Addu Atoll is the Maldives’ manta ray paradise, and arguably the best place in the country to spot these magnificent and charismatic animals. Up until quite recently, it was not very well known that mantas could be found in the Atoll, which lies at the very southern tip of the Maldives. Addu is also that only place in the Maldives that is home to full-sized adult Mantas, with wingspans stretching an incredible 5 meters.
Hithadhoo, the capital of Addu, has a protected nature park with one of the Maldives’ largest natural lakes, home to some unique birdlife including the endemic white tern. Between the islands of Marathon and Hithadhoo you can explore the British Loyalty wreck. The ship is lying on its starboard side around 33 meters at the bottom. The total length of the wreck is 140 meters and its bow is 16 meters. It has attracted a growth of hard coral and soft coral that covers large clumps of the ship.
The tiny atoll of Fuvahmulah is the closest to the equator of all the country’s islands and reefs. This isolated equatorial location has given birth to a truly unique environment, earning Fuvahmulah the nickname of the Maldivian Galapagos. The resident tiger sharks first made Fuvahmulah famous, but visitors can also get up-close and personal with thresher sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, silvertip sharks, grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks. Whale sharks also make an appearance every year as well as black oceanic manta rays.
Vaadhoo Caves is a dive site at South Male Atoll full of small caves and one larger cave with a swim-through passage. It also features a narrow cave with a big overhang at a depth of 30m. Vaadhoo Caves is full of marine life, especially when it comes to larger species like sharks, eagle rays, giant trevallies, and barracudas. Beautiful gorgonians, corals, and sea fans hide myriads of small tropical fish. Furthermore, Vadhoo is known for a beautiful natural phenomenon called the "Sea of Stars". It occurs during late summer and is caused by bioluminescent phytoplankton called Lingulodinium polyedrum. The water here is filled with this plankton, and the movement of the waves causes it to glow, creating an incredible shimmering effect that looks like the sea is full of stars.
In this diving site you will be able to see one of the best Hard Coral Reefs in the Maldives, the top reef start at 12 meters and slowly drops down till 30 meters.
In this site, divers may see a full spectrum of bold underwater creatures that come close, such as leopard sharks, gray reef sharks, silky sharks, schools of barracudas, small groups of eagle rays, big schools of jacks, and turtles on the sandy bottom. Nilandhoo Kandu is popular with the ‘shark trips’ and lovers of underwater photography.
During the shark dives in the Kooddoo channels, divers can expect to see: Grey Reef Sharks, Black-Tip Oceanic Sharks and there are often sightings of Hammerhead Sharks.
This channel is located on the west side of Gaafu Alif Atoll exactly in front of the homonymous island of Meradhoo. The dive normally starts on the southern side of the outer reef and drifting inside the atoll. The ocean side is full of beautiful and healthy corals and is abundant in macro life. In the blue it is easy to encounter big pelagic passing by like: tunas, barracuda, rays, school of blue fin trevally and white tip sharks.
Thinadhoo has a rich and nice house reef where you can see variery of colorful tropical fishes as well as sea turtles and rays. There are several uninhabited islands and sand banks nearby.
Cruise to Kaadedhdhoo Island Airport.