Ari Atoll (also called Alif Alif and Alif Dhaalu, split administratively into North and South Ari) lies about 70 kilometres west of Malé Atoll. It's one of the largest atolls in the Maldives and one of the most celebrated dive destinations in the Indian Ocean.
The atoll is best known for whale sharks, which are present year-round — the highest concentration anywhere in the Maldives. Manta rays are also reliably spotted, and the dive sites along the outer reefs and thilas hold hammerheads, tawny nurse sharks, and dense schools of fish. Several of the Maldives' most respected dive resorts are based here.
Most visitors arrive by seaplane from Velana International Airport, a 25–35 minute flight. A handful of resorts closer to the north of the atoll are reachable by speedboat.