Ariyal Liveaboard, Maldives

Ariyal Liveaboard – Standout Guiding & Seamless Crew Support

Fantastic trip on Ariyal. Sharmil gave the most in-depth, practical briefings I’ve had; Naphsu elevated every dive with smart routes and great spotting. Hana made ladder assists and tank handling effortless, Samuel handled luggage seamlessly. Allatay and Wishoo guided other groups—super friendly and clearly expert. Captain Nishant’s 20+ years showed in safe, precise navigation. Highly recommend.

Recommended for

Dive Guides. Food. Company.

11 Aug, 2025

Must do if you’re a passionate diver and highly recommend Ariyal boat with its crew

I joined Ariyal 3rd August 2025 - I booked the trip in 2024 and what attracted me to this offer was the price and the fact that the boat was new. Everything, from the comfort of the cabin, to all 16 dives we did, the crew and the team of divers, was incredible and I couldn’t expect anything more. Tip if you will join: bring pegs for drying your gear/clothes, start interacting with people from the first moment on the boat, mark your gear/clothes with your initials, bring your water bottle. Tip for the boat: create a board with the crew’s photos and names, use the top deck more often. Thank you to the crew and our amazing team of divers for making this an unforgettable adventure!

Recommended for

The people. All the diving. Amazing experience.

11 Aug, 2025

An Unforgettable Dive Experience Aboard the Ariyal – Maldives

An Unforgettable Dive Experience Aboard the Ariyal – Maldives We just came back from an incredible week aboard the Ariyal liveaboard, and it was nothing short of amazing. The boat itself is spotlessly clean and luxurious, with excellent amenities that make the experience both comfortable and relaxing. Our room was spacious and well-appointed, providing a perfect place to unwind between dives. The crew was outstanding—always attentive, friendly, and ready to help with anything we needed. A special shoutout to Anu for the top-notch service during meals and for the excellent selection of food and wine. We opted to dive with a private divemaster, which allowed us to stay in a smaller group, and it was completely worth it. We were doing 3 to 4 dives a day, and the dive sites were varied, beautiful, and full of life. Sharmel gave us detailed and entertaining briefings before each dive—he’s incredibly knowledgeable and funny, always sharing great insights. Our private divemaster Teygo was absolutely amazing. I had some issues with my ear, and he was incredibly caring and supportive, making sure I could dive safely. Two thumbs up to Teygo for his professionalism and kindness. While we weren’t lucky enough to see whale sharks this time, the manta rays gave us an unforgettable show, and the shark encounters were incredible—we saw nurse sharks, lemon sharks, spinners, and even tiger and bull sharks. I missed the Hammer-Head, but it was there too! The entire crew was exceptional—helpful, friendly, and always working hard behind the scenes to make the trip seamless. Although I didn’t get to know all their names, their effort didn’t go unnoticed. We also had a great time bonding with other guests, sharing laughs, playing cards, and going for swims together. And lastly, a huge thank you to Captain Nisha, who safely guided us from site to site and ensured that everything on board was running smoothly. If you’re looking for a high-quality dive liveaboard in the Maldives, I absolutely recommend the Ariyal. It was an unforgettable experience in every way.

Recommended for

Luxurious boat. Outstanding crew. Amazing dive sites.

30 Jul, 2025

Maldives Liveaboard on Ariyal: A First-Timer’s Incredible Experience

This was my very first Liveaboard experience, and it exceeded all expectations — truly amazing! I loved everything about it. Check-In / Arrival: After landing, we waited around 30 minutes at the airport arrivals area (near counter D6) before our dive guide escorted us to the Ariyal via Dhoni boat. It would’ve been helpful to receive more detailed arrival information in advance — such as the number of expected guests, the next steps, and approximate waiting time — to better manage expectations. Accommodation & Common Areas: We stayed in an Upper Deck Seaview Cabin — clean, comfortable, and perfect for resting after long dive days. Main Deck Cabins were noticeably more spacious, especially the bathrooms. Common areas were excellent: a large lounge with a 75" TV and PS5, sunbeds and a jacuzzi on the top deck, and everything was spotless and well cared for by the crew. My favorite spot was the upper deck in front of the wheelhouse — perfect for relaxing. Dive Briefings: Dive briefings were shared by Shamil and Wish, rotating between sites. They provided thorough explanations with site maps, current expectations, contingency plans, safety instructions, reef hook and SMB use, and dive profiles (depth/time/safety stops, etc.). Very professional and informative. Dive Guides: We had Wish as our dive guide for our group of four, and he was fantastic — highly experienced, observant, and always ready to assist. I strongly recommend hiring a private guide if you can. In general, I believe the dive guide-to-diver ratio should be no more than 1:4–6, and groups should be clearly organized by experience level. One note: if you book a private guide, make sure this is clearly acknowledged. In our case, some guests with private guides were mistakenly grouped, and it wasn’t corrected until we raised the issue. Also, it’s worth noting that Liveaboard confirmed private guides are brought in externally, not taken from the onboard guide team. Dive Sites: Our Central Maldives itinerary covered North Male, North Ari, South Ari, Vaavu, and South Male. We had a mix of dive conditions — some with strong currents and surges, others murky or sandy, and some calm and picturesque. We missed two morning dives in South Male due to weather, which was totally understandable. I highly recommend reviewing the itinerary in detail before booking to ensure it matches your expectations. Weather / Visibility: July is the rainy season in the Maldives, so the ocean was quite choppy throughout the trip. Despite the weather, we still managed to complete 15 dives! Visibility wasn’t great at most sites (though a few were still beautiful), but of course, weather is beyond anyone’s control. Food & Drinks: The food was exceptional — three full meals a day plus occasional snacks, with a great mix of vegetables, meat, fish, noodles, rice, fresh fruit, and even homemade cakes. Big kudos to the chef and crew! As for drinks, prices were high (as expected in the Maldives), but still cheaper than resort rates. Soft drinks were pricey (e.g., Coke at $5 USD + tax), while beer and wine were more reasonably priced. I did a lot of research, read countless reviews, and asked fellow divers before booking this trip — and I’m so glad I did. I had an incredible time, learned a lot, and found the perfect balance of fun and relaxation. Everyone’s experience is different, but I can confidently say that my time on Ariyal was absolutely F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S. I’d love to come back again — hopefully during the dry season! Thank you again, Ariyal team, for making this holiday truly unforgettable.

Recommended for

Dive Guides & Crew/Staff. Amazing Food. Ariyal itself! all common areas & the rooms!..

25 Jul, 2025

My best ever liveaboard at Maldives

Aside from a day or two of less favorable weather due to the off-season, the trip overall was extremely satisfying. The condition of the boat and rooms was excellent, and the crew members were so friendly that by the last day, it almost felt like saying goodbye to family. I’d love to come aboard again if I get the chance.

Recommended for

Boat / Room condition. Dive guide. Dive points.

24 Jul, 2025

5 stars recommendation

Super week diving the Maldives. Super nice boat which was way more luxurious compared to similar Liveabord’s I’ve been on in the Red Sea. We didn’t see any whale sharks, so I’ll have to come back. However during the week we saw tiger sharks, bull shark, lemon shark, spinner sharks, reef sharks and nurse sharks. Manta Rey’s and eagle Rey’s was also on the list of things we saw. Food and company was great and the guides arranged an island evening / dinner was super nice. I’ll be back!

Recommended for

Great diving. Very comfortable boat and cabin size. Cool people in the Customer group.

23 Jul, 2025