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Modest in size, but bright in beauty, the island of Dhangethi is located quite far from Male – 87 km. The island size is 925 x 350 m, which is the capital of the atoll Alif Daal (South Ari Atoll). About 1000 people inhabit this small island.
Only a 2-minute walk from the village is a bikini beach with beautiful white sand. The beach is cleaned daily. It even has facilities like a shower and a toilet.
Check: Budget tours to local islands
Dhangethi has several stunning beaches that visitors can enjoy. Here are some details about the beaches on Dhangethi:
Bikini Beach. This is the most popular beach on Dhangethi and is exclusively reserved for tourists to wear swimwear. The beach is pristine with crystal clear waters and powdery white sand. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling in the calm waters.
Local Beaches. There are also a few local beaches on Dhangethi, where visitors can observe the daily life of the islanders. These beaches are often less crowded than Bikini Beach and offer a more authentic Maldivian experience.
Picnic Island. This is a small island near Dhangethi that is popular for day trips and picnics. The island is surrounded by clear waters and coral reefs, making it a great spot for snorkeling and diving.
Sunset Beach. This is a quieter beach on the western side of the island, offering a peaceful escape for visitors. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset and take in the beautiful colors of the sky.
The house reef on Dhangethi Island is located just a short distance from the shore, making it easily accessible for both experienced and novice snorkelers. The reef is teeming with colorful fish, vibrant corals, and other fascinating marine life. Snorkeling in the house reef is a must-do activity during your stay on Dhangethi Island.
The reef is home to a wide variety of marine species, including butterflyfish, parrotfish, angelfish, clownfish, and many others. You may also spot larger creatures such as reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles. The visibility in the water is excellent, making it easy to appreciate the underwater scenery.
The Maldives is the best barefoot luxury destination with sandy white beaches, clean water lagoons, blue skies, and hundreds of stunning private sandbanks. Also, people describe it as a dot of Sand in the middle of the Ocean.
Indulge in a romantic trip with your loved ones here. At your request, you will be transferred to one of the nearby sandbanks (including Dhigurah sandbank) within 5 to 10 minutes. There are three sandbanks where the nearest sandbank is just 5 minutes away. You can do many activities on the sandbank including lunch/dinner, wedding ceremonies, and snorkeling.
Experience excellent kite conditions with flat water and small waves on Dhangethi’s local reef. Clean winds and a safe sandy reef are available throughout the windy season. The kite center offers on-beach services such as equipment rental, a fully IKO-certified kite school, rescue, and storage.
Season. Kite season starts in May and ends in October. Kite service is active the entire season, but school is active September-October.
School. The training is built on individual lessons. They are 2h 20 min each and adapted for your current level, allowing you to progress at your own pace. The price is US$ 190. Equipment renting for experienced kitesurfers is available as well.
Turtle snorkeling. Observing turtles in their natural habitat is a delightful experience. There are several turtle snorkeling points near Dhangethi and it offers incredible turtle sightings and 99% guaranteed you see them. Guests can reach the turtle snorkeling point by a traditional boat ride within 15 minutes. And a guide will be there through the journey.
Manta snorkeling. Snorkeling with manta rays is unforgettable and one must-have experience in the Maldives. Dhangethi Island area is one of the best places where you can swim with manta rays. They are harmless to humans and very friendly. The Manta snorkeling trip is a half-day activity starting from 8:00 am, but it depends on the weather and current.
Dhangethi truly allows you to have fun in the sun, offering a wide range of water sports in the Maldives for all family members. Maldives offers many exciting sports for those who have talent and love adventure. Simple or stimulating, sports in the Maldives are an excellent way to stay in shape having fun surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes around the world.
Available water sport activities: Jet Skiing, Double Dog, Roamer, High Roller, Hydra Pack, Paparazzi, Banana, Water skiing, Wake Board, Knee Board, Mono Ski, Paddle Board, and Windsurfing.
During your stay, if you’d like to compare local and luxury life in the Maldives, then resort day trips are just the things you need. Dhangethi is surrounded by 14 luxury resorts. But not all of them are open for day visits. You can book your day staying at Sun Island Resort, Centara Grand Resort, Conrad Maldives. The last one is famous for its underwater restaurant – the first of its kind in the Maldives. Guests can dine at this restaurant by appointment, which costs about 335 USD per person + transfer to/from the resort.
During your stay at the resort, you can relax at a pool or the beaches of the resort, get lunch, and use other resort amenities. Spa treatments, drinks, and some other amenities (like the water sports center) in the resort only with extra charges.
Dhangethi is near Maldive’s famous whale shark point which is one of the main reasons to visit Dhangethi. Ask anyone where the best place is to spot whale sharks and they’ll tell you at the coral reef next to Maamigili island. Enjoy the company of these harmless giants. Usually, whale sharks can be spotted all year round. Since they are the biggest fish species, they can grow up to 10 m in length (in the Maldives the average size is 6-8 m).
Whale sharks are rather slow-moving creatures and are curious, but obedient. Whale sharks will eagerly come close to snorkelers, divers, and boats and will often stay close as long as they don’t feel in danger.
It feeds on plankton including copepods, krill, fish eggs, and small nektonic life, such as small squid or fish. Feeding occurs either by ram filtration, in which the animal opens its mouth and swims forward, pushing water and food into the mouth, or by active suction feeding, in which the animal opens and closes its mouth, sucking in volumes of water that are then expelled through the gills. In both cases, the filter pads serve to separate food from the water.
So whale sharks are absolutely harmless!
Guests can reach the famous whale shark point near Dhangethi within 30 minutes by a traditional boat ride.
With over 50 dive sites, Dhangethi is the perfect place for a diving holiday both for beginners and experienced divers. The South part of South Ari Atoll (near Maamigili, Sun Island Resort) is a protected Marine Area. Weekly full-day trips are offered to search for whale sharks in this area throughout the year.
The dive sites are between 10 minutes and 1 hour away from the island. These dive sites are reached by comfortable dive boats (dhonis). The unique diversity and variety of underwater life in the Maldives especially around Dhangethi have a lot of highlights to offer scuba divers.
The most famous dive sites near Dhangethi
Kudarah Thila
Current: Can be strong
Life: Rich diversity
Visibility: up to 25 m
Best dive period: Jan-Apr
The Thila is a part of Marine Protected Area and is often considered the most beautiful site of the South Ari atoll with exceptional diving conditions.
Kudhimaa Wreck
Current: Can be strong
Life: Lots of macro
Visibility: up to 25 m
Best dive period: Jun-Nov
50m long cargo ship lying on a sandy bottom at around 30 meters depth, right next to a Centara Grand Island Resort. It was sunk in 1998 and already offers good coral growth and a large variety of species living on it. Nurse sharks, batfish, stonefish, lionfish and moray eels are permanent residents and can be spotted around the wreck.
Maamigili Beyru
Current: Can be strong
Life: Mostly big fish
Visibility: up to 25 m
Best dive period: Aug-Nov
Located on the Southern part within the Marine Protected Area of South Ari atoll. Shallow and very easy dive, which might turn into a very exciting one, as it is known as the best location in the Maldives for spotting whale sharks (if you’re lucky enough).
Broken Rock
Current: Can be strong
Life: Alive coral gardens
Visibility: up to 25 m
Best dive period: Jan-Apr
It’s one of the most well-known dive sites in the South Ari Atoll due to its unique formation which has a canyon splitting the reef in two. While swimming you should keep an eye out for the large corals which stick out from the walls. Resident napoleon wrasse, turtles, scorpionfish, and a stunning variety of marine life including many species of moray eels and a great variety of soft coral.
Five Rocks
Current: Can be strong
Life: canines/macro
Visibility: up to 25 m
Best dive period: Jan-Apr
It’s formed by a pinnacle that has been split into five pieces over the centuries. These “rocks” reach from 12 m to 40 m at the sandy bottom. Numerous overhangs and ocean-swept currents provide the perfect environment for vibrant corals, plenty of reef fish and white tip reef sharks. Five Rocks is a favorite among photographers for its unique underwater landscapes.
Vilamendhoo Thila
Current: Can be strong
Life: Rich diversity
Visibility: up to 25 m
Best dive period: Apr-Nov
The thila is a large, complex reef structure that begins in 10m of water and extends down to a sand bottom at 30m. Parts of the thila are sloping reef, others steep walls with overhangs. In the shallow water, large bommies are scattered about, with rich growths of hard corals. The fish life is especially dense, with schooling blue-striped snapper, oriental sweetlips, and sometimes whale sharks.
More dive sites near Dhangethi.
The narrow streets of Dhangethi, with their unique and bright houses, create an amazing atmosphere of tranquility. Walking through them, you can feel what it means to be a real islander far from the mainland, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Like on any other inhabited island, the streets of Dhangeti create a cunning interweaving. But they all somehow lead to the same place – the ocean.
There are 8 minimarts, 4 restaurants, and cafes, and 12 souvenir shops on the island. Also, you will find the hospital, school, cultural center, mosque, football field, and a mobile operator company office.
Dhangethi guest houses are offering included breakfasts: fresh fruits, local tuna dish, toast and jam, pancakes and omelet made to you.
In-house restaurants are serving a great variety of Maldivian, Asian and Continental food.
But if you decide to eat outside, here are some places worth checking out.
Hawaee Foods. Probably the best food on the island. Great menu, everything well cooked, and reasonable prices. Excellent curry, kottu roshi, and milkshakes. Just be ready to wait a long time for your meal.
The Blue Moon Cafe. Basic Maldivian dishes like tuna fried rice/noodles served with a fried egg on top are very tasty. Fresh juices are also good. Excellent location on the seaside. Tuna kothu roshi is really good.
A.S Youth Cafe. A very basic Maldivian-style cafe mostly for coffee and soft drinks.
Domestic flight + speedboat
Around 250 USD per round trip per person, there are 5 flights per day to Maamigili followed by a speedboat to Dhangethi.
Scheduled Speedboat
Daily at 15:00-16:00 from Male jetty no.1 or no.6 and at 7:00 am from Dhangethi. Price is 45 USD per way per person. Duration is 1,5 hrs.
Private speedboat
The price is 700-800 USD per way per boat. Can be arranged at any time.
Public Ferry
Runs from Viligilli ferry Terminal, Malé:
Trip duration is a 6hrs one-way. Price – US$5.
Malé – Dhangethi, 09:00 am (on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday), one-stop and a ferry change in Mahibadhoo.
Dhangethi – Male’, 09:00 am (on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday), one-stop and a ferry change in Mahibadhoo.
Warning:
– Tickets are issued from the Vilingili terminal on the day of travel.
– The ticket price is $US 6 per person.
– It can be canceled due to weather conditions.
– Service may stop without prior notice.
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