Level: Resort nearby
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6 spots added - 251 photos shared
Last updated on February 2, 2023
Surrounded by a coral reef with several passes and endowed with several beaches of powdery white sand, Embudu is a very good option if you are looking for a resort island with a house reef in the Maldives. Located just 30 minutes from the international airport, it is also easily accessible. On the reef, you’ll spot an exceptional diversity of tropical fish, as well as eagle rays, reef sharks, and sea turtles.
Embudu is a resort island located in South Male Atoll. The Embudu Village Resort arranges speedboat transfers from Male Airport (approximately 30 min.).
There are two recommended water entrance points:
Experienced snorkelers can snorkel all along the north side of the island (dotted area on the map), from one pass to another.
Check beforehand for the direction and strength of the currents, which vary, and seek local advice before going into the water.
Embudu Island is bordered by reefs and drop-offs with various profiles. The water depth varies from 3 to 6ft/1 to 2m on the flats to more than 30ft/10m at the foot of the drop-offs.
On most reefs, coral cover is not exceptional, with large bare areas. In some places, there are still some beautiful patches of massive porous coral, branching coral, and finger coral. Some giant clams are also encrusted on the brightest parts of the reef. On the other hand, an extraordinary diversity of fish lives around the island’s reefs.
Among the most beautiful, are the oriental sweetlips, the regal angelfish, the emperor angelfish, the yellow-edged lyretail, and the scrawled butterflyfish. Schools of humpback red snappers, fusiliers, and redtail butterflyfish are found on the drop-offs. In places, you may also find Clark’s anemonefish in their sea anemone.
Embudu is also a great location to encounter, in the blue or on the reef, more impressive species, such as groups of spotted eagle rays, blacktip reef sharks, or hawksbill turtles.
This spot is the house reef of the Embudu Village Resort, which has its own restaurants.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
