Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Far south. Wild reefs, surf, and two serious resorts.
Best season: Year-round, calmest Dec-Mar. Domestic flight 65 minutes to Kaadedhdhoo + speedboat.
Gaafu Dhaalu · Year-round, calmest Dec-Mar
What Gaafu Dhaalu is for, and what it isn't.
Gaafu Dhaalu is the southern half of Huvadhoo Atoll, one of the largest natural atolls in the world. It sits below Gaafu Alif in the far south, and the journey here is long enough to keep the crowds away.
The atoll holds two resorts, both on the eastern rim of Huvadhoo, facing the open ocean. The surf breaks here are consistent and the reefs are among the least pressured in the country. NH Collection Havodda sits on a protected island with a strong house reef, and Ayada Maldives brings a more resort-style experience with its dedicated spa island.
For divers and surfers who have already done the central atolls, Gaafu Dhaalu is the next step south.