Dive Review of Manthiri in
Maldives

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Manthiri: "Manthiri - a livaboard treat", Sep, 2016, by John E. Keith, UT, US ( Top Contributor 31 reports with 9 Helpful votes). Report 9099 has 2 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was our first trip to the Maldives and the Manthiri (it won't be the last). It was a really great experience. The Manthiri is a very comfortable boat, serving a maximum of 12 divers with a staff of 11 (that tells you something about service). We had only one negative - the mandatory fumigation left a pretty strong odor in the cabin on the first night (not after, though). The staff of the Manthiri met us at the airport (Mussa, the chief dive master) and escorted us (water taxi) to our hotel (we arrived a day before the boat sailed). That hotel - the Sala Family Thai Hotel and Restaurant - was outstanding. The served some of the best Thai food we've eaten (including in Bangkok), the rooms were very comfortable, and the location was in the center of town, ten minutes walk from the city's various tourist sites. We'd flown all night, so a good meal and night's sleep was what was needed. The next morning, Mussa again met us to take us (by water taxi, again) to the Manthiri. There were only five of us Utah divers on this 8-day dive trip, so we couldn't move without someone helping us! The boat and its dhoni (accompanying dive boat) are well equipped. The Manthiri has excellent space for camera work, a very comfortable lounge, a nice sun deck, and comfortable and spacious cabins. The diving was spectacular. The two dive masters (Ali was the second dive master) split the group into fast and slow (we're slow). We watched Mantas over cleaning stations twice for 20 minutes, saw many, many large schools of fish (large and small), many unusual small fish and critters, and some great large fish (cod and humpback wrasse). The corals were fine, but not really as spectacular as say the Red Sea. Currents were strong in some places (requiring anchors) and light in others. Food on the boat was great - fresh fish every night (including sashimi from a fresh-caught wahoo twice!), meat dishes, various veggies and starches, all with really interesting spicing and flavors. Kudos to the cook and his helpers. The staff saw to our every diving need on the dhoni, including helping with fins! Pampered is the word. On return, we were again escorted to the hotel, where we did some sight seeing and once again, ate wonderful Thai food. What a treat this trip was. The only drawback was no whale sharks. Next time.
Websites	Manthiri
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Egypt, Florida, California, Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, Maldives
Closest Airport	Male	Getting There	It's a long flight from anywhere, but once you are there, the Manthiri makes the rest easy
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, surge
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Stay with the DM (more or less). Keep within safe non-deco limits, and do a safety stop.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Very nice camera bench. Dhoni had a rinse tank for cameras.

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Manthiri in Maldives

Manthiri: "Manthiri - a livaboard treat", Sep, 2016,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Manthiri in
Maldives