Nala Experiences · Ukulhas, North Ari Atoll

Explore, with island knowledge

Choose a morning over the reef, a sandbank visit or a longer search for whale sharks in South Ari. Nala’s crews help you explore beyond Ukulhas, with outings for confident snorkellers, families and guests who prefer to watch from the boat.

How booking works with the Nala team

You book a trip through the team. Only after it has run does the charge go on your room bill, which you settle at check-out. A trip that does not run is not charged.

The captain confirms departures according to sea conditions on the day. If a trip cannot run, we first look for another day during your stay.

Every trip, with times and prices

Reef and marine life trips

Tell us what you would like to see, and we can share recent sightings and suggest a suitable trip. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed.

  • Nurse Shark Encounter: snorkel alongside nurse sharks, stay on a float and take photographs, or watch from the boat. It is your choice. Nobody touches or feeds them.
  • Turtle Point Snorkelling is mid-morning, above a reef the boats go to for turtles. It is the first trip we suggest to families.
  • The Snorkelling Safari visits two reef sites in one morning and is not built around any single animal.
  • On the Dolphin Safari, you watch for dolphins from the boat, usually in the morning, sometimes from late afternoon until sunset.
  • The Whale Shark Expedition is the long one: a full day in South Ari with a packed lunch.

Sandbanks and picnic islands

  • The Sand Bank Escape drops you on a sandbank for swimming and time on the sand.
  • The Half Day Desert Island visits an uninhabited island. The Desert Island Escape (Full Day) is a longer visit and includes lunch.
  • Island Immersion, one of the packages below, is a full day visiting the inhabited islands of Bodufolhudhoo and Mathiveri.

Manta trips

  • The Manta Encounter leaves at 07:00 and is usually back around 08:30, so you still have the rest of the day.
  • The Manta Discovery + Snorkel Combo starts with the same manta search, then adds two reef sites and lasts the whole morning.

Fishing

Octopus Hunting is a traditional Maldivian activity. The trip goes out mid-morning, and whatever you catch is cooked for you on your return. USD 65, 09:30 to 11:30.

Night Fishing leaves as the light fades, and you fish with a line over the side near a reef. The kitchen prepares your catch for dinner. Explore Night Fishing.

Who is coming with you

A couple laughing together on a sandbank, with turquoise water on both sides.

For two.

We suggest the Manta Encounter or the Nurse Shark Encounter first, then the Sand Bank Escape. On a honeymoon, Honeymoon Bliss (USD 265 for two) spreads three occasions across your stay: a dolphin cruise with only the two of you aboard, a sandbank picnic, and the Sunset Romantic Live BBQ Dinner on the beach. For an evening without leaving the island, the Sunset Dinner on the Beach is USD 90 for two, and the BBQ version USD 145. For an evening away from the island, Sandbank Dining is arranged through Celebrate.

A mother and child snorkelling together above a reef, making the OK hand signal.

With children.

Turtle Point Snorkelling, the Snorkelling Safari and the Half Day Desert Island are shorter outings. On the Dolphin Safari, everyone watches from the boat. We recommend a trip after discussing the children’s ages, everyone’s swimming confidence and the sea conditions.

For a longer stay. Four packages put several trips under one price. The Ocean Trilogy, Island Immersion and Marine Lover Pass each come with a fixed set of trips or stops. The 3-Day Adventure Pass lets you pick any five of nine trips across three days.

Every trip, with times and prices

Prices are per person in US dollars and include applicable service charge and taxes. Honeymoon Bliss and the two beach dinners are priced for two. Children aged 3 to 10 pay half price on the trips and packages that suit them, and we confirm which those are before you book. Times shown are the usual ones; the captain confirms the day's timing.

Individual trips and the 3-Day Adventure Pass run with at least 2 adults, and the Whale Shark Expedition with at least 10. Children do not count towards the minimum. With fewer adults, you can pay for the missing places and take the trip privately.

Every trip includes drinking water and a safety briefing, and the snorkelling trips also include snorkelling equipment. Nala gives 5% of its excursion revenue to community-led ocean and environmental protection projects on Ukulhas.

Trip or packageUsual time or what it includesPrice
Manta Encounter07:00 to 08:30USD 69
Manta Discovery + Snorkel Combo07:00 to 10:30USD 89
Nurse Shark Encounter09:00 to 10:30USD 69
Turtle Point Snorkelling09:00 to 10:30USD 69
Snorkelling Safari09:00 to 10:30USD 65
Dolphin SafariMost often 08:30 to 11:30; some trips run from late afternoon until sunset. Usually two to three hoursUSD 110
Whale Shark Expedition07:00 to 14:00, packed lunchUSD 149
Sand Bank EscapeUsually 09:30 to 11:00USD 65
Half Day Desert Island09:30 to 12:00USD 65
Desert Island Escape (Full Day)09:30 to 15:00, lunch includedUSD 89
Octopus Hunting09:30 to 11:30USD 65
Night Fishing17:30 to 20:00, catch prepared for dinnerUSD 50
Ocean TrilogyManta Encounter, Turtle Point Snorkelling, Sand Bank EscapeUSD 169
Island ImmersionA full day of island hopping: Bodufolhudhoo and Mathiveri with lunch, and a picnic islandUSD 189
Marine Lover PassManta Discovery + Snorkel Combo, Turtle Point Snorkelling, Dolphin Safari, a picnic islandUSD 259
3-Day Adventure PassAny five of nine trips across three days: any trip above except the Whale Shark Expedition, Manta Discovery + Snorkel Combo and Desert Island Escape (Full Day), and not the other packagesUSD 289
Honeymoon BlissA dolphin cruise, a sandbank picnic and the Sunset Romantic Live BBQ Dinner, each on a different day, for one coupleUSD 265 for two
Sunset Dinner on the BeachAt sunset on the Bistro beachfront, three courses eachUSD 90 for two
Sunset Romantic Live BBQ DinnerAt sunset on the Bistro beachfront, three courses each and reef fish from a live barbecueUSD 145 for two

Questions about Nala Experiences

How many people are on a boat?

Where the trip allows, we keep groups to no more than six guests. The Whale Shark Expedition uses a larger boat.

How much notice do you need?

About a day for most trips. The Whale Shark Expedition needs longer. Message the Nala team on WhatsApp and we will set it up.

Can we dive?

Sea Crest Scuba is a separate dive operator on Ukulhas. The Nala team can put you in touch.

Pick your mornings

Start with what interests you: reef life, a particular animal, island visits or fishing. The team can suggest outings to suit your dates and your experience in open water.