For over 2 decades, the MY Manthiri liveaboard has been a familiar and respected presence in the Maldives diving industry. She offers a style of safari that appeals to divers who value genuine hospitality and unhurried comfort over superfluous luxury. This is a vessel built around the experience of diving, with a layout that feels immediately welcoming and practical.
Despite its 26-metre length, a 7.6-metre beam provides surprising interior volume and excellent stability at anchor. The maximum of 12 guests onboard are looked after by a crew of 11, a ratio that allows the team to know your preferences by the second day and ensures the atmosphere remains relaxed and personal. Cabins are en-suite and spacious, while the teak-panelled saloon, complete with wi-fi, becomes a natural gathering spot for reviewing dive logs or simply unwinding between dives.
All diving is conducted from a dedicated dhoni, which tows behind the main vessel and houses the compressors, nitrox system, and individual gear storage. This keeps the mothership’s dive deck clear and quiet - a space reserved for kitting up at your own pace and for the camera preparation that many guests appreciate. A separate rinse tank and table are provided for underwater housings, and for those wanting to edit or back up images, a computer with a CD burner and photo-editing software is available onboard.
What stays with guests long after the liveaboard safari ends are the small, consistent touches. The Manthiri crew’s familiarity with the central atolls runs deep; they know which thila offers the best chance of seeing grey reef sharks at dawn and which channels are best left for the afternoon. You notice it in the way dive briefings are delivered-clear, unhurried, and rooted in decades of collective experience. And after surfacing, there is the simple ritual of a warm towel wrapped around your shoulders as the dhoni heads back to the Manthiri.
In an era of ever-larger liveaboards, the Manthiri liveaboard remains a popular choice for divers who prefer a more intimate scale. It is a boat where the crew’s longevity speaks for itself, where the Eastern and Western cuisine is prepared fresh daily by chefs who have learned what works at sea, and where the pace of the week allows you to sink into the rhythm of the atolls. For a Maldives diving safari centred on genuine service and consistent, comfortable days, the Manthiri holds a well-earned place on the shortlist.
The Manthiri liveaboard has 6 cabins on the lower deck with private en-suite bathrooms - 4 Twin bed cabins and 2 Double bed cabins. The cabins are serviced daily.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning and fans
- Portholes
- Private bathroom with hot water shower
- Hand basin, hairdryer and toiletries
- Bedding and towels
- Cabinet, shelves and mirror
- Minibar and fridge
- Reading lights
- 2 flat-prong and 3 square-prong mains outlet 110-220 volts - 24 hours per day
- Adaptors are available
- Fire extinguishers and life jackets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 6 / 6 - hot water
Maldives Central Atolls (10 Days / 9 Nights - 28 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, South Male, Ari atolls and Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay)
Day 1
Step onboard the Manthiri liveaboard in Male and settle into your cabin as the crew readies the vessel. After a comprehensive safety and dive briefing, take time to familiarise yourself with the dive deck and communal areas. As the sun sets, the onboard chefs serve a welcome dinner, offering a chance to meet fellow divers and discuss the week ahead. With no diving today, the evening is yours to relax and acclimatise to liveaboard life.
Core Days
Over the coming days, the Manthiri liveaboard weaves through the central atolls, and each site brings its own character. In North and South Male Atoll, channels like the famed Shark Channel deliver exactly what the name promises: dozens of grey reef sharks patrolling the blue, often joined by white tips and the occasional silver tip. Here, currents can pick up, and using a reef hook is the norm, allowing you to hover weightlessly and watch tunas and jacks hunt fusiliers in coordinated bursts of speed.
Ari Atoll offers a change of pace. At sites like Fish Head, the reef is so dense with life that it takes a conscious effort to focus on any one thing. Napoleons cruise the slopes with the confidence of old residents, while clouds of blue fusiliers shift and turn in the light. Anemones pulse with colour, each one hosting a clutch of clownfish, and if you look closely, ribbon eels - black, blue, or yellow - wave from the rubble. At Maaya Thila, a night dive reveals stonefish huddled together in the open and sleepy turtles tucked into crevices.
Perhaps the most anticipated days are those spent in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. At Hanifaru Bay, the opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks is a genuine highlight. These are not contrived encounters; the bay’s shape and tides concentrate plankton, and the animals arrive on their own terms. Mantas, too, are a constant presence. At cleaning stations in places like Rangali Madivaru, they hover in the shallows, sometimes 6 or more at once, attended by cleaner wrasses. They move with a slow, deliberate grace, and you can spend a full dive watching them circle back again and again. On one afternoon, the mantas might even appear at the back of the Manthiri liveaboard during dinner, looping lazily in the boat lights as if checking in on their guests.
Day 10
After a last breakfast nears Male, it is time to gather your gear and say goodbye to the crew. Disembarkation is straightforward, and by mid-morning you are back on shore. The water, the light, and the sheer abundance of life stay with you long after you have left the Manthiri liveaboard behind.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Dining on board Manthiri is a standout experience, every bit as refined as the diving itself. Professionally trained chefs at a top Maldivian resort, bring a refined touch to every meal. With over 10 years of experience cooking aboard the liveaboard, they know exactly how to cater to divers, offering a tasteful fusion of Eastern and Western flavours. The result is a fresh, thoughtful menu that satisfies a wide range of tastes while keeping divers energised and well-fed throughout the day.
Meals are timed around the schedule of 3 dives per day, and unlike most other liveaboards in the Maldives, all meals are plated and served by waitstaff, not buffet-style, highlighting Manthiri’s strong focus on personal service and attention to detail.
Pre-Dive Mini Breakfast
- Served before the first dive of the day;
- Light and energising to ease you into your morning underwater.
Full Breakfast (After First Dive)
- A delicious, cooked breakfast served once divers return from the water;
- Tailored to restore energy and prepare you for the day ahead.
Lunch
- Freshly prepared dishes combining local spices and global influences;
- Typical selections include pasta, rice dishes, and aromatic Sri Lankan specialities;
- Always satisfying, with well-balanced flavours and ingredients.
Snacks (Available Between Dives)
- Snacks are always on hand for mid-day cravings or quick post-dive bites;
- Accompanied by drinks and fruit to keep you refreshed between meals.
Dinner
- A relaxed plated dinner served in the evening;
- Every night features fresh fish, often including sashimi from freshly caught wahoo on two evenings;
- Dishes that have stood out include beef pie, sweet and sour fish, and vegetable pakora.
Drinks
- Meals are accompanied by a refreshing variety of fresh fruits and vegetables;
- Filtered water, juices, tea, and coffee are available throughout the day.
"
An excellent trip with a wonderful staff and crew. We were spoiled by the ability to get out of the water and strip off our wet suits and then sit back and relax. They took care of washing out our equipment and hanging it to dry!" -
Allison Tater, UK, 11 January 2012 ...
