How to Go from Malé to Dhiffushi [Maldives Ferries & Speedboats]

The Maldives Island of Dhiffushi is found in the Kaafu Atoll and is at the end of the line of a ferry trip.  It’s the most easterly island in the Maldives chain of islands, and we looked forward to the earliest sunrise of our Maldives trip.  Whether you choose to go from Malé Airport to Dhiffushi or from Malé to Dhiffushi, you have a couple of options on how to get there.  We’ve also covered how to travel this route if you arrive on a Friday when no public ferries run. Here’s our guide on how to go from Malé to Dhiffushi.

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We arrived back in Malé after a fabulous resort island trip to Malahini (you can read about our experiences on this resort island here) and now we were heading back to the local islands on our Maldives Itinerary.

We’re exploring to the east now, so far we’ve visited Maafushi and Fulidhoo, we took the public ferry from Maafushi to Fulidhoo, but our route is now taking us to Dhiffushi and Thulusdhoo.  So here’s our guide on going from Malé to Dhiffushi.

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onboard maldives speedboat

Book a Speedboat from Male to Dhiffushi here

The quickest way to go from Male to Dhiffushi is to take the speedboat. Routes are possible from the airport or from Male.

Where is Dhiffushi?

Dhiffushi Island is in the Kaafu Atoll of the Maldives.  It is the easternmost inhabited island of the Maldives, the first to get a sunrise.  Dhiffushi is on the same atoll (the Kaafu, or Malé Atoll) as Maafushi – one of the 20 administrative atolls (and 26 actual atolls) that make up the Maldives chain of islands.  There are 1,192 islands within the Maldives, but only 187 of them are inhabited. Our guide and reasons for visiting Dhiffushi is here.

How to Go from Malé to Dhiffushi – Transport Options

In this guide on how to go from Malé to Dhiffushi, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel from Malé to Dhiffushi, the easiest way to go to Dhiffushi from Malé, and the cheapest way to get to Dhiffushi from Malé.  While you can go from Malé to Dhiffushi, you can also go directly from Malé Airport (aka Velana Airport – VIA) to Dhiffushi.

One of the options is the public ferry from Malé to Dhiffushi, but you should be aware that this public ferry does NOT operate on Fridays.  The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country, and Friday is both the weekend and a day of prayer.  Public services are not open on Fridays.

This trip to Dhiffushi was planned as part of our 2 week itinerary in the Maldives.

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Malé to Dhiffushi Public Ferry

If you’re in Malé or have just arrived on the public airport ferry into the Malé Ferry Terminal, then you’ll need to buy a ticket for this boat.  First, though, let’s look at the timetable for the Malé to Dhiffushi Public Ferry.

Malé to Dhiffushi Public Ferry Timetable

There is one public ferry a day (and every day, apart from Friday) that goes from Malé to Dhiffushi.  I’ll reiterate, this ferry does NOT run on a Friday. 

The timetable for the 308 ferry from Malé to Dhiffushi is as follows:

ALL DAYS Bar Friday:  Leaves Malé at 14:30 and arrives at Dhiffushi at 16:40

You can find the MTCC public ferry timetables here.  You’ll want to read our guide to Maldives public ferries in conjunction with it.

Buying tickets for the Malé to Dhiffushi Public Ferry

You need to buy a ticket before boarding the ferry to Dhiffushi.  Go inside the MTCC Ferry Terminal building and approach the ticket sellers behind the glass.

(If you’ve just got off the airport ferry then turn immediately left and enter the second set of (open) doors into the ferry terminal)

The ticket sellers speak English and will sell you the ticket to Dhiffushi.  You’ll need to pay cash in Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR).  (Read our guide to cash, ATMS, and paying for things in the Maldives).  There is an ATM on Dhiffushi, so you’ll be able to top up your cash reserves when you arrive.

You can also buy this ticket online with Bookaway. I’ll warn you now its a lot more expensive this way, but, you can, of course buy it with a card this way. Buy the public ferry ticket from Male to Dhiffushi online here. (note that there are NO tickets available on Fridays as the boat doesn’t run on Friday)

Malé to Dhiffushi Public Ferry Cost

Tickets from Malé to Dhiffushi on the public ferry cost 22MVR per person.  You’ll get a ticket that you need to hand to the boat crew as you board.

Male to Diffushi tickets public ferry

The waiting area at the MTCC Terminal doesn’t have A/C, but some of the food areas upstairs do. 

Waiting Area Male to Dhiffushi MTCC Building

Boarding the Malé to Dhiffushi Public Ferry

About 15 minutes before departure time, the boat crew will arrive and make an announcement.  So you’ll then get your bags and walk outside towards the ferry.  Line up (if you don’t the boat crew will make you), and then board the ferry via the front.  You’ll hand over your ticket as you board the boat.

Your bags on this ferry go to the back of the boat.

The ferries in the Maldives always depart from the first station

Seats on the Male to Dhiffushi Ferry

This is a relatively long ferry trip in the Kaafu atoll, so you’ll want to pick a seat that doesn’t have direct sunlight, and where you have access to both a window that opens and that has a curtain too. There’s no power for visitors on this ferry, so you’ll want to make sure you’re charged up before you get on. My guide to Maldives power adapters is here.

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How to go from Malé Airport to Dhiffushi

If you’re not in Malé City, or planning to go there, but arriving at the airport and planning to go straight to Dhiffushi, then you don’t need to go to Malé. 

Malé to Dhiffushi Speedboat

You can take a speedboat straight from the airport to Dhiffushi.  You can book the speedboat from Malé Airport to Dhiffushi here.

So, if you’re arriving at Malé Airport and want to go straight to Dhiffushi without going to Malé city you can take the speedboat, which runs two or three times a day (depending on the day). Departure times also differ depending on the day, so you should check the timetable here.

As mentioned above, there are usually two or three speedboats a day from Malé Airport to Dhuffushi.  They *may* call in Malé as well, however, they may not if they have enough passengers from the airport.

You can book this speedboat online with 12goAsia and pay for it with a card.  You can probably also book this speedboat with the hotel that you’re staying at in Dhiffushi, but you’ll have to pay for it at the hotel with cash (either US Dollars or Maldivian Rufiyaa).

If you arrive in the Maldives on a Friday and want to travel directly to Dhiffushi, then you have no choice, you’ll need to take a speedboat. You can pre-book a speedboat here.

Malé Airport to Dhiffushi Speedboat Timetable

Several different companies run speedboats to Dhiffushi from Malé, and times differ depending on the day of the week, but there are usually 2-3 speedboats a day available for this route.  The speedboat to Dhiffushi takes about 40 minutes.

Speedboats leave Malé Airport at different times on different days.  On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday you’ll usually see a speedboat at 11:30 and 16:30.

There is usually a 20:00 speedboat to Dhiffushi on Thursdays too.

On Saturday there is usually a 21:00 speedboat from Malé Airport to Dhiiffushi.

There are speedboats from Malé Airport to Dhiffushi on Fridays at 08:30 and 21:00

You can confirm the departure times here and book a ticket here.

Malé Airport to Dhiffushi Speedboat Price

A speedboat from Malé Airport to Dhiffushi costs around US$50 per person upwards.  And if you arrange to pay for it while you’re in the Maldives, then you’ll 99% likely have to pay cash (either in USD or MVR).

Speedboats run at different times on different days and several different companies run them.  You can book them online here, or you can probably book via your guesthouse or hotel on Dhiffushi.

Speedboats leave about 15 meters from the airport ferry ticket booth, but your guide will take you to the right boat.

Malé to Dhiffushi Private Speedboat

If you’re in a group and want to get to Dhiffushi even faster then you can take a private speedboat to Dhiffushi from Malé.  This can be ordered at whatever time you like and it can take a maximum of 6 people.  Expect to bounce off the top of a few waves.

Check prices for private speedboats from Malé to Dhiffushi here.

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Malé Airport to Dhiffushi Public Ferry

If you want to save a little money and take the public ferry from Malé Airport to Dhiffushi, then you’ll first need to take the Malé Airport to Malé City ferry.  And you will definitely need cash to pay for that.  The best place to get that is at the airport.  You may also want to get a local SIM card too.  Read about money, cash, and ATMs in the Maldives here – and check our guide to local Maldives SIM cards here.

The best option for data access in the Maldives is an eSIM, which you can buy from home easily, it’s here.

Malé Airport to Malé City Public Ferry

I wrote in detail about how to go from Malé Airport to Malé City here – however, the main details are as follows

  1. You’ll need to pay cash for this ferry (and the other public ferries)
  2. Walk out of arrivals, cross the road, and turn left.
  3. Walk about 30 meters (100 feet) to the Airport Ferry Booth
  4. Buy a ticket for 15 MVR (cash only) and then wait for the ferry
  5. The ferry runs every 15 minutes during the day and takes 10 minutes.
  6. The airport ferry goes to the MTCC Ferry Terminal on Malé Island.
  7. This is where the public ferries from Malé leave to go to Dhiffushi.

Malé to Dhiffushi by Public Ferry

Now that you’ve made it to the MTCC Ferry Terminal you can take the public ferry to Dhuffushi and you can follow the instructions above. You can buy this ticket online with Bookaway, but its more expensive than buying in person with cash.

What’s the public ferry from Malé to Dhiffushi like?

The public ferries in the Maldives are large wooden Dhows.  They’re clean and seaworthy, but the engines sound a bit noisy and rough.  They have windows that open.  Some have curtains at the windows.

There are rows of either wooden seats or plastic seats on them. 

There are usually at least two members of the crew manning the ferries.  And a ticket seller.  If you board the public ferries anywhere other than Malé, then you’ll buy your ticket once you’re on the ferry.  Cash only.  All tickets have the price printed on them and the crew wears MTCC (Maldives Transport and Contracting Company) t-shirts.

There’s a specific bag storage area on each of the ferries.  If you don’t move your bag to it, then a member of the crew will move it for you.

The ferry from Malé to Dhiffushi ran to time when we took it.  The return ferry to Malé leaves Dhiffushi early – at 06:30, so it’s relatively cool and it arrives in Malé at 08:40.  Ours arrived about 30 minutes late.

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Arriving on Dhiffushi Island

All boats arrive on Dhiffushi Island in the same place, that’s the harbor in Dhiffushi.  And regardless of how you arrive, you’ll be met by your hotel or guesthouse.  Usually, this is so that your bags get transported, and you’re directed to where the hotel is.

Dhiffushi Ferry arriving in Dhiffushi

Map of Ferry Jetties for going from Malé to Dhiffushi

You can also see the full map of ferry jetties here

Map of How to Go from Malé to Dhiffushi

The quickest way to get from Malé to Dhiffushi

The quickest way to go to Dhiffushi from Malé (or Malé Airport) is to take a speedboat you can book speedboat tickets from Malé to Dhiffushi here.

The easiest way to go to Dhiffushi from Malé

The easiest way to get from Malé to Dhiffushi is to take a speedboat.  It gets you there quicker and there are more timetabled speedboats than public ferries available.

The cheapest way to go from Malé to Dhiffushi

The cheapest way to get to Dhiffushi from Malé is to take the public ferry.  You will need to take a public ferry from the airport to the MTCC Terminal on Malé Island first.  There is only one public ferry a day to Dhiffushi , and you’ll need to pay cash for the public ferries.  The public ferry to Dhiffushi does NOT run on Fridays. While this ferry is SERIOUSLY cheap to buy tickets in person in cash, you can also book it (for a premium) online here – its still cheaper than the speedboat)

The best way to go from Malé to Dhiffushi

If you’ve got the time (and if the timetable works for you), then the public ferry is a fabulous way to travel.   If you don’t, or if you arrive on a Friday, then you’ll need to take a speedboat, you can book a speedboat here.

Tips for Traveling the Maldives

Final Words on How to Go from Malé to Dhiffushi

While the public ferries in the Maldives are similar, they’re not all the same and this ferry route from Malé to Dhiffushi is a really nice trip.  We had good weather on our trip and the route from Malé to Dhiffushi, being in the afternoon was much warmer than the return trip.  All in all it’s a good value route and interesting to watch the resort islands as you go past them.

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