Kaafu

• — the capital city. The airport island Hulhule is located nearby.
• — artificial island near Male

Surrounding both the capital Male and its airport, North and South Male have seen the heaviest amount of tourist development in the country. Practically all uninhabited islands of this Atoll became tourist resorts during the two final decades of the 20th century, Club Med and Sheraton are some of the companys with resort in any of the island of the atoll.

Practically all visitors fly into Male Airport, from where all resorts in Kaafu are accessible from Male Airport in an hour by speedboat or 15 minutes by air taxi.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are the main activities.

All resorts listed here are on private islands.

Mid-range

• Helengeli Island Resort

  phone: +960 6644615
  address: North Male
  Swiss-run 50-room resort at the northernmost tip of North Male Atoll, catering primarily to divers. Renovated in 2004, rooms are basic and have open-air bathrooms. OceanPro dive shop, small pool, one restaurant and bar, very limited recreational activities aside from diving. The house reef and nearby diving are excellent, but fairly exposed to currents.

• Thulhagiri Island Resort

  phone: +960 6645930
  address: North Male
  55 basic beach bungalows and 17 water bungalows (fully separated, with direct reef access). Good house reef, excellent Sub-Aqua 5

* PADI dive centre (~US$50/dive), small pool, some watersports but minimal other facilities (no spa). One restaurant, mostly buffet fare, half/full board packages only. Drinks very reasonably priced (wine from US$2/glass). A very good budget choice.

Splurge

• Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort

  phone: +960 6644100
  address: Dhigufinolhu
  Formerly Dhigufinolhu, reopened in 2006 after a thorough renovation. Great spa, several restaurants, poor house reef.

• Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

  phone: +960 6644100
  address: Veligandu
  Tropical wooden bungalows have flat-screen TV, DVD player and espresso machine.

• Kurumba Maldives

  phone: +960 6642324
  4.5 star resort with 8 restaurants, 3 bars, spa, water sports, dive centre, recreation centre, kids club, entertainment, house reef and nice beaches. Range of meal plans including all inclusive menu options.

• Naladhu Maldives

  phone: +960 664 4105
  Houses have either beach or ocean views. Each house has a private pool, steam room and personal 24-hour butler service.

Most resorts run shopping and sightseeing excursions to Male.

• Maafushi
• Gulhi
• Vilingili