Central Atolls - Black Manta - DUNE Liveaboard

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Maldives

Central Atolls – Black Manta

8 Days

Trip itinerary

Day 1 :
Hulhumale

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

The trip will start by discovering the dazzling long reefs or a manta point (May to Nov only) in North Malé Atoll and South Malé 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.

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. Moving west to the South Ari Atoll, you will dive on beautiful pinnacles and be able to spot bigger marine life. Dive into this aquarium offered by mother nature and get a chance to meet the the stars of the trip.

In the marine protected area, our first stars, the mighty whale sharks, regularly show up. Our crew will search for their presence and give 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 part of the fauna here. Exploring Maldives is also setting foot in paradise. Our crew will lead a visit to a nearby local island just before dinner if possible.

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 to go ashore again if possible and indulge yourself in a barbecue dinner prepared by our crew on a nearby desert island, or enjoy with a Maldivian night on board.

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 here eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, napoleon wrasse, school of blue-stripe snapper, batfish, and fusiliers. The day will end with a manta night dive. Admire the enormous manta rays feeding right in front your torch.

After one last dive in North Ari Atoll the cruise will head back to North Malé Atoll. Here you will find stunning long reefs, small caves, lourful corals with prolific pelagic and reef life. Take a closer look at the squirrelfish, bannerfish, oriental sweetlips, frogfish, and nudibranchs. In the afternoon you will come back to Hulhumalé marina to spend your last night on board.

Day 8 :
Hulhumalé

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!

Trip & Price Details

Embark on a mesmerizing journey with Dune Maldives Liveaboard as we present the Central Atolls - Black Manta 7 Nights expedition, an immersive dive into the heart of the Maldives' aquatic wonders. This meticulously crafted itinerary promises a unique blend of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant marine life, and unparalleled diving experiences, all aboard our luxurious Noraya liveaboard vessel.
8 Days
20% Off
From USD 2295
/ Adult

Price Inclusion

Included in the price

  • Transfers from the airport to the boat and from the
  • marina.
  • Double/twin shared cabin accommodation.
  • Guides.
  • 12 liter aluminum cylinders + DIN/Int, and diving
  • weights.
  • Professional and experienced crew.
  • Meals and all soft drinks on board (excluding beer,
  • spirits, wine, espresso coffee).
  • 15 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.
  • Wifi : the speed is limited to emails and messages such
  • as whatsapp or viber.
  • Maldivian Government Tourist Tax.
  • Service Charge.
  • Jacuzzi (On board of Noraya only).

Excluded in the price

  • International flights to and from Malé.
  • 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
  • Dive insurance (mandatory)
  • Massage Service (On board of Noraya only)