Shamar Guesthouse – Ari Atoll
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Diving with Shamar Guesthouse
The Shamar Guesthouse is located on the island of Maamigili near the Ari Atoll. This island is also known as the “Whale Shark Island. That promises something!
That Ari Atoll is popular because of the high probability of seeing whale sharks is also evidenced by the fact that many liveaboards sail to Ari Atoll to snorkel or dive with whale sharks.
Diving from the island of Maamigili with Shamar Guesthouse offers much more besides whale sharks. After all, the Maldives is known for its clear blue waters and wide variety of underwater life. Whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and different types of sharks can certainly be encountered while diving.
Shamar Guesthouse is therefore, in our opinion, an excellent and certainly affordable alternative to a liveaboard or luxury resort. The small-scale Shamar can accommodate only 10 divers in total, ideal if you like small scale or want to rent the entire guesthouse with a club of friends or the diving association, for example!
Best travel time: Whale sharks are spotted here throughout the year. As well as the mantas. Still, we recommend going here between November and April. You then have the best chance of nice weather and little wind.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for Ari Atoll, Maldives
In general, a 3mm wetsuit is sufficient for diving in the Maldives. What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 - The journey to the Maldives
Today you will fly on an overnight flight to Male, the capital of the Maldives. From here, you will take another 30 minutes or so by propeller plane to the island of Maamigili where you will be picked up by our friends at the Shamar Guesthouse. A golf cart will take you in minutes to the guesthouse where you will stay for the next 10 days.
Day 3 to 9 - Diving around the Ari Atoll
The upcoming week will be devoted to diving around Ari Atoll. With a small boat and a very helpful crew you dive 2 or 3 times a day at the most beautiful spots of the Ari Atoll. The sea is generally very calm and the farthest dive site is a maximum of 2 hours of sailing. Most and the most beautiful dive sites such as Manta Point, Bodu Finolhu, Maamigili Corner, Sun Island Beru and Kudhimaa wreck are fortunately all closer so you are often in the water within 1 hour.
Cruising the azure sea overlooking the many picturesque islets is an experience in itself.
You will definitely experience the versatility of diving at the Maldives during this vacation. A good chance you will see manta rays, dolphins by the boat (and with luck underwater), reef sharks and, of course, the whale shark.
During the search for whale sharks, the captains of the boats are in contact with each other to pass on when they have spotted a whale shark.
Day 10 - Discover Maamigili
You may not dive this day. A good time to relax some more or see a little more of the island of Maamigili. Feel free to ask at the guesthouse if they would like to show you some of the island. This they like to do. Hospitality is very important to Shamar.
It is possible to go kayaking, supping, snorkeling, volleyball, badminton or if you want to relax sunbathe at bikini beach – where sunbathing in swimwear is allowed.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Shamar Guesthouse
The Shamar Guesthouse is the only dive base on Maamigili and is located directly on the Indian Ocean. At the Shamar Guesthouse & Dive, you will stay among beautiful green gardens with no direct neighbors and a very nice direct ocean view.
Also Bikini beach (where tourists are allowed in bikini) is 100m away where you can relax and enjoy the sun after diving.
The Shamar guesthouse is also the only dive center (PADI® certified) on the island. A golf cart will take you to the port for your daily dives. The island is very small so exploring everything on foot is also definitely an option.
At the guesthouse, daily requests are noted for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here you can choose from delicious Maldivian dishes or European standards.
Furthermore, Shamar also offers individual excursions such as traditional night fishing, snorkeling with the whale shark, visiting uninhabited islands, where you can swim in the beautiful blue lagoon and much more. Sunrise cruises, where we try to find the dolphins to take unforgettable photos.
The rooms and your stay
Shamoon (The owner) and his team will make you feel at home from the first moment. They are very hospitable and will help you with everything.
At the Shamar Guesthouse you stay on full board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with water and juice is provided. Every day before diving you are asked what you want to eat from the menu. We recommend the traditional Maldivian dishes are.
At Shamar, they further have several rooms. The Panorama Room, Garden View Room, Ocean View room and Family Room. All spacious rooms meet all the conveniences for the average diver. This guesthouse is small-scale and also highly recommended for small groups of divers up to 10 people.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is €1825 per person based on two people in one room. The trip can be extended as desired, for example with a stay in Fuvahmulah (diving with tiger sharks) or a liveaboard before or after. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from €1825 p.p.
- 9 nights in a double room
- Return flight Male - Maamigili (local flight)
- Full board accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Return transfers from the airport to the guesthouse
- Dive package consisting of 15 boat dives, 2-3 dives per day
- GGTO, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Malé
- Tourist tax per day
- from €700,- p.p.
- $3.00 p.p.p.d.
Optional
Attention! It is important to book the items below in advance. Upon arrival in the Maldives, these optional items are often no longer available AND also the prices are higher locally.
- Diving equipment
- Nitrox
- 15L Tank
- $11 per dive
- $11 per dive
- $5.50 per dive
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
You make boat dives here. The boat is only a few minutes away from the resort.
The dive sites are up to 2 hours of boating. Usually, however, they stay closer to home. The best dive sites are between 30min and 1 hour maximum sailing time.
You can make up to 3 dives a day. For a 3rd dive, however, there must be enough guests present.
Yes. This is possible. Just keep in mind that there is not a big difference between day and night dives.
No. You will always go out with the boat.
Yes. The diving school can also provide PADI training.
That one is in the resort.
Diving equipment
Yes. There is a USD 5.5 charge per tank for this.
Yes. This is possible. Per 12L tank of nitrox, you pay $6 USD.
Yes, This is possible.
Other activities & excursions
Yes. You can certainly do that here. You will then join the boat. Dive sites will be sought that are also of interest to snorkelers. Here, too, you have a good chance of encountering whale sharks or manta rays,
Unfortunately, if you don’t dive, there is little to experience. There is a small beach within walking distance of the guesthouse and by golf cart or walking you can get to the village where there are some stores. At the beach you can paddle or swim.
On the last day, you could look for the whale shark if you haven’t seen it yet. Furthermore, we recommend going fishing with the locals or having a barbecue on the beach organized by the guesthouse.
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