Centara Grand, Maldives
per room, breakfast only
Overview
Best House Reef 2023
In recognition of your dedication to providing outstanding underwater experiences to ZuBlu’s valued guests. Learn more about all our 2023 winners
- Incredible scuba diving with whale sharks, mantas, and more
- Flexible options ranging from B&B and to all-inclusive experiences
- Rustic and unfussy atmosphere with a focus on nature
- One of the Maldives’ best house reefs, with its own shipwreck
Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa offers one of South Ari Atoll's most impressive private island experiences, with a laid back toes-in-the-sand atmosphere and five-star facilities for the whole family. Snorkel and scuba dive alongside whale sharks, discover one of the Maldives’ best shipwrecks, or earn your PADI certification on the island's house reef. You’ll feel perfectly relaxed with spacious colonial-style villas and suites, easy to explore paths and walkways, and a backdrop of sea and sand. Plus, with optional all-inclusive packages, you can feel free to enjoy spa and yoga sessions, inspired global cuisine, watersports offerings, and all day entertainment for kids and teens, without a second thought.
Rooms
Reethi Muraka Overwater Villa
Room details
Reethi Muraka Overwater Villa
Family Overwater Villa with Kids Bedroom
Room details
Family Overwater Villa with Kids Bedroom
Sunrise Overwater Villa
Room details
Sunrise Overwater Villa
Sunset Overwater Villa
Room details
Sunset Overwater Villa
Club Sunset Overwater Villa with Pool
Room details
Club Sunset Overwater Villa with Pool
Resort checklist
Meal plans:
- Breakfast
- Half Board
- Full Board
- All Inclusive
Reviews
Antony W
Overall a great trip, with some great diving. Achieved the main goal which was for my 12-year old daughter to complete her advanced open water....
Read moreSabrina L
Thank you again ZuBlu for a fantastic holiday! It was no easy task for an enthusiastic diver and a beginner diver but this trip was...
Read moreTeresa T
Centara Grand was beautiful with excellent house reef snorkeling right outside our over-the-water villa! The staff were extremely kind and accommodating, and the...
Read moreDiving in South Ari Atoll
- Whale sharkYear round
- WrecksYear round
- Healthy coralsNot frequently
- Plentiful reef lifeYear round
- Manta RaysFrom November to March
- StingraysNot frequently
- TurtlesYear round
- Giant frogfishNot frequently
From the famous whale sharks of Maamigili reef, to current-driven drifts through reef channels, and one of the finest wrecks in the Maldives, you can’t go wrong with South Ari Atoll’s dive sites.
Whale sharks in South Ari
Whale sharks are the highlight in South Ari Atoll with year-round potential to view these gentle giants. The South Ari Marine Protected Area is renowned for almost daily sightings, and you’ve got a pretty good chance almost no matter what time of year you visit. During the Northeast monsoon from December to April, they tend to be seen more to the west, then the whale sharks move over to the east during the Southwest monsoon between May and November. Wherever they are spotted, you'll can swim alongside these wonderful creatures as they feed and cruise along the reef.
Manta rays are also seen in South Ari, particularly at Madivaru – also known as Manta point – a marine protected reef on the south of Rangali Kandu. The best chance to see them is during the northeast monsoon from December to May. And manta rays or not, you’ll still see plenty of fish at this well-known site. The Machchafushi Wreck – also known as Kudhimaa Wreck – is also a highlight of South Ari’s diving. The boat was purposefully sunk in 1998, and now sits upright and fully intact. With its large propeller, prominent wheelhouse, crane structure, and plenty of doorways, this wreck is a photographer’s dream. You’ll also find a host of life including batfish, frogfish, ghost pipefish, and moray eels. In the central region of Ari there are some classic thilas, and while the atoll is not small, most of the stunning sites are accessible from any of the resorts in South Ari.