Vaadhoo Caves

A cave dive on the northwest outer reef of Vaadhoo island, South Malé (Kaafu) Atoll, set along the wall of Vaadhoo Kandu — the deep channel dividing North and South Malé. The site is a string of caves, overhangs and swim-throughs cut into the steep channel wall: a big cave with its mouth between about 7 and 25 m, a narrow swim-through around 16–24 m, and a long overhang near 30 m, their walls draped in gorgonians, sea fans, soft corals and sponges that shelter clouds of small tropical fish and macro life. Out on the open wall and in the blue of the kandu, the bigger animals drift past — grey and white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, giant trevally, barracuda and black snapper. Currents are usually light to moderate, but the site sits on a powerful channel so they can pick up, with the caves offering shelter when they do; it's an intermediate-to-advanced dive, the swim-throughs and depth calling for good buoyancy and Advanced Open Water. Best in the dry season (roughly January–May). Boat entry.