Manthiri Liveaboard Overview

If your idea of diving is “the bigger, the better” then the Maldives is for you. Expect crystal-clear waters and currents to guide you through the best dive sites in Maldives, including potential encounters with sea turtles, manta rays, and reef sharks. The Maldives offers year-round diving opportunities, with the gentle southwest monsoon and clear skies.

MY Manthiri is a long-established and trusted name among Maldives liveaboards, as it’s been in operation for 20 years. The 85-foot (26 meter) boat offers a specially outfitted dive dhoni, compressors, nitrox systems, and space to store dive gear.

The maximum of 12 guests onboard are attended to by 11 crew, so guests can expect an intimate atmosphere with attentive service. It’s important to note that this liveaboard can only be booked as a charter; individuals cannot book on their own. So if you’ve got 11 dive buddies or can go through a dive-shop trip, the Manthiri is a good option.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of the Manthiri.

Where to book

The Manthiri liveaboard cruising past a low sandy island with a trailing wake

ManthiriLiveaboard.comBook directly – Best price

Diving on the Manthiri

Whale shark swimming near the surface with snorkelers trailing above

Diver in scuba gear jumping off the Manthiri's dive boat into turquoise water

Small palm-covered island resort seen from the water with a coral reef visible below the surface

Group of manta rays feeding together in open blue water

Vivid orange soft coral bommie surrounded by schooling anthias

The Manthiri cruises the Maldivian waters year-round. Centered mainly in the north of the country, dive trips offer the best combination of dive sites depending on the time of the year.

Tours run six, seven, or nine nights, and those who prefer longer charters can combine two consecutive short tours. All tours include up to four dives a day. Itineraries are designed to highlight whale sharks and marine life sightings year-round with schooling mantas thrown in from June to mid-November.

The Manthiri liveaboard also offers a special tour covering the southernmost atolls of Maldives , Huvadhoo, and Addu. These remote atolls, little visited by tourists, offer colorful coral reefs and channels rich with sharks.

All dives are guided and drift diving with moderate to strong currents is the norm. To participate in current dives, it is recommended that you be an experienced diver (over 50 dives) with good swimming skills. Novice divers can take advantage of highly qualified and experienced dive instructors on board and available PADI courses.

Diving takes place from the Vasantha, the dhoni of Manthiri. The dive boat’s crew of three offers guests on-deck assistance and rinses gear after each dive. A nice touch is the warm towel that’s placed around your shoulders shortly after each dive.

Full rental equipment is available onboard, including dive computers and torches, and nitrox is available for qualified divers at a surcharge. It is worth noting that all divers must carry a surface sounding device and a safety sausage (SMB) during their dives.

Underwater photographers will love not only the camera racks, separate rinse tank, table, laptop, CD burner and projector, but also the assistance of the photo professional on board.

Highlights:

Photography professional on board
Marine life including whale sharks, mantas and sharks
Special tours to Huvadhoo and Addu

Onboard the Manthiri

Blue-themed cabin aboard the Manthiri with a floral headboard bed and swan towel art

Stern view of the Manthiri liveaboard with its tender boat moored alongside at dusk

Guests relaxing on sun loungers on the Manthiri's upper deck in the late afternoon sun

Group of guests waving and cheering from the Manthiri's upper deck railing

Manthiri’s exceptionally wide beam minimizes rocking motion and the limit of 12 guests allows for six spacious cabins. Configurations provide numerous options, with four twins and two doubles with queen-size beds.

All cabins are ensuite and feature individually controlled air-conditioning and minibars. Your dive gear will be transferred off the main boat to the dive tender, so there’s plenty of storage in every cabin.

Manthiri’s teak-paneled salon is one of the largest on any vessel of this size. Furnished with comfortable sofas, it also offers a state-of-the-art music system, a DVD player, and multi-system TV/VCR with video-camera viewing facilities.

When sea breezes beckon, Manthiri’s top deck can accommodate both sun-worshippers and shade-seekers. Deck chairs are ideally placed for soaking in the rays, icy drink in hand, or stargazing in the evening.

The Vasantha, the Manthiri’s custom-built dive dhoni, features a stable low-sitting platform, to offer comfortable entry for dives. The Vasantha’s 400-square-foot (37-square-meter) dive deck offers four exits, freshwater camera rinse tanks, a toilet, and two hot-water showers.

Highlights:

Dedicated camera salon with computer and slide projector
Daily fresh towels in cabins
Two hot showers on the dive deck

Dining onboard the Manthiri

dining table spread with salads, roasted vegetables and fresh fruit aboard Manthiri

pineapple boat filled with fresh fruit and berry coulis served aboard Manthiri

Professional chefs Bodey and Hema bring a sophisticated twist to the diverse flavors of the Maldives, combining Eastern and Western culinary influences. With a decade of experience on the Manthiri, they excel in crafting menus that cater to the diverse palates of guests from around the world.

Fresh fruits and vegetables abound, and the dining schedule is tailored to meet the needs of divers, offering pre-dive mini breakfasts, full breakfasts post-dive, and delectable snacks in between.

Meals are served by a waiter and all diets, including vegetarian and halal, can be catered for with prior notice. A large selection of soda, beer, and alcoholic beverages is available at the bar for an extra cost.

If you wish to have a particular brand of drinks while on the boat, all attempts will be made to stock enough of your preferred brand provided you make the request in advance. Water, coffee, and tea are available throughout the day and are free of charge.