Honest review
If you are choosing a resort on Ari Atoll for snorkelling and diving, Safari Island has two weighty arguments. The first is the house reef, one of the brightest and most alive in the Maldives: it runs along one side of the island, while the other side has a calm, clear lagoon with a beach — convenient for alternating the mask with a simple swim. The second is the 5-star certified PADI centre with daily dive trips: there are plenty of excellent sites around the island.
Be sure to plan a safari cruise on a traditional Maldivian boat — the resort’s signature proposition. The boats are authentic on the outside and luxuriously modern inside, and the number of free cruises is tied to the length of your stay: it makes sense not to come for just three nights.
The accommodation is cosy, well-equipped bungalows; the island is small, and the beach and the island’s infrastructure are within easy reach from anywhere.
Among the other activities — trips to uninhabited islands, visits to local villages, dolphin searches, picnics and romantic dinners.
A practical detail: from 5 April a fuel surcharge of $6 per person each way is collected on arrival — put it in the budget.
A resort for a classic beach holiday with a strong underwater accent.
