Discover the destination:
This itinerary combines some of the best and most famous dive sites from our "Best of Maldives" and "Hanifaru and North" routes, creating a trip with the highlights of what is generally known as the "Northern Atolls" and It does exactly that.
A varied marine mix of reef animals, hard and soft corals, abundant macro life, turtles, manta rays and various sharks await you, where you can approach the manta cleaning stations without disturbing the local inhabitants.
North Malé offers the renowned Lankan manta ray point, Kandu Oiy Giri (Tuna Factory) and the exciting Finger Point Reef. North Ari offers one of the best known dive sites, Fish Head. For a chance to regularly spot gray reef sharks, it's a visit to Rasdhoo Atoll in North Ari.
These trips also include the best chances of encounters with whale sharks and manta rays in South Ari Atoll. Although diving is not permitted at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hanifaru Bay, we are allowed to enter and snorkel with these gentle giants in the lagoon.
After a stingray has enjoyed its feeding, it needs to be cleaned, so we take you to popular stingray cleaning stations in both North Malé and Baa Atoll. Hopefully these will give you sightings all week long. Of course, sightings cannot be guaranteed, but diving at this time means your chances are high.
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 less than 18 meters deep, 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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