Ariyal Liveaboard, Maldives
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8.8 Fabulous
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- Free Internet
- Free Nitrox
- from $ 220 / day
- Book Now
“If you're an experienced diver seeking adventure and challenging dives, this liveaboard may not be the best choice. While the trip…”
Highlights
The Ariyal is a 45-meter/148-foot-long liveaboard taking 26 passengers in 13 cabins on diving adventures in the Maldives. There are three types of rooms: 7 State Cabins on the lower deck, 2 Sea View Suites on the main deck, and 4 Sea View Suites on the upper deck. All cabins feature ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, and modern amenities. The lower deck cabins provide twin beds, and the sea view suites offer king-size beds and sofa beds. Guests can enjoy a spacious second deck equipped with a freshwater jacuzzi.
Ariyal also boasts a range of onboard facilities and activities. It includes 2 Yamaha Jetskis, paddleboards, wakeboards, water skis, and various inflatables for water sports enthusiasts. Beach BBQ setups with portable grills, speakers, and dining furniture are available for shore excursions. The boat is equipped for fishing with 24 line fishing sets. Onboard entertainment includes a 75” smart TV in the lounge, WiFi, a PlayStation 5, portable Bose speakers, and board games. Whether seeking adventure or relaxation, Ariyal promises an unforgettable experience on the Maldivian seas.
Book your scuba diving adventure aboard the Ariyal today.
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Included: VAT, Port Fees, Airport Transfer, Drinking Water, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Special Dinner, Diving Package, Nitrox, Fishing, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Snorkeling Guide, Stand Up Paddleboard, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: Environment Tax (12 USD per day), Mandatory Service Charge (150 USD per trip).
Optional Extras: Alcoholic Beverages, Wine with Dinner, Nitrox Course (220 USD per activity), Private Dive Guide (650 USD per trip), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses (650 USD per activity), Jet Ski, Snorkel Gear, Wakeboarding, Water Ski.
Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.
* Extra fees are shown per person.
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Drawings & Vessel Layouts
Cabin Types
Ariyal Reviews
- 8.8 Fabulous
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Vessel
8.9
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Crew
8.9
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Food
9.5
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Diving
8.4
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Value
8.4
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- 10 Exceptional
- Jamie S
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United States
Dreamy Maldives trip, highly professional boat, exceptional diving !
I had such a wonderful time aboard the Ariyal, the trip from start to finish was professional, comfortable, and lovely. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to cruise the Maldives and experience exceptional diving. All of the diving was exceptional, we saw hammerheads, tiger sharks, bull shark, nurse sharks, spinnner sharks, lemon sharks, guitar sharks, mantas, nudi branch, pipefish, eagle rays, mobula rays, and so much m ore!!! The dive doni and the Boat crew on the doni we’re very professional and made he diving fun, helped set up, breakout, and clean all equipment after every dive so you can go on enjoying the sun. The food was well prepared and plentiful, the cabins were very comfortable spacious and the bed was super comfy. Other activities they have on board, paddle boarding, wakeboarding, fishing, tubing, drinking (ha!), and other fun activities. Overall 10 out of 10 trip would highly recommend!!! Shout out to the Capitan Ibrahim who went above and beyond to make the trip perfect, he truly cares about the quality of the trip and the safety of the passengers on board his boat!
- Recommended for
- The local staff on board were so professional and helpful. The itinerary goes to all right right spots. Te boat is absolutely beautiful and comfurtable.
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- 8.0 Very good
- PHILIPPE M
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Netherlands
Recommended boat
Very good. Potential improvements : briefings to be done by using the huge TV srceen and not small dry board.
- Recommended for
- very spacious dhoni, outstanding service from the dhoni crew, always ready to help and assist.. nice cabins, spacious, silent AC.. Good boat stability during navigation.
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- 7.2 Good
- Olaf P
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Italy
A Disappointing Experience for Experienced Divers
If you're an experienced diver seeking adventure and challenging dives, this liveaboard may not be the best choice. While the trip had its highlights, such as attentive crew and excellent food, the diving itself fell short of expectations. We encountered limited variety, with only one channel dive throughout the trip. Vavau Atoll, which I had anticipated, was bypassed entirely – conflicting explanations were given by different guides, ranging from weather concerns to suggestions that it was never part of the itinerary. Dive sites were sometimes repeated, focusing on average thilas. Diving groups consisted of mixed experience levels, pairing seasoned divers with beginners. This led to overly conservative dive plans, with guides avoiding sites with strong currents – and best marine encounters – to ensure the safety of less experienced participants. A few practical issues stood out as well. Despite what was advertised, the Ariyal lacks a camera station. If you're bringing photo gear, expect to rinse it in a small bucket shared with masks and dive computers, and to carry it your room after each dive. While the boat appears luxurious at first glance, it doesn't handle rain or rough seas well. Water dripped from the ceiling in upper deck cabins, and in the lower cabins, sea splashes made its way through the portholes. On a positive note, the food was excellent, and the crew worked tirelessly to make the trip as enjoyable as possible given the circumstances. However, if you're looking for more advanced diving experiences, this trip may leave you wanting more.
- Recommended for
- Food. Boat crew. Awesome travel companions.
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Charlotte B
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United Kingdom
A good relaxing trip
I had a really good time on the boat, we had a great week. The boat is beautiful (though for a new boat a few things need to be addressed, it rains inside). the rooms are very spacious for a diving boat, the staff is very friendly and helpful. Dive guides were great (1 dive guide for 6 people). The food was really good, fresh fish in sashimi was the highlight.
- Recommended for
- Room spacious and clean. Fresh fish for lunch and dinner. Crew friendly.
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- 10 Exceptional
- Sol C
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Australia
Paradise!
Our time on the Ariyal in the Maldives was nothing short of spectacular. From breathtaking dive sites to top-notch service, every moment was unforgettable. The crew was incredibly attentive, the food was outstanding, and the underwater adventures were insane—teeming with marine life like we’d never seen before. It was an experience of a lifetime that we’d recommend to anyone seeking a mix of adventure and luxury in paradise!
- Recommended for
- Staff. Friendliness. Great Boay.
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- 9.2 Superb
- emilie C
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France
Great trip with great people
Enjoyed every day of this trip thanks to great diving sites and the staff's kindness, making their best to please us and let us have all the fun possible!
- Recommended for
- dive spots. kindness of staff. boat comfort.
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- 10 Exceptional
- Carlos G
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Spain
Unforgettable Ariyal
We just returned from an unforgettable week aboard the boat *Ariyal*. From the moment we boarded, the crew were so friendly, attentive, and truly went above and beyond to make sure our every need was met. It was clear they were passionate about what they do, and it really enhanced the entire experience. The Diving was spectacular. We dived in some of the most beautiful spots. It was an incredible experience, one that well remember for years. The underwater world was so vibrant and full of life—definitely a highlight of the trip. The food was another standout. Every meal was a treat, with fresh seafood, local dishes, and an amazing barbecue on the beach one evening. The variety and quality of the food far exceeded my expectations, and the crew made sure everyone was well-fed and happy throughout the trip. However, if I had to point out one downside, it would be the boat's seaworthiness on bad weather. We ran into some rougher seas, the crew did their best to ensure our comfort. The captain was wise, experienced and good decisions were made, It didn't ruin the experience by any means, but it did make some parts of the trip a little less comfortable, water was coming from the ceilings with the severe rainfall. I wanted to add how comfortable and big the rooms were, and how it was an incredible relaxing holiday because apart from the diving, we could do whatever we liked in a comfortable luxury yacht. Overall, it was an amazing week. I would recommend *Ariyal* to anyone looking for a unique adventure at sea. The crew, the food, and the incredible underwater experiences made it a trip we'll never forget.
- Recommended for
- Underwater wonders. Staff and guides. Food, room and facilities.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Joseph F
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United Kingdom
Excellent diving without the crowds
We did the classic Maldives route which can get busy. However, the guides were excellent at selecting dive sites and timings, meaning we had most dive sites to ourselves. The boat is new and comfortable with plenty of space for everyone. The dives were excellent (as they normally are!) and the briefings were detailed and informative.
- Recommended for
- Very comfortable cabins. Spacious boat. Great diving without the crowds.
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- 6.0 Review score
- Claire K
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United Kingdom
A 50th Birthday I'll never forget for all the wrong reasons!
The boat itself was extremely comfortable. Mr Mahesh, the chef and the dhoni crew were excellent. The highlight dives: Dhiggiri (nurse shark feeding) and H'Male Neru were definitely a spectacular sight! However, the rest of the dives were mediocre at best. The main guide Shamil was defensive/standoffish. Dive briefings often lasted in excess of 25mins. The dive group of 20 persons - some with a handful of dives, others very experienced- was too large for only having 2 guides onboard. There were 2 groups of 10 divers in each! This meant that dives were often cut short due to less experienced divers running low on air. The size of the groups and disorgnisation resulted in various incidents throughout the trip. First incident occurred when a diver had a rapid ascent to the surface. She felt she required 02 as she had missed her safety stop (it was a deep dive 25M+) The dhoni boat/dive leader could not administer 02 as they did not have the required emergency equipment of face mask/valve fittings. Another diver suffered an ear perforation injury after a rapid descent. His tank was changed to 15l steel tank, and his weight was not adjusted accordingly. The manta viewing dive was set up in 24M. It was incredibly unsafe. No record of who was in/out of the water. The depth and extremely poor visibility due to sandy bottom caused mass panic, with many divers rushing to the surfce after only a few minutes in the water. Fesdhoo Wreck: we never saw the wreck. Apparently we were dropped in the wrong location. We had a deep dive with strong currents, zero viz, in a sand channel with a barren/poor quality reef at the end for our safety stop! I am not sure how qualified or experienced our dive guides were with the area/dive sites. They didn't socialise with us outside of the dives. They didn't eat with us or spend time between dives in our company. As soon as a dive was over they would disappear from view. I found this behavior from the guides most unusual and disappointing. I have never experienced this behaviour on any liveaboard- I have been on many and have worked on liveaboards in the past for over 10 years. I would like to say a special "Thank you" to Mr Mahesh who recognised my 50th Birthday with a G&T and the Chef who made me a cake! It was delicious and very kind!
- Recommended for
- Mr Mahesh. The dhoni crew. Fellow passengers.
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- 6.8 Review score
- christina W
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Sweden
Unorganized, not safe, 3 nights in the harbour
Well a bit unorganized, reef hooks and tourches were not enough. Eventhoug we had completed forms in advance we had to give all info again. Unsafe we were 20 persons and 2 dive guides, due to miscommunication between captain and dive master one night dive was very unsafe and mucked up. We had no bbq, we spent 3 nightS close to the airport. 2 days was no program. We want a refund.
- Recommended for
- The standard of the boat. Convenient and good service at dives. Food nice.
