Thinadhoo is one of the five inhabited islands of the atoll Vaavu. It is located 78 km south of Male. Next to the island are Felidhoo and Keyodhoo. The total popuation is around 250 people. It has increased over the last 10 years due to the tourism boom on the island. Do not mess up this island with another Thinadhoo located in the atoll Gaafu Dhaalu – in the south (ie, further south) of the Maldives.
Things to do in Thinadhoo
Beach and house reef
Despite its rather small size, Thinadhoo can boast one of the best bikini beaches in Maldives. The beach is really nice: no dead corrals on the beachside where you enter the ocean. The house reef surrounding the island is gorgeous which makes Thinadhoo one of the prettiest places in the Maldives.
You can easily find shade under the palms and relax on one of the sunbeds. Thick vegetation creates plenty of private and enclosed places where you can enjoy your privacy.
Sunset views from the island’s western side are especially stunning, with uninterrupted ocean horizons.
The house reef of Thinadhoo is nice but full of dead corals. There are plenty of fish and some colorful corals. You won’t get enough of it even if you’ve been snorkeling for several days. The most interesting part of the reef, as usual, is on the edge. The easiest way to explore the reef is while drifting along with the current without any movement.
It’s possible to spot sharks, rays and turtles as well.
Snorkeling safaris
Sea turtles, clownfish, scorpionfish, and a great variety of colorful tropical fish can be easily spotted by snorkeling, both starting from Thinadhoo beach, the reef is easily accessible from the shore.
If you’re tired of snorkeling around the island you can visit one of the closest outside reefs. Not to say that night snorkeling with sharks is definitely a must! That point is near Alimatha Resort, you can enjoy the company of nurse sharks which are completely safe and friendly for humans. There you can meet around 20-30 sharks! Isn’t that impressive?
The diving should be described in particular. In the “shark” place mentioned above, it’s possible to dive as well. The only problem is the number of divers – there were a lot of them! So it’s better to wait until the very end when all of the divers have ascended. Because, in a while, dozens of sharks appeared from nowhere all the way around so that was really unforgettable experience.
Shipwreck snorkeling
The Keyodhoo shipwreck is one of the most interesting snorkeling spots near Thinadhoo. It’s easy to reach and great for all levels. The wreck sits in shallow water and is covered in coral, with lots of fish—like clownfish, swimming around it. Snorkeling here feels a bit like exploring an underwater playground, and it’s a fun change from the usual reef spots. Just a short boat ride away, it’s a must-see if you’re in the area.
Like all wrecks, Healthy corals and schools of fish call this wreck home, among them are table corals and clownfish.
You can swim through the captain’s cabin and hold onto that iconic bicycle attached to the hull for a picture.
The wreck is only 15 mins from Thinadhoo and can be a part of a trip of island hopping to Keyodhoo.
The spot might be busy since boats not only from local islands, but also from safari boats are coming here.
Uninhabited islands and sandbanks
Ambara Island. About one hour trip from Thinadhoo, there is the uninhabited Ambara Island, with a beautiful coral reef, a low seabed, it has a vast variety of marine life.
Bodumohara Island. A deserted island for those who love to relax in crystal clear waters with a beautiful and low seabed. After the marvelous snorkeling, there will be lunch on a table dug directly in the sand.
Sandbanks. This beautiful sandbank is perfect for admiring the colors that you have hardly seen before. It is surrounded by very low waters for several kilometers, it is always deserted and it guarantees absolute privacy. During clear days the seawater offers incredible shades of blue.
Other things to do include water sports, dolphin watching, and night fishing.
Thinadhoo scuba diving
Vaavu Atoll is a true geographical wonder. It is a boot-shaped atoll and the ‘toe’, Fotteyo Muli is the easternmost point of the Maldives archipelago.
Vaavu Atoll boasts Fotteyo Falhu – the largest unbroken barrier reef in the Maldives. The reef is 50 km long and the easternmost point of the Maldives archipelago. One of the features of this diving area is the deep channels known as Kandus that bring in fast-flowing currents full of nutrients.
Alimathaa Night Dive
Depth: 20-40m
Current: Medium, but can be very strong
Visibility: 10-20m
What to see: nurse sharks, eagle rays, octopuses
Alimatha is an island resort in Vaavu Atoll. The current is mostly moderate to extremely strong bringing in white tip reef sharks, giant trevally, tuna, huge schools of snappers, unicornfish, and masses of fusiliers. But you have to go here to see tens of nurse sharks coming every night. This is a night dive that attracts divers not only from nearby local islands but liveaboards as well.
Miyaru Kandu
Depth: 10-40m
Current: Medium, but can be very strong
Visibility: 15-30m
What to see: sharks, eagle rays, tuna, and Napoleon
Miyaru Kandu is a fascinating channel dive in the Maldives that features many small caves on both sides of the channel and numerous overhangs. The entire channel has been declared a protected marine area. A variety of marine life, including tuna, large schools of grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, and Napoleon wrasse can be seen here, as well as many colorful reef fish.
Depth: 10-25m
Current: Medium
Visibility: 10-20m
What to see: soft corrals
Golden Wall features several vertical walls, caves, and overhangs. Along the exterior of the reef, the wall is covered with yellow sponges and is teeming with colorful reef fish. Caves and overhangs full of pink, green, yellow soft corals hang to make it so easy to just get lost in the beauty of the dive.
Fotteyo Kandu
Depth: 10-30m
Current: Medium to strong
Visibility: 10-20m
What to see: reach diversity
A vast array of marine life that can be found here, as well as a wide variety of colorful soft and hard corals, make this dive unforgettable. If diving early in the morning, divers have a chance to see eagle rays triggerfish, potato groupers, grey reef sharks, schools of white trevally, tuna, barracuda, surgeonfish, swordfish, as well as turtles and some other creatures. The site is so big that you have to do at least 3 dives!
There are only two dive centers on the island. One of them is owned by Plumeria Boutique Hotel and the other — Blue Horizon.
Thinadhoo Infrastructure
The island is divided into two parts: a village in which 1фкщгтв 250 people are officially registered. There are very few local islands where you can see a situation like that. Between the village and the bikini beach stretches the jungle. And almost no rubbish. It’s clean and well-maintained. The road to the beach takes 5-7 minutes of walking.
Only a couple of shops, two dive centers, and a café you can find on the island. Surprisingly, there are 7 guest houses (mostly for Italians) and a hotel, Plumeria Maldives, where Eastern Europeans usually spend their holidays. There’s no school, stadium, or hospital on the island.
Where to eat on Thinadhoo
Most of the guests staying in Thinadhoo have their meals in hotels, as there are only two places to eat outside.
Le Bois Cherry. The only restaurant in Thinadhoo. Cute and cozy, the chef is very good, the food is tasty and you have a lot of options like Maldivian, Indian, Italian etc.
Fini Chaka Chaka. A great restaurant right on the beach. That is, they cook in the restaurant as indicated on the map, and the tables are on the beach. For an island, the prices are fair. The fresh juices—especially mango and passion fruit—were really tasty, and the homemade coconut ice cream was very good too. The staff were always friendly and helpful. The only downside is that it opens at 11:30, so you can’t go there for breakfast. There aren’t many mosquitoes either, thanks to the nice ocean breeze.
Transfer to Thinadhoo
By a public ferry:
— price: $5 per person one way;
— time: 5 hours 20 minutes (there 2 stops at Maafushi and Fulidhoo)
Male — Thinadhoo, Vaavu Atoll: 10:00 on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Thinadhoo, Vaavu Atoll — Male: 9:00 on Saturdays, Mondays, And Wednesdays
By scheduled speedboat:
— time: 1,5 hour;
— the departure from Male to Thinadhoo: 10:00 and 16:00;
— the departure from Thinadhoo to Male: 7:00 and 14:00
Price is $US65 per way per person.
By a private speedboat:
You can get a private transfer by speedboat from the airport to Thinadhoo, Vaavu Atoll every day at request (time of travel 1,5 hour). This type of transportation is recommended for a group of 6 people. The price is $750 for a trip.
By seaplane:
Transfer by seaplane to Thinadhoo, Vaavu Atoll takes about 20 minutes and costs $420 per person on both sides. This trip should be booked in advance (not less than 5 days before arrival).
Seaplanes fly only during the daytime from 6:00 till 16:00.
