Island stays in South Malé Atoll

Beach and reef

What the records and the atoll guide say about the sea here

28 stays list a beach or have guests describing one; reviews mention a house reef for 2 stays and overwater villas for 9 stays. Where a record is silent, its page says so rather than guessing.

From the site's South Malé Atoll guide: Guesthouse islands and resort islands sit side by side in South Malé Atoll, with strong channels along the eastern rim and speedboat transfers from the airport. South Malé Atoll is the southern part of Kaafu, the administrative atoll that also contains North Malé. The two halves are divided by a deep channel. On island signs and ferry boards the atoll carries the administrative code letter H (used on island signs and ferry boards). The atoll mixes two kinds of island. Inhabited islands such as Maafushi, Guraidhoo and Gulhi have guesthouses, village streets, mosques and harbours. Resort islands are private, with one property to an island and alcohol served. Maafushi is one of the busiest local-island destinations in the country, with a concentration of guesthouses and cafes. The eastern rim is where the atoll gets its reputation among divers. Channels cut through the reef edge and carry current, which brings fish and makes for drift diving. Guraidhoo Kandu is a protected dive site.

• Lankan Manta PointA manta cleaning station in North Malé Atoll, reached by boat from nearby islands.
• Banana ReefOne of the best-known dive sites of North Malé Atoll, dived in both monsoons.
• Alimatha night diveA night dive off Alimatha in Vaavu Atoll for certified divers, run all year with conditions varying.
• The Maldive Victory wreckA cargo ship that sank near the airport island in 1981; deep and current-prone, for experienced divers.
• The Kuda Giri wreckA small, shallower wreck in southern Kaafu, a more accessible introduction to wreck diving for certified divers.
• The North Malé reef breaks (Thulusdhoo and Himmafushi)The surf season runs roughly March to October, with the biggest swells around June to August.
• Hulhumalé beach and the Malé ferryHulhumalé has a public beach where local dress norms apply, a short taxi ride from the airport, with regular ferry crossings to Malé.

Islands named in these records: Maafushi (4), Gulhi (2), Dhigufinolhu (1), Olhuveli (1), Emboodhoo (1), Maadhoo (1), Ithaa (1), Mafushi (1), Ithaafushi (1), Akasdhoo (1), Guraidhoo (1).

All 37 stays in South Malé

All island stays · South Malé Atoll guide · South Malé Atoll in the hotels section