South Ari atoll is an invitation to unparalleled natural beauty and harmony

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Constance Moofushi

Lily Beach Resort & Spa

LUX* Maldives

South Ari Atoll map   

email enquiries: info@butlerbythesea.com

From the Chinese to the French, innumerable sailing ships have passed through the South Ari Atoll region of the Maldives islands. Some stopped for trade, others sailed right past the hidden paradise, and others, sadly, capsized. A sixteenth-century explorer noticed a vessel that met a particularly sad fate:

“I was told it was the richest ship conceivable. It had on board
some 500 persons, men, women, and children . . . nigh all drowned.
this ship came from [Indonesia], laden with all kinds of spices and
merchandise of China. . . The king of the Maldives built a shed the
length of the mast to keep it as a curiosity.”

Ancient losses such as these are, today, wonderful finds for underwater explorers in South Ari, who find shipwrecks of old, their masts still standing. Also evident in these waters are modern freighters and fishing vessels whose galleys, holds, wheelhouses, and engine rooms are open for scuba divers to swim through and explore. But watch out! These cozy spaces are now home to families of spiny lobsters, large shoals of horse eyed jacks, and gardens of eels. They have become a base upon which vast varieties of corals grow and shelter innumerable dazzling fish of every shape and description.

Above the water, the simple elegance of village life in South Ari Atoll is also worth experiencing. Viewing the boat builders on lovely Fenfushi island will calm your mind and ease your soul as you relax into the gentle rhythms of this out-of-the-way place. On Mahibadhoo, the capital of South Ari Atoll, wander the streets and observe the brightly painted homes, the profusion of banana trees, and the canals that snake through the city. Climb to the highest point on the island and look out over an endless azure ocean. Marvel at the horizon, where cool clouds decorate a perfect sky with their promise of coming monsoons. Boats in brilliant reds and yellows set sail on fishing excursions, and traditional wooden outrigger canoes patrol the shallows, along with pelicans and other sea birds that find their homes here.

South Ari Atoll offers the world-class snorkeling and scuba diving for which The Maldives is famous, as well as innumerable photogenic scenes. Whether you most enjoy the purity of an exquisite beach resort, the excitement of exploring South Ari villages and towns, or the intrigue of underwater exploration, South Ari Atoll welcomes you with an oceanic embrace.