The airport atoll. North and South Malé, fifteen protected dive sites, and the only place in the country you can still reach after dark.
Kaafu is where the country begins, because Velana International sits inside it. That single fact decides almost everything else about the atoll: it is the most developed, the most crowded, the cheapest to reach, and the only one where arriving on an evening flight does not cost you a night in a hotel near the airport. Resorts here are reached by speedboat straight from the terminal, and a boat does not care whether the sun is up.
What the register shows is an atoll that was protected early and in small pieces. Almost all of it was declared on one day in September 1995, and almost all of it is a dive site rather than a wilderness — channels and submerged reefs a few hundred metres across, named after the thing you go there to see. Thanburudhoo, which divers know as HP Reef, has been protected since then; the Emboodhoo and Guraidhoo channels cut through the outer reef of South Malé and collect sharks on an incoming current.
The trade is the one you would expect. These are the most visited reefs in the Maldives and they are busy, and nothing else in the country is this easy to get to.
SourcesMaldives protected areas registerMaldives Civil Aviation Authority — list of land aerodromesThanburudhoo regionEmboodhoo Kanduolhi
Velana International is in Kaafu Atoll. This is the one atoll nobody transfers to — the resorts here are reached by speedboat directly from the airport, which is why they are the only ones in the country you can reach after dark.
No transfer flight. Velana International is in this atoll, and every resort here is a speedboat ride from the terminal — which is why Kaafu is the only atoll that works on a late arrival.
| Airport | Code | From Velana | Runway | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velana International AirportHulhulé | MLE | — | Jets | Maldives Airports Company Ltd. |
SourceMaldives Civil Aviation Authority, register updated July 2025checked 2026-09-21
15 protected areas are declared in Kaafu Atoll, covering 5,280 hectares. They were declared between 1995 and 2024, 9 of them together on 27 September 1995. The register carries no declaration date for 1 of them.
Rasfari dive site is on the outside of North Male' Atoll facing west. The main reef edge is about 10m. The most attractive point is a separate reef at about 20m, standing up from the deeper sandy bottom , about 60m straight out from the main reef. Underwater scenery and large fish. Grey Reef Sharks, particularly during the Southwest monsoon season. Manta Rays during Northeast monsoon season.
Emboodhoo Channel is a narrow channel through the outer reef of South Male' Atoll. There is a long submerged reef (Embudhoo Thila) in the centre of the channel. The top of this reef is at about 10-15m and there are overhangs on both sides. At the front (east) of Emboodhoo Thila,overlooking the atoll dropoff , sharks congregate when there is an incoming current.Near the northeast corner of the Channel are a series of rocks with overhangs at 10-20m. There are many overhangs along the southern Channel wall. Grey Reef Sharks (particularly in the northeast monsoon season) and other large fish, soft corals are observed in the area.
K. Okkobey Thila is a dive site popular for its abundant coral cover, with caves and overhangs. 73 species of fish are observed in this area, of which 4 are endangered species. These include, Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhychos), Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus), Lumphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochely imbricata).
Guraidhoo Kandu, a protected marine area in South Male, boasts multiple dive sites, with two primary channels – Lhosfushi Kandu and Guraidhoo Kandu – separated by Medhu Faru. The intricate reef structure offers diverse diving opportunities and is a highlight for many, often featuring 2 to 3 dives in safari itineraries due to its rich marine life. Medhu Faru's southern part presents a picturesque reef with excellent visibility when the current flows inward, making it ideal for spotting sharks, eagle rays, and napoleons. In contrast, Guraidhoo Corner at the Kandu entrance is suitable for both ingoing and outgoing currents and offers encounters with grey reef sharks, napoleons, and eagle rays, with the opportunity to explore overhangs and a vibrant reef when heading inside the channel.
| Area | Hectares | Declared | Designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanburudhoo region | 318 | 27 September 1995 | Protected area |
| Makunudhoo Kandu Olhi | 308 | 27 September 1995 | Protected area |
| Lankan Thila | 263 | — | Protected area |
| Giraavaru Kuda Haa | 258 | 27 September 1995 | Protected area |
| Dhekunu Thilafalhuge Miyaruvani | 150 | 27 September 1995 | Protected area |
| K. Boduhithi Thila Region | 127 | 1 August 2024 | Protected area |
| K.Kaashidhoo Wetland | 42.75 | 13 February 2021 | Protected area |
| Gulhifalhu Medhugai onna kohlavaanee | 10.80 | 27 September 1995 | Protected area |
| Huraa Mangrove Area | 5.32 | 14 June 2006 | Protected area |
| Maldives Victory Wreck | 4.75 | 13 February 2021 | Protected area |
| Gaathugiri/ Aiydhashugiri | 4.42 | 27 September 1995 | Protected area |
SourceMinistry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldiveschecked 2026-09-21