South Male Atoll - The Maldives

South Kaafu Atoll
The Kaafu Atoll is located north of the Lhaviyani Atoll and lies between 4° 59' N and 3° 48' N. The Kaafu atoll comprises of four geographical atolls – the North Male Atoll, South Male Atoll, Gaafaru Atoll and Kaashidoo Atoll. Out of a total of eighty islands on the atoll only twelve are inhabited.

The North Male Atoll is the main centre of tourism in The Maldives and has the largest number of resorts - about forty four in total. The ocean surrounding these islands covers amazing coral formations with scores of schools of fish, other marine life attracted to the coral and wrecks all combine to make the North Male, a collection of attractive and popular diving sites. The modes of transport for accessing the resorts are the local Dhoni and speedboats.   

Thulusdhoo
Thulusdhoo is one of the islands in the North Male Atoll and is the hub of commercial activity in the area. One of the main warehouses of the State Trading Organization (STO) is located on the island; the warehouse is a trans-shipment point for the export of dried as well as smoked and salted fish. One of the few Coca Cola bottling plants to use desalinated water and a boat building facility using fibre-glass for building traditional dhonis is also located on Thulusdhoo and is also well-known for its surfs, appropriately named “Cokes”.
   
Kaashidhoo
To the north lies a large agricultural island, Kaashidhoo. This island has a population of about 1800.
   
Gaafaru
To its south lies the Gaafaru Atoll, an atoll isolated from the rest. The Gaafaru Island, in the Gaafaru atoll, is the only island on the northern side of the reef to be marked by several shipwrecks. It has a population of around 1100.

Additional South Male Atoll information

• Male - The Capital
• Shopping in Male
• A Brief History