Liveaboard Safari Package
Multiple Atolls, Maldives
Package Description
Experience the ultimate underwater adventure with our premium Liveaboard Safari Package. Unlike land-based resorts that limit you to nearby dive sites, our liveaboard safari yacht gives you unparalleled access to the Maldives' most spectacular and remote dive locations across multiple atolls. Wake up each morning to a new dive site and the promise of extraordinary marine encounters that few travelers ever witness.
Our purpose-built diving yacht "Ocean Explorer" combines comfort with functionality, featuring spacious en-suite cabins, a dedicated camera room for underwater photographers, multiple sun decks, and a team of experienced dive guides and marine biologists. With a maximum of 16 guests served by 10 crew members, you'll enjoy personalized service and expert guidance throughout your journey.
This 7-night safari explores the renowned Central Atolls route, including North Malé, South Malé, Vaavu, and South Ari Atolls. You'll experience up to 3 dives daily at legendary sites known for manta rays, whale sharks, vibrant coral gardens, thrilling channels, and fascinating shipwrecks. Between dives, enjoy gourmet meals prepared by our onboard chef, relax on uninhabited islands, snorkel with whale sharks, and witness spectacular Maldivian sunsets from the comfort of your floating hotel. Whether you're an avid photographer, marine life enthusiast, or simply seeking the most comprehensive diving experience the Maldives has to offer, this liveaboard safari delivers unforgettable underwater adventures.
Package Highlights
Accommodation
Luxury diving yacht with en-suite cabins
Diving
Up to 17 dives at premier sites across 4 atolls
Marine Life
Manta rays, whale sharks, and diverse reef species
Photography
Dedicated camera room and photo workshops
Cuisine
Gourmet meals prepared by onboard chef
Expertise
Marine biologists and experienced dive guides
Vessel Amenities
Cabin Details
Standard Cabin
Our comfortable standard cabins provide everything you need for a restful night's sleep between diving adventures. Located on the lower deck, these cabins offer great value without compromising on essential amenities.
- Twin or double bed configuration
- Private en-suite bathroom with hot water shower
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Portholes for natural light
- Storage space for personal items
- Reading lights and charging points
- Daily housekeeping service
- Fresh towels and premium linens
Deluxe Cabin
Our deluxe cabins offer additional space and premium positioning on the main deck, providing enhanced comfort and convenience for your liveaboard experience.
- Queen-size bed (no twin option)
- Larger en-suite bathroom with rainfall shower
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Large windows with ocean views
- Expanded storage with wardrobe
- Mini refrigerator with daily water supply
- Desk/vanity area
- Premium bath amenities
Master Suite
Our premium master suite is located at the bow of the upper deck, offering the ultimate in space, privacy, and panoramic views for the most luxurious liveaboard experience.
- King-size bed with premium mattress
- Spacious bathroom with separate shower and soaking tub
- Private balcony with seating area
- Panoramic windows with 180° views
- Separate living area with sofa
- Mini bar with complimentary beverages
- Entertainment system
- VIP concierge service
Sample Liveaboard Itinerary
Embarkation & Check Dive
- Arrival at Velana International Airport
- Meet and greet by our representative
- Transfer to "Ocean Explorer" at Hulhumalé marina
- Welcome briefing and cabin allocation
- Equipment setup and safety orientation
- Afternoon check dive at Kurumba House Reef
- Welcome dinner and route briefing
- Night cruise to South Malé Atoll
South Malé Atoll
- Early morning dive at Kuda Giri Wreck
- Breakfast onboard
- Mid-morning dive at Kandooma Thila
- Lunch and relaxation
- Afternoon dive at Cocoa Thila
- Evening presentation on Maldivian marine life
- Dinner onboard
- Night cruise to Vaavu Atoll
Vaavu Atoll Channel Dives
- Early morning dive at Fotteyo Kandu (channel dive)
- Breakfast onboard
- Mid-morning dive at Miyaru Kandu (shark dive)
- Lunch and relaxation
- Afternoon dive at Alimathaa Jetty (nurse shark dive)
- Visit to a local island
- Optional night dive with nurse sharks
- BBQ dinner on a deserted island
Transit to South Ari Atoll
- Morning dive at Devana Kandu
- Breakfast and transit to South Ari Atoll
- Afternoon dive at Kudarah Thila
- Underwater photography workshop
- Sunset dolphin watching from dhoni
- Dinner and presentation on whale sharks
- Overnight at South Ari Atoll
Whale Shark Day
- Early morning dive at Maamigili Beyru
- Breakfast onboard
- Whale shark search and snorkeling
- Lunch and relaxation
- Afternoon dive at Dhigurah Beyru
- Continued whale shark search
- Evening beach visit
- Dinner and marine life identification session
Manta Day at Ari Atoll
- Morning dive at Moofushi Kandu
- Breakfast onboard
- Mid-morning dive at Manta Point (seasonal)
- Lunch and relaxation
- Afternoon dive or snorkel with mantas
- Marine conservation presentation
- Sunset cocktails on sun deck
- Special Maldivian dinner
North Malé Atoll Return
- Transit to North Malé Atoll
- Morning dive at Fish Factory
- Breakfast onboard
- Final dive at Maldives Victory Wreck
- Equipment rinse and packing
- Afternoon at leisure or resort day pass (optional)
- Captain's farewell dinner
- Photo and video sharing session
Disembarkation
- Breakfast onboard
- Disembarkation at Hulhumalé marina
- Transfer to airport or your next destination
Note: This is a sample itinerary and may change based on weather conditions, marine life sightings, and diver preferences. The captain and dive guides will determine the best route to maximize your diving experience.
Safari Route
Start/End Point
Hulhumalé Marina, 15 min from Velana International Airport
Atolls Visited
North Malé, South Malé, Vaavu, South Ari
Total Distance
Approximately 150 nautical miles
Featured Dive Sites
Fotteyo Kandu
Location: Vaavu Atoll
Depth: 10-30m
Level: Advanced
Highlights: Sharks, overhangs, soft corals
Description: Often rated as the best channel dive in the Maldives, Fotteyo features dramatic overhangs covered in colorful soft corals, with strong currents bringing in grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and schooling fish.
Manta Point
Location: South Ari Atoll
Depth: 5-20m
Level: All levels
Highlights: Manta rays, cleaning stations
Description: A famous cleaning station where manta rays come to have parasites removed by cleaner wrasse. Divers can position themselves around the cleaning station and observe these majestic creatures as they glide overhead.
Maamigili Beyru
Location: South Ari Atoll
Depth: 5-30m
Level: All levels
Highlights: Whale sharks, reef edge
Description: The outer reef edge of Maamigili island is famous for year-round whale shark sightings. These gentle giants feed in the plankton-rich waters, offering divers and snorkelers incredible encounters with the world's largest fish.
Maldives Victory Wreck
Location: North Malé Atoll
Depth: 12-35m
Level: Advanced
Highlights: Wreck, marine growth, penetration
Description: This 110m cargo ship sank in 1981 and now sits upright on the seabed. Completely covered in coral and home to a vast array of marine life, it offers both exterior exploration and penetration opportunities for qualified wreck divers.
Diver Reviews
David M.
"The Ultimate Maldives Diving Experience"
Having done liveaboards in the Red Sea, Raja Ampat, and the Galapagos, I can confidently say this Maldives safari ranks among the best. The diversity of dive sites was impressive - from adrenaline-pumping channel dives with sharks and eagle rays to peaceful encounters with mantas and whale sharks.
The Ocean Explorer is a well-designed vessel with spacious cabins and excellent facilities for divers. The camera room was a particular highlight, with plenty of charging stations and workspace for underwater photography enthusiasts. The dive deck was efficiently organized, making gear setup and entry/exit smooth even with a full boat.
What truly set this trip apart was the crew. Our dive guides Ahmed and Marie were exceptional - knowledgeable about marine life, safety-conscious, and skilled at finding the smallest critters while also keeping an eye out for big pelagics. The captain adjusted our route to maximize marine life encounters, and the chef prepared restaurant-quality meals three times a day. The night dive with nurse sharks at Alimathaa and our whale shark encounters in South Ari were experiences I'll never forget.
Sarah L.
"Perfect for Less Experienced Divers Too"
As a relatively new diver with only 25 dives, I was initially nervous about booking a liveaboard. However, the team made me feel comfortable from the start. They assessed my skills during the check dive and provided additional guidance when needed without making me feel like I was holding the group back.
The dive guides were excellent at adapting to different experience levels, and they split us into groups based on experience. My group had a maximum of 4 divers with our guide Hussain, who was patient and attentive. He helped improve my buoyancy and air consumption throughout the week.
The boat was comfortable, though my standard cabin was a bit smaller than expected. The food was excellent with plenty of options at every meal. I particularly appreciated the marine life presentations in the evenings, which helped me identify what we'd seen that day. Seeing my first manta rays and swimming alongside a whale shark were magical moments that have cemented my love for diving. I'd highly recommend this liveaboard for newer divers who want to progress their skills while experiencing the best of the Maldives.
James T.
"Excellent Diving, Some Minor Vessel Issues"
As an experienced diver and underwater photographer, I chose this liveaboard specifically for the central atolls itinerary and its reputation for photography support. The diving absolutely delivered - we had incredible encounters with mantas, sharks, and a whale shark, plus vibrant reefs and fascinating macro life.
The dive guides were top-notch professionals who knew exactly where to find interesting marine life and how to manage divers in sometimes challenging currents. The dedicated camera room was spacious and well-equipped, and the guides were very accommodating of photographers' needs.
My only criticisms relate to some minor maintenance issues on the vessel - the air conditioning in our cabin was inconsistent, and there were occasional plumbing problems. These were addressed promptly by the crew but were slight inconveniences. The food was generally excellent, though more variety would have been welcome by the end of the week. Despite these small issues, the quality of the diving and the professionalism of the guides made this a fantastic trip overall, and I'd recommend it to serious divers and underwater photographers.
Policies
Embarkation/Disembarkation
- Embarkation: 2:00 PM at Hulhumalé Marina
- Disembarkation: 9:00 AM on final day
- Early embarkation and late disembarkation available upon request (fees may apply)
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure
- 89-60 days: 30% of total package price
- 59-30 days: 50% of total package price
- 29-0 days: 100% of total package price
- No-show: 100% of total package price
Diving Requirements
- Minimum certification: Open Water Diver
- Minimum experience: 20 logged dives recommended
- Advanced Open Water certification recommended for channel dives
- Dive computer and surface marker buoy mandatory
- Proof of dive insurance required (DAN or equivalent)
Important Information
- Itinerary subject to change based on weather and sea conditions
- Nitrox available at additional cost
- Full equipment rental available with advance notice
- Non-diving companions welcome at reduced rate
- Green tax of $6 per person per night not included in package price
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