The Southern Atolls - Vaavu Atoll
Heading further south from the main Vaavu Atoll sites, you’ll find yourself in channels that feel a little less trodden. We're talking about the drift dives around Laamu, Meemu, Thaa, and Vaavu itself, where the currents really bring in the action. Think big stuff: grey reef sharks patrolling the channel edges, inquisitive eagle rays gliding past, and schools of jacks and tuna zipping through the blue. You’ll often find yourself eye-to-eye with a whitetip shark resting in an overhang, or if luck’s on your side, a whale shark cruising by. These are dives for those who enjoy a bit of current and a lot of pelagic encounters.
- Location
- Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 0.700000, 73.400000
Marine Protected Area: Hithadhoo Kulhi aai Vashaigenvaa Sarahahdhu
Best Time to Dive in Vaavu Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Vaavu Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.5°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.7°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.4°C
- April: 30.5°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 29.9°C
- September: 29.8°C
- October: 29.3°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 29.2°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Vaavu Atoll
- Alimatha Circus - 10-30m (channel)
- Alimatha Jetty - 8-18m (reef)
- Boulder Spot - 19m
- Broken rock (reef)
- Coral Ridge - 17m (reef)
- Deep Boulder Thila - 22m (pinnacle)
- Deep Thila - 29m (pinnacle)
- Devana Kandu (drift)
- Dhidhoo corner (out reef) (reef)
- Dhigurah Arches (cave)
- DiveOceanus - 5-20m (reef)
- Farikede Faru
- Fish Bank - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Fish Thila - 23m (pinnacle)
- Five rocks (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to The Southern Atolls
- Aquafanatics @NH Havodda - ["PADI"]
- Blue Journeys - ["PADI"]
- Deep - ["PADI"]
- Dive point - PADI
- DivePoint Vadoo - SSI
- Fuvahmulahdive Dive Maldives
Marine Life in Vaavu Atoll
Home to 53 recorded species including 20 reef fish, 9 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 4 sharks & rays, 4 crabs & lobsters, 3 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cloudy Dascyllus (Dascyllus carneus) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- Nightlight Lanternfish (Myctophum lychnobium) - Reef Fish
- Racoon (Chaetodon lunula) - Reef Fish
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Hunchback Locust Lobster (Petrarctus rugosus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum nitidulum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- Stony coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) - Hard Corals
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Spine coral (Hydnophora exesa) - Hard Corals
- Mimka Bobtail Squid (Euprymna morsei) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for The Southern Atolls
Based on average water temperature of 29.6°C, currents 19 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories