Dive the Best of the Maldives on Emperor Explorer

Includes:

• 7 Nights’ accommodation on Luxurious Liveaboard
• 6 Days Diving
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• All Tea, Coffee, Bottled Water & Afternoon Snacks
• 1 Glass of wine with dinner
• 17 Dives
• Tanks & Weights
• Free Nitrox fills
• 1 BBQ night on a local island (subject to route & weather)
• All Fees and Green Tax

Excludes:

• Return Flights and airport taxes (CPT – DOH – MAL) Approx. R12 000 pp
• Travel and Diving insurance
• Alcoholic and drinks not specified
• Wi-Fi (USD 30 per week)
• Hire of dive equipment other than tanks and weights
• Tips/Gratitude’s (USD 175 pp – divided amongst the crew)
• Maldives Departure tax USD 25 pp

Optional Upgrades:

EXPLORER

• Lower Deck Twin              R 2 850 per person sharing
• Upper Deck Cabin            R 6 270 per person sharing
• Main Deck Cabin              R 6 650 per person sharing

Please note the following:

• Prices are subject to change in the event of price increases, airfares, exchange rate fluctuations and availability.
• The exact price can only be confirmed at the time of final invoicing and final payment due date. If you would like to secure your price to avoid any fluctuations we will provide you with a final invoice  (calculated at the exchange rate at time) and payment will need to me made in FULL within 24 hours of receipt of the invoice.
• The tour package has been quoted on a sharing basis and an additional single supplement fee will be charged for singles.

Deck/cabin specifications:

Upper deck: 2 king-size double, 2 twin Main deck: 2 double with a single bed Lower deck: 5 double with a single bed & 2 double Emperor Explorer is a contemporary, spacious liveaboard where fine accommodation and service is standard. This beautiful 42-metre boat easily accommodates 26 guests in 13 well-appointed ensuite cabins all with air-con. Enjoy open air dining area at the stern of the main deck. Several sofas and tables await you inside the air-conditioned saloon for relaxing or watching TV. The upper deck boasts a covered, open area ideal for watching photos and footage from your diving or just relaxing, star gazing and soaking up the wonderful Maldivian ambience. The sundeck is perfect for catching those sunrays or having a reviving nap. All diving is done from Emperor Explorer's large dhoni (tender), giving you more living space on board and getting you to the perfect dive spot every time.                

LANGUAGE

The official language is Dhivehi. English is widely spoken by Maldivians and visitors can easily make themselves understood

TIME ZONE

3 hours ahead of South Africa

CLIMATE

The Maldives has a tropical climate with an average temperature of around 30 °C during the day throughout the year.

WATER TEMPERATURE

The sea in the Maldives is warm all year round, the water temperature ranges from 28 °C to 30 °C

POWER SUPPLY

Electricity supply is 220V to 240V, 50Hz AC. The standard socket is the UK-style three-pin, although there are some variations, so an international adaptor will be useful.

DEPARTURE TAX

An Airport Development Charge of USD 25 is levied on passengers embarking on international flights in the Maldives. (This departure tax is payable in USD at the airport).

Tipping

Emperor Maldives believe that tips should be on a voluntary basis depending on the quality of your service from the guides and the crew. You will find an envelope in your cabin and the general recommendation is $150 per person. Please feel free to leave what you think is acceptable and it will be equally shared between the guides and crew.

Inoculations

Compulsory: None

STAYING IN CONTACT

The liveaboards are equipped with Wi-Fi and internet is available when a mobile signal is present, usually only nearby or in port. This service is for limited internet browsing and to connect with communication applications. Upload/download is very limited. Please Note: MTN roaming is not available in the Maldives.

WHAT PAYMENT METHOD IS ACCEPTED

The Maldivian currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa Liveaboard accepts payment in USD or Euro or Credit cards Visa and MasterCard only. Credit cards are charged in USD plus a 4% surcharge. ATM’s are available. Banking Hours: Sun-Thu 07:30-14:30.

WHAT TO BRING

• Proof of dive insurance and dive certification card.

• Passport valid from 6 months from the time of entry

• No visas are required by SA passport holders. A visitor’s permit is issued on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.

• One full empty page in your passport in which to put the Visa on Arrival sticker.

• Dress is generally casual. T-shits and cotton clothing are most suitable. In Malé, the capital island and other inhabited island it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without bearing too much.

• Hat and polarised sunglasses.

• Reefsafe sunscreen

• Rechargeable batteries.

Alcohol

• NO Alcohol will be allowed through customs on arrival in Maldives, any alcohol will be confiscated. Alcohol is available to purchase on board; a beer is around 5 USD, spirits between 6-10 USD and a bottle of wine between 30-50 USD.

DIVING

• You don't need a minimum number of dives but you should be comfortable with drift dives, as currents can be unpredictable and strong. If you are an Open Water Diver, some dives are below 18m therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip. Inexperienced and beginner divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience. All diving is made from dhonis to give precise entry and exit points. This is the Best of the Maldives - and it delivers exactly that. This is where you dive the best and most famous dive sites of the Maldives in a week of wonderful liveaboard diving across Male and Ari atolls.
• Wetsuit: 3mm or 5mm long or shorties are suitable for most of the dive sites.
• Certification must be presented as well as a log book and dive insurance
• Safety: Every diver needs to be equipped with a diving computer, SMB and drop line which is to be deployed at the end of each drift dive after completing the safety stop
• Alcohol Consumption: If alcohol is consumed in between dives by an individual then they will be required to refrain from diving for the remainder of the day
• Flying After Diving: A minimum surface interval of 18 hours must be allowed prior to flying or going to altitude
• Decompression Chamber: There are several chambers are available in the Maldives. The largest and longest operating chamber is on Bandos Island (15 minutes by speedboat from Male).