Atoll Atoll An atoll (, , , , or ), sometimes called a coral atoll, is a ring-shaped coral reef including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. The coral of the atoll often sits atop the rim of an extinct seamount or volcano which has eroded or subsided partially beneath the water. The lagoon forms over the volcanic crater or caldera while the higher rim remains above water(s) or at shallow depths that permit the coral to grow and form the reefs. For the atoll to persist,
Southern Nilandhe Atoll become a popular location for SCUBA diving. Some of the islands in this atoll have remains from the Buddhist period, but none of them have been properly excavated yet. Southern Nilandhe Atoll Southern Nilandhe Atoll, Nilande Atoll South or Dhaalu is one of the atolls of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. It stretches from east to west, and north to south. Out of a total of 56 islands, eight of the islands are inhabited, with a total population of around 6694. The capital island is Kudahuvadhoo, located at the atoll's southern tip. Hulhudheli