South Ari Atoll, also known as Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, was one of the earliest parts of the Maldives to develop resort islands for tourists, in the manner pioneered in North Male Atoll near the Maldivian capital. As a result South Ari is now one of the most popular regions with foreign visitors, although there is never any sense of it being crowded with tourists - South Ari and neighbouring North Ari Atoll comprise more than 100 islands, and fewer than half of them inhabited by local people Each of the sixteen resorts in South Ari occupies its own uninhabited island, with views of lush palm forests, white coral-sand beaches, azure waters and open ocean horizons that can make you forget the rest of the world exists.
The individual resorts offer a range of holiday options, from secluded simplicity to expansive luxury. In typical Maldivian island style, many have bungalows built out over the reefs and waters of the a sheltered island lagoon or sand bar, and all have extensive guest facilities such as restaurants and bars, swimming pools, health spas, golf courses and tennis courts. Some of the larger resorts are spread over several beaches on their island, with foot paths and cycling trails through the forest connecting the different areas. While South Ari Atoll is a little further from the capital and the international airport than North Ari, most of its resorts can be reached by seaplane in around half an hour. Speedboats also connect to many of the resorts from Male, but it can be a long and bumpy ride in some sea conditions.
The beaches and the sea are the focus of most daytime activities. Windsurfing, sailing, and sea-kayaking are all catered for, and traditional dhoni boats can take visitors in search of a remote and untouched beach, or perhaps to one of the inhabited islands for a glimpse of life in the Maldivian villages. Dhangethi Island is the site of a cultural centre and museum celebrating the traditional heritage of the islands. Until the development of tourism in the Maldives most islanders made their living by fishing, and the Dhangethi cultural centre includes displays of boat-building, sail-weaving, and early fishing techniques. A few of the islands have remains of Buddhist temples built before the Maldives were converted to Islam in the 12th Century.
South Ari Atoll has a reputation as one of the best parts of the Maldives for snorkelling and scuba diving, and many livaboard diving boats visit the area. Each resort is home to a certified diving operation that provides dive training on the nearby reefs, and guided diving trips to local dive sites. Some of the best dive sites in South Ari atoll are the large pinnacles, or thilas, that rise from the deeper lagoons and island channels and serve as aggregations areas for innumerable fish and other sea creatures. The Hukuruelhi Faru and Maamgili sites in South Ari Atoll are famed as manta cleaning stations, where sometimes dozens of the giant fish have been seen to gather.