The atolls that carry resorts, not interchangeable

The atoll that includes the capital and the airport island.

Immediately south of the capital, South Malé is the second-most-developed atoll.

The only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve atoll in the Maldives, and the only place in the world where 200 reef mantas can occupy a single square kilometre of water on a rising tide.

A 35-45 minute seaplane from Malé, Raa balances wellness-led luxury with serious dive sites.

The whale-shark capital of the country.

The Maldivian dive atoll.

Roughly 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, Noonu hosts some of the country's highest-tier resorts.

The northern half of the Maldivian Ari atoll system.

Dhaalu sits roughly 160 kilometres south of Malé, with its own domestic airport (DDD) on Kudahuvadhoo that removes the seaplane dependency for the longer southern transfer.

The northern half of the Huvadhu atoll system, one of the largest natural atolls in the world by surface area.

An underdeveloped Far North atoll with two anchor luxury resorts (Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort and JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa) plus a small boutique-tier rotation.

Meemu (Mulaku) sits in the central-south Maldives, roughly 130 kilometres south of Male and reached by a 40 to 50 minute seaplane on Trans Maldivian Airways.

The southern half of the Huvadhu Atoll structure, 410 kilometres south of Velana and home to Kaadedhdhoo Airport (KDM).

The northernmost administrative atoll of the Maldives, closer to the southern tip of India than to Male.

The Far North's airport gateway atoll.

Vaavu (Felidhu) sits at the eastern edge of the central Maldives, less than 70 kilometres south of Male and accessible by a 75 to 90 minute speedboat from Velana.

Faafu (Nilandhe North) sits about 120 kilometres south-west of Male, accessible by a 30 to 40 minute seaplane on Trans Maldivian Airways.

Quiet single-resort atoll in the central-south Maldives, 200 kilometres south of Velana.

Far enough south that the atoll catches different swell patterns and rains slightly heavier than the central atolls.

The southernmost atoll, 478 kilometres south of Malé and 155 kilometres north of the Equator.