Atoll profile
LhaviyaniLhaviyani Atoll.
Drift channels, shipwreck dives and the world's largest all-glass undersea restaurant, a short seaplane north of Malé.
- Islands54
- Inhabited5
- Resort islands9
- From MLE120-145 km
- TransferSeaplane35-40 min
At a glance
A compact atoll with 60+ dive sites in boat reach — headlined by Kuredu Express, a fast-current channel famed for sharks and pelagics..
Best for
Getting here
Character
Ideal stay
For non-divers
Destination brief
A guide to Lhaviyani Atoll.
Lhaviyani — traditionally called Faadhippolhu — lies roughly 120 to 145 kilometres north of Malé and is reached by a 35 to 40 minute seaplane. The atoll is shaped like an elongated ring of 54 islands, of which five carry permanent villages and nine operate as resort islands, giving it one of the highest resort densities in the northern Maldives without ever feeling crowded. Diving is what has built Lhaviyani's reputation: Kuredu Express is a drift channel where grey reef sharks gather in schools of twenty or more on an incoming tide, Fushivaru Thila combines a long pinnacle with a reliable manta cleaning station, and The Shipyard — the local name for a pair of deliberately and accidentally sunken fishing vessels off Felivaru — has matured into one of the most interesting wreck dives in the country, with one hull upright, the other on its side at around thirty metres, both colonised by soft coral and resident by nurse sharks. Above the water, the atoll is home to Hurawalhi and its 5.
8 Undersea Restaurant, built in New Zealand and sunk into the lagoon in 2016, along with its sister islands Kudadoo and Komandoo for adults-only stays and Kanuhura and Kuredu for larger, more sociable properties. The capital Naifaru houses the country's only fish-canning operation at Felivaru, a working reminder that Lhaviyani is not purely a tourist atoll. For divers who want drift channels, shipwrecks and a reliable manta encounter inside a single day's boat range, Lhaviyani is among the most efficient choices in the Maldives.
Hurawalhi's 5.8 Undersea Restaurant — named for its depth of 5.8 metres below the surface — was manufactured in New Zealand, shipped in one piece and sunk into the lagoon in 2016. The 400-ton acrylic structure is recognised as the world's largest all-glass undersea restaurant and seats 20 guests across three daily sittings.
Field notes
What's here.
Dive sites05
- 01
Kuredu Express
- 02
Fushivaru Thila
- 03
The Shipyard
Gaavathugandu
- 04
Felivaru Kandu
- 05
Peak Reef
Dhihuraa Faru
Marine life04
- 01
Grey reef sharks on incoming tide at Kuredu Express
- 02
Manta cleaning stations at Fushivaru Thila
May-November
- 03
Two coral-encrusted shipwrecks at The Shipyard with resident nurse sharks
- 04
Napoleon wrasse, giant trevally and schooling snappers on the thilas
When to go
Marine-life calendar.
Best visibility
Jan–Apr
Reef manta & whale shark
May–Nov · Plankton blooms; ~300 mantas catalogued
Sharks & pelagics
Year-round · Kuredu Express channel
November to April for calm seas and sheltered channel diving; May to November for manta activity at Fushivaru The northeast monsoon (November to April) delivers the calmest surface conditions and best visibility for the atoll's channel and wreck sites. The southwest monsoon (May to October) pushes plankton onto Fushivaru Thila, reliably pulling mantas onto the cleaning stations even as the surface gets rougher.
Typical windows — encounters vary year to year; not guaranteed.
Dive sites
Where to dive in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Channel · advanced
Felivaru Kandu
A channel dive known for visiting reef mantas and big-fish action.
Manta point · intermediate
Fushifaru Thila
One of the Maldives' classic manta cleaning thilas, set in a protected channel.
Channel · advanced
Kuredu Express
A fast drift channel where grey reef sharks stack up on the incoming tide.
Wreck · advanced
The Shipyard
Two atmospheric wrecks off Felivaru — one rising near the surface — draped in soft coral with resident nurse sharks.
Curious what you'll meet underwater? Browse the Maldives marine-life guide.
Accommodation Collection
12 Resorts in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Hurawalhi Island Resort
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa
Cocoon Maldives
Komandoo Island Resort & Spa
Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Fushifaru Maldives
Six Senses Kanuhura
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Nala Maldives Resort
Jawakara Islands Maldives
Palm Beach Island Resort & Spa
Frequently Asked
Planning a trip to Lhaviyani Atoll.
How do I get to Lhaviyani Atoll?
Lhaviyani Atoll sits approximately 120-145 km from Velana International Airport (Malé). The standard transfer is Seaplane (35-40 min). Your resort or guesthouse will typically arrange the transfer as part of your booking.
What is the best time to visit Lhaviyani Atoll?
November to April for calm seas and sheltered channel diving; May to November for manta activity at Fushivaru. The northeast monsoon (November to April) delivers the calmest surface conditions and best visibility for the atoll's channel and wreck sites. The southwest monsoon (May to October) pushes plankton onto Fushivaru Thila, reliably pulling mantas onto the cleaning stations even as the surface gets rougher.
How many resorts and guesthouses are in Lhaviyani Atoll?
We currently list 15 properties in Lhaviyani Atoll on Resortlife. The atoll has roughly 9 resort islands in total, with options ranging from intimate guesthouses on local islands to ultra-luxury overwater resorts.
Which are the best resorts in Lhaviyani Atoll?
Notable properties include Hurawalhi Island Resort, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Kanuhura Maldives, Kuredu Island Resort, Komandoo Island Resort. Which resort suits you depends on travel style — honeymoon, family, dive-focused, or budget-conscious — our specialists can match you to the right island.
What is the diving and marine life like in Lhaviyani Atoll?
Key dive sites include Kuredu Express, Fushivaru Thila, The Shipyard (Gaavathugandu), Felivaru Kandu. Highlights: Grey reef sharks on incoming tide at Kuredu Express; Manta cleaning stations at Fushivaru Thila (May-November); Two coral-encrusted shipwrecks at The Shipyard with resident nurse sharks. Most resorts operate PADI-certified dive centres with daily boat dives and house-reef snorkelling.
What makes Lhaviyani Atoll unique compared to other Maldives atolls?
Hurawalhi's 5.8 Undersea Restaurant — named for its depth of 5.8 metres below the surface — was manufactured in New Zealand, shipped in one piece and sunk into the lagoon in 2016. The 400-ton acrylic structure is recognised as the world's largest all-glass undersea restaurant and seats 20 guests across three daily sittings.
Keep exploring
More Maldives atolls.
For travel trade
Quote Lhaviyani Atoll with confidence.
Contracted net rates, multilingual GROs at Velana, charter-flight coordination and 24/7 partner support.