Diving Hints and Currents:
Felidhe Atoll is 42 km long and 55 km wide, situated on the eastern side of the Maldives archipelago. Fulidhoo Kandu, which is 14 kilometers wide, separates the Felidhe Atoll islands from South Male Atoll. Felidhe Atoll is shaped like a giant boot, the toe-end of which is Fotteyo Muli – a long reef extending from the northern side of Fotteyo Falhu.
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Masses of fish at Felidhe Atoll |
CAPITAL: Felidhoo
TOTAL ISLANDS: 19
POPULATION: 2296 (2009))
ISLANDS IN FELIDHE ATOLL:
Alimaathaa, Aarah, Hulhidhoo, Thinadhoo, Felidhoo, Keyodhoo, Foththeyo-bodufushi, Hingaahuraa, Bodumohoraa, Thunduhuraa, Ruhhurihuraa, Rakeedhoo, Anbaraa, Kuda Anbaraa, Fussfaru Huraa, Kudaboli
Fotteyo Falhu in Felidhe Atoll is an extended, uninterrupted reef stretching from Hurahu Kandu in the east, to Rakedhoo Dehkunu Kandu in the south. It is the longest reef in the Maldives, spanning an enormous 55 km in length.
Map of Felidhe Atoll - Maldives
Within the Falhu lies the island of Fotteyo-bodufushi, the most eastern island in the archipelago. Felidhe atoll contains five islands that are inhabited – Fulidhoo, Thinadhoo, Felidhoo, Keyodhoo and Rakeedhoo.
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Dive photo of sea turtle encounter in Vattaru Kandu, Maldives |
Felidhe Atoll also holds 10 uninhabited islands, of which two are resorts – Dhiggiri and Alimathaa. Additionally, there are many small sand islands peppered around the region.
Vattaru Atoll is a small, circular atoll which is 9 km wide, and is situated 4.5 km to the south of Felidhe Atoll. It has one solitary uninhabited island, Vattarurah, and one Kandu, Vattaru Kandu on the south side of the Atoll.
Felidhe Atoll also holds 10 uninhabited islands, of which two are resorts – Dhiggiri and Alimathaa. Additionally, there are many small sand islands peppered around the region. Vattaru Atoll is a small, circular atoll which is 9 km wide, and is situated 4.5 km to the south of Felidhe Atoll. It has one solitary uninhabited island, Vattarurah, and one Kandu, Vattaru Kandu on the south side of the Atoll.
A further 4.5 km to south is Mulaku Atoll, another famous Maldives diving region. This Atoll is a very popular scuba dive location in Maldives, if not the world, and the channel has been declared a protected marine area. Safari boats and liveaboard holiday itineraries often include Felidhe Atoll as part of the route, as it hosts some of the best dive sites in Maldives, due to its beautiful topography, stunning marine life and exciting features for scuba divers and underwater enthusiasts.
Amazing dive photo of giant pufferfish at Rakheedo Channel, Felidhe Atoll
Felidhe Atoll is one of the more isolated dive regions in the Maldives, and relatively speaking, less developed than the other atolls. It still contains a plethora of interesting features for scuba divers and snorkelers like stunning underwater landscapes, exotic Maldives marine life, uninhabited islands, sandbanks, and the locals are renowned for being very friendly and hospitable. It is no wonder that Felidhe Atoll is very popular, and therefore memorable dive excursions are guaranteed.
There are relatively few thila dives in Vaavu atoll, with a majority of the dives taking place in the 26 channels located on the eastern side. Many of these channels in Felidhe Atoll are long and deep, more suitable for advanced divers. Check out the following links for live weather info and detailed descriptons of dive sites in Felidhe Atoll.
Many channels in Felidhe Atoll have narrow, seemingly disguised entrances along the eastern side of the atoll, so often they will pass by unnoticed. On the outside of many of the channels the reef will drop sharply to extreme depths, usually from the outside rim at around 35 meters. The channels on the western end of Felidhe Atoll are not as exciting and diverse as the east side, however due to the north-east monsoon guiding the currents out of the atoll, these locations have the advantage of attracting manta rays feeding on the plankton-rich waters.
On the south end of Felidhe atoll, close to the island of Hingaahurra lies the remains of the Pioneer; a ship wrecked upon the reef on May 13th, 1958.
Popular Dive Sites in Felidhe Atoll:
- Dhevana Kandu - Miyaru Kandu
- Fotteyo Kandu
- Vattaru Kandu
