About
Fotteyo Kandu is an atoll in the Maldives, in Asia, known to divers for its drift dives through a channel between two reefs. It is a destination for those who want the sea to do much of the work.
What the visit is like
The defining feature here is the current. Water moving through the channel carries nutrients, and that movement draws large marine life into the area. A drift dive means you go with the flow rather than swimming against it, so the experience is more about watching the reef pass by than about exploring it slowly.
Divers commonly encounter:
- Grey reef sharks, often seen cruising the channel
- Eagle rays, gliding over the reef
- Schools of barracuda, moving together through the water
Who it suits
The site is best suited to divers who are comfortable in moving water and can manage the energy a drift dive asks for. Because the current is strong, it is a dive for those with some experience rather than a gentle introduction to the sea.
Around the atoll
Fotteyo Kandu sits within the Maldives, an island nation whose atolls are fringed by coral reefs and warm, clear water. A visit here fits naturally into a wider trip to the country, where time on the water is central to what travellers come for.
