North Ari Atoll
The quieter half of Ari. House reefs, short transfers, all-inclusive flagships.
Best season: Year-round. Seaplane 25 minutes from MLE.
North Ari · Year-round
What North Ari is for, and what it isn't.
North Ari is the upper half of the large central-western atoll. It is closer to Male than the south, which means a shorter seaplane ride, and it catches the northern monsoon currents that keep its reefs in good shape year-round.
Resorts here cluster around Kuramathi and Veligandu, two islands that have been operating for decades and know what they are doing. House reefs are strong on most properties, and the all-inclusive options are among the best value in the country.
If the whales of South Ari feel optional to you, North Ari delivers the same standard of reef diving with a shorter journey.