Atoll profile
SeenuSeenu (Addu) Atoll.
Southernmost atoll straddling the equator, connected by 14 km of British-built causeway.
- Islands24
- Inhabited6
- Resort islands2
- From MLE540 km
- TransferDomestic flight MLE to GANapprox. 1h 15m
Destination brief
A guide to Seenu (Addu) Atoll.
Seenu Atoll (better known as Addu) is the southernmost atoll in the Maldives and one of only two where islands are connected continuously by road. Gan International Airport (GAN) makes it the most accessible southern atoll from Velana, and Addu City — a short drive from the airport — is the country's second-largest urban area. The atoll's shape is famously heart-like, wrapping a single sheltered lagoon, and the equator runs directly through it. Beneath that lagoon lies a reef system spared by the 1998 coral-bleaching event, a year-round reef manta ray cleaning station at Maa Kandu, and the Maldives' largest wreck dive: the 140-metre oil tanker British Loyalty, scuttled by the Royal Navy in 1946 after being torpedoed in the war.
Above water, the British-built 14-kilometre causeway links Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo, allowing guests to cycle between inhabited local islands — a cultural experience unavailable elsewhere in the Maldives. Notable accommodation includes Shangri-La Villingili (reopened end of 2025 after a long closure), Canareef Resort on Herathera, and local-island properties including Equator Village and South Palm. For travellers who want luxury anchored to genuine local culture and a different monsoon pattern to the rest of the country, Addu rewards the extra hour on a domestic flight.
Addu is the only part of the Maldives where resort guests can travel between inhabited local islands by road: a 14-kilometre causeway built on British military foundations links Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. The atoll also sits astride the equator, and its reefs were one of the very few in the country to escape the 1998 mass coral-bleaching event largely unharmed.
Field notes
What's here.
Dive sites07
- 01
British Loyalty Wreck
- 02
Manta Point
Maa Kandu
- 03
Kuda Kandu
- 04
Maa Kandu
- 05
Gan Kandu
- 06
Villingili Kandu
- 07
Shark Point
Hithadhoo Kandu
Marine life06
- 01
Reef manta rays year-round at Manta Point
- 02
Intact hard coral
unaffected by 1998 bleaching
- 03
Grey reef and whitetip sharks
- 04
Turtles, napoleon wrasse and schooling jacks
- 05
The 140-metre British Loyalty wreck
- 06
Whale sharks on the outer reef
Notable resorts04
- 01
- 02Canareef Resort Maldives
Herathera
- 03
- 04
Accommodation Collection
Properties in Seenu (Addu) Atoll
No properties are currently listed in Seenu (Addu) Atoll.
Use the concierge below — our Maldives specialists can hand-pick a stay in Seenu (Addu) Atoll even when nothing is shown on the site yet.
Frequently Asked
Planning a trip to Seenu (Addu) Atoll
How do I get to Seenu (Addu) Atoll?
Seenu (Addu) Atoll sits approximately 540 km south of Velana (MLE); local airport is Gan International (GAN) from Velana International Airport (Malé). The standard transfer is Domestic flight MLE to GAN (approx. 1h 15m) + short road transfer via causeway or speedboat to resort island. Your resort or guesthouse will typically arrange the transfer as part of your booking.
What is the best time to visit Seenu (Addu) Atoll?
January to April. Addu's equatorial position gives it a softer monsoon signature than atolls further north — rainfall is spread more evenly through the year and currents on channel dives are generally gentler. January to April offers the clearest water and warmest temperatures; June to August brings more rain but remains reliably diveable because operators can shelter on the opposite side of the lagoon from the prevailing wind.
How many resorts and guesthouses are in Seenu (Addu) Atoll?
Seenu (Addu) Atoll is one of the quieter atolls — contact our Maldives specialists for the current property list and custom-curated stay recommendations.
Which are the best resorts in Seenu (Addu) Atoll?
Notable properties include Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa, Canareef Resort Maldives (Herathera), South Palm Resort Maldives, Equator Village (Gan). 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 Seenu (Addu) Atoll?
Key dive sites include British Loyalty Wreck, Manta Point (Maa Kandu), Kuda Kandu, Maa Kandu. Highlights: Reef manta rays year-round at Manta Point; Intact hard coral (unaffected by 1998 bleaching); Grey reef and whitetip sharks. Most resorts operate PADI-certified dive centres with daily boat dives and house-reef snorkelling.
What makes Seenu (Addu) Atoll unique compared to other Maldives atolls?
Addu is the only part of the Maldives where resort guests can travel between inhabited local islands by road: a 14-kilometre causeway built on British military foundations links Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. The atoll also sits astride the equator, and its reefs were one of the very few in the country to escape the 1998 mass coral-bleaching event largely unharmed.
For travel trade
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