Hanifaru Manta &
Whale Shark Special-Baa & Raa Atoll
AMBA
< — 8 nights – 20 dives —>
Departure from: MALE
12.00 - 04.00
Arrival to: MALE
06.30 - 08.30
Requirements: Min 10 dives, AOWD or equivalent + Nitrox
Price details
Included
- 9 days / 8 nights accommodation in the booked cabin category
- 2 to 3 dives per day (usually 3 dives per day), including one night dive and one sunset
dive per trip - Airport transfers to and from the safari ship on the day of embarkation and
disembarkation - Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, fruits and dinner
- Water, tea, instant coffee, juice
- Daily room cleaning, room towels, sunbed towels, diving towels, hand and body wash,
shampoo - Diving weights and weight belts
- 17% Tourism Sales Tax
- Nitroxfilling (no price reduction if unavailable)
- Dive guide service
Obligatory surcharges
- Service Charge: 10 % from guest’s booking amount, to be paid in advance
- Green Tax: 12 EUR per night, to be paid in advance
Extra cost
- 15-liter tanks
- Rental equipment and spareparts
- Softdrinks and alcoholic drinks
- 20 USD Hanifaru Bay visit per Visit
- Courses
Program
Hanifaru Manta & Whaleshark Special-Baa & Raa Atoll
This dive safari is perfect for avid divers seeking crystal-clear waters and spectacular experiences around Hanifaru Bay. Hanifaru Bay is world-famous for its large gatherings of manta rays (especially during the plankton season from May to November) and occasional whale shark sightings. The itinerary combines a variety of drift and reef dives with stunning underwater landscapes, including vibrant coral gardens, caves, channels, and healthy reef walls.
Itinerary Sample
Arrival Day
Guests are greeted at the airport by the crew at noon (12:00 PM). For those arriving later, pickups are arranged at a pre-scheduled time. Upon boarding the AMBA liveaboard, guests are welcomed with a refreshing drink and lime-scented towel. A brief orientation is provided by the tour guide, covering the ship’s layout and the day’s schedule. Guests can then settle into their cabins and freshen up.
At 5:00 PM, check in documents are checked, followed by equipment assembly on the dive boat (Dhoni) with assistance from the dive crew. Dinner is served at 6:30 PM, after which the crew is introduced, and a comprehensive safety briefing about the boat is conducted. The evening is spent relaxing or mingling with fellow guests after the journey and to adjust your diving computer with the help of the dive crew.
Last Diving Day – Day Before Departure
The final dive is scheduled for 8:00 AM on the day before disembarkation. After the last dive, equipment can be rinsed in freshwater tanks and left to dry before packing. Guests are invited to explore the capital, Malé, in the afternoon from 4 until 6 pm. The official farewell takes place in the evening at 6:30, followed by dinner.
Departure Day
Check-out is before 08:30 AM. A light breakfast is provided, with earlier check-outs available upon request. Unfortunately, late check-outs are not possible due to cleaning and preparation for the next trip. Guests with late flights can store luggage in airport lockers and use the time to explore nearby islands or relax at the airport hotel, which offers access to a pool and alcoholic beverages.
Day 2 to the Last Diving Day:
Each day offers 2–3 dives, typically 3 unless long crossings are required. These dives take place from Dhoni and include one night dive per trip. Dive sites are carefully selected, with detailed briefings available in English to prepare guests for each dive. Briefing can be translated into German. The Maldives offers breathtaking underwater experiences, from coral gardens to encounters with manta rays, whale sharks, hammerheads, tiger sharks, bull sharks, guitar rays and other marine life. Dives are conducted in self-reliant buddy teams. Experienced dive guides accompany groups to highlight the best aspects of each site. Divers must be capable of independent ascents in buddy teams using surface marker buoys when necessary.
Whenever we are close by the Hanifaru Bay and the Rangers are calling us that there are Mantas or and Whalesharks, even if we are on the way to a dive we will right away cancel the dive and move to the Hanifaru Bay or close by to snorkel with the Giants. Guests need to be aware that we will then not be able to complete the full 3 dives.
Diving Participation Requirements
DIVING OPERATION
- Minimum 10 dives & Open Water Certification plus Nitrox
- All dives guided
- Nitrox only (no discount if not available)
- No diving on arrival/departure days
- Last dive: 8:00 a.m. day before checkout
- Max 2–3 dives/day
REQUIRED DIVING EQUIPMENT
- Mask, BCD, fins
- Surface marker buoy, signal whistle
- Reef hook, Nitrox-capable dive computer
- Regulator with alternate air source
- Cutting tool, torch
All equipment must be used on every dive.
Optional: Hood, snorkel, boots, and compass are recommended but not mandatory.
Spare or rental equipment is available on board. Dive computers must be fully charged, and regular maintenance of personal equipment is recommended.
The minimum age to participate is 14. Divers with more than two years since their last dive or those unsure of their skills must complete a refresher course before the trip.
This itinerary ensures a safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable experience exploring the stunning underwater world of the Maldives with AMBA. The last dive will be on the penultimate day of the trip. Divers are recommended to wait for 24 hours before flying after the last dive.
Sample itineraries and maps are for illustrative purposes only. The exact route and sites visited are subject to change based on local regulations, guest experience, weather, and logistics and are at the captain’s discretion.
