Riu Palace, Dhaalu and Faafu Atolls

Part of the secluded southern atolls, Faafu and Dhaalu offer iconic Maldivian channel diving with far fewer crowds than their neighbours such as Ari and Male. Funnelling nutrient-rich waters in and out of the atolls’ inner-lagoons, these channels are home to flourishing coral reefs and species such as manta rays and sharks. 

Diving in Faafu Atoll

Compared to other atolls, Faafu’s reefs have only recently been discovered by the dive industry. For those who make the journey, this means plenty of exciting and unspoiled dive sites await, along with a sense of pioneering underwater adventure, unlike most other destinations in the Maldives. Faafu’s best dive sites are clustered around the atoll’s northeast edge, where a series of wide and relatively shallow channels can be found - each with healthy reef ecosystems and many larger species, including mantas, barracuda, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, and both white-tip and grey reef sharks.

Jumping Jack is one of the atoll’s most northerly channels, featuring a line of around seven thilas in a single channel. Divers hop from one to another, checking out the different reefs, while watching out for sharks, eagle rays, and schools of tuna in the blue. The marine protected Filtheyo Kandu is one of the most renowned dives in the atoll. This two-kilometre-wide channel is home to three separate sites - Filtheyo Thila is a u-shaped pinnacle which sits in the centre of the channel and is surrounded by big schools of fish, Filtheyo Outside features picturesque patch coral reef, and Dolphin Corner attracts grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and big schools of reef fish. Other noteworthy sites include Seven Stingrays, Kings Corner, Barracuda Kandu, and Biledhdhoo Kandu.

Dhaalu Atoll diving

Dhaalu has been low on the dive-tourist radar and its secluded location means the dive sites are still far from crowded. Visitors will find around five channels on the western edge and around ten on the eastern side. Fushi Kandu is the only marine protected area in the atoll and probably the most famous dive site. This channel boasts five separate sea-fan adorned thilas rising from a depth of 30 to 40-metres and is the perfect place for spotting schools of eagle rays, turtles, and sharks. Other noteworthy sites include Velavaru Thila, Lhohi Caves, Maale Faru, Hulhu Kandu.