A luxury liveaboard through manta cleaning stations, shark channels and whale-shark country. Running 8 days (23–30 Jan 2027), it’s built for advanced-level divers. You’ll need your Advanced Open Water and around 50 logged dives. We hold 20 slots for the iDive group, and the trip is confirmed the moment 15 divers reserve.
Your dive trip host
Amitabh Gautam
Founder · SSI Advanced Adventurer · 200+ dives
Amitabh leads iDive's curated expeditions. A former television journalist of 25+ years, he traded the newsroom for the Arabian Sea in 2016 and founded iDive on small classes, certified instructors and real safety standards. He'll be your point of contact before, during and after the trip.
SSI & PADI affiliated Small groups Based in Goa, India
Why this expedition
Manta rays at cleaning stations & feeding aggregations
Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll (seasonal)
Grey reef & whitetip sharks in the channels
Thrilling drift dives with reef hooks
Nitrox & up to 3–4 dives a day
Day by day
Day 1Board near MaléEmbark the yacht, check dive and welcome briefing.
Day 2North Malé channelsDrift dives with grey reef sharks and eagle rays.
Day 3Manta cleaning stationsHover off a reef hook while mantas glide through.
Day 4South Ari AtollWhale-shark search by day and a manta night dive.
Day 5Channels & thilasFast drifts and pinnacle dives teeming with fish.
Day 6Relaxed reefsLagoon and reef dives; de-gas before flying.
Day 7Disembark MaléBreakfast and transfer to the airport.
Come preparedComfortable in moderate-to-strong channel current · Reef-hook use & negative-entry descents · Nitrox-capable dive computer recommended
We verify every diver’s certification before confirming a slot, it keeps the group safe and the diving relaxed. Not quite there yet? Level up with a course and join a future expedition.
Getting there & staying
Your diving, meals and in-trip transfers are sorted by iDive. Here’s how to handle flights and any pre/post-trip nights around Central Atolls, Maldives.
Getting there
Fly into Malé (MLE) · 3-4 hours from India.
Where to stay
Hotels and stays near the dive sites, compare rates and book direct.
Maldivian channels bring real current, negative entries and reef hooks. With 50 dives and an AOW card, you watch the sharks and mantas instead of working against the water.
Are whale sharks guaranteed?
No wild encounter ever is. That said, January in South Ari Atoll is one of the better windows of the year, and the manta diving is dependable.
I'm AOW with 30 dives, can I prep?
Yes. Log a few current and drift dives first, or build the experience on our October Red Sea or March Similan trip. We will advise you when you reserve.
Diver reviews
0.0
Be the first to review this expedition.
Thanks for your review!
We'll publish it once our team has had a quick look.
Questions before you commit?
Not sure if you're ready for Maldives Mantas & Whale Sharks, or want to bring a group? Talk to a iDive dive pro, we'll be straight with you about whether this trip is the right fit.
We use essential cookies to run iDive. With your consent we also use analytics and our assistant Laila to improve the site. You can change this anytime. See our Privacy Policy.
From ₹1,80,000 · 20% to reserve
Reserve your slot
Maldives Mantas & Whale Sharks · Jan 2027
20% reservation hold
₹36,000
Trip total / person
₹1,80,000
Slot reserved!
You're on the list for Maldives Mantas & Whale Sharks. We'll message you on WhatsApp within 24 hours to verify your certification and confirm next steps. No payment has been taken.
This expedition needs Advanced Open Water and around 50 logged dives. Not there yet? Book a course or a few fun dives with iDive in Goa to qualify, then come back and grab your slot.
