The most protected water in the Maldives and almost none of the development, because there is no runway and never has been.
MLE
Airport
November – April
Best months
Vaavu holds more protected water than any other atoll in the country, and it is the least visited of the ones that hold a lot. Those two facts are the same fact. There is no airport here, so nothing was ever built at scale, and what was not built was available to protect.
Most of it arrived at once. Eight areas were declared on a single day in November 2023, covering sandbanks, channels and lagoon reefs rather than named dive sites. The older two are the ones divers know: Miyaru Kandu, a narrow channel with overhangs on both walls and grey reef and whitetip sharks on the north-east monsoon, protected since 1995; and Vattaru, a small separate atoll between Vaavu and Meemu whose island is a hectare and a half and carries a healthy mangrove.
The newer declarations are worth reading for what they are not. Huraafalhu, near Fulidhoo, is protected because plankton collects there and mantas follow. Kashavaru Falhu is a wall a yellow soft coral grows on until it looks gold. These are small, specific places, and they were protected long after the Maldives finished deciding where its resorts would go.
Three of the twenty Maldivian atolls in this directory have no runway at all, and this is one of them. Nothing can be built closer, so the journey out here is as short as it is going to get.
No runway in the atoll. Vaavu is close enough to Malé to be a speedboat destination, which is how most arrivals are made; seaplane 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.
10 protected areas are declared in Vaavu Atoll, covering 17,329 hectares — more than any other atoll in the country. They were declared between 1995 and 2023, 8 of them together on 1 November 2023.
Vattaru Atoll is geographically located between Vaavu and Meemu Atolls. The island of Vattaru is 1.4 hectares and is recorded to have a total of 5 types of trees. The wetland area on the north side of this island is considered to be a healthy environment as all sizes of Bruguiera cylindrica (kan’doo) trees are found growing in it. A lot of Pemphis (kuredhi gas) are also found in this island. Additionally, there are also multiple types of birds seen in this island. These include, Ardea cinereal/ Grey Heron (Maakanaa), Nycticorax/ Black-crowned Night Heron (Raabon’dhi), Charadrius mongolus/ Lesser Sand Plover (Bon’dana), Actitis hypoleucos/ Common Sandpiper (Fin’dhana) and Corvus corax/ Common Raven (kaalhu). Vattaru atoll’s sea is recorded to have a great number of grouper fish. Therefore, it is important to preserve this area and the life in it. In order to maintain the Maldivian protected sea life, it is essential to protect this area as well. In addition, the mangrove and wetlands areas are known to keep the freshwater lens of the island clean and help prevent flooding. They also play a key role in preventing global warming by acting as carbon sinks.
V. Fussaru Faru region is an area consisting of a number of sandbank, lagoons and coral reefs. Many species of reef fish live in this area. In addition to the reef fishes, there are also a large number of other reef species living in the area. Various species of shark species are also being seen in the area. The sandbanks in the area are important for sea birds and migratory birds. It is important to preserve this environment and maintain the survival of these reefs and sandbanks. This environment is critical for ensuring the protection and preservation of protected marine life, sea birds and migratory birds in the country.
Miyaru Kandu is a narrow channel. Both sides of the channel have overhangs and large coral blocks festooned with soft corals.
Soft corals, Fish especially large ones such as Eagle Rays and in the Northeast monsoon season, Grey Reef and White-tipped Sharks. Occasional Hammer head and Sail fish are seen in the area.
Located on the southern side of Vaavu Dhihgarufalhu, V.Hingaakulhee Finolhu protected area consists of numerous sandbanks. These sandbanks serve as resting and foraging for seabirds and migratory birds, many of which are protected in the Maldives. Therefore, it is crucial to preserve this environment to safeguard the breeding grounds of these birds. The marine environment surrounding the area is also vital for the protection of various species of marine life.