About this hotel
General information
Diamonds Athuruga occupies Athuruga, a small, densely green island in South Ari Atoll wrapped in a ring of white coral sand. It belongs to Diamonds Resorts, the upscale brand of Switzerland’s Planhotel Hospitality Group, and the Italian accent shows throughout: in the interiors, in a kitchen known for handmade pasta and Neapolitan pizza, and in the unhurried pace of the day. Shoes are optional, even at dinner.
There are 70 villas and suites — on the beach, above the shallow lagoon and on stilts over the water. Guests choose between breakfast only and an all-inclusive plan that covers three meals, wine, beer, cocktails and a minibar restocked daily. The ocean is the real draw: a house reef with turtles a few steps from the shore, a dive centre and the resort’s own marine lab, run with the University of Milano-Bicocca.
Location
Athuruga lies in South Ari Atoll, about 25 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé. The resort arranges the flight around the seaplane timetable; the last departure to the island leaves Malé at 15:00.
Spa
Serena Spa blends Ayurveda with European aromatherapy and Southeast Asian remedies, working with herbs, oils, spices and flowers. The menu runs from Marma Ayurvedic massage, hot stones and Thai yoga massage to the Serena Dhara ritual, an Udvarthana herbal scrub, coffee-orange and coconut body treatments, a spirulina wrap, facials, manicures and pedicures, plus packages for divers, honeymooners and an Ayurvedic healing course.
Sports & leisure
The IDive centre is a PADI Gold Palm Resort: instructors take guests to a different site each day aboard a dhoni, the traditional Maldivian boat fitted out for diving; nitrox is free, and courses cover beginners through experienced divers. Resident marine biologists from the lab set up with the University of Milano-Bicocca’s MaRHE Center lead snorkelling trips, marine-biology evenings and outings to whale sharks, mantas and turtles; guests can join the coral restoration work and plant a coral fragment of their own.
- On the water: windsurfing, canoes, snorkelling gear, guided reef tours, boat and sunset snorkelling, snorkelling lessons on request, boat hire and deep-sea fishing
- On the island: beach volleyball, table tennis, billiards, darts, table football, board games, a library, Pilates, yoga, aqua gym, stretching and muscle-toning classes
- An excursion to a local fishermen’s island
Restaurants & bars
Five restaurants and dining experiences and two bars pair island produce with Italian imports.
- Maakeyn — the main beachside restaurant: buffets of Italian dishes, wood-grilled fish and Asian plates, a different theme each night and Maldivian evenings served on the sand
- Thari Over Water Restaurant — over-water à la carte dining that brings modern European cooking together with local and Asian ingredients; between Christmas and Easter, guest chefs from the European Jeunes Restaurateurs association cook here
- Thila Japanese Restaurant — teppanyaki in a palm-thatched hut, seafood and meat cooked on the grill in front of up to 12 diners
- Farivalhu Maldivian Dining Experience — a traditional Maldivian dinner for up to four in a hut in the tropical garden, with guests invited to wear a Maldivian sarong
- Kakuni Seafood Dining Experience — private fish and lobster dinners on the beach, on a water-villa terrace or outside a beach villa
- Boli Beach Bar — light meals by day and cocktails until midnight
- Thari Over Water Bar — an open-air evening bar above the lagoon
Swimming
A white coral-sand beach with loungers and umbrellas runs around the island, and the shallow turquoise lagoon gives way to a house reef that snorkellers reach straight from the shore. The Two Bedroom Pool Water Villas have their own jacuzzis on the deck.
Rooms
70 villas and suites with Italian-inspired interiors: beach villas and suites with open-air showers, villas above the shallow lagoon and villas on stilts over the water, the largest with two bedrooms and a jacuzzi.
Each has air conditioning, a fan, a telephone, tea and coffee facilities, a minibar restocked daily, a safe, a hairdryer, beach towels and twice-daily housekeeping.
Beach Front Villa
A beachfront villa with direct access to the sand and a double bed. Veranda with armchairs, a coffee table and loungers; open-air shower.
Lagoon Villa
A villa above the shallow lagoon with steps into the water and open views of the ocean. Furnished terrace with loungers and an open-air shower; sleeps up to four.
Beach Front Junior Suite
A beachfront suite with a separate living room and sofa bed, and a generous veranda with loungers. Open-air shower; sleeps up to four.
One Bedroom Water Villa
A villa on stilts with a terrace dropping straight into the lagoon, a four-poster king-size bed, rattan furniture and wooden parquet. Living area with sofa bed, bathroom with twin basins and a large walk-in shower opening onto the terrace; sleeps up to four.
Two Bedroom Pool Water Villa
A villa at the very end of the jetty with two double bedrooms, a living room with sofa bed and a jacuzzi on the terrace. Sleeps up to six.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.