Vaavu Atoll, Maldives

Vaavu Atoll, Maldives

Vaavu Atoll is an archipelago of 19 islands, of which only 5 are inhabited. This is one of the most sparsely populated atolls of the Maldives, in total about 2 thousand people live here.

For tourists, this place was opened only in 1975. People come here primarily for excellent diving: stingrays and hammerhead fish are found off the coast of Vaavu, reef sharks are found at depth, and on the eastern side, the reefs have been preserved in their original form. Untouched nature is the second reason why more and more tourists come here. See JIBIN123 for Maldives customs regulations and visa requirements.

From May to July, the largest stingrays in the world come to Vaavu Atoll.

How to get to Vaavu Atoll

Vaavu Atoll is located about 65 km from the main city of the Maldives, Male. From Male to the capital of Vaavu Island, Thinadhoo can be reached by plane, as well as by speedboat, seaplane, yacht or ferry.

The public ferry departs from Male to Thinadhoo at 10:00 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; in the opposite direction – at 9:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The fare for one way is 5 USD per passenger, the journey will take about 5 hours. The speedboat will cost a little more, but will take you to Vaavu in just 1.5 hours and depart daily at 10:00 and 16:00. The same boat can be ordered at any convenient time: it will cost 750 USD, the amount can be divided into 6 people – this is how much the boat can accommodate, excluding the captain. The prices on the page are for September 2021.

The fastest way to get to Thinadhoo is by seaplane transfer. The flight will take only 20 minutes and will cost 420 USD per person (round trip). Planes depart from 6:00 to 16:00, they need to be booked in advance – at least 5 days before arrival.

The beaches of Vaavu Atoll

All the beaches of Vaavu Atoll are covered with fine sand from corals frayed by the surf. The entrance to the sea is gentle almost everywhere, and the beaches of the inhabited islands have all the infrastructure: changing cabins, beach cafes and bars. Sunbeds and umbrellas, as a rule, are included in the price of a hotel stay (and there is still nowhere else to stay).

  • Vaavu Atoll

Diving on Vaava

Diving in the southern atolls, including Vaavu, is considered the best in the Maldives. The dive site Fotteyo-Kandu is known far beyond the borders of the country and is one of the top five in the world. You can dive here almost everywhere, but the reefs on the eastern side of the atoll are considered the most beautiful. There are several dive centers on the atoll, prices are about the same everywhere: 40-50 USD per dive, 300-450 USD for 10 dives at different dive sites, instructor services are included, equipment rental (if necessary) is paid separately.

When is the best time to go

You can come to Vaava at any time of the year: the atoll is located near the equator, and the weather hardly changes. The air temperature during the day is about +30 °C, at night +26 °C, the water warms up to +26 °C. In March, the rainy season begins and lasts until the end of October, but this does not prevent many tourists from relaxing, as the rains are short and often fall at night.

Vaavu Atoll Hotels

Hotels on Vaavu Atoll are mostly expensive, as the public comes here mostly wealthy. Divers love to stay at VOI Dhiggiri Resort 4* on Diggiri Island. There are a total of 45 bungalows, some of which stand on walkways right in the water. For families with children, Alimatha Aquatic Resort on Alimat is suitable: there are also bungalows there, and the water in the lagoon near the island is very shallow. The hotel has a kids club where you can leave the kids with caregivers. Windsurfing lessons are included in the rate.

Prices in hotels start from 150 USD per night for a double room. For economical tourists there are guest houses from 50 USD per person.

Vaavu Atoll, Maldives