SOUTH OF EQUATOR

THE VERY SOUTH OF THE MALDIVES
Where the Maldives becomes wild

If the north feels historic and remote, the far south feels almost like another country. At the southern end of the Maldives are two extraordinary destinations: Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll / Addu City
Together, they offer some of the country's most unusual landscapes, strongest local identities and most spectacular marine experiences.

FUVAHMULAH

Fuvahmulah is perhaps the most unusual island in the Maldives. It is essentially a one-island atoll, rather than the traditional collection of small islands inside a lagoon and this creates an environment unlike almost anywhere else in the country.

The island is greener.
Larger.
More agricultural.
And much more varied.

You can find wetlands, freshwater lakes, marshes, farms, mangroves, forests and beaches all on the same island. It feels less like a tiny tropical island and more like a small tropical world.

The Beaches of Fuvahmulah

Fuvahmulah has something extremely unusual for the Maldives:

Photo: BEAUTIFUL FUVAHMULAH Facebook Page

A real beach break

Thoondu is regarded as the only true beach-break surfing location in the Maldives. The beach itself is also unusual. Instead of the incredibly fine coral sand associated with most Maldivian beaches, Thoondu has smooth, shiny white and golden pebbles.

During the southwest monsoon, particularly around June to August, the waves can become powerful enough to create a surfing experience completely different from the calm lagoon beaches elsewhere in the country.

For surfers, Fuvahmulah is a completely different Maldives.

The Underwater South
And this is where the southern Maldives becomes extraordinary.

Fuvahmulah is a big-animal diving destination.

The deep ocean surrounding the island brings pelagic species extremely close to the reefs. Fuvahmulah is particularly famous for encounters with:

Tiger sharks
Thresher sharks
Hammerheads
Grey reef sharks
Whale sharks
Oceanic manta rays
Mobula rays
Large pelagic fish

The island is especially famous for tiger shark encounters and is widely regarded as one of the world's exceptional destinations for seeing these animals. For an experienced diver, Fuvahmulah can be an entirely different proposition from the classic Maldives resort holiday.

Photo: PELAGIC DIVERS, Fuvahmulah

Instead of concentrating on colourful shallow reefs and gentle lagoon snorkelling, the attraction is the open ocean and the animals that come with it.

ADDU ATOLL

Further south is Addu City, the southernmost atoll of the Maldivian archipelago.

Addu is completely different again. It has relatively large islands connected by roads, extensive vegetation, wetlands and a fascinating history.

Several inhabited islands are linked by a causeway system, creating the unusual possibility of exploring multiple islands by bicycle, scooter or car rather than travelling everywhere by boat. The western islands are connected by approximately a 16-kilometre link road stretching from Hithadhoo toward Gan.

This makes Addu feel surprisingly expansive compared with most of the Maldives.

Addu's Nature

One of the biggest surprises is how green Addu is. At Addu Nature Park, visitors can explore wetlands, mangroves, lakes and lush vegetation. There are boardwalks and cycling routes, while canoeing through the mangrove environment offers encounters with wildlife including young stingrays and sharks.

Addu is also an important location for birdlife and has one of the country's largest wetland ecosystems. This is a side of the Maldives many first-time visitors never imagine exists.

Photo: TIMES OF ADDU: Addu is the only place in the Maldives where white terns can be found. These graceful, pure-white seabirds glide effortlessly through the southern skies, adding another rare and beautiful touch to Addu’s wild and distinctive natural landscape.

Addu's Beaches

Addu's beaches are different from the perfectly controlled resort experience. There are beautiful stretches of coastline, secluded areas, natural vegetation and local beaches where people actually live and spend time.

The experience can be wonderfully simple:

A bicycle.
A coconut tree.
A quiet road.
A local café.

The sea.
And no reason to hurry.
Underwater Addu

Addu is one of the southern Maldives' great diving destinations.
The atoll has several channels and surrounding reefs that create varied underwater environments.

It is particularly famous for:

Manta rays
Grey reef sharks
Turtles
Eagle rays
Reef fish
Healthy coral
Wreck diving

The British Loyalty Wreck is one of the region's signature dive sites. The World War II-era wreck has become covered with marine life and coral. Addu is also known for manta encounters throughout much of the year and has several notable shark and turtle sites.

The History of Addu

Addu has perhaps the strongest historical personality of any destination in the Maldives. During World War II, Gan was used as a British Royal Air Force base. Remnants of that period can still be found around the islands. The old RAF infrastructure, historic buildings and other wartime remains have become part of the destination's identity. Today, the former airfield is Gan International Airport, giving the region a fascinating combination of modern connectivity and twentieth-century history.

Photo: ADDU TOURISM MALDIVES by Jambe Sunrise FACEBOOK PAGE: A quiet reminder of Addu’s past. The British Monument in Gan stands as a link to the island’s wartime history and the legacy of the former British RAF presence in Addu Atoll.