally protected area, the atoll boasts unspoiled coral reefs and an abundance of marine life, ensuring that every dive is an immersion into a vibrant and thriving aquatic ecosystem. Whether you're drifting through channels or exploring stunning reefs, the diverse underwater scenery of Vaavu Atoll offers something extraordinary for every diver.
Dive Activity
Diving in Vaavu Atoll
Diving in Vaavu Atoll is diverse. There are deep walls on the outer edges of the reef which allow you to explore caves and overhangs and all the life of the deep blue. The inner kandus (channels) offer drift dives, not always suitable for new divers. The shallow reef dives within the lagoon offer perfect beginner diving however. There is also world famous night diving available at Alimatha Jetty which is not to be missed.
There are two dedicated island resorts in which you can dive, though they are at the luxury end of the budget. There is a separate dive centre available on the island of Fulidhoo for those who wish to stay on this more populous island. They also offer dive courses if you would like to try diving for the first time, or expand your skills.
If you are planning on diving a lot, a liveaboard may be the most economical choice. They leave out of Malé most often so you can save on boat transfer as well. Be sure to check the specific liveaboards for price, duration and required certification level before you book. Because of its quiet atmosphere, you will often get to enjoy the dive sites as the only boat.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Vaavu Atoll
Vaavu Atoll may be small, but the marine life is diverse. The famous Fotteyo Kandu has some of the widest variety of marine life for a dive site in the world. The tidal currents pull sharks into the kandus to hunt on the schooling fish found there. On a drift dive, you will float alongside grey and white tip reef sharks, not to mention the schools of snapper, barracuda and giant trevally.
Due to its eastern location, the deep blue often yields large creatures - hammerheads and eagle rays are not unusual sights. During the right season, manta rays will cruise up the kandus and around the barrier reef. Though uncommon, whale sharks have also been sighted here.
The reef dives offer an abundance of reef life, clouds of butterfly and damsel fish hover on the reefs. Moray eels, lobster, pipefish and frogish lie more hidden in the nooks and crannies between rocks and corals. The soft corals here are unparalleled and carpet the floors of the caves and swim throughs. These provide homes for macro life like shrimp and nudibranch, sure to keep photographers happy.
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: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
822 Sightings
J
71
F
59
M
85
A
173
M
45
J
13
J
21
A
54
S
29
O
53
N
116
D
103
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
475 Sightings
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43
F
45
M
69
A
76
M
26
J
9
J
11
A
41
S
20
O
36
N
53
D
46
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
316 Sightings
J
28
F
24
M
36
A
44
M
5
J
0
J
7
A
30
S
16
O
23
N
58
D
45
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
278 Sightings
J
23
F
18
M
40
A
39
M
3
J
0
J
9
A
27
S
13
O
21
N
50
D
35
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
215 Sightings
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29
F
20
M
21
A
33
M
3
J
6
J
7
A
12
S
5
O
33
N
18
D
28
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark
1.9k Sightings
J
267
F
181
M
208
A
276
M
60
J
25
J
41
A
118
S
93
O
152
N
275
D
217
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark
1.8k Sightings
J
245
F
198
M
186
A
232
M
58
J
19
J
35
A
112
S
76
O
151
N
268
D
220
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
445 Sightings
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47
F
37
M
55
A
55
M
13
J
7
J
14
A
42
S
24
O
39
N
73
D
39
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
427 Sightings
J
38
F
43
M
61
A
58
M
17
J
0
J
9
A
26
S
34
O
33
N
69
D
39
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
421 Sightings
J
44
F
38
M
42
A
48
M
11
J
9
J
13
A
33
S
22
O
50
N
70
D
41
The best Months to dive in Vaavu Atoll
Due to its location in a tropical climate, temperatures are fairly constant all year round and it is always possible to dive. From December to April is the dry season, the perfect weather for a beach holiday. There is minimal rain and wind and the visibility is flawless.
From May to November, there are fewer sunny days, higher winds and more downpours. Luckily though, these showers usually only last a couple of hours. The tidal changes and increased winds bring in plankton blooms. Though it reduces the visibility, it does bring in filter feeders like manta rays and whale sharks.
