Velana International Airport to Dhigurah
Speedboat transfers from Malé's international airport to Dhigurah — a long, narrow island in South Ari Atoll known for whale sharks and one of the world's top-ranked beaches.
- Duration
- 1h 30m
- Distance
- 98 km
- Frequency
- Two daily departures
- From
- USD 60 / person
Next ferries on this route
Live schedule for Velana International Airport → Dhigurah.
Velana International Airport → Dhigurah
The Velana Airport → Dhigurah speedboat crosses to South Ari Atoll in about 1 hour 30 minutes, with two departures a day from the airport, so you don't need to go into Malé first. The public ferry, by comparison, leaves from Malé, involves a change at Mahibadhoo and takes more than six hours. Book online at least two calendar days before you travel and your e-ticket is confirmed instantly.
Welcome to Dhigurah
Dhigurah is a long, narrow island in Alif Dhaal (South Ari) Atoll, about 97 km from Malé — more than 3 km from end to end but under 300 m wide. The village, home to around 760 people, sits at the northern end, and most of the rest is vegetation fringed by beach, with a sandbank off the southern tip. That beach was ranked seventh in the World's 50 Best Beaches 2026. South Ari is famous for whale sharks, which are seen here all year round, and the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme has worked from the island since 2014. Dhigurah has a lively guesthouse scene but feels less crowded than Maafushi.
Getting around
The village at the northern end is easy to walk, but Dhigurah is more than 3 km long, so most visitors rent a bicycle to reach the far end of the island. Truck-tuks and hotel buggies also run along the island.
Things to do
- 1Join a whale shark trip in South Ari Atoll — seen all year, though never guaranteed
- 2Head out on a boat trip to look for manta rays
- 3Snorkel Turtle Reef, off the middle of the long beach
- 4Dive Kudarah Thila, Broken Rock and other South Ari sites
- 5Cycle the length of the island to the sandbank at its southern tip
- 6Go night fishing or take a dolphin cruise
Frequently asked questions
- About 1 hour 30 minutes on the current schedule. Allow a little extra in rough weather, especially during the southwest monsoon (roughly May to November), when boats can occasionally be cancelled.
Ready to book your transfer to Dhigurah?
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