Filitheyo Island Resort
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Overview
- Seasonal manta ray encounters and year-round shark sightings
- Excellent shore diving with house reefs and small shipwreck to explore
- Stunning private island with jungle, mangroves, and white sand beaches
- Short boat rides to the most exciting channels and thilas in Faafu Atoll
Filitheyo Island Resort balances luxury and adventure in an unfussy setting, perfect for dedicated divers and nature enthusiasts. This private island paradise offers endless exploration with two house reefs to dive and snorkel, plus powder-white beaches, mangrove forest and jungle, and a variety of day trips and watersports on offer. After a long day of sun and fun, recharge your batteries with a calming massage or spa treatment, lounge session next to the infinity pool, and a sunset cocktail with your toes in the sand.
Rooms
Amenities
About
About Filitheyo Island Resort
This private island paradise offers barefoot luxury in one of the least visited atolls in the Maldives. You'll find all that you need for total rest and relaxation, with deluxe villas, exotic cuisine, soothing spa services, and plenty of sand to explore. Plus, Filitheyo Island boasts two house reefs, featuring kilometres of thriving coral gardens, two small shipwrecks, and surprising marine life. The resort offers exciting daily activities including PADI, SSI, and CMAS courses, guided scuba diving and snorkelling tours throughout the atoll, and a variety of watersports.
Faafu Atoll is one of the least visited in the Maldives, with only three resorts and a handful of liveaboards passing through. These islands are just as lovely above water as they are below, with a smattering of tropical jungle, mangrove forest, powder white sand, and interesting cultural and archaeological sites. Dive sites in the atoll are famous for their plunging channels, powerful currents, cleaning stations, and encounters with big fish. But, that doesn't mean beginners won't enjoy their time here. Sheltered lagoons and protected bays in Faafu are home to calm water, good visibility, and interesting marine life including sea turtles and baby sharks.
Explore the resort
Filitheyo Island Resort offers laid-back luxury, with a backdrop of white sand and turquoise water. You'll enjoy a spacious and well-appointed villa with room for up to three guests, plus a private veranda with beach or ocean access. All guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, luxury toiletries, coffee and tea stations, and a well-stocked minibar - however you'll likely spend the majority of your time outdoors. When you aren't exploring the island's two house reefs, you can enjoy a soothing massage or spa session, catch some rays next to the infinity pool, or get competitive with a game of table tennis, beach volleyball, football or badminton. Other exciting on-site activities include watersports stand up paddleboarding and catamaran sailing, and exploring this private island paradise.
With a selection of bars and restaurants to choose from, plus options for buffet or a la carte dining, this resort caters to all tastes. You'll enjoy an exotic mix of Western and local dishes at every meal, showcasing fresh locally sourced seafood. If you're in the mood for something different, enjoy a tropical sundowner at the bar, join a fun and social beach bbq, or plan a romantic dinner for two out on the sand. Filitheyo Island Resort also offers a variety of excursions, including trips to the region's archaeological sites and mosques, afternoon island hopping, and organised snorkelling tours throughout the atoll.
Diving from Filitheyo Island Resort
Filitheyo Island Resort's on-site partner dive centre, Werner Lau, is part of a global chain of dedicated professional dive centres, with decades of experience in the diving industry. The shop's well-kept rental equipment and comfortable custom-designed powerboats are just a few of the perks provided. Their international team offers a range of underwater adventures in Faafu Atoll, as well as a variety of courses from PADI, SSI, and CMAS. Filitheyo’s two house reefs are ideal for certifying students thanks to the shallow water, calm conditions, and excellent visibility. But, divers of all skill levels will love exploring the area's kilometres of coral, small shipwrecks, and a surprising amount of macro life, including frogfish.
Faafu Atoll has fewer resorts and is less often visited than neighbouring dive areas, so you'll likely have the region's very best dive sites all to yourself. Faafu is famous for its deep channels, drift dives and thilas. Between December and April, manta rays gather and are encountered feeding in the shallows and waiting patiently in line at current-swept cleaning stations. The atoll's plunging walls and pinnacles are also known for big-fish action, with sharks and turtles patrolling the reef's edge, and schools of eagle rays out in the blue.
Top tips
- If you're hoping to dive and snorkel with Faafu Atoll's famous manta rays, plan your trip between December and April for the best chances of an up-close encounter.
- Plan at least one dry day to explore the atoll's Hindu and Buddhist archaeological sites, as well as the Maldives second oldest mosque, Aasaari Miskiiy.
- Not a fan of all-inclusive packages? Choose a full or half board option instead, and enjoy the freedom of a la carte drinking and dining at the island's bars and restaurants.
- Keep your camera handy during your seaplane transfer to the resort. You'll be flying low over some of the Maldives most stunning scenery.
Diving
Diving in Dhaalu and Faafu Atolls
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SharksYear round
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TurtlesYear round
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RaysYear round
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Manta RaysJanuary - April
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Schooling reef fishYear round
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Healthy coralsYear round
Resort checklist
Number of rooms
125
Official dive center rating
PADI, SSI, CMAS Resort
Courses offered
Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Kids Courses