One protected channel with five sea-fan thilas in it, and a runway that takes larger aircraft than most domestic strips.
Dhaalu's protected estate is a single channel, and the register is blunt about it: Fushi Kandu is the sole marine protected area in the atoll. It is also a premier dive site. Five distinct thilas rise out of thirty to forty metres, covered in sea fans, with eagle rays, turtles and schooling sharks over them.
The runway is the other thing worth knowing. Dhaalu Airport at Kudahuvadhoo is built to a larger reference code than most domestic strips in the Maldives, which is a quiet indicator of what the atoll is being positioned for.
Beyond those two facts the atoll is unremarkable in the register, and a directory should say so rather than fill the space. What is here is a good channel dive and an easy connection.
SourcesMaldives protected areas registerMaldives Civil Aviation Authority — list of land aerodromesTrans Maldivian Airways — frequently asked questionsDh. Fushikandu
Dhaalu Atoll has one airport. The nearest to Velana is Dhaalu Airport on Kudahuvadhoo, 184 km south of it. The runway takes turboprops rather than jets, so every arrival connects through Malé or comes by seaplane.
Dhaalu Airport at Kudahuvadhoo is in the atoll, so a domestic flight and a speedboat is the route and it works after dark. Seaplane from Velana is the alternative. Seaplanes fly between sunrise and sunset only, and the operator asks guests who want to reach the resort the same day to be in the Maldives by 15:30.
| Airport | Code | From Velana | Runway | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaalu AirportKudahuvadhoo | DDD | 184 km | Turboprop | Dhaalu Airport Holdings Pvt. Lt.d |
SourceMaldives Civil Aviation Authority, register updated July 2025checked 2026-09-21
One protected area is declared in Dhaalu Atoll, covering 2,358 hectares. Declared 21 October 1999.
Fushi Kandu stands as the sole marine protected area within the atoll and is renowned as a premier dive site. This channel is distinguished by five distinct thilas adorned with sea fans, emerging from depths of 30 to 40 meters, offering excellent opportunities for encountering eagle rays, turtles, and sharks in large schools.
SourceMinistry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldiveschecked 2026-09-21