Ariyal Liveaboard, Maldives

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.

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.

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.

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.

Classic Maldives diving

This is the 2nd time on a luxury liveaboard boat in Maldives, but still was stunned by the spacious setups. See amazing Oceanic Manta feeding on plankton, lots of sharks, nice drift dives, surreal underwater beach and rocks.

Recommended for

the cabin room is enormous - for a liveaboard. Mashuni dish in the breakfast. the crew.

Great!

Great trip Great boat Great diving Great crew Great food Great fun Great wine

Recommended for

Captain and crew made extra effort to make the trip amazing. Any Dolphins, Animals or Baitballs the boat would stop and get close.. Chefs made food on request. Fresh caught Tuna sashimi was unbelievable and local Mashuni, chilli and fresh lime was a close second. The wine was all lovely too!. Diving and guide was excellent. Guides made a great a effort and the equipment on board was brilliant. Free 13.5L ally tanks and strong nitrox made a huge difference to the week..