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Atoll profile
Gaafu AlifGaafu Alifu Atoll.
Deep south atoll with pristine marine environments and big-animal diving.
10properties·avg rating
Atoll profile
Gaafu AlifDeep south atoll with pristine marine environments and big-animal diving.
Destination brief
Part of the vast Huvadhoo Atoll system, Gaafu Alifu Atoll lies in the deep south of the Maldives and offers some of the most pristine and untouched marine environments in the country. The deep Huvadhoo Channel creates strong currents that attract large pelagic species, making it exceptional for advanced divers seeking big-animal encounters.
Gaafu Alifu is the northern administrative half of Huvadhoo — the second-largest atoll in the Maldives and one of the ten largest natural atolls on Earth. Huvadhoo also holds the Guinness World Record for the atoll with the most islands, at more than 250, and its ancient Sanskritised name was Suvadive.
Field notes
Kooddoo Kandu
Vilingili Kandu
Dhonfan Giri
Two Brothers
Big-animal channel diving in Huvadhoo
hammerheads, silvertips, thresher sharks
Whale shark and manta ray sightings on the outer reef
One of the highest live coral cover percentages in the Maldives
Accommodation Collection
Frequently Asked
Gaafu Alifu Atoll sits approximately 410 km from Velana International Airport (Malé). The standard transfer is Domestic flight to Kooddoo (GKK, 1h) + speedboat transfer (20-40 min). Your resort or guesthouse will typically arrange the transfer as part of your booking.
November to April (visibility); year-round for pelagic action. The vast Huvadhoo channel system creates powerful tidal currents that funnel pelagics past dive sites year-round. Advanced divers get the best experience — this is not a shallow-reef destination.
We currently list 10 properties in Gaafu Alifu Atoll on Resortlife. The atoll has roughly 2 resort islands in total, with options ranging from intimate guesthouses on local islands to ultra-luxury overwater resorts.
For travel trade
Contracted net rates, multilingual GROs at Velana, charter-flight coordination and 24/7 partner support.
Notable properties include Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Robinson Maldives, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa, Mercure Maldives Kooddoo. Which resort suits you depends on travel style — honeymoon, family, dive-focused, or budget-conscious — our specialists can match you to the right island.
Key dive sites include Kooddoo Kandu, Vilingili Kandu, Dhonfan Giri, Two Brothers. Highlights: Big-animal channel diving in Huvadhoo — hammerheads, silvertips, thresher sharks; Whale shark and manta ray sightings on the outer reef; One of the highest live coral cover percentages in the Maldives. Most resorts operate PADI-certified dive centres with daily boat dives and house-reef snorkelling.
Gaafu Alifu is the northern administrative half of Huvadhoo — the second-largest atoll in the Maldives and one of the ten largest natural atolls on Earth. Huvadhoo also holds the Guinness World Record for the atoll with the most islands, at more than 250, and its ancient Sanskritised name was Suvadive.