Huvadhu Atoll
Maldives · 2 m
Description
Huvadhu (ހުވަދު) is the Maldives’ largest natural atoll, stretching across around 2,900 square kilometers with some 255 islands. Located far south of Malé and close to the equator, it is among the country’s most remote and least developed regions. Its vast lagoon, relatively pristine reefs, and rich marine life make Huvadhu a remarkable destination for divers and surfers. Thinadhoo is the administrative center of Gaafu Dhaalu and closely associated with the history of the short lived Suvadive Republic. On Gadhdhoo, artisans preserve the traditional craft of Thundu Kunaa, finely woven mats that rank among the Maldives’ distinctive forms of island craftsmanship.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 4 to 10 days (optimal 7 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: February – April or September – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Blue Bowls and Beacons surf breaks (February - November)
- Airports left hander off Kooddoo (February - November)
- Surf charter boats working the southern breaks
- Two hundred and fifty five islands, more than any atoll on earth
- Uninhabited islands and their sandbanks
- Thinadhoo, the atoll capital
- Channel dives on the eastern rim
- Guesthouses on Gadhdhoo and Fiyoaree
- Coral gardens inside the lagoon
- Whale sharks and mantas on the outer walls
- Reef snorkelling off the far southern islands
- Gadhdhoo mat weaving with thundu kunaa
- Thinadhoo and the memory of the Suvadive Republic
- The Equatorial Channel north of the atoll
Getting there
- Airports:
- GKK, KDM
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry