Dive Curated
Scuba diving in Maldives
22298 · Pixabay Content License · source

Guides · Price comparison

Dhigurah Diving Prices 2026: Day Dives, Whale Shark Packages, Shops

Dhigurah is a local island in South Ari Atoll. Whale sharks are seen in South Ari all year, most often at 5-15 m in open water. Two shops we track are based on Dhigurah, Island Divers and Fari Dive Center. South Ari Dive Center sits on Dhangethi, the next island, and dives the same area.

Prices as published by each operator · checked 9 Oct 2026

Price
USD 120–USD 1,587
Days
1–7
Dives
2–15

Day dives and packages on Dhigurah

Lowest price first. Not a quality ranking.

Prices shown in

Converted at 26 Oct 2026 rates. Shops charge in their own currency.

  1. Island Divers

    Single Day Dive (2 Boat Dives)

    Lowest listed price
    USD 120before code

    Days: 1 day

    Dives: 2 dives

    • Tanks and weights
    • Guide
    • Equipment: not stated

    Dhigurah. Half-day trip to South Ari dive sites.

    Ask shop on WhatsApp

    Code DC-ISLANDDIVERS: free nitrox

  2. South Ari Dive Center

    USD 693before code

    Days: 3 nights

    Dives: 5 dives

    • Speedboat transfer
    • Room and full board
    • Whale shark and manta dive
    • BCD and regulator: not included

    Dhangethi, the next island. BCD and regulator USD 5 per dive. Up to 9 nights.

    Ask shop on WhatsApp

    Code DC-SOUTHARI: free BCD and regulator rental

  3. Fari Dive Center Dhigurah

    Basic Blue Package (3 Nights / 5 Dives)

    USD 771

    Days: 3 nights

    Dives: 5 dives

    • Speedboat transfer
    • Room and breakfast
    • Whale shark and manta dive
    • BCD and regulator: not included

    Dhigurah. Full equipment USD 10 per dive. Longer Blue packages up to 9 nights.

    Ask shop on WhatsApp

  4. Island Divers

    Combo Package: 7 Nights + 10 Boat Dives (Dhigurah)

    USD 1,111before code

    Days: 7 nights

    Dives: 10 dives

    • Speedboat transfer
    • Room and breakfast
    • Equipment
    • Nitrox

    Dhigurah Cottage. Includes a night dive. Single room USD 303 extra.

    Ask shop on WhatsApp

    Code DC-ISLANDDIVERS: free nitrox

  5. Fari Dive Center Dhigurah

    Signature Blue (15 Dives | 7 Nights)

    USD 1,587

    Days: 7 nights

    Dives: 15 dives

    • Speedboat transfer
    • Room and breakfast
    • Whale shark and manta dive
    • BCD and regulator: not included

    Dhigurah. 15 dives instead of 10.

    Ask shop on WhatsApp

What the numbers show

The cheapest offer isn't always the cheapest week

For 3 nights, South Ari Dive Center costs USD 78 less than Fari and adds lunch and dinner. For a week, Island Divers costs USD 476 less than Fari's Signature Blue and includes equipment and nitrox, but has 5 dives fewer. Meals, equipment and the number of dives change the real price more than the headline does.

Ask before you book

  • Is a whale shark dive part of the package, and how many?
  • Are a BCD and regulator included? Three of the four packages say no.
  • Which meals are included? Breakfast only, or full board?

Common questions

How much does diving on Dhigurah cost?

Island Divers sells a day with two boat dives for USD 120, with tanks, weights, a guide and snacks. Equipment isn't listed, so ask for the rental price. From Fari Dive Center we track packages only. Fari charges USD 65 for each dive added to a package.

Do the packages include a whale shark dive?

Fari's Blue packages and South Ari Dive Center's Dhangethi packages each include one whale shark dive and one manta dive. Island Divers' week includes 10 boat dives and a night dive. It doesn't name a whale shark dive, so ask. No shop can promise a sighting.

Which package is cheaper for 3 nights?

South Ari Dive Center on Dhangethi: USD 693 per person in a double room, with full board. Fari on Dhigurah: USD 771, with breakfast only. Both include 5 dives and the speedboat from the airport. At both, a BCD and regulator cost extra: USD 5 per dive at South Ari, USD 10 per dive for full equipment at Fari.

What does a week of diving cost?

Island Divers: USD 1,111 for 7 nights and 10 boat dives, with breakfast, equipment, nitrox and the speedboat. Fari's Signature Blue: USD 1,587 for 7 nights and 15 dives, with breakfast, equipment extra. South Ari Dive Center: USD 1,348 for 7 nights and 15 dives, with full board. All prices are per person sharing a double room.

How do I get to Dhigurah?

By speedboat from Velana airport in Malé. All the packages on this page include the speedboat. If you book day dives only, arrange the transfer with your guesthouse.

Can I learn to dive on Dhigurah?

Yes. Island Divers lists the PADI Open Water course for USD 650 and Advanced Open Water for USD 520, equipment included. Our Open Water guide compares all 8 Maldives shops we track.

Before you book

grouper underwater
1790462 · Pixabay Content License · source

Maldives

Season

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Also good: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.

Getting there

  • Fly to Velana International Airport (MLE), Malé, hub with connections from Dubai, Singapore, Colombo, Doha, and direct flights from Europe.
  • From Malé: speedboat (30–90 min for most mid-range resorts) or seaplane (15–45 min for remote islands, daylight only, so late arrivals mean a Malé overnight).
  • Liveaboards depart from Malé harbour.

Minimum stay

5 nights (7+ for liveaboards)

Good for your first trip if

Open Water minimum. Advanced OW strongly recommended for channel dives, currents can be strong and shift fast. Hyperbaric chambers are spread across several atolls, so ask your operator which is nearest. Remote resort locations make evacuation slow, dive conservatively and ensure your insurance includes dive coverage and medevac.

Know before you go

  • Chambers listed by sources include Bandos, Kuredu, Kuramathi, Kandima, ADK Hospital in Malé and the state-run centre in Guraidhoo (checked 2 Nov 2026).
  • Ask your operator which is nearest and whether it is operating; evacuation from remote atolls can take hours.
  • Dive conservatively.
  • The pull of whale sharks and mantas can tempt divers to ignore depth and time limits; a conservative computer profile is non-negotiable here.
  • Medevac cover in your dive insurance is essential, not optional.

Dive sites nearby

shark underwater
Franziska_Stier · Pixabay Content License · source

South Ari Whale Shark Point

Beginner-friendly

Depth5–30 m

Year-round whale shark aggregation in South Ari Marine Protected Area. Multiple individual sharks at any visit; most encounters at 5–15 m in open blue water.

  • whale sharks
  • year-round aggregation
  • open blue water
  • reef fish
Coral reef
joakant · Pixabay Content License · source

Hanifaru Bay

Beginner-friendly

Depth3–15 m

UNESCO-protected bay in Baa Atoll where mantas gather in the hundreds to feed on plankton blooms. Snorkel-only inside the bay, spectacle is accessible from the surface.

  • manta feeding frenzy
  • hundreds of mantas simultaneously
  • plankton bloom
  • UNESCO

How this guide was built

Source
Each operator's own published listing, checked 9 Oct 2026.
Order
By listed price, lowest first. Not a quality ranking.
Currency
Operators charge in USD; EUR and USD are conversions for orientation.