Rasdhoo Atoll

Rasdhoo Atoll is located above the North Ari Atoll or Alifu Alifu Atoll, in the Maldives. Rasdhoo Island is the major and only inhabited island of the Rasdhoo Atoll and it also serves as the capital of the North Ari Atoll.

Though it is a small atoll, it is blessed with stunning marine life, houses good resorts and stays and has excellent dining options. Needless to say, the seafood here is a must try – it’s fresh and simply delicious!

Note that, the Maldives, being an Islamic country does not allow bikinis or nudism in its beaches, except a few designated beaches. Consumption of alcohol is banned and allowed only in licensed hotels and resorts.

Rasdhoo Island

The island is a small town, featuring council buildings, a couple of mosques, restaurants, cafes, and traditional Maldivian houses. It is a great place to indulge in the native culture as the locals here are very warm and welcoming. You can walk amidst rows of colourful shops for souvenir shopping or head to the shores and watch the boat building process. The island also has a bikini beach, though it is quite small.

Sandbanks

If you find the bikini beach crowded, don’t worry! There are a few sandbanks that are close to Rasdhoo Island and you can even swim or wade to reach here. These sandbanks are the perfect places to spend time in solitude, lying down completely surrounded by a million shades of blue or enjoy a romantic evening.

Diving

The biggest reason why Rasdhoo draws tourists is because of its amazing diving sites, which are among the best in the world. The waters here have plenty of reefs, making them rich in nutrients and thus home to a wonderful collection of marine life. From big players like sharks to tiny colourful fish, you can find them all! Some of the big encounters include reef sharks, mantas, eagle rays, sting rays, turtles and the most popular residents – hammerhead sharks. The best part is that you can even see groups of three or more of these majestic creatures swimming together and that is truly a sight to behold! Adding to these, you will find huge schools of colourful reef fish, which come in all shapes and sizes.

Hammerhead point: Hammerhead point, also known as Rasdhoo-Madivaru channel is located between the islands of Rasdhoo and Madivaru. This is one of the most popular diving sites and as the name speaks for itself, it is a great place to swim with hammerhead sharks.

Apart from diving, Rasdhoo has other great activities like kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, dolphin sighting tours, manta ray feeding stations and night fishing. You can also go on popular day trips to the nearby islands like Madivaru and Kuramahti. 

Kuramathi Island

Kuramathi is one of the biggest islands in this region and located west of Rasdhoo. The island is home to stunning villas and resorts with plenty of dining (and drinking!) options. A popular underwater site near the island is the Kuramathi shipwreck which is now home to thousands of beautiful fishes. Another great diving site is the ‘caves’, a row of shallow ledges where you can spot stingrays, white tip reef sharks and others.

Madivaru Island

Yet another great diving spot, Madivaru is located east of Rasdhoo. The island is a small stretch of fine white sand surrounded by shades of light blue clear waters. It is a popular picnic spot from Rasdhoo.

Why should you visit?

Rasdhoo is a great option in the North Ari Atoll, and even the Maldives itself to live your underwater dream. Its traditional town, excellent cuisine and amazing marine life combine to create a wholesome Maldivian experience that only few other islands can boast of.