Gahaafaru / Gaafaru Atoll, Maldives

Gahaafaru / Gaafaru Atoll Maldives (Map, Airport Distance, Diving, History, Resorts & Weather)

Gahaafaru Atoll: Size doesn’t matter

Gahaafaru Atoll is popularly known as Gaafaru atoll. Also known by the name of Gaafarufalhu atoll, Gahaafaru atoll is a small yet an important atoll of the Republic of Maldives.

The reason behind its importance despite its smaller size is the fact that it is inhabited. This is the only reason why Gaafaru atoll is one of the main attractions amongst the tourists visiting the Republic of Maldives.

Gahaafaru atoll is situated at the eastern point of a large elliptical reef. It is worth mentioning here that this large elliptical reef has proved disastrous to many vessels so far.

Some of these vessels include SS Seagull (1879), Clan Alpine (1879), Aracan (1873), Erlangen (1894), Lady Cristine (1974), Crusader (1905). This reef is known as Gaafaru reef. Gaafaru reef is 15 km in length and 8.5 km wide.

It is worth mentioning here that Gaafaru atoll is a different atoll as much as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll and Rasdhukuramathi Atoll. Both these atolls Goifulhafehendhu Atoll and Rasdhoo Kuramathi Atoll, are similar in size and the structure.

This atoll is separated by the Male’ atoll by the Gaafaru Kandu Channel. Gaafaru Kandu channel is a narrow but deep.

The lagoon of this atoll is averagely 16 fathoms deep. Gaafaru atoll has no shoals or coral patches in its centre unlike many other atolls of the Republic of Maldives.