Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll)
Thinadhoo
Gaafu Dhaalu features deep atoll topography perfect for experienced divers. Resorts like Ayada appeal to honeymooners and underwater enthusiasts. Locally, it’s one of the more populated southern atolls, offering strong cultural identity and increasing resort employment.
Islands of this Atoll
Ayada House Reef Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Hard‑coral gardens Butterflyfish & angelfish Parrotfish & surgeonfish Anemonefish & damsels Blue‑spotted stingrays Hawksbill turtles Moorish idols Octopus & cuttlefish Moray eels Nudibranchs
Faresmaathodaa Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Footi Right Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Funamadua Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Havodda Caves Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Glassfish & sweepers Soldierfish & squirrelfish Soft corals & sponges Hawksbill turtles (resting) Nurse shark (occasional) Moray eels Lionfish & scorpionfish Shrimps & lobsters Sweetlips Nudibranchs
Havodda Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Kaadedhdhoo Corner Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
KDM Corner Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Konotta Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Maathodaa Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Maguhdhuvaa Caves Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Glassfish & sweepers Soldierfish & squirrelfish Soft corals & sponges Hawksbill turtles (resting) Nurse shark (occasional) Moray eels Lionfish & scorpionfish Shrimps & lobsters Sweetlips Nudibranchs
Meradhoo Left Channel Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Muraka Faru Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Rahadhoo Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Stick Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Ayada Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Faresmaathodaa Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Funamadua House Reef Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Hard‑coral gardens Butterflyfish & angelfish Parrotfish & surgeonfish Anemonefish & damsels Blue‑spotted stingrays Hawksbill turtles Moorish idols Octopus & cuttlefish Moray eels Nudibranchs
Gadhdhoo Corner Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Havodda Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Kaaddhedhoo Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Kaadedhdhoo Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Konotta Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Kuda Hafsa Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Madaveli Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Maguhdhuvaa Corner Manta Point Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Reef manta rays (seasonal cleaning/feeding) Eagle rays Grey reef sharks (perimeter) Green & hawksbill turtles Schooling jacks/trevally Barracuda Tunas Fusiliers Napoleon wrasse Mobula rays (occasional)
Meradhoo Right Channel Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Nadella Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Rathafandhoo Corner Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Vaadhoo Express Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks (many) Whitetip reef sharks Silvertip (occasional) Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Faresmaathodaa Channel Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Footi Left Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Funamadua Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Gadhdhoo Kandu Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Havodda Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Kaadedhdhoo Channel Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Kahanbu Giri Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Konotta Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Maathodaa Corner Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Advanced
Grey reef sharks Whitetip reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish
Madaveli Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Maguhdhuvaa Outside West Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Mofzaa Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Nadella Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs
Rathafandhoo Outside Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Grey reef sharks Eagle rays Dogtooth tuna Giant trevally Barracuda Napoleon wrasse Green & hawksbill turtles Snappers & fusiliers Batfish Moray eels
Vaadhoo Thila Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Intermediate
Soft corals & anthias clouds Grey reef sharks (current side) Napoleon wrasse Hawksbill turtles Schooling trevally Barracuda Batfish Moray eels Leaf scorpionfish Nudibranchs