Where should a traveller wanting the Gaafu Dhaalu deep-south experience look instead?

Ayada Maldives, on Maguhdhuvaa island, is now Gaafu Dhaalu's only operating resort: 112 villas, Turkish-owned luxury all-inclusive with the Ottoman Lounge, six restaurants, opened in 2011. For the adjacent Gaafu Alifu Atoll, just north, the choices are Park Hyatt Hadahaa (50-villa Park Hyatt flagship with a PADI 5-star house reef, 2009), The Halcyon Private Isles on Meradhoo (Marriott Autograph Collection ultra-luxury, 38 villas across a two-island layout, launched in 2025), Pullman Maldives Maamutaa (122-villa Accor all-inclusive with the underwater Aqua Villa, 2019), and The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah and Falhumaafushi (the Cenizaro pair joined by a 6-kilometre bridge, 173 and 94 villas respectively). All currently operate; Outrigger Konotta does not.

Closed

This resort is closed and not currently accepting bookings.

Closed since early 2020. In July 2025 the owner, Singha Estate, put Konotta Island up for sale through JLL, offered with vacant possession for a new owner to rebrand or redevelop. Interest has come from several operators, including for a possible wellness repositioning, but no successor has been confirmed and no reopening date announced.

We keep this page as a record. Rate-check links are disabled while the resort is not operating.

Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll · luxury resort · opened 2015 · dormant

Outrigger Konotta

Outrigger Konotta operated as a Hawaii-owned boutique luxury resort on Konotta island, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, from 2015 to 2020. The Outrigger management agreement ended around 2020 and the island, owned by Singha Estate, has stayed dormant since, with no successor brand confirmed. This page is the historical record.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort sat on Konotta island in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, opened in 2015 under Outrigger Hospitality Group, a Hawaii-based operator. It was the country's only Outrigger property and one of the very few Hawaii-owned operations to land in the Maldives at any point. Current status (verified May 2026): the property has been closed since early 2020, when the Outrigger management agreement ended. The island is owned by Singha Estate, which acquired it in 2018; in July 2025 Singha put Konotta up for sale through JLL with vacant possession for a new owner to rebrand or redevelop. Interest has come from several operators, including for a possible wellness repositioning, but no successor has been confirmed and no reopening is on the calendar; the remote far-southern position is widely cited as a reason. This page describes the 2015-to-2020 Outrigger Konotta as a historical record. For a current Gaafu Dhaalu stay, see Ayada; for a current Outrigger Maldivian alternative, there is none.

Setting

Konotta is a natural island in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. While the property operated, the 53 villas were spread between the beach and an over-water row on the lagoon, and the Hawaii-owned style read through the relaxed hospitality and the host-coordinator villa programme.

Gaafu Dhaalu sits in the country's far-southern reaches, immediately south of Gaafu Alifu; the 55-minute seaplane was a long way down.

Current status: the island has been dormant since 2020. The owner, Singha Estate, has put it up for sale through JLL with vacant possession, and no reopening has been announced.

Who it's for

Luxury couples who wanted Hawaii-owned hospitality, while the property operated. It was the only Outrigger-flagged Maldivian resort, with the group's aloha-spirit style and host-coordinator villa programme transposed to a 53-villa southern island.
Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty travellers, while the property was bookable. Konotta was the only DISCOVERY Maldivian redemption; there is no current Outrigger Maldivian alternative.
Travellers who wanted boutique-scale luxury at the country's southernmost atoll. 53 villas placed Konotta among the smaller resorts on Gaafu Dhaalu, alongside the larger Ayada.
Anyone wanting the country's quietest setting. Gaafu Dhaalu has only two resorts on our list and is the deep south; with Konotta closed, that quiet now belongs to Ayada alone.

Who it isn't for

Anyone looking for a current Maldivian booking. The property has been closed since 2020 and no successor brand has been confirmed.
Travellers chasing the very top tier of European-maison polish. Outrigger Konotta operated at a Hawaii-owned boutique luxury level rather than that tier; for an LVMH-owned address, Cheval Blanc Randheli up at Noonu is the comparison.
Travellers wanting a quick, simple arrival. While operating, the property was reached by a roughly 55-minute seaplane direct from Velana to the country's southernmost atoll; the remote position is widely cited as a reason no successor has been confirmed.
Travellers wanting a brand-new 2020s build. Konotta opened in 2015 and never reopened after 2020; for more contemporary southern-cluster design, The Halcyon Private Isles at adjacent Gaafu Alifu, on Meradhoo, launched under Marriott Autograph Collection in 2025, is one alternative.

The villas

While the property operated, the 53 villas ran from the beachfront Beach Pool Villa and Beach Pool Suite through the over-water Ocean Pool Villa and Ocean Pool Suite, up to the larger Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa. All carried private pools.

Villa	Size	Sleeps	Pool
Beach Pool Villa	165 m²	2	Yes
Beach Pool Suite	215 m²	2	Yes
Ocean Pool Villa	140 m²	2	Yes
Ocean Pool Suite	175 m²	2	Yes
Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa	580 m²	6	Yes

Food & drink

While the property operated, the dining ran across the main all-day pavilion, an over-water specialty venue handling dinner-only Asian-Pacific cooking, a casual beach-side venue for lunch and sundowners, plus the bar and lounge.

At 53 villas, the dining surface was modest by Maldivian luxury standards but matched the scale, with in-villa dining as a routine option rather than a paid upgrade.

Honest read (historical): the dining held a consistent boutique luxury standard with an Asian-Pacific tilt, distinct in character from Ayada's Turkish-leaning all-inclusive on the same atoll.

Diving and the house reef

While the property operated, the on-island dive operation ran at boutique luxury pace. Gaafu Dhaalu is the country's southernmost atoll, and the wider dive sites are quieter than the central-atoll cluster.

Courses ran from Open Water through Divemaster. Since the closure in 2020, the dive operation has not run.

If you want a dedicated dive base with on-site decompression facilities, Bandos up at North Malé is built for it.

Spa and wellness

While the property operated, Navasana Spa covered massages, facials, body treatments and scrubs at a relaxed boutique luxury pace. With 53 villas, peak-week bookings rarely posed a problem.

Additional facilities included the yoga pavilion, the relaxation lounge and wellness walks around the island.

Honest caveat: Navasana ran the standard hotel-spa programme rather than the wellness-first format. For a structured, immersive wellness stay today, JOALI BEING at Haa Alif is built for exactly that.

Activities and the on-island programme

While the property operated, watersports covered the usual range: stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, guided snorkel trips and the on-property dive programme.

Out on the water were dolphin cruises (Gaafu Dhaalu has its own southern pods), sandbank picnics, and the dhoni cruise that doubled as fishing and a bit of local culture.

The Outrigger style ran through the daily schedule, with host-coordinators handling activity planning, dining bookings and excursions, a single point of contact replacing the multi-team luxury-chain pattern.

Getting there

Historical routing while the property operated (2015 to 2020): roughly a 55-minute Trans Maldivian seaplane direct from Velana International to the Konotta lagoon platform.

An alternative was a domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo Airport plus a speedboat onward, used by travellers landing past the seaplane curfew.

Seaplanes only fly in daylight (about 06:30 to 16:00), so a late international arrival meant a night at an airport hotel. The far-southern position made this one of the country's longer arrivals, and it's the same remoteness widely cited as the reason no successor has been confirmed. Since 2020 the island has been dormant and is not accepting bookings; the Maldives still offers a free 30-day visa on arrival for most nationalities.

Best time to visit

Gaafu Dhaalu follows the southern Maldivian pattern, although the seasons here are a historical reference rather than a current booking guide. December through April was the dry stretch and the European peak.

May through November brought the southwest monsoon and more frequent showers, with the southernmost position shifting the rainfall pattern slightly from the central atolls.

While the property operated, late September into early October was the shoulder-value window.

Sustainability, the numbers

While the property operated, Outrigger's group sustainability practices applied: still and sparkling water filtered and bottled on the island, single-use plastic cut back, some on-property solar feeding back-of-house, and standard reef monitoring.

The far-southern position meant a lower-density footprint than the central atolls during operation.

What was missing then, and remains missing in the public record: a property-specific, independently audited annual impact report of the Soneva kind, and there was no carbon levy on the bill.

Our take

What made the place distinctive while it operated was Hawaii ownership on a Maldivian island. Outrigger was, and remains, the only Hawaii-headquartered hospitality group to put a name on a Maldivian resort. Combined with the 53-villa boutique scale at the country's southernmost atoll, the property carried a character no other Maldivian resort can match. Whether a successor reopens it under another flag, that distinctiveness is what was here.

The under-appreciated angle is the cross-resort pairing on the atoll. Ayada at Maguhdhuvaa (112 villas, Turkish-owned luxury all-inclusive with the Ottoman Lounge and Middle Eastern design, opened in 2011) is now Gaafu Dhaalu's only operating resort. Outrigger Konotta was the smaller, Hawaii-owned counterpart from 2015 to 2020; the pairing of Turkish and Hawaii ownership on the country's southernmost atoll was a one-of-a-kind arrangement while it lasted.

Current recommendation: for a Gaafu Dhaalu stay, Ayada is now the only option. For the adjacent Gaafu Alifu, the choices are Park Hyatt Hadahaa (50-villa Park Hyatt with a PADI 5-star house reef), The Halcyon Private Isles (Marriott Autograph Collection ultra-luxury, launched in 2025), Pullman Maldives Maamutaa (122-villa Accor all-inclusive with the underwater Aqua Villa), and The Residence Dhigurah and Falhumaafushi (the bridge-linked Cenizaro pair). Outrigger Konotta will reopen, in some form, if and when a new operator commits.

Maldives Idylls editorial·last revised 2026-05-11

Verdict

Note: Outrigger Konotta has been closed since early 2020. The Outrigger management agreement ended around then, and the island, owned by Singha Estate (which acquired it in 2018), has stayed dormant since. In July 2025 Singha put Konotta up for sale through JLL with vacant possession for a new owner to rebrand or redevelop. Interest has come from several operators, including for a possible wellness repositioning, but no successor has been confirmed and no reopening is on the calendar. This page describes the 2015-to-2020 Outrigger Konotta as a historical record. For a current Gaafu Dhaalu stay, see Ayada; for a current Outrigger Maldivian alternative, there is none. As an operational record: for luxury couples who wanted Hawaii-owned hospitality, Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty travellers, travellers wanting boutique-scale luxury at the country's southernmost atoll, and anyone after the deep-south experience at boutique luxury polish, Outrigger Konotta was the boutique answer in Gaafu Dhaalu while it operated. The 53 villas across Beach Pool Villa, Beach Pool Suite, Ocean Pool Villa, Ocean Pool Suite and the Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa, the multi-venue dining with the Asian-Pacific specialty venue, Navasana Spa, and the 55-minute seaplane from Velana were the headline features.

Lagoon conditions

28°Csea 30°C

Wind

8.1 m/s N

Source: Open-Meteo · cached 6h

Quick facts

Villas: 53 across Beach Pool Villa, Beach Pool Suite, Ocean Pool Villa, Ocean Pool Suite, and the larger Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa (historical; the property has been closed since 2020)
Restaurants: Multi-venue dining while the property operated: the principal all-day pavilion, an over-water Asian-Pacific specialty venue, a casual beach-side venue, and the bar and lounge
Transfer: Historical (while operating 2015 to 2020): about a 55-minute Trans Maldivian seaplane direct from Velana. Property closed since 2020.
Dive centre: On-island while operating (2015 to 2020); not currently in service
Opened: 2015 (Outrigger Hospitality Group, Hawaii-headquartered). Closed since early 2020.
Island: Konotta, in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, the country's southernmost atoll; one of two resorts on our list there, the other being Ayada
Brand framework: Outrigger Hospitality Group while operating (Hawaii-headquartered; the only Outrigger Maldivian property). Management agreement ended around 2020; owner Singha Estate.
Distinctive feature: While operating, the only Hawaii-owned Maldivian resort, with the Outrigger aloha-spirit hospitality style on a 53-villa boutique island at the country's southernmost atoll. Closed/dormant since 2020; no successor confirmed.

Gallery

Photographs come from each resort's own communications and operator-supplied media kits. Operators retain ownership; takedown requests are honoured on email. Click any tile to view it full size.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, aerial, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Konotta island parasail-mounted aerial: orange parasail wing visible upper-right (paraglider viewpoint), the palm-covered private island ringed by the long parallel over-water villa cluster on the southern lagoon edge, a speedboat trail crossing the deep-water channel toward the towed parasailer. — Konotta island parasail-mounted aerial: orange parasail wing visible upper-right (paraglider viewpoint), the palm-covered private island ringed by the long parallel over-water villa cluster on the southern lagoon edge, a speedboat trail crossing the deep-water channel toward the towed parasailer.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, villa overwater, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Ocean Pool Villa private deck: infinity-edge plunge pool with mosaic-blue tile bottom stepping into the lagoon, weathered-teak decking, life-ring on the railing (operator safety signage), house reef visible through the clear water, speedboats moored on the deep-channel side. — Ocean Pool Villa private deck: infinity-edge plunge pool with mosaic-blue tile bottom stepping into the lagoon, weathered-teak decking, life-ring on the railing (operator safety signage), house reef visible through the clear water, speedboats moored on the deep-channel side.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, villa overwater, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Ocean Pool Villa private infinity pool at sunset, the western open-ocean horizon catching the gold light, dark teak deck with pool-side ladder, no other property in view (the southernmost outer-atoll position visible). — Ocean Pool Villa private infinity pool at sunset, the western open-ocean horizon catching the gold light, dark teak deck with pool-side ladder, no other property in view (the southernmost outer-atoll position visible).

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, dining, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Beachfront dining deck with string-light pergola posts running parallel to the shore, wood-and-cane chairs at four-top tables set with brass storm lanterns, palm canopy shading the foreground, white sand and the turquoise lagoon framed beyond the deck rail. — Beachfront dining deck with string-light pergola posts running parallel to the shore, wood-and-cane chairs at four-top tables set with brass storm lanterns, palm canopy shading the foreground, white sand and the turquoise lagoon framed beyond the deck rail.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, setting, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, The Konotta jetty bridge from POV at the lagoon-side mouth: a single teak-plank boardwalk running straight onto the palm-thick island, white sandbar tip flanking the lagoon-shallow side, thatched villa roofs visible through the palm canopy at the landfall. — The Konotta jetty bridge from POV at the lagoon-side mouth: a single teak-plank boardwalk running straight onto the palm-thick island, white sandbar tip flanking the lagoon-shallow side, thatched villa roofs visible through the palm canopy at the landfall.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, setting, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Konotta arrival side from the beach: the parallel jetty bridge ending at a thatched-pyramid welcome pavilion at the far end, rattan beach chairs draped with Outrigger striped towels in the foreground, lone parasol shading them. — Konotta arrival side from the beach: the parallel jetty bridge ending at a thatched-pyramid welcome pavilion at the far end, rattan beach chairs draped with Outrigger striped towels in the foreground, lone parasol shading them.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, setting, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Branching-arrival jetty seen from the boat platform: a three-pronged junction of teak boardwalks meeting before the path leads onto the main island, palm canopy and thatched-roof structures behind, the lagoon shallow at the legs. — Branching-arrival jetty seen from the boat platform: a three-pronged junction of teak boardwalks meeting before the path leads onto the main island, palm canopy and thatched-roof structures behind, the lagoon shallow at the legs.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, setting, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Main pool with infinity edge and mosaic-blue tiled bottom, twin coconut palms framing the lagoon view, white-sand beach immediately beyond the pool edge, the perimeter villa cluster suggested at the far right. — Main pool with infinity edge and mosaic-blue tiled bottom, twin coconut palms framing the lagoon view, white-sand beach immediately beyond the pool edge, the perimeter villa cluster suggested at the far right.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, spa, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, Navasana Spa lagoon-edge pavilion: thatched pyramidal roof with dark timber facing, palm canopy and rounded shoreline boulders flanking the entrance, the overwater villa walkway visible behind the pavilion, calm turquoise lagoon in the foreground. — Navasana Spa lagoon-edge pavilion: thatched pyramidal roof with dark timber facing, palm canopy and rounded shoreline boulders flanking the entrance, the overwater villa walkway visible behind the pavilion, calm turquoise lagoon in the foreground.

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Frequently asked

Is Outrigger Konotta still operating?: No. The property has been closed since early 2020, when the Outrigger management agreement ended. The island is owned by Singha Estate, which acquired it in 2018; in July 2025 Singha put Konotta up for sale through JLL with vacant possession for a new owner to rebrand or redevelop. Interest has come from several operators, including for a possible wellness repositioning, but no successor has been confirmed and no reopening is on the calendar. The remote far-southern position is widely cited as a reason no successor has been quick to commit. This page describes the 2015 to 2020 Outrigger Konotta as a historical record rather than a current accommodation guide.
Where should a traveller wanting the Gaafu Dhaalu deep-south experience look instead?: Ayada Maldives, on Maguhdhuvaa island, is now Gaafu Dhaalu's only operating resort: 112 villas, Turkish-owned luxury all-inclusive with the Ottoman Lounge, six restaurants, opened in 2011. For the adjacent Gaafu Alifu Atoll, just north, the choices are Park Hyatt Hadahaa (50-villa Park Hyatt flagship with a PADI 5-star house reef, 2009), The Halcyon Private Isles on Meradhoo (Marriott Autograph Collection ultra-luxury, 38 villas across a two-island layout, launched in 2025), Pullman Maldives Maamutaa (122-villa Accor all-inclusive with the underwater Aqua Villa, 2019), and The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah and Falhumaafushi (the Cenizaro pair joined by a 6-kilometre bridge, 173 and 94 villas respectively). All currently operate; Outrigger Konotta does not.

Verification

Last verified 2026-05-28. Next refresh 2026-08-28. Edited by Linus Halberg.