112 villas in South Ari Atoll, whale shark excursions
Starting from
$350
per night
Unverified — not yet confirmed at source
No photography here yet
Resort marketing photos are the most misleading thing in Maldives travel: wide-angle lenses, colour grading, and empty beaches shot at dawn. We would rather show you nothing than show you those. Unretouched photography is coming.
South Ari Atoll is the Maldives' prime whale shark territory, and Centara Grand Island places you right in the middle of it. The resort runs daily whale shark snorkelling excursions.
Our judgement from the facts on this page, not a review.
Best for
Not ideal for
Seaplane or Speedboat
25-min seaplane from Male (or 45-min domestic flight + 30-min speedboat)
Duration
25 min
Cost (r/t pp)
~$580
Departs from
Velana International Airport seaplane terminal
⚠️ Seaplanes operate only during daylight hours; late arrivals require speedboat via domestic flight
Spacious beachfront villa with direct sand access
$350
per night
Overwater villa with lagoon steps and ocean views
$580
per night
Oversized overwater villa with private plunge pool
$1,100
per night
International buffet & à la carte
Main restaurant with buffet breakfast and themed dinner menus
Seafood & Mediterranean
Overwater restaurant with panoramic ocean views
Bar & tapas
West-facing bar perfect for sundowner cocktails
Meal Plans
| Plan | Cost pp/night | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|
| BBBed & Breakfast | Included | — |
| HBHalf Board | +$65 | — |
| FBFull Board | +$100 | — |
snorkeling
Daily excursion to whale shark feeding grounds in South Ari
$70
per person
$65
per person
diving
$85
per dive
wellness
$130
per session
House Reef
Not verified
Surfing
Not available
Nearby marine life
Our reading of the verified facts above, not a review. We have not stayed here.
Pros
Cons
Centara The1 loyalty
Points earned on stays redeemable for free nights
Best for: Frequent Centara guests
7 nights, 2 adults, half board, water villa
Built from unverified rates. These figures have not been confirmed against a published rate sheet, and exclude 17% TGST, 10% service charge and $12 per person per night green tax.