Our representative meets you on arrival at Male
International Airport in Maldives and escorts
you to the transfer vessel that will breeze you
to MANTHIRI, our beautiful 85 foot (25 metre)
live-aboard custom designed for dive cruises and
heavily built of fine tropical timber.
The vessel's wide beam of 25 foot (7.6 metre) contributes towards a stable hull and spacious cabins accommodating up to 12 divers in four twins and two doubles with queen size beds.
All cabins have minibars, locker and drawers
for clothes with luggage stowage under the bed,
and large ensuites finished in gleaming whilte
with hotwater showers and hair dryers.
The vessel has individually controlled air-conditioning
throughout.
The boat's signature is the teak-panneled main salon, one of the largest found on any vessel of this size, comfortably furnished with expensively upholstered sofas in rosewood trim, a state-of-the-art music system, DVD player, multi-system TV/VCR with video camera viewing facilities and camera shelves. On one side of the main salon stands two large round tables seating between them 14 persons for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A
smaller salon in the rear laid with light
table is conveniently placed for viewing
slides, E-6 film processing, laptop computer
for dowloading digital photos and slide
projector are available with ample 220
(British Standard square pin plugs) and
110 (US Standard flat plugs) volt power
outlets; no transformers or adaptors are
needed. This is a vessel equipped with
underwater
photographers in mind.
Compressors and NITROX system and all the dive gear are on an accompanying 54 foot dive boat called dhoni (see the photo album) with a spacious dive deck comfortably seating 14 persons with elbow room to spare, head, hotwater shower, and rinse tank.
The
dive dhoni, stable and sitting low on water,
is most convenient to dive from. This arrangement
of separate dive dhoni leaves far more living
space on MANTHIRI for 12 guests than the vessel's
85 foot length would imply.
Imagaine a 106 foot liveaboard with just six
cabins and its own dive deck. That is how spacious
MANTHIRI is with a separate dive boat.
The top deck of the mother vessel has an area, partly shaded and partly open, furnished with deck chair ideally placed for soaking in the sun or star-gaze in the evening, lying down if you prefer on an adjustable padded chair, drink in hand. The common bar with the ice-maker is in the shade.
The day begins with the mini breakfast. The full breakfast is after the first dive which commences at 7:00AM . Snacks are served between the dives. All the meals are sit- down. The food is delicious, abundant and nourishing.
Fastidiously
maintained and in operation now for eleven
years with an amazing crew, MANTHIRI is
widely acknowledged as one of the finest
live-aboards in the world. Don't just
take our word for it. For an independent
assessment, refer to the guest comments,
UNDERCURRENT
and Rodale's Trip Reports.
