Shaviyani Atoll

Why people come here

Shaviyani is 200 km north of Malé, reached by a 50–55 minute seaplane or a 45-minute domestic flight plus speedboat. Quieter than the well-trafficked Baa and Raa, with healthier reef tops at many sites. Resort range is small and tips traditional rather than design-forward. Suits guests who want the classic Maldives feel without the crowds.

The resorts: JW Marriott Maldives

JW Marriott Maldives opened in 2018 on Vagaru Island, a half-moon of powder sand and swaying palms. The resort’s 60 villas are split between overwater and beach categories, each with a private pool and a deck that juts right over the lagoon. The architecture is striking — sloping roofs that echo turtle shells when seen from above—but the real draw is the space. The island is compact enough to walk in ten minutes, yet the villas feel spread out, so you’re never looking into your neighbour’s window. Dining is a highlight: there’s a treetop restaurant for sunset cocktails, a Japanese omakase counter, and a beachfront grill that serves wood-fired pizzas. Families are well catered for at Little Griffins Kids Club, which has a pirate-ship play area and a nature programme that teaches kids about coral conservation. For adults, Spa by JW offers overwater treatment rooms and a yoga pavilion that faces the ocean.

The resorts: Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi

Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi sits on its own 260,000-square-metre island, making it one of the largest private-island resorts in the Maldives. The 120 villas come in three styles: beach villas tucked into the mangroves, overwater villas with glass floors, and tented jungle villas that feel like a safari camp. The resort’s signature feature is its 200-metre infinity pool—the longest in the Maldives—which cuts across the island like a river. Dining is eclectic: a Thai restaurant, a seafood grill, and a beachfront bar that serves sushi at sunset. Families will appreciate the dedicated Teen Town, a rarity in the Maldives, while couples can book a private sandbank picnic or a sunset dolphin cruise on the resort’s yacht. The Coralarium, an underwater art installation by Jason deCaires Taylor, is the atoll’s most famous dive site: snorkel or dive around the sculptures and you’ll see turtles, rays, and schools of tropical fish.

Dining: what to expect

Both resorts treat dining as an event, not just a meal. At JW Marriott, the Japanese restaurant Kaashi serves omakase with fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu market, while the Italian trattoria Alia offers handmade pasta and wood-fired pizzas. Breakfast is a buffet with Maldivian specialities like mas huni (tuna and coconut salad) and fresh tropical fruit. Fairmont’s lineup includes Azure, a seafood restaurant where the catch of the day is grilled over coconut husks, and Kula, a Thai spot with a menu of curries and stir-fries. Both resorts have beachfront bars that stay open late—order a lychee mojito at JW’s or a passionfruit daiquiri at Fairmont’s and watch the stars come out over the lagoon.

House reefs and marine life

Shaviyani’s house reefs are some of the healthiest At JW Marriott, the reef starts just metres from the beach and is home to turtles, rays, and reef sharks. The resort offers complimentary snorkelling gear, so you can wade in from your villa and be swimming with fish within minutes. Fairmont’s Coralarium is the atoll’s standout dive site: the underwater sculptures attract marine life, and the resort’s dive centre runs daily trips to the site. Both resorts have PADI-certified instructors, so beginners can try a discovery dive while experienced divers can explore the atoll’s outer reefs, where manta rays are spotted between December and April.

Signature experiences

JW Marriott’s treetop dining is a must: book a table at The Gathering and you’ll eat under a canopy of stars, with the ocean visible through the branches. The resort also offers a ‘Stay in the Moment’ wellness offering, which includes sunrise yoga on the beach and guided meditation sessions. Fairmont’s private sandbank picnics are another highlight: the resort will set up a table, chairs, and a parasol on a deserted island, then leave you with a gourmet lunch and a bottle of champagne. For something more active, try Thai boxing at Fairmont’s gym or a sunset dolphin cruise on the resort’s yacht. Both resorts also offer cultural visits to nearby local islands, where you can meet Maldivian families and learn about traditional fishing techniques.

Who it suits

Couples who want space: Shaviyani’s resorts are spread out, so you can spend a week without seeing another guest if you don’t want to. Families with older kids: both resorts have excellent kids clubs, and Fairmont’s Teen Town is a rare find in the Maldives. Divers and snorkellers: the house reefs are healthy, and the atoll’s outer reefs are home to mantas and reef sharks. Honeymooners: the seaplane transfer is short, the villas are private, and the sunsets are uninterrupted. I’d also recommend Shaviyani to anyone who’s been to the Maldives before and wants to try somewhere new—this atoll feels like the Maldives of ten years ago, before the crowds arrived.

The honest bit

Shaviyani is remote, which means you’re committed to the seaplane transfer—there are no speedboats here. The atoll is also one of the Maldives’ newer resort destinations, so some of the coral is still recovering from past bleaching events. That said, the marine life is thriving, and the lack of crowds means you’ll often have entire dive sites to yourself. Both resorts are large, so if you’re staying at Fairmont, you might need a bicycle to get from your villa to the restaurant. And because the atoll is still relatively quiet, nightlife is limited to beachfront bars and occasional live music—don’t expect a party scene.

Transfer: getting there

Both JW Marriott Maldives and Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi are a 55-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport in Malé. The seaplane terminal is a short walk from the international terminal, and the flight itself is part of the experience: you’ll fly over blue-green lagoons and uninhabited islands, with the ocean stretching out below you. Once you land, the resort will meet you at the seaplane dock and transfer you to the island by buggy or golf cart. There are no speedboat options in Shaviyani, so the seaplane is the only way in or out.