Fushifaru Maldives Review: A Small Island on a Manta Channel in Lhaviyani

Visited by 360 Degree World in July 2019 · Updated October 2026

Fushifaru Maldives is a 35-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport, on a small island beside a protected channel in Lhaviyani Atoll where manta rays come to be cleaned. That channel is the reason to choose it. The compromise is the island's size: a short list of restaurants, and a reef off the beach that is still recovering.

What stood out on the visit

The 360 Degree World team visited Fushifaru Maldives in July 2019, and it felt like an intimate, pocket-sized sanctuary. The island is tiny, so guests can walk barefoot from morning coffee by the lagoon straight onto the sand in three minutes. The house reef near the channel is genuinely wild, with manta rays and turtles drifting by in crystal-clear water.

The quirk: the dining variety feels limited after a few nights, due to the small footprint. The team found it best for couples who crave easy, quiet simplicity and world-class diving.

What the island is like

An atoll is a ring of coral reef with islands scattered around it, and a lagoon is the shallow, sheltered water inside that reef.

Fushifaru Maldives sits on the north-eastern edge of Lhaviyani Atoll, also called Faadhippolhu. It opened in 2017 and has 63 villas, 44 on the beach and 19 over the water. The whole channel of Fushifaru Kandu has been declared a protected marine area, and the resort describes itself as the custodian of the protected reefs around the island.

Sunrise villas look east across Maakandu, the open ocean. Sunset villas look west over Etherevari, the calm lagoon. The water villas face Kanduolhi, the channel, which is where divers want to be. Every villa has its own Resident Host.

Arriving

There are two routes from Velana International Airport in Malé.

The main one is the seaplane, about 35 minutes and 145 kilometres north. A short bus ride links the airport to the seaplane terminal and its lounge. Seaplanes in the Maldives fly in daylight only, so a landing too late in the day means a first night in Malé. Check landing times with the resort before booking international flights.

The second is a domestic flight, a short scheduled flight within the Maldives, to Madivaru, the nearest domestic airport. A Resident Host meets guests at the Madivaru terminal, and the resort's speedboat covers the last stretch in about 15 minutes. Do not count on this route to rescue a late international landing; check its current timings with the resort.

On the way home, an Airport Host at Velana walks guests to the departure gate.

The villas

There are nine villa types, and the choice comes down to three questions: beach or water, pool or no pool, sunrise or sunset.

The Beach Villa, about 96 square metres, is the entry point, in a sunrise or a sunset version, with a terrace and an outdoor bathroom. The Pool Beach Villa, about 122 square metres, adds a plunge pool, and also comes in sunrise and sunset versions.

Over the water, the Jacuzzi Water Villa, about 96 square metres, has a thatched roof, an outdoor Jacuzzi and a private ladder up to the deck. The Pool Water Villa has a private infinity pool and is placed for snorkelling the house reef. The Premium Pool Water Villa, about 122 square metres, has a plunge pool with a glass front panel, a four-poster bed and a deck cabana. All three water villas sleep three adults.

The Beach Duplex Villa, about 240 square metres, and the Premium Beach Duplex Villa, about 250 square metres, are the only villas with two bedrooms. There are very few of them, so families should ask early.

Eating and drinking

The list is short, as the visit found. Korakali is the all-day restaurant on the beach, serving international food with island flavours, and it changes its theme each evening. Fridays bring a Maldivian-themed dinner, with a live demonstration of how local curries are made.

Raakani sits under a thatched pavilion overlooking the sea and cooks the catch of the day, grilled meats and seafood platters. The Teppanyaki counter is Japanese, with Angus beef and seafood cooked in front of the guests at dinner.

For drinks, Fanihandhi Pool Bar sits beside the infinity pool, Thundi Beach Bar serves cold-pressed juices and fruit from its beach cabanas, and Raalhu Bar is the coffee stop. In-villa dining runs 24 hours.

Away from the tables, the resort sets up floating breakfasts, sandbank dinners, a sushi boat and a movie under the stars. A sandbank is a strip of bare sand that rises out of the lagoon. Since June 2026 there is also Sleep Under the Stars, a night spent sleeping out on a sandbank.

For a change of scene, guests can book BUBBLE, the underwater restaurant six metres under the lagoon at Meyyafushi Maldives, a short boat ride away. Its menus include vegetarian and Jain dishes.

The spa, fitness and children

The spa has a steam room, a sauna, a relaxation area with a plunge pool and a hair and beauty salon. The gym is open 24 hours and looks out to sea. There is an outdoor yoga deck, a multi-purpose sports court and table tennis.

Culture is part of the programme, from Boduberu drumming lessons to a Maldivian cooking class. Trips go out to local islands and on a dhoni, a traditional Maldivian wooden boat.

For children, the Kokko Kids Club has an indoor playhouse with a ball pit and an outdoor ark with slides. In 2026 the resort added circus-style sessions for children.

The water

A house reef is the coral reef you can swim to from the resort itself. At Fushifaru Maldives it is mixed. The island sits between two channels, but off the beach the lagoon is wide and the drop-off is a long way out. The coral there was badly damaged and is being seeded back, and the resort runs a coral rejuvenation garden. Fish, turtles and sharks are plentiful. Guests should come for the channel and the mantas, not for coral gardens off their steps.

Best Dives Fushifaru runs the dive centre. Fushifaru Thila, about five minutes away by dhoni, is a reef rising inside the channel with cleaning stations where manta rays are commonly seen, alongside giant trevally and barracuda. Further out, a long drift dive follows a steep outer reef with grey reef sharks, and Shipyard, for advanced divers, has two wrecks in the Felivaru channel.

The watersports centre has canoes and paddleboards, and the resort runs snorkelling trips and sunset cruises.

Where the compromises are

The food is the first. Three restaurants and a handful of bars make a short list for a week.

The second is the reef off the beach. It is recovering, and the drop-off is a long swim. Snorkellers who want coral at the villa steps will be disappointed.

The third is the transfer. The seaplane flies in daylight only, so a late landing costs a night in Malé, and on a very short trip the journey takes too much of the time.

Who will love it, and who won't

Fushifaru Maldives suits divers who want mantas and channel dives a few minutes from the jetty, couples after a quiet, walkable island, and travellers who like a Resident Host taking care of the details. Families fit too, if they book a duplex early. It suits food lovers who want a new restaurant every night, and snorkellers who want coral straight off the beach, less well.

Common questions

How do you get to Fushifaru Maldives?

By seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé, about 35 minutes. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a late landing means a night in Malé. There is also a domestic flight to Madivaru, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride, but check its current timings with the resort before relying on it.

Is the diving good at Fushifaru Maldives?

Yes, it is the main reason to go. The island sits beside Fushifaru Kandu, a protected channel. Fushifaru Thila, about five minutes away by dhoni, has cleaning stations where manta rays are commonly seen. Best Dives Fushifaru also runs trips to a long drift dive on a steep outer reef and to Shipyard, two wrecks for advanced divers.

Is the house reef good at Fushifaru Maldives?

It is mixed. The lagoon is wide and the drop-off is a long swim out, and the coral was badly damaged and is being seeded back. Fish, turtles and sharks are plentiful, and the Pool Water Villas are placed for snorkelling it. The real highlight is the channel, reached by boat.

What is the difference between sunrise and sunset villas at Fushifaru Maldives?

Sunrise villas sit on the eastern side and face Maakandu, the open ocean. Sunset villas sit on the western side and face Etherevari, the calm lagoon. The water villas face Kanduolhi, the channel, which is where divers want to be. Beach Villas and Pool Beach Villas come in both versions.

Is Fushifaru Maldives good for families?

Yes, with early planning. The Kokko Kids Club has an indoor playhouse and an outdoor ark with slides, and the 2026 programme adds circus-style sessions. The Beach Duplex Villa and Premium Beach Duplex Villa are the only villas with two bedrooms, and there are very few, so book them early.