A shark-filled harbour, a village of drummers, and some of the most celebrated reefs in the Maldives.
Fulidhoo’s sights fall into three groups. On the island are the harbour where nurse sharks and stingrays come in, the bikini beach and the village itself. Under the water are Vaavu’s famous reefs and channels — the Alimatha night dive, Fotteyo Kandu and Miyaru Kandu. And around the atoll are sandbanks, the neighbouring local islands and Malé, the gateway.
Each has its own guide below, with what to see, how to get there, practical tips and the tours that go there.
On Fulidhoo Nurse sharks and stingrays at the water’s edge
The small harbour and jetty are Fulidhoo’s best-known sight. Tawny nurse sharks and stingrays cruise the shallows here, drawn over the years by the scraps fishermen throw back when they clean their catch. You can watch from the quay or wade in the shallows — no boat and no ticket needed.
On Fulidhoo The island’s designated beach for swimwear
Fulidhoo is a Muslim local island, so swimwear is only appropriate on its designated tourist beach — the “bikini beach”. Here you can sunbathe and swim in a bikini, with palms for shade and a lagoon of clear, shallow water. Elsewhere on the island, cover shoulders and knees.
On Fulidhoo Sandy lanes, a mosque, and the beat of Bodu Beru
A few hundred people live on Fulidhoo, on sandy lanes lined with coral-stone walls, flowering trees and swings. There are no cars to speak of. The island is known in the Maldives for its Bodu Beru drummers, and guesthouses can often arrange a performance.
Reefs & channels of Vaavu One of the Maldives’ famous shark dives
Under the jetty of the resort island of Alimatha, a short boat ride from Fulidhoo, large numbers of tawny nurse sharks gather after dark, together with stingrays and big trevally. Dive centres in Vaavu run it as a night dive; it is one of the best-known dives in the country.
Reefs & channels of Vaavu A channel dive many rank among the Maldives’ best
A narrow channel on the eastern edge of Vaavu, where the reef drops into the open ocean. Divers come for overhangs and caves draped with soft coral, and for the big fish that patrol the current. It is a longer boat ride from Fulidhoo and a dive for experienced divers.
Reefs & channels of Vaavu “Shark channel” on Vaavu’s outer reef
Miyaru means shark in Dhivehi, and this channel on Vaavu’s eastern rim is named for the grey reef sharks that gather in the current at its mouth. Eagle rays and big schools of fish are often seen too. It is a drift dive for divers comfortable in current.
Around the atoll & Malé A strip of white sand in the middle of the sea
Sandbanks — bars of pure white sand that come and go with the tides and the seasons — are scattered across Vaavu’s lagoons. A sandbank picnic, often combined with snorkelling and a look for dolphins, is the classic half-day trip from Fulidhoo, and on a sandbank there are no dress rules.
Around the atoll & Malé Vaavu’s other local islands
Vaavu is one of the least populated atolls in the Maldives, with only a handful of inhabited islands. Felidhoo is the atoll capital and Keyodhoo lies close to it; Thinadhoo is another small local island. All have guesthouses and are easy add-ons or alternatives to Fulidhoo.
Around the atoll & Malé The capital you pass through on the way
Every trip to Fulidhoo starts in Malé, one of the most densely built capitals in the world. The boats leave from its harbourfront, and if you have a few hours before your speedboat or flight, the old coral-stone mosque, the fish market and the seafront are worth a walk.
Our itineraries show how to arrange these over three, five or seven days, and the excursions guide explains each trip.
Compare day trips that visit Fulidhoo, private Vaavu boat days and dives from Malé, and reserve in a couple of taps — most can be cancelled free of charge.
