The stunning little island of Rasdhoo lies in the Northern Ari Atoll (also known as Alif Alif Atoll) of the Maldives and is famous for its incredible dive sites, known as some of the best in the world. The crystalline, turquoise waters here are one of the top places to see sharks, manta rays, dolphins, turtles, and dazzling schools of brightly coloured fish. Dramatic reef walls and impressive topography add to the dreamlike scenes underwater. If you prefer staying above the surface, you’ll still have plenty to enjoy - perfect white beaches backed by lush palm groves and an array of cultural activities to keep you intrigued by this special destination. Visitors can also enjoy jet skiing, kite surfing, and wakeboarding, as well as a range of flavoursome fresh seafood dishes at some superb restaurants.

The small atoll of Rasdhoo lies off the northeastern corner of Ari Atoll proper. The atoll's main island, also called Rasdhoo, is the administrative capital of North Ari Atoll, despite not being within the natural atoll itself. Good chance to see mantas on various dive sites throughout the year. Here are some possible sites you may visit:  

Madivaru (Hukrueli Faru) - Madivaru is home to a very colorful coral reef. The site is named for the abundance of manta rays seen here (Madi means manta ray in the Maldivian language Dhivehi) during the northeast monsoon season. Depths range from 25 feet to almost 100 feet, making the dive particularly interesting and varied. Manta rays are attracted to Madivaru because of the strong currents that form a whirlpool effect in the deeper parts of the site, where the manta rays can hover over the currents. The mantas are also attracted to the several cleaning stations located around Madivaru.

Hammerhead Point - Popular dive site for Maldives liveaboards. Its proximity to deep waters lends the location the best chances of getting close to these magnificent creatures. Often considered to be the highlight of many Maldives liveaboard trips.