Central - South Atolls 10 Nights

The perfect route for pelagic encouters and divers who enjoy current and drift dives

10 nights itinerary, going through North & South Male, Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa, Daalu, Faafu, North & South Ari and Rasdhoo Atoll.
Route is submitted to weather conditions and can be modified.
Best period: From January to Aprila


Itinerary

  • Day 1 Hulhumalé

    Hulhumalé Dune staff will pick you up at Male International Airport and bring you to the main boat. Enjoy a drink while listening to our Cruise Director welcome briefing. Dinner will be served in the evening and you will spend the first night at Hulhumale marina.

  • Day 2 North Malé Atoll > South Malé Atoll

    North Malé Atoll > South Malé Atoll The trip will start by discovering the dazzling long reefs in North Male Atoll. Corals are abundant here, giving home to plenty of reef fish and small species. After the day, we will cruise to Vaavu Atoll for an unmissable night dive. There's nothing as exciting as watching nurse sharks, sting rays, and jacks in their feeding frenzy.

  • Day 3 South Male to Vaavu Atoll

    South Male to Vaavu Atoll The trip will start by discovering the dazzling long reefs or a manta point (May to Nov only) in North Male Atoll and South Male Atoll. Corals are abundant here, giving home to plenty of reef fish and macro species. After the dive, we will cruise to Vaavu Atoll for an unmissable night dive. There's nothing as exciting as diving with nurse sharks, sting rays, and jacks in their feeding frenzy.

  • Day 4 Vaavu Atoll to Faafu Atoll

    Vaavu Atoll to Faafu Atoll Small caves, large overhangs, drop-off walls, and sloping reefs covered with corals can be found in Vaavu Atoll. Titan, triggerfish are common. Larger marine life such as grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, tunas, and barracudas are also found here. Some were even lucky enough to encounter hammerhead sharks !

  • Day 5 Faafu Atoll to South Ari Atoll

    Faafu Atoll to South Ari Atoll In the outer reefs of Faafu Atoll, explore the channels to see grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, schools of jacks, bigeye trevallies, and barracudas. Moving north to South Ari Atoll, you will dive on beautiful pinnacles and observe bigger marine life. Dive into this aquarium offered by mother nature, finally meeting the stars of the trip.
    If we are lucky, we will even be able to watch a whale shark at night time feeding in the plancton soup at the back of the boat!

  • Day 6 South Ari Atoll

    South Ari Atoll In the marine protected areas, our first stars, the mighty whale sharks regularly show up. Our crew will search for their presence and allow you a chance to snorkel or even scuba dive with them. Lucky or not, there are also many thilas and some wrecks in South Ari Atoll. Grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, moray eels, scorpionfish are definitely to be found here. Exploring Maldives is also setting foot in paradise. Our crew will lead a visit to the nearby local island just before dinner.

  • Day 7 South Ari to North Ari Atoll

    South Ari to North Ari Atoll Cruising never stops, moving up to North Ari Atoll while taking a last chance to get a close look at whale sharks. In the north, channels are wider and the ocean is deeper. We will meet some more stars here. The currents attract many grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks and even other large pelagic fish. When night falls, you will be invited ashore again and indulge yourself in the barbecue dinner prepared by our crew on a nearby desert island.

  • Day 8 North Ari Atoll

    North Ari Atoll Multiple manta cleaning stations, extraordinary thilas and wreck with rich marine life are the highlights of this area of Ari Atoll. You will also find eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, napoleon wrasse, school of blue-stripe snapper, batfish, and fusiliers here. The day will end with a manta night dive. Admire the enormous manta rays feeding right in front your torch.

  • Day 9 North Ari Atoll to Rasdhoo Atoll

    North Ari Atoll to Rasdhoo Atoll The combination of pelagic life and remarkable underwater landscapes in North Ari Atoll is irresistible. You may also dive on the beautiful reefs in Rasdhoo Atoll, observe the magnificent manta rays and experience a fascinating encounter with hammerhead. Drift among schools of fish while still keeping an eye on your preferred pelagic stars.

  • Day 10 Rasdhoo to Male North

    Rasdhoo to Male North In North Male Atoll you will find stunning long reefs, small caves, colourful corals with prolific marine and reef life once again. Take a closer look at the squirrelfish, bannerfish, oriental sweetlips, frogfish, and nudibranchs. In the afternoon you will come back to Hulhumale marina to spend your last night on board.

  • Day 11 Hulhumale

    The trip is arriving at the end. Our crew will arrange the transfer to the airport once you have had your breakfast on board. We are also glad to help you plan for the day and booking for accommodations.
    Time to come back home with fantastic memories!

The peculiarity of Dune Maldives is to build the course according to your expectations. The sites and atolls visited are therefore defined according to your preferences, while also taking into account the weather conditions and tides. 

Dates & prices

Departures for French-speaking groups:

From To Price / pers. Boat Places Options Booking
€3,650 Theia 1 / 20 Book now!
€2,695 Theia 18 / 20 Book now!
€2,695 Theia 11 / 20 Book now!

Departures for English-speaking groups:

From To Price / pers. Boat Places Options Booking
€4,055 NORAYA 17 / 28 Book now!
€4,055 NORAYA 0 / 28 28 Fully booked

Departures for Chinese-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Trip code: 117

Included

  • Transfers from the airport to the boat and to and from the marina.
  • Double/twin shared cabin accommodation.
  • 2 to 4 on-board guides (dive master and instructors)
  • 12 liter aluminum cylinders + DIN/Int, and diving weights.
  • 8 to 10 professional and experienced crew members on­board
  • Meals and all soft drinks on board (excluding beer, spirits, wine, espresso coffee)
  • 24 dives minimum, extra ones according to weather conditions and flights schedule
  • Bath towels are changed at least once during the trip, depending on the duration of the cruise.
  • The selected sea route will take into consideration the passengers' wishes.
  • Dune reserves the right to limit dives frequency due to : weather conditions, dive level and physical conditions of passengers, and no refund would be applied.
  • Nitrox - package and fillings. Nitrox is a service offered by Dune and no refund will be applied in case of malfunctioning of the compressor
  • Wifi : subject to network availibility - some areas might not be covered
  • Maldivian Government Tourist Tax

Not included

  • International flights to and from Male.
  • The supplement for a superior or sea view cabin.
  • The supplement for a single cabin.
  • Drinks such as beer, wine, etc
  • Transfers by speed boat, airplane or seaplane depending on special routes or unscheduled arrivals and departures.
  • Diving courses, rental equipment
  • Service charge $170 for the crew, to be given at the end of the stay before leaving by cash.
  • Fuel surcharge

Notes


*Surcharges: Dune Theia Liveaboard reserves the right to apply an appropriate surcharge to its prices should economic changes (such as exchange rates, fuel prices, etc) make a material difference to its pricing structure. - A minimum of 14 days' notice will be given before such a surcharge becomes effective. - No surcharge will be applied within 28 days of departure. - If the surcharge results in an increase of 10% or more to the price of the liveaboard, dive package/dive course, then cancellation with a full refund will be allowed. Notification of the intention to cancel must be made in writing within 14 days of the notification or the surcharge.

Practical info

Food

On board, both local cuisine and international menus will be served.

Accommodation

Accommodation is based on double shared cabin . Beds in some cabins can be moved to form a double bed or 2 single beds. A supplement is charged for single use of a cabin. Cabins categories (standard, superior or seaview) are subject to different tarification if pre-booked.

Transportation

Passengers are greeted at the airport by a DUNE Maldives representative, holding a "DUNE" sign and wearing an orange T-Shirt. The meeting point will generally be just outside the arrival hall after the baggage claim and customs clearance area. For cruises arriving and departing from Male, passengers are transferred to the boat via the diving Dhoni leaving from the marina of Male International Airport (duration: approximately 20 minutes). The first transfer including in the service is at 3pm from Male airport. The return transfer from the last day will be organized right after the breakfast.

Contact us for early check-in/late departures
Book this trip
Destination
Central Cruises
Activity
BEST-OF From December to May Liveaboard Manta Rays
Duration
11 days
Group
16 to 28 people
Code
117
Price
From €3,195
Level
4/5
Comfort
5/5
Language(s)
French / English / Chinese

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