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

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.

 

 

 

 

DIVING HIGHLIGHTS

RASDHOO ATOLL

The small atoll of Rasdhoo lies off the north eastern corner of Ari Atoll proper.
Here are some possible sites you may visit:

MADIVARU (HUKRUELI FARU) - The site is named for the abundance of manta rays seen here (Madi means manta ray in Dhivehi). Depths range from 25 to almost 100 feet, making the dive interesting and varied. Manta rays are attracted to Madivaru because of the strong currents and the several cleaning stations located here.

KURAMATHI CHANNEL - a very large channel mouth and is dived by crossing the channel on an incoming current, the channel mouth is deep and means the dive can be mid water crossing from block to block as you go. Grey reef sharks in the channel mouth and a chance of manta rays are the highlights of the dive.

NORTH & SOUTH ARI ATOLL

One of the biggest atolls and is located in the west of the archipelago it is divided into North Ari Atoll and South Ari Atoll.
Here are some possible sites you may visit:

HAFSA THILA - Known for its grey reef shark cleaning station, this site is like fish soup. Watch the sharks swim around the top of the pinnacle. Dog-tooth tuna, bonito and giant travelly shepherd the thousands of fusiliers, which creates quite a spectacle when the bonito finally decide to go for the kill.

MAAYA THILA - Most famous for the white tip reef sharks that can nearly always be seen here. A night dive also allows divers to encounter moray eels, turtles, octopus and stonefish.

MAAMIGILI BEYRU - Home to whale sharks coming up for a feed, as well as a 'nursery’, you can find juvenile whale sharks here all year round.

RAHDHIGA THILA - Impressive from the second you swim down to 30m to look at some grey reef sharks, then moving up to the overhangs with their beautiful dripping blue, yellow and orange soft coral. Finish the dive at 3m to 6m with some impressive table-top coral for a pleasantly relaxing safety stop.

BATALA THILA - The small thila near Bathala Island shelters divers from currents and features vibrant corals housing frogfish, ghostpipe fish, and leaf fish. Its shallow top is perfect for less experienced divers to spot clownfish, morays, and possibly a resting reef shark.

BATHALA MAGA KAN THILA - BMK thila is a long, finger-shaped thila in the Bathala channel of northeast Ari Atoll. Connected to the main reef's southern corner, it extends north-south, making it ideal for diving with both incoming and outgoing currents. Grey reef sharks and eagle rays patrol the area, with tuna and trevally also commonly seen.

GANGEHI KANDU - in northern Ari Atoll, is renowned for colorful coral and shark sightings, including grey reef, white tip, and occasional leopard sharks. Due to strong currents, it's best dived when they flow in. Divers can also see moray eels, nudibranchs, mantis shrimp, triggerfish, and large pelagic species.

KUDA RAH THILA - is a top dive site that can be challenging in strong currents. The reef is rich with anthias, red tooth triggerfish, and bannerfish, while eagle rays circle above. Divers can also find blue line snappers, nudibranchs, peacock mantis shrimp, and gobies, along with overhangs and a large swim-through.

MALHOOS THILA - Located north of Maalhos, the "blue caves" thila spans several hundred meters. The southern side ranges from 12 to 30 meters, featuring overhangs and large blocks at 25 meters filled with corals and reef fish. The caves, adorned with blue soft coral, are famous in North Ari Atoll and contrast with bright yellow blue striped snappers.

MUSHI MAS MINGILI THILA - This medium-sized thila offers divers the chance to see grey tip reef sharks patrolling in the current, surrounded by schools of fusiliers often hunted by tuna and trevally. Eagle rays are common, and the thila's top is home to resident hawksbill turtles, with large schools of iconic blue line snappers covering the reef.

KUDIMA (MACHAFUSHI) WRECK - The MV Kudima, a 52m cargo ship, lies on a 30m sandy bottom near Machchaafushi's house reef. Sunk in 1999, the hull is easily accessible from both sides and features coral growth and diverse marine life, including stonefish, nudibranchs, and pipefish. Divers may also find nurse sharks resting underneath.

MOOFUSHI – this cleaning station is a hotspot for manta rays that come for cleaning by wrasse. Grey reef sharks and eagle rays are common, surrounded by blue line snappers and oriental sweetlips. White tip reef sharks rest in the sand below, with tuna and trevally passing by.

SEVENTH HEAVEN - is a large U-shaped thila in South Ari Atoll, offering diverse dive experiences. The site features vibrant soft and hard corals, with anthias and red tooth triggerfish. Grey reef sharks are found in deeper areas, alongside schools of humpback and blue line snappers, fusiliers, and patrolling dog tooth tuna.

SOUTH MALE ATOLL

Channel diving is a major feature of diving in South Male. These channels bring an abundance of nutrients to feed and attract all types of marine life.
Here are some possible sites you may visit:

KANDOOMA THILA - Grey reef sharks and eagle rays are likely companions here. Magnificent overhangs with draping colourful soft coral and shark cleaning stations await those who dive this challenging but rewarding dive site.

KUDA GIRI WRECK - This 30m long wreck is a great macro dive. It brings leaf fish, false-cheeked pipefish and other interesting creatures. Explore the wreck and work your way to the shallow pinnacle that has an interesting overhang and swim-throughs as well as a coral garden.

COCOA ISLAND - South of Cocoa Island, a channel thrives with rich reef fauna during strong incoming currents. Divers can observe wildlife in the blue or explore the inner reef, featuring large blocks and schools of reef fish and white tip sharks. With a small incoming current, they can cross the channel mouth to finish their dive at Kandooma Thila, where grey reef sharks and eagle rays are plentiful.

NORTH MALE ATOLL

This atoll is home to some excellent diving spots.
Here are some possible sites you may visit:

LANKAN MANTA POINT – This large block of coral is home to hundreds of cleaner wrasse. Manta come to this cleaning station to get cleaned by the cleaner wrasse; a perfect chance to get up close with the majestic mantas.

BANANA REEF – This site has several interesting characteristics including a pinnacle and some overhangs. Coral formations here are prolific and colourful, attracting an extensive variety of fish, including squirrelfish, bannerfish and oriental sweetlips.

KANDU OIY GIRI (FISH FACTORY) - The Fish Factory dive site is next to a yellowfin tuna processing plant in North Male Atoll. Though the corals aren’t the best, the marine life is abundant, drawn to tuna waste. Divers can see schooling stingrays, bannerfish, fusiliers, and various morays, which are often larger than normal. Lucky divers might also spot a guitar shark, making it a dive full of surprises.

KURUMBA - the house reef of the Maldives' first resort near Hulhumale, is perfect for a check dive. The long sloping reef, which turns into a wall in some areas, usually offers an easy drift dive. Black tip reef sharks, tuna, and trevally patrol the shallows, while divers can spot various reef fish, morays, and sting rays along the way.

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).