diva: south ari atoll

From the moment you set foot inside Diva”s private lounge at Male Airport you know you’re going to a classy resort.     After a 25 minute sea plane flight from Male you arrive at Diva’s jetty, having flown over the huge lagoon that is a feature of this resort, offering very safe snorkeling in a giant natural turquoise swimming pool.

The size of the island is impressive and affords many of the rooms more space between them and the next and a variety of locations to choose from the newest over water villas which are at the far tip of the island, to the land based villas down the side of the island, to the original over water rooms set right out toward the reef.

Rooms:-

The lead in Deluxe rooms are a healthy 65m2, leading into the Junior Suites at 70m2, Beach Villas at 95m2 and Beach Pool Villas at 116m2 completing the land based offering. The original Water Villas on the east side of the island are 71m2

and the new Prestige Water Villas are a very generous 98m2.

The Prestige Water Villas off the most contemporary feel but all the rooms are incredibly good value year round but particularly 1^st November – 20^th December.

Main room features are LCD TV with DVD player, minibar, wi-fi, 24/7 room service, IDD phone, outdoor shower (beach Villas and Water Villas only).

Top villas:-

The 360m2 Presidential Villa (over water) is a palatial retreat comprising of 1 Master bedroom, 1 guest bedroom, lounge, pantry. Decking with infinity plunge pool, sun loungers and a glass floor in the lounge giving you a tropical marine show on tap.

There are also 3 Family Water Villas.

Spa

With more treatment rooms that any other spa in the area (15) with a variety of locations from gardens to over water rooms, you can almost be guaranteed a treatment slot anytime with one of the expert Balinese team.  They will consult you prior to treatment and can tailor your time there accordingly. The experience doesn’t stop there with steam rooms, ice rooms and saunas plus relaxation areas to really unwind in after your treatment.

Dining

The dining here is among the most comprehensive we have seen and would match any 5* resort in the world for choice and quality.  From the Middle eastern and Lebanese cuisine of Senses restaurant to the Japanese modern cuisine of “Pure” , all tastes are catered for in a host of locations dotted around the island.

Other

The extensive water sports centre provides windsurfing, fun tube rides, jet skiing, canoes, catamarans and pedal boats. The dive centre is second to none .

They also offer an extensive range of other facilities including: 2 floodlit tennis courts, table tennis, billiards, table football, sunset fishing, champagne sunset cruises, cultural excursions, and trips to nearby islands.

There is also an extensive kids club with indoor and out door play areas and also split into 2 age groups to make sure the older children do not get bored !

Final word

If you’re looking for a large island with a lot to do and plenty of places to eat, then Diva will suit. The feeling of space is unusual for these islands and staying in the Prestige Water Villas certainly gives a sense of being away from it all. There is a very casual and informal feel despite the 5* billing and if you have children you know they will be well catered for.