Discover the destination:
Explore the best and most famous diving sites in Male and Ari Atolls. Dive into channels, pinnacles, and enjoy an exciting night dive with nurse sharks. Approach cleaning stations without disturbing local residents. Get ready to spot sharks, manta rays, reef fish, turtles, moray eels, eagle rays and an abundance of macro-sized marine life! It is even possible to encounter hammerheads and whale sharks.
We don't follow an exact itinerary; Flexibility is key, no matter what year you choose to travel. This is the Best of the Maldives, and it delivers exactly on that promise. This is where you will dive the best and most famous dive sites in the Maldives during a week of wonderful diving onboard in the Malé, Ari and Vaavu atolls.
Enjoy a diving holiday that will give you everything you could want, from the iconic sites of North Male, South Male, Ari and Vaavu Atoll. Channels (Kandus), pinnacles (Thilas) and cleaning stations await you where you will have every opportunity to encounter manta rays, a variety of sharks and fascinating marine life of many species.
This itinerary offers you a marine mix of big fish, such as shark and manta dives, as well as reef dives, reef fish, moray eels and macro life. Get close to the cleaning stations without disturbing the locals! One of the best known dive sites is Fish Head; A protected marine site, this medium-sized pinnacle is home to many resident turtles, huge schools of fusiliers chased by trevally and patrolling gray reef sharks. Overhangs and a large school of blue line snappers, the Maldives' iconic reef fish, make this a truly spectacular dive.
Included in the price:
- Green Tax: $6 per person per night.
- GST Tax rate 12% of services included.
- 7 nights aboard the Emperor fleet.
- Full board: Unlimited water, tea and coffee.
- Assistance at the airport and transfer to the ship.
- Approximately 17/18 dives.
- FREE Nitrox (subject to availability).
- Barbecue on a local island. Subject to weather conditions.
Not included in the price:
- Plane tickets.
- Tips: 10% of the cruise amount.
- Diving equipment.
- Travel insurance, assistance and cancellation.
- Diving Insurance.
- Any service not indicated in “the price includes”.
Check Dive and departure from Male: Once on board, there will be a safety talk, the crew will be introduced, and the diving documentation will be reviewed and then the cabin assignment and orientation on the boat will be carried out. Our ships dock at the port on the day of arrival and depart early the next day. The first dive is a check dive near the port. After the first dive, we depart from the port of Malé and begin our itinerary.
Return to Malé and optional visit: On the last day of diving, a morning dive will be available as standard, taking into account the rule of no diving within 18 hours before your flight. We returned to the port at approximately 1pm and docked here overnight. There is the option of an optional afternoon shore visit to stretch your legs and get off the ship while in port. In the afternoon, it's time to put away your diving equipment, settle any outstanding bills, and prepare to leave for the airport at 7 a.m. the next day.
This is a great route for everyone, regardless of your experience level. You don't need a minimum number of dives to join this trip, but you should be comfortable diving in unpredictable and strong currents. Many dives are deeper than 18 metres, so we recommend advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximize your enjoyment during the trip.
Diving in the Maldives is highly dependent on currents as this is when we get the most exciting dives. Currents can vary from very gentle to extremely strong. Many dive sites transform with medium to strong currents, giving us many opportunities to encounter sharks, horse mackerel and schools of reef fish.
The real 'action' occurs when the current rushes against the Thila (pinnacle) or towards the mouth of a canal. Divers who need to reach this point may have to descend quickly (sometimes with a negative dive) and use their legs to move against the current. Therefore, a good level of fitness is required to enjoy the best action.
Moon phase, seasonal changes, and incoming or outgoing currents have a large impact on current strength and visibility. Visibility is variable and can range from 10 to 30 meters or more depending on conditions, current and season.
· During the northeast monsoon (approximately November to April), dive sites on the eastern side of an atoll have good visibility, while the western side has reduced visibility.
· During the southwest monsoon (approximately May to November), the opposite is true.
Mantas migrate with these seasons and are most often found in areas with reduced visibility.
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