Only two thousand inhabitants. A paradise on earth. Alimathà, the small island near which the five missing Italians died on Thursday 14 May during a scuba dive in the Vaavu atoll, is considered one of the most popular destinations in the Maldives by diving enthusiasts from all over the world, attracted by its extraordinary biodiversity. Reachable in about an hour by speedboat from the capital Malé, it offers access to some of the most spectacular seabed in the Indian Ocean.
The Vaavu atoll, also known as “Felidhoo atoll”, is particularly known among divers for the so-called “kandu”, natural channels that connect the internal lagoon to the open sea. The currents that form in these areas attract numerous marine species. The coral reef, known for its richness, surrounds the entire island and goes down to around 13/15 meters deep.
In these waters it is common to encounter gray reef sharks, white tip sharks, nurse sharks, eagle rays, barracudas and tunas. At certain times of the year it is also possible to encounter manta rays and hammerhead sharks. Diving in Vaavu Atoll is possible throughout the year. The period between November and April is generally considered the most favorable due to better underwater visibility and more stable sea conditions.
The “alimathà caves”
And then there are the caves. The so-called “Alimathà caves” are not terrestrial cavities, but coral ravines, tunnels and natural passages present in the atoll’s dive sites. These formations represent one of the most characteristic elements of the area and are home to numerous species of tropical fish. The most famous dive site is Fotteyo Kandu, considered by many to be one of the best dive sites in the Maldives, due to its walls covered in soft corals, canyons and cavities populated by a large variety of tropical fish.
Only two thousand inhabitants
Alimathà can be reached by boat with a crossing of about an hour and a half or by seaplane, with a flight from the capital Malé lasting about 20-30 minutes. Despite its relative proximity to the capital compared to other more remote islands in the Maldives, Vaavu Atoll is considered one of the least densely inhabited areas of the archipelago. The population numbers just over two thousand inhabitants distributed across just five of the nineteen islands that make up the archipelago.