Addu atoll, dive The British Loyalty wreck and more

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Flying into southerly Addu Atoll, you’ll notice that this heart-shaped island chain rests within a section of clear, cobalt ocean unlike any other. The atoll’s four inhabited islands—Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, and Gan—embrace vistas that will enchant your mind and soul for years to come. Its many uninhabited islands invite you as well, with their snow-white sands stretching for miles beneath sheltering palms. When you experience the way time itself slips away in this unique archipelago, you’ll feel reinvented. And when bicycling, picnicking, and surfing become your most pressing concerns, you’ll know you’ve really arrived in Addu Atoll.

Visitors are always surprised by how many Addu Atoll residents speak English and by the convenient series of causeways connecting the four largest islands of the archipelago. These differences are due to the fact that, long ago, the British established a military base on Addu Atoll’s largest island, Gan. The exposure to westerners brought English to these people, which enabled them to make Addu Atoll the prosperous region it is today. With seven inhabited islands totalling a population of 28,000, Addu Atoll is a veritable metropolis compared to other Maldivian atolls.

Surfers take one look at Addu Atoll’s location and realize they have found Mecca. Sited just below the equator, south-, east-, and west-facing parts of the island all offer excellent surf. A famous left-hander exists off the island of Vilingili, and a great right-hander can be found south of Gan. But little information is really known about the surf spots in Addu Atoll, so the best way to find out is to go there yourself and explore. Surf boat charter companies are excellent resources for finding rare and exciting waves.

Divers in Addu Atoll enjoy exploring The British Loyalty, a cargo ship that was sunk by the Japanese during WWII. It lies near Maradhoo and is considered one of the best wrecks to dive anywhere in the Maldives nation. Marine life there is completely unspoiled. Divers will also enjoy the fact that Addu Atoll is the only place in the Maldives where manta rays with wing spans of over five meters are known to exist. In addition to a profusion of manta rays, more than 700 species of fish can be found, along with rare breeds such as the frogfish, ghost pipefish, leaf fish, and many nudibranchs. There are even unknown species in Addu Atoll that have yet to be classified by scientists.

Ambitious divers can participate in a manta ray tracking program that enables them to contribute to the world’s knowledge of our planet’s underwater mysteries. All others will simply have to embrace the mystery that is Addu Atoll. Enjoying the vibrant depths of this atoll’s clear waters as well as the thrilling rush of its excellent surf is just the beginning for intrepid explorers of Addu Atoll.