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Accommodation nearby

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Dhidhdhoo Island is a quiet local island with one shop, one guesthouse, and two cafes. It is very close to Whale Shark Point, so is ideal for boat excursions to see them and Manta Rays as well. When not out on excursions, there is some nice snorkeling opportunity on the house reef. The coral is not stunning, but there is plenty of marine life to see across the reef and over the drop off.

Dhidhdhoo Island coral reef
Corals and reef fish on the reef top.

How to get to Dhidhdhoo Island snorkeling spot?

Dhidhdhoo is a small inhabited island in the southern part of Ari Atoll. It is frequently called Adh Dhidhdhoo (for Alif Dhaal Atoll, also known as South Ari Atoll).

Dhidhdhoo Island is just 2 miles east of Maamigili, a larger inhabited island known for hosting the Whale Shark Point snorkeling location along its southern coast. The best snorkeling area in Adh Dhidhdhoo is located on the inner reef, east of the harbor.

Dhidhdhoo Island snorkeling map
Dhidhdhoo Island snorkeling map.

Water entrance for snorkeling Dhidhdhoo Island

The water entrance is only from the harbor.  Walk out atop the harbor wall to the corner where there is a gap in the wall and a sloping entrance over large rocks. There is no beach access.

The current usually flows towards the southwest along the coast, so most of the time swimming out from the harbor takes a little effort, and coming back in is a breeze.

Dhidhdhoo Island snorkeling exploration tips

The main snorkeling area at Adh Dhidhdhoo extends east of the island’s harbor. It comprises a large reef flat covered with seagrass and small corals, as well as an almost vertical drop off.

Powder blue tang in Dhidhdhoo
The Powder blue tang is a common sighting in Dhidhdhoo.

The reef flat is very shallow, with a maximum depth ranging between 1 and 6 feet (0.5 to 2 meters) depending on tides. In this area, you may spot boxfish, batfish, and occasional stingrays, and nurse sharks.

The reef top ends at a drop-off, the wall dropping down to more than 33 feet / 10 meters.

Yellow longnose butterflyfish at Dhidhdhoo coral reef
Yellow longnose butterflyfish at Dhidhdhoo coral reef.

The wall is full of corals, sea fans, sea anemones, and clams. A diversity of colorful reef fish, including surgeonfish, angelfish, triggerfish, and butterflyfish, can be seen in this area.

In the blue, you may spot blacktip reef sharks, as well as schools of fusiliers and Indian mackerels.

Blacktip reef shark and fusiliers
Blacktip reef sharks are frequently spotted in the blue, but also across the reef flat.

Restaurants and accommodations nearby

Dhidhdhoo Island has only one guesthouse: The White Tern Maldives.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth6 feet/2 meters on the reef top, 33+ feet/10+ meters on the drop off
  • Water entranceFrom rocks
  • Potential DangersCurrent, waves
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree from the shore

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.