After leaving the UK at the beginning of 2017 to travel around South East Asia. Some sites in the Maldives are best for divers with deep or advanced certification, so both are widely available. What she loves most about diving is the people. The Maldives Aggressor II is a grand and luxurious liveaboard with awesome cabins featuring ocean views and private TVs, a massive outdoor sundeck and a partially shaded lounge with a hot tub as well as an incredibly high-brow indoor saloon where youll receive 5 star service in which all drinks are included in the main fee. Unfortunately its not possible to go on every single liveaboard, but we go on the ones we can. And there you go thats a brief summary of all five of the major regions in the Maldives. Above water, this region is all about luxury. Food on the ScubaSpa Yang is an experience in itself. This tiny South Asian nation is comprised of a long and narrow chain of some 1,200 small coral islands and sandbanks grouped into 26 atolls; separated by broad, deep channels. jacuzzi and luxury bar as well as massive cabins with beautiful internal lighting. I even went snorkelling with them! Some liveaboards may include some or all of these extras without additional charge but its important to keep these extra costs in mind when planning your liveaboard trip. Finally select the green button CONTINUE TO STEP 2 and fill out your personal details to reserve that liveaboard. But, current fanatics and underwater photographers will delight in the challenging conditions and uncrowded dive sites well off the tourist track. Every liveaboard Ive been on. Most Maldives liveaboards focus on luxury, but the Emperor Voyager puts diving first. So plan ahead. Were constantly updating our content, so you can rest assured that what youve read today reflects the very latest information regarding Maldives liveaboards in 2023! If youre hoping to get in on the action, you should carry an advanced certification and have experience diving in strong currents. For dedicated divers wanting an affordable liveaboard holiday in the Maldives, Carpe Diem is easily the top choice, thanks to its reasonably priced itineraries and a handful of premium facilities. Manta rays, sharks and other large pelagic animals can be encountered at any given time. Most divers are comfortable in a shortie, but consider full body coverage if you tend to get cold underwater. Theres plenty of time to prepare for the dive whatever that looks like to you. If youre hoping to combine a dive trip with plenty of creature comforts, youve come to the right place. Best Maldives Liveaboard Reviews 2023 - Divezone Plus there is an onboard spa where you can pay for massages! *OtterAquatics is reader-supported. It is also home to one of the planets largest gatherings of breeding whale sharks, in the legendary Hanifaru Bay. During my Maldives liveaboard trip in December, I saw lone manta rays on four separate dives, two together on a night dive and best of all, the four playful individuals in the video above when we visited a manta cleaning station. The Aggressor fleet are well-known around the world for providing luxury-end liveaboards that receive critical-acclaim and the Maldives Aggressor II is no exception to this rule. However, you can read about. Here is a roundup of the best Maldives liveaboards to choose from. And it doesnt cost a cent extra. I only experienced two drift dives out of twenty during my liveaboard trip on Soleil 2. In addition, the boat is staffed with a large and accommodating crew. Weve assembled a team of PADI, SSI, and Molchanovs instructors, as well as liveaboard cruise directors to research all available options. and be familiar with how to use it. Most liveaboards in the Maldives welcome divers from all abilities. Terraces, Off the Beaten Track, Long Trips, Value for Money, Experienced Divers, Off Beaten Track, Exciting Routes, Small Groups, Water-Sports, Intimate Setting. Generally, a liveaboard/ dive safari in the Maldives includes your accommodation on board, all your dives, food, drinking water, tea, and coffee. Built and launched in 2019, this contemporary yacht combines world-class diving with world-class hospitality. Check out ourcomplete guide to the best dive insurance. BEST DIVE SITES IN MALDIVES: THE CENTRAL ATOLLS, BEST DIVE SITES IN MALDIVES: THE NORTHERN ATOLLS, BEST DIVE SITES IN MALDIVES: THE SOUTHERN ATOLLS. Liveaboard Diving in the Maldives | PADI Travel Characterised by deepwater channels and strong currents, sites in this region attract hunting reef sharks, jacks, and tuna. Certain dive sites host some very nice coral; complete with a wide assortment of macro critters like nudibranch, mantis shrimp and pipefish. Thanks! Theres a short description for each cabin type under the cabin selection page. Featuring a design dreamed up with both divers and non-divers in mind, the purpose-built Maldives Blue Force One has something to keep every guest happy. Uh oh, you just put too many ideas in my head. Liveaboards in Maldives [2023 Cost & Best Time] - Samudra Maldives When you purchase something through an outgoing link, we might earn a commission. its time to head back to the liveaboard where a meal awaits. Many boats feature suite-style cabins and staterooms, hot tubs, fine dining, and over the top pampering. Shaviyani is the most rarely visited atoll, with new dive sites still being discovered on a frequent basis. After each meal, you usually have one and a half to two hours before the next dive briefing. 16 Amazing Maldives Liveaboard Scuba Diving Trips For Your Bucket List November to April is ideally a good time for traveling to the Maldives. A very large, partially shaded terrace offers outdoor dining and there is also a spacious sundeck for working on your tan! On a liveaboard in the north of the Maldives, there are a variety of manta cleaning stations, epic drift dives full of black tip and silver tip reef sharks, grey sharks plus turtles, scores of eagle rays, and some seriously dramatic typography. If you are not able to show proof of your diving insurance then you will be asked to purchase insurance locally before you can begin diving. Once everyone has been collected,its time to head back to the liveaboard where a meal awaits. Blue Voyager runs a variety of exciting dive trips in the Maldives - both around the well known and more off the beaten track regions. Now youve got all the information you a scuba diver needs, its time to cross a Maldives diving trip off your scuba diving bucket list. Best Maldives Liveaboard Diving in 2023: My Review This is a transitional month between the dry and wet season and subsequently can be hard to predict. If youre looking for the perfect balance between entertainment and relaxation, Blue Force One is the best liveaboard for you. However, whilst youll see these other dive boats on the waters surface, youre not too likely to swim into other groups whilst actually diving. Trip length varies from 7 10 nights. It was a truly epic sight to behold. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. Now lets check out the movie below to see an extended cut of one of the stars of the Maldives: Its hard to do justice to just how mesmerising these incredible animals are to witness in real life. This is where staff lay down fish heads to attract massive swarms of stingrays and fish, especially schooling bannerfish, unicorn fish and small blue triggerfish! The best part of visiting here is the lack of other divers. 5 Best Maldives Liveaboards Compared (2023 Updated) - OtterAquatics Most cabins are fairly basic in their internal decor with porthole windows but there are some surprisingly spacious options. OUR #1 PICK Princess Dhonkamana Liveaboard Vessel Family Cabins Naturalist Guide Vegan Meals Land Excursions Latest Deals Read review MOST LUXURIOUS Ocean Divine Spa Liveaboard Freediving Available Onboard Spa 33 Meters Top-level Chef Latest Deals Read review MOST RELAXING Scubaspa Ying Spa & Diving Boat Full-time Spa Daily Yoga Its swim-throughs, caves, and overhangs make for exciting underwater exploration. The underwater landscape of the Maldives is both varied and dramatic. If you hire a private dive guide for an additional fee, its also possible to complete scuba certification courses throughout the trip! Want to learn more about who our writers are? Haa Dhaluu offers mighty underwater walls and rocky pinnacles carpeted with colorful corals and teeming with an overwhelming diversity of reef fish as well as marble rats, white tip sharks, nurse sharks, and other pelagics. Although you will find some extended itineraries to the deep south that start from central, covering all the best spots in the center, south and deep south. But many itineraries will incorporate other activities to help you make the most of your surface intervals and preflight day. In addition to exploring combos of the central, south and deep south regions; Blue Voyager is one of the very few liveaboards to explore the north and far north regions of the Maldives.. 5 of the Best Liveaboards in the Maldives - Travel Magazine Plus, as most liveaboards will depart from central, you often have the opportunity to cover some of the best spots in this area on the way to your next region! These seasonal fluctuations also have some affect on the weather and dive conditions such as visibility and strength of currents. This is a smaller liveaboard and so not as expensive as many other options. Ive also included a list of helpful tips that I wish Id had when I went on my first ever liveaboard! There is an onboard spa with a next-level masseuse, a partially shaded sundeck with jacuzzi, a large sundeck and spacious indoor saloon and dining area where guests are treated to a complimentary glass of wine with every dinner! 27 Trips in the Maldives | PADI Travel Guests can unwind with fine dining, an extensive wine list, free WiFi, an on-deck jacuzzi, and cabins fit for a high-end hotel. With no surrounding coral barrier reef, ocean depths can reach thousands of feet, just a short distance from the beach. Akin to a floating boutique hotel, each of the 13 luxurious cabins offers aircon, private hot-water bathrooms, and plenty of storage space. These gentle giants can be spotted throughout the Maldives year-round. And, if youre looking for luxury, this vessel has you covered. In addition, land-based operators often struggle to reach the best dive sites due to their distance from main islands. For example, in addition to the silver tip, white tip and grey reef sharks found in other Maldivian regions, within the deep south, scuba divers can also easily encounter many tiger sharks and thresher sharks as well as sometimes see hammerhead sharks, mola mola and black oceanic manta rays. In terms of topside amenities, the Emperor Leo has it all. The Maldives' crystal clear waters are home to mantas, whale sharks, and reef sharks, not to mention the brilliant flatworms and ghost pipefish who hide among its wrecks, coral gardens, channels, and pinnacles. With shore excursions and snorkel visits available for non-divers to crystal clear lagoons it is goo for all. Some are truly luxurious; with spas, jacuzzis and private-balcony cabins as well as additional water-sports activities others are smaller, simpler and more budget-friendly. This is generally regarded as the best time to dive the Maldives. The entire crew go above and beyond to create an incredibly laid back and tranquil vibe whilst the dive guides maintain professionalism to the highest degree and are incredibly knowledgeable of the local marine ecosystem. Check out our extensivedive gear reviewsto help you choose the right diving equipment for you. Broken Rock How to Get to the Maldives Best Diving Itineraries in the Maldives Editor's Top Maldives Liveaboard Picks Best Budget Liveaboard in Maldives Scubaspa Yang Max Divers: 40 Rooms: 19 cabins / AC Theres also a lounge with a TV, and the sundeck hosts an open-air bar for enjoying the sunny views while sipping on your post-dive cocktail. The team on board will let you know if there is a more advanced site. For the majority of the year, aside from a select number of seasonal jaunts into the south, this 42-meter, motor yacht explores the central atolls, where encounters with manta rays, hammerheads and whale sharks are commonplace. Professional photographers onboard can offer coaching and guidance, or capture your most exciting moments underwater for you. Baa is one of the best places on planet earth to dive with reef manta rays and observe their cyclone feeding behavior. Sometimes it is even possible to stay on an island for one or two nights during these longer trips this is something few other liveaboards offer! And with three spacious sundecks, a plush living room, and upper deck bar youll never be short on space to relax onboard. There are more known scuba diving sites around Male and Ari atolls than anywhere else in the Maldives- they were the first places to be properly explored by scuba divers. As you go South youll start to encounter more of the big pelagics including grey reef sharks, eagle rays and dogtooth tuna. What Extra Costs Are There? 5* Carpe Novo Built in the Maldives Carpe Novo is expected to start operations in March 2016. Its easy to understand why theMaldivesis one of theworlds top scuba diving destinations and places like Hanifaru Bay and Maavaru Kandu are sights not to be missed. It takes one day. This is the final frontier of scuba discovery within the country, with new dive sites still being discovered there. Without a doubt, the best way to experience this slice of underwater heaven is on a liveaboard. to keep your camera, phone, sun-cream, sunglasses etc in when taking them onto the dhoni. Soleil 2 was without a doubt, one of the most quirky, fun and cool liveaboards Ive ever been on Ill be back! Not only is this one of the regions most affordable options, but its also one of the highest rated, too. The information Im giving you comes from my own experience aboard Soleil 2as well as Lauras time aboard Iruvai. Many liveaboards offer itineraries to the south of the Maldives, often combining these routes with the best spots in the central atolls. In order to create our best liveaboard lists, the OtterAquatics team starts off by researching the liveaboard landscape for a particular region of world, listing out all of the highest-rated choices. NitroxMost liveaboards in the Maldives will offer you the opportunity to dive with Enriched Air Nitrox. While diving in the Maldives, youll get to see a wide range of underwater environments. Her goal is to share her passion for the ocean and inspire people to explore the undersea world. . If youre up for an adventure, longer voyages lasting up to 14 days are a great way to explore the region in depth. Some will offer this for free, and others will charge per tank. While it is possible to island hop by seaplane, many areas are best accessed by diving cruise. But, both trips are well worth the extra days at sea. Looks beautiful! Despite having a truly luxurious feel with massive cabins (some featuring private balconies), a gorgeous indoor saloon rammed full of giant shark teddies plus an awesome outdoor lounge and partially shaded sundeck with hammocks, beanbags and a hot tub; Soleil 2 is actually one of the cheapest liveaboards in the Maldives! Here, youll visit coral atolls specifically in search of these gentle giants and more. Comprised of the atolls of Laamu, Thaa and Meemu, this area is also well known for drift dives and a varied, exciting underwater landscape. Well, it mostly depends on the time of year and a little on which marine life you are most interested in seeing. Amazingly, despite the incredibly luxurious feel of ScubaSpa Yang she is really only mid-priced by Maldives liveaboard standards; needless to say this means this liveaboard offers superb value for money. Snorkel trips, yoga classes, and professional spa sessions are part of the daily schedule, balancing comfort and excitement. As a remote, island nation with over 1,000 coral-fringed islands separated by current swept channels. QUICK ANSWER THE BEST MALDIVESLIVEABOARD TRIPS, CONSIDERATIONS SCUBA DIVING IN MALDIVES. This is a great time to charge camera equipment, rest and soak in the views. Yes, you can dive in the Maldives from one of the beautiful resort islands. This can be done for free. The far north of the Maldives is the most remote and least visited region of the Maldives and, as a result, is arguably one of the best spots of a liveaboard in the Maldives. The majority of liveaboards in the Maldives dont require a certain number of logged dives. sundeck as well as a partially shaded lounge with hammocks, beanbags and sundecks. Iruvai is unique in that unlike other Maldives liveaboards, she has a local hardwood interior which makes her extremely homely and cozy; even more so thanks to the many lush plants potted everywhere. 1. The ones that say CHECK AVAILABILITY and which go blue when hovering the mouse over. Using a dhoni means that they can maximize the space onboard the main yacht for your comfort. Need more options? Guests can expect three tanks a day in some of the regions best sites, with free Nitrox for qualified divers. Its easier to tour the atolls and discover the best dive spots without being anchored at one particular resort. Feb 24, 2023 Maldives Liveaboards The Maldives is an idyllic island nation of 26 atolls, strung across 850-kilometres of the Indian Ocean and each with its own vast lagoon filled with dive sites. The Maldives is divided into five regions: central which is the most popular and famous, north and south; which are less often visited and far north and deep south which are the least-explored areas. On average, a full diving kit, excluding adive computerortorch (for those night dives you dont want to miss), will cost you $40 per day. But it helps us a butt-ton by providing tasty funds which we can throw at keeping this site fresh and sexy whilst continuing to delve out into the world to gather new Diving Squad content. The Maldives in the Indian Ocean is a destination for lovers of manta rays, whale sharks and tropical waters. In between diving with manta rays, sharks, turtles and scores of fish, you can look forward to yoga classes, kayaking and not one but twobars! Check out the movie below to see video from the two night dives combined: On evenings where theres no night diving, you can kick back with a drink around the sundeck and partially shaded lounge where theres board games and speakers. making sure your gear is functioning properly. Areas known for encounters with whale sharks and manta rays, like Hanifaru Bay, will have dramatically lower water clarity. Blue Force One offers snorkeling, stand-up-paddleboards, surfboards, and kayaks, all free of charge. With that said, it is possible and enjoyable to dive in the Maldives year-round.
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