Vaavu Atoll – An Undisturbed Hideaway Worth Exploring in the Maldives
Thursday 13th of July 2023
Sandwiched between South Male’ Atoll and Meemu Atoll, Vaavu Atoll is the smallest administrative region in the Maldives. Comprised of two natural atolls, Felidhu and Vattaru Reef, the easternmost geographical point of the Maldives can be found in this atoll at Fotteyo Muli. One of the unique features intrinsic to this region is the formation of a small separate, egg-shaped atoll consisting of a single islet, Vattaru, home to a sprawling 9-kilometer-in diameter reef. This is the only reef formation seen in the Maldives that exists alone away from the main atoll.
As the smallest administrative division in the Maldives, Vaavu Atoll is largely undeveloped with a declining population density, giving way to wide expanses of deserted beaches, undisturbed turquoise waters, and pristine dive sites to explore. This characteristic of the atoll has also set its reputation as a popular tourist destination among travellers, where visitors are ensured to experience the true definition of barefoot hideaways and crystalline blue waters. The natural beauty of this atoll even manages to baffle locals, who are not easy to impress living in the Maldives.
Nature is able to thrive to its full extent in Vaavu, undisturbed by human influences. This has enabled the atoll to boast some of the most famed dive spots in the country, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Dive enthusiasts can encounter diverse coral species here and swim alongside a world of colour with so many vibrant schools of fish. Among the dive sites that adorn this atoll, the most famous is definitely Fottheyo Kandu – highly esteemed as a stunning dive location featuring one of the longest continuous reefs in the Maldives.
Fottheyo Kandu is a narrow channel that features large overhangs, caves, and soft corals and is deemed the pilgrimage for marine photographers. Divers can look forward to a myriad of colourful soft and hard corals and a vast array of ocean life ranging from eagle rays, hammerhead sharks and schools of white trevally and barracuda in this cosmopolitan gathering. Turtles and pods of dolphins also drift down to the channel occasionally, giving divers plenty to see here.
Another attraction that’s a must-visit in Vaavu is the sunken Keyodhoo shipwreck. The half-submerged shipwreck sits snugly at an angle in the surrounding lagoon of Keyodhoo. Its mast is slightly raised above the water and the wreck site has evolved to support an entire ecosystem of its own, making a dive here truly surreal and otherworldly. Experienced free divers can explore the wreck up close and personal while others can snorkel around the shipwreck, steeping through time as they look upon the last remaining remnant of a tragic and ill-fated story.
Apart from its natural beauty, Vaavu Atoll is also well-recognized for its cultural significance. The atoll has a rich historical tapestry with several ancient landmarks and monuments dotted across the region. One such landmark is the Hukuru Miskiy mosque, situated on Felidhoo island. The archaic mosque is said to have been constructed in the 17th century and is ranked among one of the oldest masjids seen in the archipelago nation.