Vaavu Atoll is located on the eastern range of the Maldive archipelago and is separated from South Male Atoll by the 14km wide Fulidhoo Kandu. The atoll is 42km long and 55km wide and shaped like a boot with the toe being Fotteyo Muli, which is a reef protruding from the northern tip of Fotteho Falhu. Fotteyo Falbu is one long unbroken reef extending from Hurahu Kandu in the east to Rakeedhoo Dhekunu Kandu in the south. It is the longest reef in the Maldives being 55km in length. The island of Fotteyo-bodufishu lies within the falhu and is the most eastern island in the archipelago.

Vaavu Atoll has five inhabited islands, Fulidhoo, Thinadhoo, Felidhoo, Keyodhoo and Rakeedhoo. There are 10 uninhabited islands of which two, Dhiggiri and Alimathaa are resorts and there are several small sand islands with bushes.

Vattaru Atoll is a small round shaped atoll 9km wide that lies 4.5km to the south of Vaavu Atoll. It has only one kandu, Vattaru Kandu which is on the southern side and safari dhoanis sometimes include this location on their Felidhoo diving itinerary. A further 4.5km south is Mulaku Atoll. Occasionally safari dhoanis make a day drip to the remote Mulaku Kandu.