Diamonds Athuruga

It was an absolute delight to discover the underwater world with Marco! He was incredibly friendly, supportive, and gentle in teaching me how to dive, a truly indescribable experience. You must try it firsthand with him to truly understand. I already miss the thrill of diving and am eager to return just to dive with him again! I highly suggest it, particularly with Marco! Bartosz Solarz, Basia Solarz, Karina Solarz.

We chose Diamonds Athuruga for our honeymoon, and it was an unforgettable experience. Everything was flawless. The scenery, the resort itself, the ocean, the staff - all exceeded our expectations. The house reef teemed with vibrant fish, baby sharks, rays, and turtles, making it truly captivating. First and foremost, we highly suggest staying in the overwater villas. Waking up to stunning views each morning was a dream. Picture waking up to see a turtle or ray swimming just a few meters from your doorstep... Additionally, the overwater restaurant is a fantastic option when you prefer not to dine at the main buffet in the beach restaurant. The staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive. A special mention goes to Ameen, who took excellent care of us during our stay. The water sports team ensured there was always something exciting to do with various excursions and snorkeling tours. From embarking on a whale shark safari, exploring the Ari Atoll, visiting a local sandbank for photos, to simply enjoying a leisurely snorkeling tour in the house reef - there was something for everyone. They even provided complimentary fins and a snorkel upon arrival, which was a nice touch. The on-site marine biologist was welcoming and informative, even offering the opportunity to adopt a coral. However, the highlight of our trip was learning to scuba dive. Neither my wife nor I had ever dived before, but we decided to take the plunge on Athuruga. We reached out to the iDive team (Davide and Adam) and began our diving adventure. It was a decision we will never regret. Davide, an exceptional instructor, guided us from beginners to PADI Open Water certification (diving to 18 meters, setting up our own scuba gear, etc.) in just a week. We explored breathtaking dive sites teeming with colorful fish, vibrant corals, turtles, sharks, rays, eels, octopuses, shrimps, and more. It truly opened up a whole new world for us. After our first dive, we were hooked and went for a dive (or two) every day. Davide was incredibly supportive and friendly throughout our journey. We couldn't have asked for a better instructor. We highly recommend giving scuba diving a try if you visit Athuruga.

Athuruga exceeded our expectations from beginning to end. We enjoyed our stay in both the Junior Suite on the island and the water bungalows, each offering unique advantages. The house reef is expansive, teeming with a variety of marine life, and the marine research center on the island has successfully preserved the stunning coral gardens. We encountered a plethora of fish, nurse sharks, white and black tip reef sharks, rays, turtles, and more! The diving spots provided by the school, such as Shark Thila and Maadu Faru corner, were truly exceptional. Don't miss the night dive on the house reef if you're a diving enthusiast, the nurse sharks are incredibly friendly! What sets this island apart is its people. The team is exceptional: warm, welcoming, accommodating, genuine, and friendly. A special shoutout to Abdullah and Mohammed from the restaurant for adding joy to every meal, Marco and Adam from the dive school for an unforgettable experience, the reception team for their assistance, and Nivo from the spa for an incredible massage. My only suggestions for minor improvements would be to enhance the vegetarian options at the buffet and to provide tip boxes for the staff.