Maradhoo and Maradhoo Feydhoo sit in the middle of Addu City’s west rim. The stretch connected by the Addu Link Road and, as of 2025, the new Hankede Bridge. They’re not resort islands. They’re working, inhabited neighbourhoods with a big story: wartime history, a community created by forced relocation, and the Maldives’ most storied wreck right offshore.
Why go (and what’s uniquely here)
1) A community with a rare origin story.
Maradhoo Feydhoo exists because residents of nearby Feydhoo were relocated during the British military era. A chapter that still shapes the island’s layout and identity. If you care about the real social history of Addu, this is where to see it in daily life.
2) The British Loyalty wreck. A protected, world-class dive lies just off Maradhoo.
The 140 meter WWII oil tanker “British Loyalty” rests in 33 m between Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. The site is officially designated as a protected area (since 13 Sep 2018). Expect hard/soft corals on the hull, turtles, jacks, and occasional mantas; penetration is possible via large openings. Historically, she was torpedoed in Addu in 1944 and scuttled in 1946. Advanced certification is strongly recommended given depth and currents.
3) Cycle the atoll’s backbone including the new Hankede Bridge.
Maradhoo is on the long, continuous causeway linking the western islands of Addu. The new Hankede Bridge opened to the public on 1 Feb 2025, creating an uninterrupted, scenic ride/walk across reef flats and channels. One of the most photogenic urban coast rides anywhere in the country. (Addu’s link road is also cited as the Maldives’ longest paved causeway.)
4) Real working waterfronts (and the atoll’s slipway).
Maradhoo is one of Addu’s fisheries hubs. If you’re up early you’ll see tuna landings, net mending, and the nuts and bolts of island supply. It also hosts the atoll’s only slipway/dry dock facility. A small but telling detail about why locals come here to do things, not just live.
5) Eat like you live here.
This is a café culture stretch, not a white tablecloth scene. Hedhikaa (short eats) and tea spots line the road. A few popular names to orient yourself: Palm Village, Just Tea, 1000 BC, Q Corner are all in Maradhoo. Where you can graze on bites and grab a proper tea for cheap.
Things to do
- Dive British Loyalty.
Book with an Addu based operator; boats from Maradhoo make easy access to the site. The wreck sits 16–33 m (port side shallower, prop deeper), with historic damage from torpedoes and wartime scuttling still visible. It’s one of the Maldives’ few large steel wrecks with this level of access. - Bridge & causeway loop by bicycle.
Rent a bike (many guesthouses can arrange) and ride the link road and the Hankede Bridge for sunrise or late afternoon breeze. You’re not coming for powder beaches here; you’re coming for views over reef flats, village life, and that long, sea level horizon. - Harbor mornings.
Walk Maradhoo’s waterfront around first light to watch landings and the workday start. If you’ve only seen the “resort Maldives,” this is the antidote. (It’s also where you’ll find the cheapest snacks and fruit.) - Teahouse crawl.
Teas, short eats, and easy local plates in the cafés noted above; prices are local, portions are generous, and the conversation’s free.
How to visit without headaches
Getting in.
Fly to GAN (Gan International Airport), then it’s minutes by road to Maradhoo Feydhoo via the causeway/bridge. Taxis and a local bus run the spine of the city.
Where to base.
Guesthouses operate on both islands and nearby. Expect simple, clean rooms, often with bikes available and staff who can set up dives and transfers.
Local rules you should know.
These are local islands: alcohol is not served/sold (save for designated resort/boat contexts), and swimwear is restricted to designated beaches. Dress modestly elsewhere. This isn’t “Malé rules,” it’s national law and local custom.
One day sample plan
- Sunrise on the Hankede Bridge → harbor breakfast in Maradhoo (tea + hedhikaa) → British Loyalty two-tank dive → late-afternoon tea crawl along the link road → blue-hour ride/walk back over the bridge.