Dhigufaru Island Resort Review: A Quiet Baa Atoll Island With Fine Beaches and Mantas Nearby

Visited by 360 Degree World in September 2022 · Updated October 2026

Dhigufaru Island Resort is a quiet, mid-sized island in Baa Atoll with 83 villas, two fine beaches and a later domestic-flight transfer for international flights that land just after the last seaplane. The real draw nearby is Hanifaru Bay in manta season, a boat trip away. The compromise is the house reef: lively at the jetty, but the main reef is a long swim out.

What stood out on the visit

The 360 Degree World team visited Dhigufaru Island Resort in September 2022, arriving by seaplane at what they found a lovely little island, with some of the finest beaches in the Maldives. They stayed in a water villa they described as a cute one, and settled in nicely.

One evening the team joined a cocktail party by the beach, with Bodu Beru performances, the traditional Maldivian drumming, that they found wonderfully exotic. The next day they went out on a dolphin excursion aboard a big dhoni, a traditional Maldivian boat, and were lucky enough to spot a handful of dolphins.

The hosts were incredibly gracious and always around, which made the whole stay feel warm, relaxed and personal.

What the island is like

An atoll is a ring of coral reef with islands scattered around it. Baa Atoll lies north-west of Malé and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, protected for its reefs and marine life.

The name Dhigufaru means "a long reef" in Dhivehi. The island covers about 3.5 hectares and opened in 2016 with 40 villas; it has since grown to 83, on the beach and over the water. The beaches are the strength. Boaku, the curved cove on the sunrise side, forms a natural pool that is safe for children; Veli, on the sunset side, is wide and sandy; and along the northern edge the shore turns to limestone beach rock.

It is a quiet island rather than a lively one. Recent guests consistently praise the staff, often by name, and the twice-daily housekeeping, which echoes the warmth the 360 Degree World team found.

Arriving

There are two ways in from Velana International Airport in Malé.

The seaplane takes about 40 minutes. Seaplanes in the Maldives fly in daylight only, so the last same-day connection is in the mid-afternoon.

The other route is an evening domestic flight from Velana to Dharavandhoo, the airport in Baa Atoll, followed by a speedboat to the island, about 50 minutes of travel in all. Its cut-off is a little later than the seaplane's, so it can save a night in Malé for flights that land just after the last seaplane. Check your landing time against the current cut-offs for both routes on the Dhigufaru Island Resort page before you book flights. Transfer arrangements have confused some guests, so confirm the details in writing and keep the resort informed of your flight.

The villas

There are seven villa types. On the beach, the Beach Villa, about 49 square metres, comes in sunrise and sunset versions without a pool, and the Pool Beach Villa, about 103 square metres, adds a private plunge pool. The Semi Water Villa, about 53 square metres, sits at the edge of the lagoon with a sun deck and direct lagoon access.

Over the water, the Water Villa, about 74 square metres, has steps into the lagoon, in sunrise and sunset versions, and the Pool Water Villa, about 89 square metres, adds a plunge pool. For families there is the Two Bedroom Family Beach Villa, about 139 square metres with two bathrooms, and the single Sangu Suite, about 151 square metres, has its own pool and steps into the lagoon.

Some recent guests describe their rooms as dated, so ask about the condition of the villa category you are booking.

Eating and drinking

Dhandifulhu is the main restaurant, serving international and Maldivian food from a buffet at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a Maldivian night of traditional food and entertainment.

Athiri Grill on the beach cooks grilled seafood and meats. Muraka is the small fine-dining room over the water, with Maldivian and international cooking.

For drinks, Thundi Pool Bar sits beside the Bageecha pool on the sunset side, with three lounge huts, bistro food and cocktails. Raagudi Bar is the cocktail bar, with a large collection of whisky and champagne and afternoon tea from four to five.

On a long stay the buffet can feel repetitive, so the two à la carte restaurants are worth booking.

The spa, the children and sport

Funa Spa covers about 241 square metres and is set in an enclosed garden, with private treatment cabanas, a salon, a reflexology room, and a sauna and steam room.

The Baraveli Kids Club has a children's pool, an indoor playground and a library of toys and books, with activities built around the plants and wildlife of the biosphere reserve.

The Thundi Recreation Center has a gym, billiards, table tennis and board games, and there is a court for tennis and futsal. Ocean Dimensions, the in-house PADI dive school and water sports centre, runs dive courses alongside water skiing, tube rides, windsurfing and canoeing.

The water

A house reef is the coral reef you can swim to from the resort itself. At Dhigufaru Island Resort the jetty is the place. Guests swim with blacktip and lemon sharks there and report stingrays, eagle rays and dense fish, much of it visible from the dock without getting in.

Beyond the jetty the picture is thinner. The main reef is a long swim out and depends on the weather, snorkelling off the pier itself has been called poor, and part of the shoreline is closed off by the overwater villas.

This is Baa Atoll, so the real draw is Hanifaru Bay in manta season, a protected bay where, in the right conditions, manta rays gather in large numbers to feed. It is a boat trip rather than anything off your steps. Ocean Dimensions also runs dives, and the resort's excursions include dolphin cruises, sunset and stargazing cruises, fishing, sandbank picnics and visits to local islands.

Where the compromises are

The reef is the first. Snorkellers who want to swim straight from their villa onto good coral should look elsewhere.

The second is wear. Several recent guests mention dated rooms, uneven cleaning and debris on parts of the beach.

The third is the cost of extras. Water sports and excursions, including the manta trips, are charged, and guests find them expensive.

Who will love it, and who won't

Dhigufaru Island Resort suits couples and families who want fine beaches, a quiet island, warm service and a base for manta trips to Hanifaru Bay in season. The domestic-flight route also gives a little more room for international flights that land after the last seaplane. It suits keen snorkellers, and anyone after a lively island, considerably less well.

Common questions

How do you get to Dhigufaru Island Resort?

By seaplane from Velana in about 40 minutes, in daylight only, or by an evening domestic flight to Dharavandhoo and a speedboat, about 50 minutes of travel in all. Check the current cut-offs for both routes before booking international flights.

Does Dhigufaru Island Resort have a good house reef?

The jetty is lively, with blacktip and lemon sharks, rays and dense fish. Beyond it the main reef is a long swim out and depends on the weather. Keen snorkellers may prefer another island; the real draw is Hanifaru Bay in manta season.

Is Dhigufaru Island Resort good for families?

Yes. The Baraveli Kids Club has a children's pool, an indoor playground and a library, there is a Two Bedroom Family Beach Villa, and the sheltered cove on the sunrise side suits younger swimmers. The island is quiet rather than packed with activities.

What restaurants does Dhigufaru Island Resort have?

Dhandifulhu, the main buffet restaurant, with a Maldivian night of traditional food and entertainment; Athiri Grill on the beach for seafood and meats; and Muraka, the fine-dining room over the water. Thundi Pool Bar and Raagudi Bar cover drinks.

Can you see manta rays from Dhigufaru Island Resort?

Yes, in season, on a boat trip to Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll's biosphere reserve. Manta trips are booked as excursions and are not in the house reef. Sightings depend on the season and conditions, so nobody can guarantee them.