The back story
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Atoll guide
South Ari Atoll: whale-shark country
Whale-shark swims, Dhigurah’s long beach and Conrad Rangali, home of Ithaa and the Muraka.
Atoll guide · whale-shark country
South Ari Atoll: Our Favourites
South Ari in one page: whale sharks, Dhigurah’s long beach, Conrad Rangali with Ithaa and the Muraka, and the dive centres.
What's onThis week in the Maldives
Show 11 places on a map
What to see and do
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Swim with the gentle giants
Whale sharks of South Ari Atoll
Visit Maldives picks South Ari Atoll as the place to swim with whale sharks. A Maldivian research NGO studies the population.
South Ari Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
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Dive centres in four atolls
Euro-Divers
Resort dive centres across four atolls, from Kurumba and Meeru in North Malé to LUX* South Ari and Alila Kothaifaru in Raa.
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Soft corals and overhangs
Kudarah Thila
A South Ari thila and marine protected area, among the sites Visit Maldives uses to show off Maldivian pinnacle diving.
South Ari Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
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The most complete coral-stone mosque
Fenfushi Friday Mosque
A coral-stone mosque built between 1692 and 1701, with a coral bathing tank, wells and a sundial.
Fenfushi, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
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A long walk between jungle and sea
Dhigurah beach
A long beach on Dhigurah, with vegetation on one side and open horizon on the other.
Dhigurah, South Ari Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
Where to eat
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The one that started it all
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
The all-glass undersea dining room that opened in 2005, five metres below the surface at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
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“Happiness” on Rangali Finolhu
Ufaa
Conrad Rangali’s Chinese restaurant on the quiet shore of Rangali Finolhu, one of its two islands; its name means “happiness” in Dhivehi.
Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
Where to stay
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Two islands, Ithaa and the Muraka
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Two natural islands in South Ari Atoll, home to the Ithaa undersea restaurant and the Muraka undersea residence.
Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
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Sleep beneath the sea
Muraka Undersea Residence
A residence with a bedroom below the sea at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, the resort that also runs Ithaa.
Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
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Stay in whale-shark country
Dhigurah guesthouses
Guesthouses on Dhigurah, a local island in South Ari with one of the longest beaches in the Maldives.
Dhigurah, South Ari Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
Health
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On the Ministry of Health list
Mahibadhoo Atoll Hospital
A government hospital in Alif Dhaal Atoll, listed by the Maldives Ministry of Health.
Mahibadhoo, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
Bars and nightlife
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Champagne for the best sunset on the island
Aaraha Champagne Bar
Conrad Rangali’s champagne bar above the ocean, pouring by the glass with canapés of caviar and lobster.
Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of MaldivesExplore View on map
Questions and answers
Where can I swim with whale sharks?
Visit Maldives picks South Ari Atoll. Book through a licensed operator or your resort.
Share your South Ari Atoll tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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