Am I Too Young for a Liveaboard? A Week in Egypt
Małgorzata thought liveaboards were for older divers, then spent a week on one in Egypt.
Maldives
Ariyal
Starting from
$1998/trip
Ariyal Liveaboard Maldives
+ 13 photos
+ 13 photos
+ 13 photos
+ 13 photos
45m
Lengths
26
Max. Guests
3
Type of cabins
Ariyal is a 45-metre liveaboard built in 2024, with 13 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins for up to 26 guests. Seven twin-bed cabins are on the lower deck; the main deck has two sea-view cabins with king beds, and four more sea-view doubles are on the upper deck. The boat is set up for both diving and down time. Nitrox and night dives are included, and the crew run fishing trips, island visits and beach barbecues. The lounge has a 75-inch smart TV, the sundeck has a freshwater Jacuzzi, and the water-toy list is long: jet skis, wakeboarding, water-skiing, kayaks and paddleboards. Maldives diving is mostly drift diving, so expect to ride the current through channels where reef sharks and eagle rays gather, and to hang off a reef hook while mantas circle cleaning stations. The atolls can be dived all year. The drier months from December to April usually bring calmer seas, while May to November is plankton season and the time for big manta numbers in the west, including Baa Atoll. Ariyal is a good pick for groups where some people want three or four dives a day and others want a holiday on the water. Full-boat charters are possible, and the twin cabins make it easy for friends travelling together.
Select a date
| DATE | ROUTE | PRICE | CABIN |
|---|---|---|---|
25
Oct | Explore Maldives 8D/7N |
$3660
| Full |
Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan - All meals, Snacks, Special Dinner, Diving Package, Night Dives, Nitrox, Fishing, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Snorkeling Guide, Stand Up Paddleboard, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: Environment Tax - 12 USD per night; Fuel Surcharge - 150 USD per week; Mandatory Service Charge - 150 USD per trip.
Optional Extras: Alcoholic Beverages, Wine with Dinner, Extra Dives, Nitrox Course - 200-220 USD, Private Dive Guide - 650 USD per trip, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses - 650 USD, Jet Ski, Snorkel Gear, Wakeboarding, Water Ski, Laundry / Pressing Services.
We accept
Easy payment by payment link
Boat specifications
Drawing & Vessel Layouts
Lengths
45 m
Width
10 m
Year of Building
2024
Speed
10-14 knots
Max. Guests
26
Cabin Types
Choose your next scuba getaway
Twin Bed Lower Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
WiFi in cabin
Refrigerator
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Sea View Double Bed Main Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
Bath Tub
WiFi in cabin
Refrigerator
Sea View Double Bed Upper Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
WiFi in cabin
Refrigerator
Ariyal reviews
4.5
15 reviews
Vessel
Crew
Food
Scuba Diving
Value
Ariyal is a good fit for groups where everyone wants something slightly different. The divers have the dhoni and a full itinerary, non-divers have water activities and comfortable decks, and the cabins offer proper space at the end of the day. Explore Maldives gave us the classic central experience, while the Hanifaru route felt more seasonal and ambitious.
Great crew, huge rooms and a very easy diving routine.
We got lucky with some of the larger marine life, but my favourite dive was still a quieter reef where I spent ten minutes watching a turtle eat.
The lounge is enormous. On one rainy afternoon, some people watched a movie while others played games and edited photos. Nobody felt stuck.
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