South Male atoll offers spectacular marine adventures below water and stunning beauty above

Anantara Dhigu

Cocoa Island Resort

Naladhu Maldives

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

Velassaru

South Male Atoll map   

email enquiries: info@butlerbythesea.com

In the Indian Ocean, say scientists, a great volcano once sunk into the earth. The coral reef around where it had once been formed a magic circle now known as the South Male Atoll. Beneath the gently lapping lagoon waves lies a massive underwater universe replete with mountains, canyons, caves, and coral formations. Sharks, rays, eels, whales, and innumerable brightly colored fish populate this subaqueous world. Today the South Male Atoll invites you to come enjoy the gourmet food and luxurious spa treatments available above water, or the fascinating adventures below. Either way, you will get your fill of nature’s unspoiled peace, harmony, and beauty in this region of the Maldives.

Divers throughout South Male and its capital island, Maafushi, have their pick of dive sites and types. These include reef dives around the edges where the atoll meets the open sea and drift dives in the “kandus” or channels between reefs. The presence of plankton makes South Male a particularly satisfying location to view whales, sharks, manta rays, and other large species. Then there are the thillas, or underwater coral mountains filled with nooks, crannies, and caves that shelter marine life. Finally, many divers come to South Male simply to dive the shipwrecks. Snorkelers can also enjoy many underwater delights in the shallower regions of these natural phenomena. The South Male islands embrace such sights as the Vaadhoo Caves, Kandooma Point, and Yacht Thila. Vaagali Thila is particularly well known for its shark population, while Gulhi Kandu, Cocoa Thila, and Lhosfushi Kandu are excellent for spotting a rich variety of colorful fish.

Above the water, South Male offers another type of sightseeing. The lovely golden dome of the Grand Friday mosque catches the brilliant sun, while the blue and white minaret of the Hukuru mosque also dominates the skyline. Locals are more than willing to take visitors on traditional South Male fishing trips, featuring a pole, line, and unbaited hook, or even night-excursions in the old-fashioned dhoni, where you will learn to fish for barracuda with a hand line and bucket of bait, then have an on-board chef prepare the fish for dinner before your very eyes. No matter whether you spend most of your time in South Male above the water or below, you will surely enjoy the exotic adventure of this ancient atoll and its unique and welcoming culture.