My experience: I spent four days diving with South Ari Sanctuary during a PADI Women’s Dive Day retreat in July 2026. I completed 10 dives across South Ari Atoll – including SAMPA and Maavaru Bay, seeing manta rays, eagle rays, turtles and huge schools of reef fish.
Disclaimer: This review is based entirely on my personal experience. My trip with South Ari Sanctuary was no sponsored and all the prices listed refer to the Ocean Women’s Retreat that I participated in July 2026.
I personally think South Ari Atoll has some of the best diving in the Maldives. It’s close enough to Male that you can opt for a public speedboat but it’s far enough that the 2 hour speedboat deters people! Choosing where to go diving isn’t necessarily difficult but deciding who to go with is a different story. There are plenty of dive centers throughout the atoll, so it may be overwhelming with all the options and the good reviews. South Ari Sanctuary is one of the newer dive centers on Dhangethi, having opened less than a year ago. Whilst there are plenty of stellar Google reviews on the dive center, you can never be too sure. After spending four days diving with them, completing 10 dives and two excursions, I was genuinely happy with my choice.
If you’re debating staying on Dhangethi and wondering whether South Ari Sanctuary is worth booking, here’s my honest review.
Disclaimer: Some links earn me a small commission – same price for you, slightly less tragic bank balance for me.
Quick verdict:
If you are wondering if I would dive with South Ari Sanctuary again? The answer is – absolutely.
The diving itself is spectacular – I don’t think you can go wrong diving in South Ari Atoll. But what made the experience memorable was the team and the entire ambiance of the trip. They’re professional when it matters but relaxed and genuinely fun to spend time with on the boat. By the end of four days, it felt more like diving with a group of friends rather than a dive center. If you prefer smaller, personable dive centres over big operations, I’d happily recommend them.
South Ari Sanctuary Dive Center: Quick Facts
Location: Dhangethi Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Best for: Manta rays, whale sharks and beautiful, quiet dive sites
My experience: 10 dives over 4 days
Dive sites visited: Kudarah Thila, SAMPA, Maavaru Bay, Five Rocks and Seventh Heaven
Group size: Approximately 12 divers with around 4 divers per guide
Certification recommended: Advanced Open Water
Nitrox: Not available at the time of my visit
Transfer: Public speedboat from Malé Airport
Why I chose South Ari Sanctuary
Actually, I came across South Ari Sanctuary by chance whilst scrolling through social media. They were organising a Dive + Wellness trip as part of PADI Women’s Dive Day. Admittedly, it was posted 2 months before the trip dates so depending on how far in advance you book things – it was a little short notice. I ended up biting the bullet and going ahead with the trip.
As part of their PADI Women’s Dive Day special, I booked their Dive & Stay package. The package cost US$750 per person as double occupancy (or US$879 for single occupancy). Included was:
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- All scuba dives over four days
- Public speedboat transfer from/to Malé Airport to Dhangethi
- Guesthouse accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Snacks + hot drinks onboard the boat
- Yoga and wellness sessions
I’ve dove in Maasfushi, Dhiffushi, Dhigurah and two resort islands. The usual price for diving in the Maldives for a two tank dive can be anywhere between USD$80 – 120. Knowing this, I thought their Dive + Stay package was excellent value. Even if you aren’t visiting during Women’s Dive Day, I think they are a great company to dive with and their Dive + Stay packages are really competitive.
Why I would recommend South Ari Sanctuary
The dive center stands out for its small group diving experience… they combine local knowledge with their shared passion for the ocean to create a well rounded approach to exploring South Ari Atoll. Based on Dhangethi Island, the dive centre offers easy access to some of the Maldives best dive sites and marine experiences. Trust me, there are tours from other atolls that come to South Ari Atoll specifically for the whale shark encounters.
For solo travellers especially, the relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to feel welcomed. Rather than feeling like just another customer on a busy dive boat, the experience feels more like joining a small community of divers who genuinely share a passion for the ocean.
About the team
Like I mentioned, diving with South Ari Sanctuary felt like diving with a group of friends. The centre is co-owned by Jenni and Shaalley, both of which have big personalities and are extremely caring. Jenni is an American woman who has set up dive centers in Malaysia and Maldives. And Shaalley, a local Maldivian from Dhangethi who has been diving in the surrounding atoll for years. Together, they create a relaxed atmosphere and are the sort of people who clearly have a passion for diving around South Ari Atoll and genuinely enjoy sharing it with others.
Our DM, Marianne, was equally fantastic. She had organised the PADI Women’s Dive Day and was the resident yoga instructor. Every briefing was professional and thorough, but once everyone was safely back on the boat, there was plenty of laughter. There was never that intimidating atmosphere that some dive centres can have, especially if you’re travelling solo.
After one of the dives, I was feeling absolutely horrible (probably a mix of seasickness and tiredness). But Jenni and Shaalley were quick to make sure I was okay and make sure I stayed hydrated whilst I fed the fishes.
Diving in South Ari Atoll
I came across South Ari Atoll by chance several years ago. I’m usually try not to repeat places but the reputation South Ari Atoll has built as one of the best places in the Maldives for big marine life is granted. Over our ten dives, we explored several different sites:
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- Kudarah Thila
- SAMPa – South Ari Marine Protected Area
- Maavaru Bay
- Five Rocks
- Seventh Heaven
Each site offered something slightly different, which kept every dive interesting. We did two excursions to find the pelagic animals – to SAMPA in search of the whale shark and Maavaru bay to find the manta rays. There was so much life on our dives.
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Marine Life we saw whilst diving in South Ari Atoll
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- Manta rays
- Eagle rays
- Mobula rays
- Green turtles
- Moray eels
- Large schools of tropical reef fish
- Healthy hard and soft coral
Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to see a whale shark during our dedicated excursion. However, the day before I arrived, the team was lucky to dive with one of the resident whale sharks (Stefano). While South Ari Atoll is famous for year-round whale shark sightings, nature doesn’t work to a schedule. That’s just part of ethical diving. We did spend the whole day out trying to find a whale shark but it just wasn’t the day for it, something that the team was honest about.
Diving from Dhangethi
Dhangethi is one of the quieter local islands in the Atoll, offering easy access to some of the best dive sites without the resort prices or crowds of more popular islands. Its location near the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) makes it one of the best bases in the Maldives for spotting manta rays, whale sharks and other large marine life.
The Boat + Group Size
Across the week we had around 12 divers on the boat – not including Shaalley, Marienne and Jenni. Personally, I found that to be a really comfortable number. There was enough space to gear up without feeling cramped, everyone had room to relax during surface intervals… we were divided up into smaller groups with approximately 4 divers to a guide. However, for some of the sites (ie Maavaru Bay for Mantas), we dove together before splitting up in our respective groups.
The boat itself was well maintained and clean! Their marine toilet was clean and functional (unlike some other boats I’ve been on in the Maldives). There was a dry area to keep your stuff if you didn’t have a dry bag and baskets under your respective areas to store your equipment in between dives. The boat crew were stellar – setting up your equipment, changing tanks and helping you gear up (if you needed it).
What a day of diving with South Ari Sanctuary looks like?
It is an earlier start than most dive centers in the Maldives. The day starts at 0700hrs on the boat. The commute to the jetty is really close, only taking 5 mins from the accommodation. From there, the first dive is approximately 0730 – 0800hrs and last for an hour. Your surface interval will be another hour before your second dive. Rinse and repeat for your third dive of the day! You’re usually back at about 1400hrs with the rest of the afternoon to relax, review your footage and unwind. As this was a wellness retreat as well, we met at 1800hrs for a sunset yoga/breathework workshop that last an hour before heading to one of the local restaurants for dinner. You’ll be in bed by 2200hrs, recharging to do it all again the next day! This is roughly what your schedule may look like.
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- 0600 – 0615hrs: Wake up
- 0630hrs: Breakfast
- 0700hrs: Meet at the dive boat
- 0745/0800hrs: First Dive
- 0900hrs: Surface Interval
- 1000hrs: Second Dive
- 1100hrs: Surface Interval
- 1200hrs: Third Dive
- 1400hrs: Back to Dhangethi, free afternoon
- 1800hrs: Sunset yoga workshop – only during the retreat
- 1930hrs: Dinner
- 2130hrs: Unwind + Bed
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Unexpected extra
Majority of the divers had their own action camera so we all had our own footage. However, one thing I really appreciated was that Shaalley took underwater photos and videos throughout the week of our dives. Nobody mentioned it beforehand, so I wasn’t expecting anything. On our final day he had shared all of the footage with us, which was a lovely surprise and meant everyone left with memories of the trip. It’s a small gesture but it added a lot to the overall experience.
We were also given a tee shirt from the team as a momento of our time during the retreat. This was truly just a lovely experience. And whilst this sounds like an advert for the dive center, I just think they genuinely are a great place and it’s been one of my favourite places I’ve dove with.
Do I think it was good value?
For me, yes. The Maldives isn’t known to be a cheap diving destination but when you consider everything included in the package: transfers, accommodation, breakfast, ten dives and additional wellness activities – I thought it was excellent value. More importantly, I never felt like I was being upsold. There was no pressure to book extra dives or add-ons, which made the whole experience feel much more relaxed.
That being said, I’m unsure how much a standard Dive + Stay package would cost with them outside of this retreat but it’s easy enough to reach out to the team to ask your questions!
Was there anything that I didn’t like?
Honestly, not much. The only disappointment of the trip was missing the whale sharks but that’s nobody’s fault. I personally didn’t like how quickly I had gone through my air on the first dive of the retreat but that was all the excitement and current! Everything that could be controlled – the organisation, safety, atmosphere and guiding was done really well.
Practical Information Before Diving with South Ari Sanctuary
Before booking with any dive centre in the Maldives, there are a few practical things worth knowing, from certification requirements and equipment to water conditions and photography opportunities.
Certification Requirements
South Ari Sanctuary caters mainly to certified recreational divers. I would recommend having at least an Advanced Open Water certification before diving in South Ari Atoll. While some sites are suitable for newer divers, many of the more famous dive locations can involve stronger currents, deeper sections and conditions that are better suited to divers with more experience.
All dives are guided, with approximately 4 divers per dive guide. A smaller group meant that everyone received plenty of attention while still allowing enough freedom to explore the reef.
Equipment and Rental Gear
I brought most of my own dive equipment. But South Ari Sanctuary provides rental gear for divers who need it. I rented their BCD and fins. The equipment appeared well maintained and the crew were always available to help with setting up gear, changing tanks and getting ready between dives. There is O2 onboard and a first aid kit if needed. The boat uses standard recreational diving equipment and tanks are available for regular air dives. At the time of my visit, Nitrox was not available, so all dives were planned around air limits and individual dive computers.
DIN or yoke regulator?
The tanks provided at South Ari Sanctuary are compatible for both DIN and Yoke configurations, so you need not worry about that!
Diving Conditions in July
I visited South Ari Atoll in July, during the southwest monsoon season. It was low season because of the weather but that meant that the dive sites were pretty “empty” and we were the only boat there! We were very lucky that there was no rain during our time there. Water temperatures were warm at 29 deg C! You could easily dive in skins but I personally dove in a 3/2 mm wetsuit. Conditions varied depending on the dive site – with some locations offering excellent visibility while others had stronger currents.
The currents are part of what makes South Ari Atoll such an exciting dive destination, bringing in large marine life including manta rays and other pelagic species. However, this is also why having good buoyancy control and confidence in the water is important.
Underwater Photography
South Ari Atoll is an incredible destination for underwater photography, especially if you are hoping to capture manta rays, turtles and colourful reef scenes. Most divers on our trip carried their own action cameras. I’m unsure if this a standard on other dive trips but I appreciated that Shaalley also captured underwater photos and videos throughout the week and shared them with us at the end of the retreat.
Would I dive with South Ari Sanctuary again?
Without hesitation! I’ve actually dived in South Ari Atoll before with another operator, so I already knew the diving here was special. What stood out this time wasn’t just the reefs or the marine life (although, we did see an incredible amount of manta rays which was beyond special). However, the atmosphere that South Ari Sanctuary created was special as well and something I genuinely enjoyed. I don’t know of too many other women divers so having this dedicated retreat was a fantastic experience and opportunity to meet other divers!
It’s still a relatively new dive centre compared with some others on the atoll. But regardless, they knew how to make it feel personal, welcoming and passionate. I can’t wait for the next Women’s Ocean Dive Retreat with them!
Need more information?
Can you see whale sharks year-round?
SAMPA and South Ari Atoll are one of the few places in the Maldives where you have a decent chance of seeing whale sharks all year round. The ocean is wide and they cover massive distances so you’ll need some luck on your side to try find them!
Do you need Advanced Open Water?
I would probably recommend having your AOW certification! There is a variety of dive sites and the current can be strong so it’ll be good to not have any limitations when it comes to diving in this area!
How many days should you dive?
Aim for 3 – 4 days of diving, this will allow you to do an excursion (or two) to find Mantas and Whale Sharks.
Is Nitrox worth it?
Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no Nitrox available at South Ari Sanctuary so you’ll just have to follow your computer for your NDL.
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