Fuvahmulah, nearly 500 km south of Maldives’ capital Male and 33 km from the Equator, is the archipelago’s third-largest island, measuring 4.5 km by 1.2 km. It is unique as the only one-island atoll in Maldives, surrounded by deep oceans without a lagoon, making it vulnerable to large swells. Historically, Fuvahmulah had a saltwater lagoon at its southern end, but coral growth closed the channel, resulting in two freshwater lakes, Dhadimagi Kilhi and Bandaara Kilhi, surrounded by marshlands. The island’s underwater topography features a submerged reef extending 3 km southeast, with waters ranging from 5 m to over 2000 m deep, supporting a rich marine environment ideal for pelagic fish nurseries.