Maldives Liveaboards are a paradise for scuba divers. Whale Sharks and Manta Rays, pure waters welcome divers to explore the depths. Several numbers of sharks, enormous schools of fish, and healthy corals round out the underwater experience. Above the water, flawless sugar sand shorelines, endless bright skies, and extravagant facilities make the topside hours superb.
Before we jump into the different atolls normally visited by scuba divers, a touch of Maldivian lingo may offer assistance. Generally, dive sites are comprised of channels and pinnacles on account of the nation’s unique geography. Locally, channels are called kandus while pinnacles are called thilas. You’ll detect these words in the names of several dive sites.
You can dive the Maldives year-round, however, there are two particular seasons. From December to April, oceans are quiet and visibility is great. But from May to November, whale sharks and manta rays are easier to discover. This can change from atoll to atoll depending upon the geographical area, so ensure you check your specific destination during the planning stage.
Let’s take a closer look at the central Maldivian atolls. UnlikeDeep South Atolls of the Maldives, this is the most generally visited area by liveaboards in the Maldives, and where you’ll discover the greater part of the scuba diving operations.
As a result of its nearness to the nation’s main airport, the North Male Atoll remains the most visited area in the region. You’ll discover the healthiest coral reefs in the central Maldivian atolls here. For ravishing corals, visit the dive site called Girifushi Thila and Banana Reef.
Specked with pinnacles and channels, the South Male Atoll is known for its huge fish. Solid currents move through the channels between pinnacles and the island, bringing in huge schools of jacks, grouper and Napoleon Wrasse. Prepare for some high-speed drift dives!
With a 31-mile barrier reef bordering the exposed sea, Vaavu Atoll has a lot of heavy currents ripping through narrow channels. This area draws in a lot of sharks and rays at sites like Miyaru Kandu and Fotteyo Kandu. Fortunately, there are overhangs and caves for protection on most dives. Make sure you take a camera along because the large marine life and underwater topography give you stunning images. For a difference in pace, Alimatha Pier is popular for its night plunges. Under this resort structure, you can see nurture sharks and stingrays strike up a bolstering free-for-all.
A famous liveaboard stop, Ari Atoll is considered a magnet for pelagic species. Ukulhas Thila consists of many manta rays, while Maamigili is the ideal destination for people who love whale sharks. Furthermore, Maaya Thila is the most popular dive site in all of the Maldives with its wealth of reef life. Are you tired of big fish? Explore Ari’s wrecks with its enormous fantail stingrays and the Fish Head Marine Sanctuary with many reef sharks.
Rasdhoo Atoll is most celebrated for Hammerhead Point, a dive site where hammerheads are discovered every morning. This site is located on the seaside of Madivaru Atoll. There are likewise plenty of pinnacles and channels where you may see eagle rays, tuna, mantas, and reef sharks. Remember, manta season in Rasdhoo Atoll is from November to April because of its closeness to the open sea.
Baa Atoll is popular for its manta ray aggregation at Hanifaru Bay. From May to December every year, many of the elegant animals summersault and circle the bay, feeding on the extensive centralization of microscopic fish. Just snorkeling is permitted in Hanifaru Bay, but the shallow depths fit the situation much better than scuba diving.
Enjoy a dive holiday that gives all you could wish for from the famous sites of “Best of Maldives”.
There are more than 30 liveaboards operating in the region. Click here to choose an itinerary that matches your expectations. Here is a tailor-made top 3 picks:
This was our first liveaboard, and the Ariyal is definitely a diver-friendly boat, with a Dhoni riding alongside holding our equipment. (We are unsure if our equipment was washed daily.)
The trip is advertised as 8 days, 7 nights. This is deceiving. When you must leave the boat by 8:30AM on Sunday, please advertise it as 7 days, 7 nights or just 7 nights. We had to secure a day room on our last day.
The Ariyal: Nice finishings and space to roam around the boat. There was a sewer smell in our cabin. On a rainy day, leaks were seen throughout the ship and reported in upper cabins. Not good for a newer boat.
Food: A great selection of buffet service. We thought the food was quite good, but we heard from other guests that other liveaboards (in other regions) offered a tastier fare. The tropical fruit was always the most popular item, as was the fresh fish. While espresso/cappucino is a nice touch available for purchase, instant coffee as the alternative is a let-down.
The two servers in the dining room were brilliant workers. They never said much, but they were always pleasant and prepared to make sure every meal was perfect. They were spot on!
Dining arrangements made it easy to move around and speak with everyone.
Amenities: This is a poor rating! The hot tub was only filled on the first day. It was poorly maintained, half-filled and unusable for the remaining six days. The deck chairs were never laid out, and the top-deck bar was never opened. The deck chairs on the second level were always half-occupied by crew, and every night, like clockwork, crew members played video games on the large TV.
Weather for the week: Only one day of rain, and it may have rained at night.
We felt that the ship could benefit from a service director or coordinator to organize activities during the downtime between dives. There wasn't an introduction to the crew, dive masters... who was in charge? Name tags would be beneficial. It took several days for us to know who the captain was. Oh, there were two captains?
Diving: At times, it seemed chaotic. Our group had the longest dive times (managed the best air) and was always the last in the water, which didn't make sense to us. Other groups waited up to 30 minutes for us to surface. The democratic question to the group: "Do you want to stay in this area for mantas or move on to the Rasdhoo atoll?" How would we know? What do we know? You are the dive masters in this area. Unless a storm is brewing at a dive site, I would suggest you stay with the itinerary. Lastly, try to space the groups more than 20 seconds apart. Sometimes, it was difficult to find our own DM when all the groups were overlapping.
The dive briefings never completely matched what we ended up doing. Plus only the head DM, who gave the briefings, was present. It would make sense that we spend a minute or so with our individual DM's after the briefing to address questions.
Special shout-out to the one captain and Bangladeshi deckhand who took me to the hospital to have my ear looked at. They helped guide me through a confusing village and processes.
The Dhoni: It was very tight for 25 divers with a shared basket per cabin. That said, every dive worked itself out.
The 25 like-minded guests were the best part of this experience. We walked away with incredible friendships.
Would I go with the Ariyal again? Absolutely, yes. The value was great for the discounted price of $5400 CAD for 2 persons + onboard expenses and tips.
Overall, we are very pleased with our experience. Any negative comments are intended to help the Ariyal make improvements for future guest experience. My wife and I are both in customer service and see every experience from this perspective.
We hope this helps!
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2026-06-24by S. Timothy diving Maldives onboard Ariyal
5.0
Trip of a lifetime (Princess Dhonkamana)
The Maldives dive trip was incredible, with encounters with large marine species like manta rays and reef sharks that made every dive unforgettable. The dive guides were highly skilled and the food onboard was consistently excellent, adding to a perfect overall experience.
2026-05-12by H. Juan diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.8
Horizon 3 April (Horizon 3)
For the price paid Horizon 3 is a perfect liveaboard. It is an older boat but the facilities, dhoni and dive management were all excellent.
The staff all worked really hard to make it a great trip. The food was excellent and the bonus of a glass of wine with dinner was a nice touch. Drinks and extras on board were very reasonable, even outside happy hour.
Our only suggestions would be to have a little more knowledge sharing about the sea life and sea life behaviours, as the guides just guided the dive. Also the last two nights were spent in Male harbour as the last two dives were a shark tank harbour wall. They were not great dives and the setting of the harbour was not scenic, light pollution, no option to swim. We also spent the first night there too. It would be much nicer to get out to an island mooring, you don’t have to go far!
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2026-05-06by S. Julia diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
4.8
Easy Diving for Makrofans (Carpe Novo)
It was a nice Trip into the Deep North of Maldives, but one month too late… The trip to the North is normally very beautiful because you are the only liveaboard. We had many great dive sites with lots of colorful schooling fish and many macro subjects to found. But… 30 degree warm water and no current at the most dive sites.
So we see only a few Sharks and Mantas. We didn’t see Gitarrays and Leopardsharks. I took this trip one year earlier in March, and it was much better… So I would do this trip again, but not in April.
The stuff was top as always, only the beds are very hard for me.
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2026-05-04by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.5
Ecopro Seascape: Excellent Diving, Average Dining (EcoPro Seascape)
The liveaboard experience with Ecopro Seascape was excellent overall. The dive sites were truly impressive, and the boat staff were professional, helpful, and friendly, making every part of the trip smooth and enjoyable. However, the food was disappointing it lacked diversity and the quality did not meet expectations. Everything else was fantastic, but the catering could definitely be improved to match the high standard of the diving and crew.
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2026-04-13by G. Alexandre diving Maldives onboard EcoPro Seascape
4.0
Could have been much better as trip cut short !! (Blue (Fun Azul II))
Would have been rated higher if whole trip centred around large group of Japanese. Leaving three of us CC as second class citizens. also arrived later then us and left day early which meant returning to Male a day earlier and last dives were around Male port .
Spacious and comfortable boat, friendly and helpful crew, good variety of diving with abundant marine life. Fantastic manta and nurse shark action with schooling white tips and grey reef sharks. Delicious meals and snacks onboard.
A safe, comfortable, and wonderful diving trip (Spirit of Maldives)
I participated in a 12-day tour from March 14th to 26th.
The trip took us North from Gan Island, the most southern island of the Maldives, to Malé.
The cabins, guest rooms, and dining area were always kept clean and comfortable, making you feel like you were staying in a hotel.
The cabin crew, chef, and guides were all kind, warm, and pleasant people.
They always checked the currents at each dive site, ensuring a safe environment.
My guide was Sul, from the Maldives
Small boat with family atmosphere (Emperor Voyager)
The trip was well organised by cruise director Salaam. We had 3 dives guides onboard who were very good (Salaam from Maldives, Catalina from Chili, Zack from Maldives). The cabins are small compared to newer boats but they are comfortable. The food was good (specially for vegetarians who got special meals sometimes). The dining area is outside (not air-conditioned). The whole crew is friendly and working well. As usual with Emperor, the prices include everything except tips and special drinks. There was happy hour with a very friendly barman most nights. A smaller boat can be an advantage as we were fewer divers in the water.
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2026-03-27by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
4.5
Very good cruise director and yummy meals (Emperor Leo)
The boat is very comfortable and has the right size for her number of guests. The food is really delicious (Chef Dickson!!). The cruise director, Jules, is the best I had on any other boat. He is an excellent and elegant diver, and his personality is perfect for the job! Kind with a good sense of humour, social and friendly, he knows how to bring a safe and relaxed atmosphere onboard and during the dives. All the dive guides were experienced and knew the dive sites very well. The South trip with all the channels requires good experience with strong currents and a low air consumption if you want to really enjoy your dives. The cabins are very comfortable. There are clothes racks to dry your clothes and swimsuits on the upper deck. Safety is taken very seriously on the boat, with thorough safety briefind, safety drills and dive guides who really take care of the divers underwater. With their all inclusive prices (except tips and special drinks), Emperor is really a very reliable operation in the Maldives. Everything is so well organised from the minute you stepped on the dhoni. You will find a basket with your name where you can put your diving gear before stepping on the big boat. The deck towels are numbered with your cabin number with a whaleshark or a manta. Bedsheets and towels are replaced at least midweek, or before if necessary. The barman is always smiling and here to help. The boat captain is very friendly and experienced, making the trip very safe. The dhony captain and crew did also a super job at dropping us at the right spot and picking us up after the dives.
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2026-03-27by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.8
Very comfortable boat with very good guides (Ana, Lukas, Rifaad, Joe) (Spirit of Maldives)
October 2025, Northern itinerary from Male to Baa Atoll (Hanifaru) and Ari Atoll.
The cabins are super comfortable, specially the bed. The boat is very new, everything was working fine in the cabin. The cruise director Lukas, and wonderful Maldivian dive guides Ana and Rifaad, together with friendly Joe from Fidji, ensured a very safe and relaxed cruise, with a very friendly and kind atmosphere. Despite bad weather and a different itinerary due to rain and big swells, we always felt safe during the dives and during crossing. Towards the end of the cruise, we were treated to a Maldivian dinner which was really yummy. The price you pay includes everything except tips. There was happy hour most nights which is a good time to socialize. The boat is really big, there is ample space everywhere. The whole boat crew and the dhoni crew all worked hard to ensure we had a great trip. Everyone seems happy to work on the boat which is always a good sign of a well run operation.
Good dive guides and friendly atmosphere (Emperor Voyager)
If you like small boats and fewer divers, this boat is good option. The dive crew and cruise director (Salaam) were very experienced and friendly. There was a very relaxed and cosy atmosphere onboard. Safety is taken very seriously by Emperor which is a relief. We did the full life jacket drill on the 1st day. All safety and dive briefinds were thorough and very well conducted. I felt safe at all time with this attentive crew. The food was diverse and good. They have a large choice of drinks which you can enjoy during happy hours which happened most nights. We did the central itinerary in December which is usually a good time with fewer boats on the dive sites. They made their best to choose dive sites and dive times to avoid other boats. We were lucky to see the big animals people usually come to the Maldives to see: eagle rays, mantas at night, whaleshark in South Ari, grey reef sharks, white tip sharks, octopus, moray eels, turtles and countless fish in overall good visibility (20+ meters). The water temperature was 28°C everywhere.
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2026-03-27by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
3.8
Very social boat (Emperor Voyager)
Emperor Voyager is a reliable liveaboard with an experienced crew. The cabins are quite small, but are comfortable and in good condition. The chef onboard did a great job to accommodate vegetarians. Everything is very well organised on Emperor liveaboards in the Maldives, it is really makes a difference. We feel safe and in good hands from the moment they picked us up from the airport. The atsmophere is very friendly and the dive guides very approachable. They don't disappear from view as soon as the dives are finished, they enjoyed spending times with the guests and being social.
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2026-03-27by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
5.0
best forever (Scubaspa Yang)
Nice trip, nice service. The room is cleaned twice a day and the towels are changed immediately. Everything is so clean. The food is very delicious. I gained 2 kilograms
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2026-03-13by G. Linlin diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Fantastic trip! (Princess Sara)
I went on a week long liveaboard trip on the Princess Sara at the end of August. It was an awesome experience: great dives, super friendly staff and a comfortable boat. Highly recommend.
Saw manta's, lots of sharks, turtles and much more.
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2026-02-14by B. Jerome diving Maldives onboard Princess Sara
4.3
Would book again (Emperor Leo)
The boat is in good condition, the cabins are spacious and equipped with everything you need. The boat crew is great and took good care of everything around the clock, the food was always good and plentiful.
The guides were all nice, although unfortunately our guide was a disappointment underwarter. Determining the currents and the respective drops seemed to be rather difficult, with an accuracy rate of about 50%.
I would book the route (Southern Sharks) again.
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2026-02-10by T. Kristina diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
5.0
Soleil 2 central atolls January 2026 (Soleil 2)
Great liveaboard with a very hospitable crew and excellent dive team! Dive site selection was amazing and rarely encountered big groups of people even at the popular sites. Food was fantastic at every meal, rooms were spacious and comfortable.
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2026-01-31by G. Santosh diving Maldives onboard Soleil 2
4.8
Diving at its best. Best of + Meemu. We tried to find Hammerheads, but we are not lucky. That´s the ocean. (Carpe Novo)
I have been diving with this Boat for several times. It is always a verry pleasent time. The Cabins have been refreshed with new paintings on the Wall. You have clips with the Cabine names for the daily Dive towels. Enough space to dry you swim and dive suits. Especially the DiveDoni provides a lot of space and comfort for the divers, even when its full booked.
I like to thank the whole Team of the Dhoni and Boat for this nice Dive Trip. Special Thanks to the new Cook and the new Barman and my Dive Guide. I always like the longer Trips, because there are more options to chose the Dive sites if there is more trafic at one place. I allready booked my next trip and look forward to stay at maldives.
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2026-01-27by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.8
Great first liveaboard trip! (Seafari Explorer 2)
This trip was my first liveaboard and it’s set the bar high! 26 dives in total - all great dives with variety. Food was brilliant. It was all so freshly prepared and of high quality. Cabins were nice with all en suites. Inthi, and Weeshan, the dive guides, made this trip for me. It’s French owned. There were 22 French, and 2 English so naturally everything was in French - the local dive guides provided the English versions! It didn’t affect my experience of the dives but the evenings etc would have been more fun with a range of nationalities.
Fantastic diving experience in a great boat with an excellent crew and abundant sea life. (Adora)
The ship is modern and spacious and comfortable. The cabin and bathroom are also very spacious and bright, and the cleanliness was perfect. The air conditioning works well and is quiet.
The main room for the meals and briefings is big ang comfortable with nice furniture made of solid wood. The food is varied and very good altogether, somtimes somewhat spicy though. You can drink unlimited tea and instant coffee throughout the day, with some snacks, cookies or small bananas.
The sun deck has fortunately also a good part of shade.
The main aspect to praise though is the profesional and attentive attitude of the entre crew, around 15 people counting both Adora and dohni or dive boat.
The tour follows the regular itinerary on the central atolls visiting the best dive spots, with a diversity of walls, channels,, pinnacles and reef hooked dives.
This January we have been inmensely lucky to encounter a lot of pelagic marine life, including lots of mantas, 6 whale sharks ,eagle rays and even long finned pilot whales.
The divemasters, Maazin and Akki were very professional and did their best to find the real hotspots of marine life.
The evening beach barbecue and party was unforgettable and fun, with beach volley, and lots of good music and dancing.
Altogether, has been my best liveaboard ever, the 10th, and I will no doubt repeat next year.
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2026-01-21by D. Moises diving Maldives onboard Adora
5.0
Rated the liveaboard (EcoPro Mariana)
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2026-01-19by S. Francesco diving Maldives onboard EcoPro Mariana
5.0
Ausgezeichnete Safari (Horizon 3)
Ich war 7 mal auf Malediven mit Divingsafari auf unterschiedlichen Boaten. Es war die beste Safari. Das Team war superkompetent, seht proffessionel und Hilsfsbereit von erste bis letzte Stunde. Ausgezeichnere Kenntnisse von Tauchplätzen, Strömungen und hiesigen Fischwelt. 2 Wochen lang von 3 bis 4 mal Tauchgängen pro Tag , jedes Mal 1 Stunde lang. Geräumige saubere Kabinen, sehr gutes Essen mit kostenlosen gutes Kaffes und Wein, frischem Obst und Salaten.
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2026-01-05by L. Yurii diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
4.5
Nice experience, but.. (Maldives Aggressor II)
The guides were excellent, prioritizing safety, and the crew on board was friendly and helpful. The food offered plenty of variety, and the cabins were comfortably spacious. Having separate toilets and showers was a nice touch. Unfortunately, the boat left a clearly visible oil trail, which in that quantity is unacceptable.
Beautiful Dives, good food, but otherwise a bit meh (Princess Sara)
We chose Princess Sara because it was one of the affordable options to do liveaboard diving in the Maldives and this is what you get. The diving was very nice, as you would expect in the Maldives, so was the food, and so were most of the dive guides. Our guide Baichu was always super competent and calm, especially during the dives, providing the best possible experience for our group. That said, the interior, especially the cabins and the baths of the ship are not very well maintained. It was always clean, but the lamps did not work, our shower only had (very) hot water, everything looked as if it would be 50 years old. In addition to this, the boat manager did not leave the most professional impression with us, he made some inappropriate jokes, he was often 15-30 minutes late to early morning dive briefings leaving us waiting there without explanation and his behaviour with some of the other guests was unprofessional to say the least. Still in the end the other people on the boat and the beautiful diving made the week beautiful, fun and interesting.
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2025-12-08by E. Lukas diving Maldives onboard Princess Sara
3.5
Good option among the cheaper liveaboards (Princess Sara)
Princess Sara is generally a good option among the cheaper liveaboards, especially if you manage to get a discounted rate.
Cabins & Facilities: Basic, but acceptable for the price.
Service & Infrastructure: Friendly crew and overall decent service.
Food & Drinks: Simple but fine considering the budget.
Guiding & Safety: This is where the experience falls short. Although the guides are fun and friendly, they do not inspire confidence underwater. At night, some staff drink alcohol, and in the morning they appear tired and unmotivated, which affects safety and professionalism during the dives.
Conclusion: Good value if your priority is price, but not recommended if you expect strong safety standards or professional dive guiding.
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2025-12-05by S. Pere diving Maldives onboard Princess Sara
5.0
Great experience (Spirit of Maldives)
Excellent boat, good organization. Food and staff are amazing. Dive setup was very convenient
10 giorni magnifici in un paradiso terrestre. Barca molto ben attrezzata. Personale di bordo molto disponibile e attento al cliente. Grande professionalità. Assolutamente da consigliare.
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2025-10-30by A. Stefano diving Maldives onboard Amba
4.8
Excellent boat and staff! (Spirit of Maldives)
This is one of the best liveaboards my wife and I have experienced. Very clean & modern. All of the staff were excellent. The weather was not too cooperating, but the captain and dive guides did a good job of getting us in and out of the water safely. Hoping to return in the future to experience better weather/diving conditions.
Just got back from a cruise on the Spirit of Maldives and I’m very satisfied. The boat is in excellent condition and you can tell it’s new. The food was what surprised me the most — it was truly excellent. All the staff were fantastic, and I highly recommend booking with complete confidence!
An Unforgettable Liveaboard Diving Experience (DUNE Black Manta)
I recently joined a liveaboard diving tour, and it was truly one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. From the moment I stepped aboard, everything felt thoughtfully arranged and professionally managed.
Despite booking a budget cabin, I was pleasantly surprised by how clean and comfortable it was. The cabin had a hotel-like feel—immaculately maintained, with an en-suite bathroom that added a great deal of convenience. It was cozy, quiet, and provided the perfect space to relax between dives.
The tour itself was exceptionally well-organized, with a strong emphasis on safety and guiding. I felt completely at ease knowing that every dive was carefully planned and supervised by experienced professionals. One of the highlights was the use of a larger boat to transport our gear and divers to the dive sites, rather than the usual dinghy. This small upgrade made a huge difference—it added comfort, efficiency, and a sense of luxury to the overall experience.
The crew deserves special mention. Every staff member was not only highly skilled and knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly and approachable. They went out of their way to make sure everyone felt welcome and supported throughout the trip.
And let’s talk about the food—there was always plenty to eat, and every meal was delicious. Whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the kitchen team consistently delivered satisfying dishes that kept us energized and happy.
All in all, this liveaboard tour exceeded my expectations in every way. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a safe, comfortable, and professionally run diving adventure. I’m already dreaming of my next trip!
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2025-10-15by L. Hyunwoong diving Maldives onboard DUNE Black Manta
5.0
Amba - Best North - Sept 28 to Oct 08 (Amba)
Very good experience, good staff during the dives, safety and a lot of attention to guests for everything during the trip
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2025-10-11by A. Stefano diving Maldives onboard Amba
5.0
Wonderful diving holiday in the Maldives on a very comfortable boat (Amba)
We didn't know anything about Amba beforehand, but chose it because of the itinerary and liked that there weren't too many divers. Everything about the boat was a nice, pleasant surprise. It feels spacious and our cabin was very comfortable and well-organized (Amba is the first liveaboard we've seen (out of at least 25) that actually provides extra hooks, shelving and accessories to store everything away while keeping the cabin relatively humidity-free). Everything was run smoothly and it was obvious from the start that the crew is experienced, attentive and professional and that they prioritized safety and guests' comfort. They were also cheerful and often made me smile! Nothing felt rushed or hectic and everything was available on the dhoni and main boat to have a relaxed diving holiday. We were happy with the diving and could spend lots of time with sharks, mantas (I have one video with 80!!), turtles, barracudas... Our dive guide knew the sites and was observant, not only when it came to finding small and big stuff but checking our group and equipment. The food after every dive was amazing with a lot of flavor, variety and just sheer quantity! I liked that it wasn't the usual buffet style and that we never seemed to run out (something I've actually encountered post-covid on other boats when I'm slow to get food) We were amazed at the amount of food, with lots of fresh fish but even lots of different proteins, including wonderfully juicy lamb and warm freshly baked bread and rolls, pastries and desserts! The common areas are comfortable with a huge shaded/sunny lounge area but also a bar/bodega and area for socializing. Basically, Amba ticked off everything we were looking for in our Maldives holiday and I think that we would definitely cruise with them again.
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2025-10-11by Y. Penelope diving Maldives onboard Amba
5.0
Amazing Diving on a Boot with Comfort and Adventure. (Carpe Novo)
I had a great time on this trip. We see so many Mantas and Whale Sharks. The dive guides always tried to give us the best experience on every dive. I have never seen so many mantas while snorkeling or diving. Also we have seen a lot of small things and sharks. It was always a good mixture of everything with good and healthy coral life. The boat, the staff, and the Service is always great. Special thanks to the new cook and new bartender and my dive guide Naveen, they made this trip a special experience I would never forget.
Thank you all, I'll come back…
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2025-10-05by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Every Dive is a good Dive… (Carpe Novo)
I had a great time on this trip. The visibility on this trip in the South of Male region was very good, as we reached the Northern Atolls it‘s getting really bad. We were not lucky at the Hanifaru Bay, but this can happen… one year before it was perfect…there are a lot of other places to see mantas on this trip.
Have you ever noticed the sparkling plankton while jumping into the water at the beginning of the dive? This was always very special in the Maldives in August.
The crew, the dive guides are always friendly and helpful. Thank you all for this amazing time…
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2025-10-05by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Always one of the best times in my year… (Carpe Novo)
This was my 10th Safari with the Carpe Diem Fleet and I had a lot of great moments underwater and on the boat. The Maldives, for me, are one of the most beautiful regions of the world. I love to sit on the backside of the boat while having a great meal and talking with other divers from all over the world about our latest experience …. To see all the sandbanks, lagoons and resort islands passing by….and have always good dives in between. The dive dhoni from Carpe Novo is one of the biggest I have ever seen and it makes diving really comfortable. I will come back soon….
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2025-10-05by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Best liveaboard of my life in the Maldives! (Princess Dhonkamana)
My experience with Princess Dhonkamana was amazing!! It was my first liveaboard in the Maldives and I couldn't ask for better experience!! The leader of the boat Ornella went above and beyond during all the liveaboard. She provided personalised experiences to all guests (honeymooners, birthday, 100 mark dives). The food was Italian based with plenty of variety, fresh fish catched on the day, fresh homemade pastries after each dive. During the morning we always started with coffee and tea and some biscuits before the first dive. Then full delicious breakfast followed by our second dive. After the second dive we always had a great lunch and some time to rest before our final dive of the day followed by an amazing dinner. We also had the opportunity to visit some local islands, a paradise island and to do a barbecue at night in one of the islands. The diving spots were the best dives I experienced in my whole life!! Full of big pelagics, we saw manta rays, spinner sharks, guitar sharks, lemon sharks, white and black tip sharks, nurse sharks and plenty of different types of fishes! The crew always tried to find the best dive spots completely free of another divers to have the best experience for ourselves!! All the crew was super attentive to all our necessities and each instructor had around 4 divers per time. I recommend a lot this Liveaboard to everyone!
Recent boat with spacious cabins. The food is really good and plentiful. Very friendly crew. We had 3 experienced Maldivian dive guides (freelancing as far as I understoof so the diving team may change) that did a great job guiding the groups. The dhoni crew was also very good. I just wish they had fresh coconut on the dhoni :)
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2025-09-24by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Felicity
4.8
My favourite boat in the Maldives (Emperor Leo)
I have been multiple times on Emperor Leo and it is one of my favourite boat in the Maldives thanks to the awesome cruise director and dive guide Jules, and his team of dive guides, amazing captain Harish, the friendly crew. The food is the best I had in the Maldives, the curries have so much flavor, Dickson the chef is the best! Amin the barman will always greet you with a smile and happily fill your glasses at happy hour where you can get 2 drinks for one almost every evening. It is a well run operation wherever the itinerary takes you. Maldives has a lot of differernt types of dive sites with guaranteed shark sightings. Many rays can be seen: mantas, eagle rays, sting rays etc. and there is a good possibility to see whaleshark in South Ari atoll, or in Baa atoll in season at night. The manta night dive at Fesdhu lagoon is always my favourite dive and is very well organised.
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2025-09-24by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.0
Rated the liveaboard (Felicity)
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2025-09-15by P. Kathleen diving Maldives onboard Felicity
4.8
Fantastic, well organised and fun diving (Princess Dhonkamana)
Such a great week on the boat. Everything is really well planned, the dives are very safe and well guided and you have space to explore and aren’t “policed” underwater. The boat skipper for the dhoni is one of the best I have ever had. The food is plentiful and very tasty. You can tell that everyone cares very much about the service they are providing. I would definitely dive with them again.
We booked HORIZON 3 because of the nice discount and the guide-to-divers ratio. Horizon 3 is said to have 4 guides on board, however there were only 3 guides there. The boat was not fully booked, but the groups were not divided in even numbers, so we ended up with 8 divers in our "experienced" and nitrox group, the other groups were divided in 4 and 5 divers per guide. Horizon 3 management knew in advance both the experience of the divers and which divers would use nitrox. It was clear that there were no even groups possible, and a 4th guide would have been necessary.
The safety while diving - no problem in our group and with our guide, who has been the only one who could get the current check correct. The two other groups - well - we saw people breathing from the octopus of the guide after 30 minutes. usually when low on air situation occurs, its time to abort the dive.
The tidiness of the boat - there was a moldy smell in the cabin (treated every night with air freshener), and mold everywhere in the bathroom corners. Dust was piling up under the bed. Overall its not cleaned thoroughly.
Crew and guides were friendly throughout the whole trip. A big plus is the cruise director Cha-Cha, without him everything would have been a lot more unorganised and chaotic. He made some good choices, e.g. changing to anticlockwise trip due to weather conditions, and make the crossing to ari atoll instead to south male/ vaavu. He had to be everywhere - as the other guides needed supervision, as well as keeping an eye on the complete iterniary on board of the ship.
The food was good and had a good variety.
Hidden costs - on the booking confirmation it says that GST is included. It is only in the trip price, not on onboard purchases, there GST (tax) and service charge to be added. (e.g. 112$ for nitrox is after all a 143$ after addition of GST+service charge). What has to be pointed out very clearly - there is a OBLIGATORY service charge of 150$ per person added to the bill at the end of the trip although the service charge is already been added on every purchase (beverages, nitrox etc.) so this is a very ambitious gratuity for only mediocre service.
On the booking confirmation it also says that "approximately" 17 dives are included. This applies only downwards. If you do 16 or less, there is no refund, but if you do 18, like we did, Horizon 3 charges you additional 45$ for that dive.
Overall we had some good diving in the week, we were lucky with our guide Cha-Cha, but I would not book Horizon 3 again, as there are boats around with a much better value for money, even with this 50% discount.
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2025-05-26by B. Christine diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
5.0
Ausgezeichnete Safari (DUNE Black Manta)
Alles wie versprochen. Sehr gute Küche auf dem Restaurant Niveau. Neues geräumiges Boat. Sehr gut organisierte Tauchgänge. Sehr erfahrenes Team. Würde gerne noch mal kommen.
I did the 7 day Best of Maldives trip as my first liveaboard and it did not disappoint! The guides were friendly and helpful and we saw so many different things! Whale sharks, tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks, mantas and so much more. The guides were always respectful of the wildlife. There were several dives with strong current, but the guides made sure to help where needed and always fully explain the dive plan.
Would recommend and would definitely do again!
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2025-04-08by F. Natasha diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.3
Trip to Paradies in the only Boat in the Deep North (Carpe Novo)
My trip into the Deep North with Carpe Novo was a really nice experience. The Dive Sites, the Visibility and the sight was better than expected. We saw a lot of special stuff that really takes me into paradise for 11 days. Special for me was the Leopard shark, the Guitar ray, and some very small eagle rays that have no fear at all of divers. We are the only boat at the dive sites and we also saw a lot of different Swarm Fishes. Even very close without any fear.
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2025-03-28by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
My Best Maldives Tour (DUNE Black Manta)
It was the best of my 4th trip to the Maldives! Thanks to the best-equipped boat, the best guides, and the best-serving crew.
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2025-03-18by L. Jeongbae diving Maldives onboard DUNE Black Manta
5.0
Highly recommended (Maldives Aggressor II)
The entire crew, including the captain, was incredibly friendly and always ready to assist with anything we needed. The facilities were safe and spotless, and the food was absolutely perfect - no complaints at all. Our dive guide, Jay, was outstanding, showing us the very best of the Maldives and making this an unforgettable experience. I’ll definitely choose Aggressor again when I return to bubble in the Maldives!
It was an amazing trip with amazing crew.... everything worked like clockwork right from the airport pickup to our disembarkation.... really memorable trip with loads of pelagics and some fun times
The only recommendarion I would have is to have the rental equipment serviced more frequently as we had a couple of occasions where the LPI on two BCDs malfuntioned underwater (it was pressed shut so kept constantly inflating). This can lead to some serious problems so its best to have the kit replaced or regularly serviced. I had my own gear so this is more about what my friends experienced.
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2025-02-15by G. Jaydev diving Maldives onboard Sachika
4.5
Great guides and staff. (Sachika)
We had a great week on Sachika. Excellent guides for experienced divers and great staff on the boat as well. Food was good, but could have been better.
We stayed in the upper deck suite which is highly recommended.
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2025-01-25by K. Per diving Maldives onboard Sachika
4.8
Good trip! (Emperor Voyager)
Diving was great, nice variety of big and small sites.
Some good currents. I would recommend it for advanced and above not OWD. Nitrox needed to make the most of it. And to be able to use an SMB.
The boat: staff friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. Cabins were nice overall, comfortable bed, but had smells of petrol when was off putting.
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2025-01-18by J. Maria diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
4.0
friendly crew and yummy food (Emperor Voyager)
It was a great experience, friendly crew and yummy food, little things are missing here and there, but overall it was great vacation.
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2025-01-07by A. Saleh diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
5.0
Fantastic Liveaboard in the Maldives (EcoPro Seascape)
Fantastic liveaboard experience - with the EcoPro Seascape on the 'Best of the Maldives' package! Our first time, but the EcoPro Seascape set an extremely high bar! Brand new boat that is spacious - large bedrooms, huge dining and relaxing areas, large sunroof with a hot tub! It is a very new vessel, so all the fittings, sofas, chairs, beds, etc. are in excellent condition! Plenty of sockets to charge phones, batteries, torches, etc. The crew are all absolutely lovely - super helpful, always at hand when you need them! Dive guides are super friendly, knowledgable and great at adapting to the needs of the divers based on their experience and interests - big props to Adam (our guide), Abdul and Tamer! Dive coordinator Maggie is awesome - super clear with daily and dive briefings, checking in throughout our stay on anyway things could be improved and joined us as an extra dive guide on several occasions! All gear in good condition, tanks readily filled with nitrox (typically 31%) ready ahead of every dive (typically 3 per day starting from ~7am - 6am wake-up call). Travel between atolls was smooth and timed well, so as to allow good surface interval times to max out dive time. The food and drinks are delicious, with great variation - eggs cooked to your specification with a buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner were always different with a good balance of Western and Asian options throughout the trip! Tea, coffee, water and biscuits on freeflow throughout, and typically received a thirst-quenching fruit juice or hot chocolate/Milo upon returning from a dive!
Overall, this was an incredible introduction to liveaboards and we'll definitely be looking for future opportunities within the EcoPro fleet! Keen to return and do the Southern Atolls!
Didn't know what to expect as this was my first liveaboard ever, but most things turned out great. We weren't the luckiest with the weather, but it was out of our control, so I have nothing to complain about the trip. The dive guides were professional, the crew were nice and helpful, the cabins and facilities were clean and comfortable, the food was surprisingly good. Would recommend!
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2024-12-26by W. Ying Hui diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.3
Exciting diving, energetic dive guides, good food (Princess Dhonkamana)
Just spent a week on this boat and it's a wonderful trip. At first it's a little bit boring and not much to see except sharks until we spotted groups of eagle rays and tiger sharks. The boat is a bit old but well maintained, the room is spacious enough, and it's clean and tidy. Their tanks are steel so you don't need lots of weights. The manager is an energetic Italian lady who worked in Maldives for over 20 years so she knows every spot. The food is delicious especially the pasta. There are two downsides too. 1. The air conditioner in my room is noisy. 2. The checkout time is 7am and you need to hang out in Male for a long time unless your flight is early.
Brilliant trip. Boat is brand new, so everything is lovely. Only downer was the lower cabins have 1 double and 1 single bed - bit awkward when sharing with a stranger! Not sure why they don’t just have 2 singles. But minor point, crew and diving are exceptional. Wouldn’t hesitate to return
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2024-12-08by M. Rhiannon diving Maldives onboard Emperor Serenity
4.5
Sehr gute Tauchsafari (EcoPro Seascape)
In 9 days we had 27 dives, each one lasting about an hour. Everything was well-thought-out and organized. The cabins are new, everything is very clean
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2024-11-19by L. Yurii diving Maldives onboard EcoPro Seascape
Amazing value-for-money proposition, but also a very high-quality trip offered by the Princess Dhonkamana team.
Top-notch diving team and guides, meaning that the expectations in terms of diving are a high standard, challenging, and satisfying.
We are truly happy to have chosen the Princess Dhonkamana Liveaboard. We have wonderful memories from the eight days and seven nights. Thank you, Martina, for all the care and arrangements. We had a great time and were very satisfied with the food, as every meal was so abundant. Diving with people from different cultures and countries was a joy, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We even had the chance to visit Male city, wander around, relax, and shop for souvenirs. This trip was definitely worth it. Thank you, Divebooker, for patiently answering all my questions before the trip! Highly recommended!!!
It’s a very spacious boat. Some areas are shabby and need some work done, but it’s comfortable. The food was excellent. The diving was excellent. The crew were helpful and friendly and worked super hard. The guides could have been more involved with their groups and more animated/fun with us. You felt like they were doing their job, they did it well, but just felt a little apart.
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2024-09-25by N. Jill diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
Will select Emperor Serenity again (Emperor Serenity)
This was my and my girlfriend's first liveaboard experience and I couldn't have selected a better choice than Emperor Serenity. All staff members were very professional, all well behaved and safety first approach to things.
Our guide through the dives was Catalina and she was very experienced, nice, energetic throughout the dives and understand everyone's need and limits.
Over all great experience and we can't thank enough from all of the Emperor Serenity team for making our dream of diving in Maldives come true.
Very recommended liveaboard in the Maldives (Nautilus Two)
We did a 10 day Central Atolls itinerary tour (Ari and South Male only, no Vaavu atoll), including a visit to Baa atoll in the North in the beginning of August. Very safe operation with experienced dive guides (although we only had 2 guides for 15 guests). Nevertheless all the dives went smoothly as divers go up as buddy pair when they run out of air. Typical dive time was 60 minutes for those who have enough bottom time and air left. The weather was great, not much wind, flat seas. At the end of the trip, wezwere offered a delicious Maldivian dinner onboard to try some local specialties. The chefs did a great job with varied food at all meals (some spicy, some not, to please everyone). The cabins are very comfortable with a spacious bathroom.
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2024-09-07by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Nautilus Two
4.3
Good guides and crew, spacious and comfortable boat (Nautilus Two)
We did a Northern itinerary from Male to Baa and Raa atoll, including a stop at Hanifaru Bay to snorkel with mantas. The cabins are very comfortable with good AC. The salon/dining room doesn't have any AC nor fan, so sometimes it gets very hot. Very good crew and dhoni crew. The dive team (Coco, Firas and Maui) is excellent, they did a great job guiding and interacting with guests in a friendly and professional manner all week long. Food was good and varied. If you are vegetarian, you will find things to eat at every meal.
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2024-09-07by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Nautilus Two
5.0
Amazing trip (Maldives Aggressor II)
It was an amazing experience! The crew was super nice and made sure everything ran smoothly. The cabins were comfy, and the food was really tasty with lots of variety. The diving was top-notch, with stunning underwater views and well-planned dives. Each dive was well-organized, and the guides were knowledgeable about the marine life we encountered. We explored vibrant coral reefs, swam alongside manta rays, sharks (reef, whale, nurse). The night dives were a real highlight, offering a completely different experience. The jacuzzi was definitely a post-dive highlight. Overall, the diving exceeded my expectations and made the trip unforgettable! Overall, I had a blast and would totally recommend it!
Excellent boat and crew, les marine life. (Carpe Novo)
The boat and the crew, and the food, everything was excellent. Unfortunately one can notice that the abundance of marine life and the health of the hard coral is worse than several years ago.
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2024-08-17by D. Moises diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
#betterinbaa (Nautilus Two)
The Nautilus Two is a very spacious ship, with beautiful cabins in where nothing is left to wish for. We had a cabin on the upper deck, but the cabins in the lower deck are basically the same. To the upper decks advantages belong the windows, which can be opened, but there are some disadvantages as well, as the cabins are located on the back of the boat where people gather, and it can be noisy at times and as we are non-smokers, also annoying with the smell of cigarettes being smoked. The cabin itself has big beds, enough space to store your suitcases and for a liveaboard a huge bathroom with a well functioning shower. The aircon in the room is working well and can be adjusted to the required temperature. The food is superb, with enough choices also for vegetarians, freshly cooked and tasty, meals are prepared 3 times a day, plus a little snack in the afternoon. Easily up to 5 kilos can be gained during the week ;-)
The diving: there was a change in the iterniary which was not communicated at first. We booked Baa-North Ari-Rashoo-Guaidoo-South Male incl. Hanifaru Bay, in the end we did only Baa and Raa, incl. Hanifaru Bay. It was a good choice, because the best dives we did during the week were in Raa atoll. This is my only point for critisism - it could have been communicated when we boarded the ship. The change of plans was weather-related and also diving related, as the previous tours on the initially planned route were not as successful concerning wildlife. The guiding itself was very relaxed and enjoyable, (thanks Coco), but we were also lucky with our laid back dive group of 5. The crew on the Nautilus Two is outstanding - you never have to ask for something, they always have their eyes open and see where help is needed. The diveguides are professional, funny and communicative and give a welcoming feeling to the guests.
There is something else I have to mention, which has nothing to do with the Nautilus Two itself: on our tour were some people who obviously didn't inform themselves what Hanifaru Bay is, and that diving is strictly prohibited there. they were complaining that they were missing dives, because of snorkeling in Hanifaru, giving the guides and crew a difficult time on board, which is just not fair - read and inform yourself before you book. Hanifaru can be the experience of a lifetime, even if its "only" snorkeling.
After all, we had a great week with stunning manta encounters. We will be back for sure!
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2024-08-16by B. Christine diving Maldives onboard Nautilus Two
5.0
Great week on the Carpe Vita (Carpe Vita)
Great week diving on the Carpe Vita. The crew were very friendly and the dive guides very knowledgeable and safe. The food was excellent. The boat is very comfortable and the air condition cabin I had was spacious and cleaned every day. The diving and dive sites were varies and certainly ticked my box for sharks and Mantas. I wouldn't hesitate to rebook.
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2024-08-16by D. David Mark diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
A good experience from Chinese consumers (Nautilus Two)
We had really good and safe experience living on the boat, everything is well-organised, staff are friendly and professional, really recommend to choose this boat!
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2024-06-05by N. Yixuan diving Maldives onboard Nautilus Two
4.0
Tauchen im Monsunwechsel nicht empfehlenswert (Carpe Vita)
Ich war vom 18.5.-28.5. auf der Safari. Leider war das Wetter sehr schlecht. Bedingt durch den Monsunwechsel hatten wir starken Wind und viel Regen. Dadurch konnten wir nicht eine Rundreise durch die verschiedenen Atolle durchführen, sondern hingen auf einem Atoll fest und konnten nur innenliegende Tauchplätze betauchen.
Es war alles in allem nicht so schön wie ich es von anderen Safaris gewohnt war. Ich würde um diese Jahreszeit, dh ab Mitte Mai davon abraten noch Safaris auf den Malediven zu machen. Die Verpflegung und der Service auf dem Boot waren wie gewohnt gut. Beach Barbecue konnte wetterbedingt nicht stattfinden. Die Tauchgänge wurden teilweise mehrfach an den gleichen Orten durchgeführt. Des öfteren war die Strömung falsch und der TG wurde nicht abgebrochen, sondern trotzdem weiter durchgeführt was nicht besonders sinnvoll war. 4-6 TG waren sehr unbefriedigend. Ich würde dem Veranstalter nahe legen um diese Zeit keine Safari mehr anzubieten.
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2024-05-31by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.5
Diving with Carpe Vita again after 7 years still an enjoyable experience (Carpe Vita)
Crew very experienced - safety on boat and during dives even under west monsoon condition well under control.
Captain main boat and the captain dive boat are excellent.
Cook was able to make tasty meals even under difficult weather conditions.
Room cleanliness is ok, considering the aged infrastructure.
Dive guides re experienced, our guide was Naathi. He did a good job to decide where to dive and how to enjoy best considering the groups diving ability and what to see.
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2024-05-31by Z. Stefan Emil diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.3
Nice experience and great diving (Maldives Blue Force One)
The diving in the Maldives is always top notch. The Blue Force One staff was very knowledgeable and focused on safety. Half of the divers were spanish speaking so they held briefings in both Spanish and English. The briefings by Gabriel were very thorough and I enjoyed that he not only covered the dive site but some educational information on the marine life we would see. The dhoni was very spacious as well and we all had plenty of space to get ready. It is also always right by the mothership so diving off the dhoni is very convenient and comfortable. Our dive guide Yano was nice and you can tell his is knowledgeable about the waters and sites. We did not like how they only gave us 1 towel for the day though. Especially for people with long hair, having a dry towel for dives 2 or 3 was rare. Luckily it was very hot so getting dry quickly wasn't a big deal but you only had a fresh towel once a day and there really wasn't anywhere on the dhoni to hang the towel to dry during dives.
The facilities were nice but it was quite hot during our trip. The salon was always pretty hot, never seemed to have the air conditioning on cool enough considering it was 37 degrees outside so we spent most of the surface time in the room. The rooms and bathrooms are very big and spacious. Not having a bunkbed and being able to shower in a full size shower was a treat. The only negatives were the air condition was very noisy and you couldn't control the temperature. It was either freezing cold or you had to turn it off. The last 2 nights, we didn't have any hot water even though the crew said the water heater was on. The food was good and plentiful, buffet style. We especially liked the omelet station where Sampa made delicious eggs and omelets to order.
Overall it was a nice experience with kind and knowledgeable crew in an absolutely beautiful country. Fees and charges were something that didn't sit well with us though. There are dives where a dive hook is needed but if you use their dive hook, you end up buying it (not rent), which is not disclosed before using it. Additionally there is a $150 "service fee" that many of us interpreted as mandatory gratuity. Upon asking the crew they stated it is Maldivian tax they need to charge but it is not listed as a tax on the booking websites. It is either listed as a service fee or a gratuity however they make it clear it is not part of the tip for the crew. Quite a few of us were confused by this so for the sake of transparency, they should better clarify and advertise what exactly the $150 per person covers. Otherwise, it was overall a wonderful trip and we have a fantastic holiday.
Amazing experience onboard. Boat and cabins are in great conditions and very spacious given the compressor, tanks and dive gear sit in the dhoni, so really comfortable and quiet onboard. The boat crew are super friendly and so are the dive guides, that are incredibly professional and personable going above and beyond to give very detailed dive briefings and making exceptional dive plans depending on conditions and diver’s preferences. 100% recommended
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2024-04-30by H. Juan diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
5.0
즐겁고 편하게 지낸 일주일 (Horizon 3)
로우덱 캐빈을 사옹했는데 생각보다 펀했습니다
습한건 어쩔수 없어 에어컨을 항상 키고 있어야 하지만 친절한 스테프와 역량있는 마스터의 다이빙 가이드로 즐거운 한주를 보냈습니다
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2024-04-24by c. byungchul diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
4.8
Great boat and food, okay guiding (Carpe Vita)
Very spacious boat compared to other liveaboards outside of the Maldives. Food was great and didn't try to be too fancy. Smooth operation overall. The only thing to be improved is the engagement from the dive staff: although they kept an eye on everyone and guided us effectively, I've never seen such low energy from divemasters before. They seemed so indifferent throughout the trip, only occasionally pointing things out. Overall, still a great trip to a great destination.
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2024-04-13by D. Christopher diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
March 2024 (Scubaspa Yin)
Fantastic experience. This was our first liveaboard and it didn't disappoint. The diving was spectacular. Very good divemasters, thorough briefings and felt very safe. The boat was lovely, very spacious and really comfortable cabins. Already planning a return trip to do their other routes.
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2024-03-26by B. Katharine diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yin
5.0
More than expected with great conditions on board (Emperor Leo)
I took best of Maldives trip for 7 days in March 2024.
Emperor Leo is a great, comfortable boat with super friendly staff and delicious food. Rooms are spacious and clean, separate boat serves for gear storage and diving, which also improves comfort on board. Dives exceeded my expectations: we had a whale shark, big mantas, a lot of grey reef sharks and eagle rays - in short variety of sea life! Dive conditions were a bit difficult due to strong, unpredictable currents but visibility was very good and water warm (29 degrees all the time). Good value for money with no hidden costs and great crew!
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2024-03-17by N. Marcin diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.0
Haisafari von Male bis Gan (Carpe Vita)
Zum wiederholten Mal waren wir mit der Crew der Carpe Diem sehr zufrieden wenn es um die Planung und Umsetzung der Tauchgänge geht. Bei einer 10 Tagestour mit sehr vielen Strömungstauchgängen in den Channels und an den Hai Hotspots, hat mir persönlich nach etwa 10 Channeldives etwas Abwechslung gefehlt. Aber das ist wohl jammern auf hohem Niveau. Haie hatten wir sehr oft und auch Mantas an Cleaningstationen. Das Beach Barbecue war wie immer sehr schön auf einer unbewohnten Insel mit einem seeehr langen Sandstrand. Leider hat hier viel Plastikmüll unter den Palmen gelegen. Sehr schade das es auf den Malediven noch immer zu wenig Umweltbewusstsein gibt. Es hat häufiger mal geregnet, aber nur kurz. Die Sicht unter Wasser hätte ich mir etwas besser erhofft. Hängt auch um diese Jahreszeit immer davon ab von wo das Wasser kommt… incoming/outgoing…
Das Essen und der Service auf dem Boot waren hervorragend. Es gab immer 3 Salate, verschiedene Beilagen und Hauptgerichte und eine Suppe. Eiscreme oder Obst zum Desert. Wobei sich das bei 10 Tagen auch schon wiederholt, für Vegetarier ist es mitunter etwas schwierig mit der Abwechslung.
Wir hatten eine bunt gemischte Truppe von Tauchern aus Korea, USA und Germany. Das Highlight war wohl für die meisten der Tigershark Tauchspot. Wobei ich persönlich mich mit diesen Haien nicht besonders wohl gefühlt habe im Wasser. Mit hat 1 TG von den 3 angebotenen TG gereicht.
Ich kann nach 4 Safaris auf den verschiedenen Booten der Carpe Diem Flotte die Safaris empfehlen, da meiner Erfahrung nach das Preis-Leistungsverhältnis passt.
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2024-03-11by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.3
dives to remember (Emperor Leo)
First of all - we had a lovely week on Emperor Leo. The whole boat crew both on dhoni Neemo and on Emperor Leo are kind people, always smiling and give a helping hand whenever needed. The diving guides are professional in and out of the water. The briefings were outstanding and extremely detailed and informative regarding the diving, the diving procedure and the safety. We did the best of Maldives tour (Central Atolls), sometimes we were lucky with great encounters in the dives, sometimes not. But this has nothing to do with the dive cruise itself, as it is not a zoo aquarium where we were diving in.
One dive will stay in mind forever though - the manta night dive, where in total 11 animals, plus some nurse sharks and a big lonely stingray were having a good time around us. Very well organised by cruise director Jules and the other guides. Just a perfect experience.
Food on board was ok, tasty and always enough. The only let down on our stay was the shower in the cabin. We had a twin cabin in the upper deck, the water didn't get more than lukewarm. Surely this problem is fixed by now, as the whole Emperor fleet is very well organised. We will come back!
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2024-03-06by B. Christine diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
5.0
Great diving in Maldives (Carpe Diem)
I had a 7 days liveboard on Carpe Diem on Maledives. It was beyond my expectations. After three days of diving I saw almost everything from my bucket lists: hammerhad, many kinds of sharks including: white tips, black tips, grey reef sharks, nurse sharks. I also had a close encounter with manta rays and whale sharks and many many others. The boat was comfortable. So were the cabins all with bathrooms. Food, especially local, was delicious. The staff was attentive and friendly.
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2024-01-14by C. Cezary diving Maldives onboard Carpe Diem
5.0
Best relaxation, All you need to is dive. (Seafari Explorer 2)
For 10 days on the liveaboard, I felt like I was in heaven. I stayed in the lower deck and the room and bathroom were both big. Unlike other liveaboards in other countries I've experienced, Maldivian liveaboards seem to be very comfortable and spacious. The bed was very comfortable with nice bedding. On the second deck, you can enjoy the breeze and bartime with an awesome bartendar, Lahiru, who is so professional and fun, giving me best mojito's I've ever tried (He has won many competitions in his country for cocktails!) ! On the third deck, you can dry wet clothes (even though it never got dry due to rainy season) and massage is provided at a reasonable price. Delicious meals were provided each time, cleaning service was awesome, wifi good enough (free), and staff were very very friendly. Diving was magnificent. For me, 40 min's of divings are usually too short, but Seafari gave 60 min's diving with Nitrox (for free)!. The current was more than I expected, but I love big animals, and big animals like current, so I was very satisfied. Diving in Maldive is not an easy dive, but I saw so many sharks (grown-up and baby), spotted eagle rays, mantas, nurse sharks, stone fish, octopus and whalesharks and so on. My diving guide Ahusan was my very buddy, looking so comfortable at every dive and I felt safe with him. Due to the rainy season in late September, the weather changed, but it did not rain the whole day, come-and-go style.Visibility was good on the north side, but it got worse as we approached near Male (end of the trip) but it's mother nature. Special thing about the 10-day trip with Seafari Explorer in this season, is that it "visits" to North part of Maldives, and includes Hanifaru Bay, I saw 20-30 "wild" mantas at the same time while snorkeling. Fantastic and mesmerizing!!!! (Recommend it for sure!!) During the night time, boat light attracks mantas or whalesharks and you can see inside their mouth from so~~close. I can see why there are so many returners on the liveaboard. FYI, the liveaboard is operated by French, so most people were French divers and they spoke French. But all the staff were fluent in English and diving people were eager to talk, so no worries for that! Wish to return for another trip with Seafari Explorer (14 days to south) after saving some money! :)
My best live aboard in the Maldives out of 7 trips (Soleil 2)
Awesome trip in the Maldives. The boat is huge and was not full adding to the space. The room was very comfortable, clean and well designed. There is space for luggage storage under each bed. The crew on the boat and the dhoni were the kindest, and the chef amazing. Dive guides were super friendly and did their best to make people happy about the dive sites options. I did the Central atolls itinerary, but I think my mind blowed from the last day dives ... surprise surprise. I had a really great week. Thanks to the great team
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2023-12-20by T. Diarietou diving Maldives onboard Soleil 2
4.8
Amazing experience at all levels (Maldives Aggressor II)
Incredible experience. The boat, the crew and the dive sites were absolutely amazing!
The boat is super comfortable, counts with very spacious cabins, a jacuzzi on the sunny deck and all the necessary facilities.
The crew was really kind and helpful during all the trip. The food was amazing.
I had an extra with the great underwater photo and video advices given by the cruise director Shaker Mohamed, who is also a great underwater photographer!
All in all, a fantastic experience with Carpe Novo. Excellent boat and excellent team all the way around. The diving was out of this world, best trip I’ve ever had. Only area of improvement in my view is safety protocols as overall there did not seem to be any. With fires and deaths on Liveaboards in the past, this is a major area all dive boats should be focused on getting sorted. Also proper GPS tracking systems to avoid losing divers should be implemented. This is managements responsibility- crew on the boat did their jobs 100% spot on.
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2023-12-13by C. Russell diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.3
Superb Maldives dive option (Carpe Vita)
Amazing dives. Crew always at your service. Dive guide are profesional and make your dives pleasant and safe
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2023-12-12by A. Julio Cesar diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
Very well organised and friendly liveaboard, excellent dive operation (Emperor Leo)
Emperor Leo provides all you can dream of for a liveaboard experience in the Maldives: very well organised operation; friendly, fun and relaxed above water; perfectly safe underwater; yummy food; very experienced crew that will make you have a good time while being professional at all times. The diving is superb with an itinerary offering the best variety of dive sites found in the Maldives. The corals are healthy and colourful, the marine life is diverse and really abundant (big schools of fish everywhere, reef sharks, eagle rays, mantas, whale shark, stingrays, nurse sharks, turtles, leaf fish, frog fish, octopus, scorpion fish, stone fish etc.). The water temperature is 28-29 °C, Nitrox around 30% is available with aluminium tanks. The dive groups are small with 4 experienced dive guides onboard. The cabins are spacious with big comfy beds equipped with a quilt, plus towels, powerful and quiet AC, enough hot water for everyone. The bar provides a large selection of drinks and offers happy hour events with music playing on for a very enjoyable social after-dive time.
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2023-10-29by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
5.0
Great trip on the Rani (Princess Rani)
Clean, beautiful, comfortable boat. Rooms cleaned and beds made daily. Plenty of hot water in shower. Food was good. Staff were friendly and attentive. Diving well organised.
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2023-10-28by O. Andrew diving Maldives onboard Princess Rani
4.8
Maldives succeeded! (Carpe Vita)
Huge boat with a bathroom in my cabin larger than some bunk spaces on other boats.
A well run dive operation with friendly and helpful staff.
Food was great and the bar is well stocked, the dive guides are super helpful and knowledgeable, we always had fresh towels and snacks were always available.
Honestly, the hottest water in my cabin I have ever had, even hotter than most hotels!
A really comfortable dive platform at 10 meters wide sun decks and a full size dining table really made meal
times enjoyable.
Breakfasts were fantastic with a huge selection of fresh fruit, eggs as you like, local fair and cereals, yougurt, breads .:.. the list goes on
The dive plans were clear and concise and included 3/4 dives a day.
The addition of a beach bar meal with a full bbq was also amazing ….
Did I mention fresh fish ! And feast salads .
A great 7 day trip that included some main dive sites of Ari atoll and a fantastic night dive with Manta and nurse sharks …. Great route great destination as it’s healthy with plenty of pelagic life .
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2023-09-25by D. Alan Gerrard diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.5
Maldives 10 day carpe vita trip (Carpe Vita)
A 10 day trip aboard the boat Carpe Vita, my cabin was very spacious and it was a pleasure to have it to myself, in fact the bathroom on this boat was bigger than some cabins on other boats. The dive crew were clear and conscious of the groups and allowed more experienced divers to venture out unguided.
Food was always good and the addition of fresh fruits being available all day was an added bonus.
The nitrox membrane filling system was kept to a high standard, so clean dry air, and what was seen of the rental equipment was serviced and well maintained. The boat overall was a Goliath with in fact way too much space. My only gripe was they removed the jacuzzi, but we always had clean warm towels or rooms were cleaned and beds made every day and apart from the general wear and tear of a boat that’s 10 years old it was great. I do recommend the 10 day route, I can say this as I did the 7 day route back to back . A big thanks to the Divebooker team again and the team in the Carpe Vita. And yes sure there are some very small negatives, but I do not feel they are worth mentioning overall a great trip, great food and diving where you don’t have to follow a group and look at bubbles! Therefore priceless ,,, the addition of the tiger shark, hammerhead, whale shark, Manta, eagle ray and numerous species of other sharks made me feel that the Maldives is still a healthy ecosystem.
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2023-09-19by D. Alan Gerrard diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
Amazing experience (Carpe Diem)
It was my first liveaboard and I couldn't be happier about it! The vibe was amazing, the cabins super clean and comfortable and all staff super helpful! The dive sites were great! Lots of mantas and sharks!
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2023-09-18by d. Ana Carolina diving Maldives onboard Carpe Diem
5.0
Second trip on Leo and just as good as the 1st time! (Emperor Leo)
Amazing crew and boat! Everyone working on Leo and the Neemo dhoni does an excellent job. Their professionalism and friendliness have surpassed all my expectations, once again (it is my second trip on the boat ...). The boat is in perfect condition. The cabins are large and comfortable, with good quiet and powerful AC, very well cleaned every day. We were provided with big fluffy towels, one with our cabin number for the dive towel which is cleaned and dried every day.
The food is very very yummy with many choices. A barbecue is also organized on a local island (weather pemitted) but my favorite meal was the super delicious Maldivian dinner (aka "50 shades of tuna"), wow, it was so good ! The dive operation is the safest I had in the Maldives with very experienced dive guides that keep pointing out stuff in the blue and in the corals from start to finish of a dive.
What a pleasure it was to go diving in a such relaxed and safe environment where everything is done as it should: no negative entry, time to descend slowly for those who need it, very good current check from one of the dive guides and perfect drop off from the dhoni Captain Ali, dive guides that always look behind to see if everyone is ok, no annoying noisemaker sound unless absolutely necessary for safety -or whaleshark sighting-, very slow ascent from 5 m to surface, slow swim to enjoy the scenery and animal encounters, etc.). I had the most pleasurable dive experience on this boat in the Maldives with Jules as my dive guide as he is an excellent diver. His attitude underwater helps everyone relax and behave in the right way so that everyone in a group can fully enjoy the dives. He also manages the boat in the best manner possible. We had 4 dive guides onboard (Jules, Ichelle, and local dive guides Salam and Muaz). All are very experienced and will give you the best dives possible. They all take turns in doing the briefings and each time, it was delivered in very good English, with lots of details about the topography, the current, the dive plans, the animals and so on. We also had a very interesting manta presentation, before the manta night dive. The trip took place in July which used to be low season because of the weather. I guess climate changes also has an impact in the Maldives as we had perfect sunny weather the whole week with no wind and no swell. The visibility was also very good on most dives from 15 to 30 m, depending on the current and the tides. We saw lots of animals: mantas, eagle rays, one whaleshark in South Ari atoll, grey reef sharks and white tips, turtles, frogfish, scorpion fish, dolphins on the surface, tunas, barracudas, napoleons etc. The corals were in good conditions overall, with a mix of hard and soft corals (many anemones of different colours with clownfish, many seafans etc.) .
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2023-09-08by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
3.5
Comfortable boat (Carpe Vita)
Very friendly pickup at the airport from Carpe Vita staff. The boat captain is very friendly and does a very good job at running the boat and managing the crew.
The cabins are comfortable with very large bathrooms and big beds. The dining area for all meals is outside, which is ok when it is not sunny nor windy, otherwise it can be really hot (no fan and no real airflow in the area). This area is also very tight when the boat is full. The food was fine with different choices. The curries (quit mild) were good. I really appreciated the very big choice of fresh exotic fruits. There were 3 Maldivian dive guides onboard. They know the dive sites really well.
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2023-09-08by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
Best liveaboard operation and best boat leader in the Maldives (Emperor Leo)
Best liveaboard experience I had in the Maldives after trying multiple boats.
Everything was absolutely perfect from start to finish. Jules, the boat leader, loves his job and excels at everything he has to do on the boat, above and underwater. He is, by very far, the absolute best boat manager I ever had on any boat in the world. The whole boat crew and the Neemo dhoni crew are both friendly, professional and lots of fun at all times. The cabins are very comfortable with big beds, large bathrooms and quiet A/C unit. Amin, the barman, is very sweet, always smiling and ready to help. Captain Arish, together with Jules, run a really tight ship, with everything being very well organised while maintaining a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The dive operation is very safe with small groups, all perfectly guided with very experienced dive guides. The tanks are in very good condition and always full with 30 to 32% Nitrox to increase bottom time and to dive safely. The trip was around the central atolls in May which is considered low season as it is the monsoon change. We had good weather the whole week with plenty of sunshine, few occasional showers, no wind and flat seas. Because of the monsoon change, we were lucky with animal encounters as we saw mantas numerous times at dive sites where there are not usually seen. The visibility was surprisingly good on most dive sites (20-30 m). We dove the usual highlights that most boats go to in these atolls but it was never crowded: we were most of the time the only boat at each dive site. We saw plenty or rays (mantas, eagle rays, mobulas, stingrays), sharks (grey reef, white tip, black tip) and turtles during the trip, as well as many other animals (moray eels, octopus, cuttlefish, frogfish, nudis, scorpion fish, stone fish etc.). The manta night dive in Fesdoo lagoon was absolutely spectacular with mantas swimming above our heads for an hour. Between dives, there are some occasions to go on deserted islands to have swim, get a drink on the beach, use a paddleboard or snorkel. They have drought beer, bottle beers, wines, soft drinks at very reasonable prices to enjoy after the dives. A barbecue is also organised on a local island and is a great time to socialize.
On that week, there were guests that had already done 6 trips on Emperor Leo, a clear sign that when you try Emperor Leo once, you just want to be back soon. Guest were a very diverse bunch coming from all parts of the world and everyone were just raving about how good Emperor Leo and her crew are.
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2023-09-08by M. Anne diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.8
Book again soon (Carpe Diem)
The food was exceptional !!! Dive sites were great. The staff was very proffesional.
The only problem was no hot chocolate !
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2023-09-05by B. Floyd diving Maldives onboard Carpe Diem
4.0
The best of Maldives (Emperor Leo)
Excellent price/value, good dive guides and curries :)
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2023-05-30by P. Predrag diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.5
Carpe Novo lässt keine Wünsche offen, tauchen mit ständig wechselnden Highlights von einem Top Boot aus. (Carpe Novo)
Wir hatten eine super schöne Zeit in einer sehr geräumigen Kabine unter Deck. Das Wetter, die Tauchgänge, der Ablauf haben immer gepasst. Die Crew der Carpe Novo war zu jederzeit freundlich und hilfsbereit. Unsere Highlights waren die bunt gemischte Gruppe der anderen Taucher, die Tauchgänge mit Haien und Mantas. Die noch immer super erhaltenen Riffe, die wir in Channels noch betaucht haben. Das Nord-Ari und Rashdoo Atoll, war Baden in Fischschwärmen. Auch das Dhoni war außergewöhnlich geräumig. Das Beach Barbecue war eine nette Abwechslung zum Boot. Mal zwischen durch am Strand laufen…
Wir hatten eine sehr schöne Zeit. Gerne wieder.
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2023-05-26by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.8
Best of Maledives auf einem sehr schönen Boot! (Carpe Vita)
Das Boot ist schon ein paar Jahre älter aber bestens für Taucher und Komfort gebaut. Lediglich die Armaturen im Bad waren vom Salz zerfressen. Hier wäre ein Austausch angebracht. Die Kabinen unter Deck sind sehr geräumig. Es ist an alles gedacht. Wir haben uns auf Anhieb sehr wohl gefühlt. Auch wegen dem herzlichen Empfang durch die Crew, die während der ganzen Zeit stets super freundlich und hilfsbereit war !! Die Guides, die Tauchgänge, die Tauchplätze, die Organisation war alles bestens. Wir hatten eine super Woche, gerne wieder.
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2023-05-26by W. Christa diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.3
Highly Recommended (EcoPro Mariana)
Mostly satisfied
Friendly staff and dive guide
It was a good memory
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2023-05-05by K. Minjung diving Maldives onboard EcoPro Mariana
5.0
Had a fantastic time aboard Scubaspa in May 2022. (Scubaspa Yin)
Had a fantastic time aboard Scubaspa in May 2022. Attentive service from the entire crew. The boat was clean, comfortable and the dhoni made it easy to hop on and off before every trip. Diving was top notch. Would definitely return!
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2023-04-26by N. Lathiga diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yin
4.8
Fantastic shark action and channel dives (Carpe Novo)
I chose the Male to Gan itinerary and the experience on the Carpe Novo was amazing with fantastic shark actions and exciting channel dives in good visibility. Dive guide Cha Cha is passionate about diving, eager to guide us to the best viewing spots safely, helping also with snapping pics and taking videos. The fresh caught tuna and wahoo sashimi is tasty as well as the local fish curries.
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2023-04-12by K. Gordon diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.0
Great boat and good food (Seafari Explorer 2)
Great boat with a lot of French divers onboard. The cabins are comfortable. They were 4 dive guides onboard and people were grouped by nationalities instead of level and experience which may not be the best choice imho, specially when everyone was fluent in English. Food was very good and after the third dive, in the late afternoon, starts the "apero time" where everyone grabs a drink and snacks, watching the sunset. The boat is very friendly, with a good local crew. We did the Central Atolls itinerary in January where we saw mantas, turtles, nurse sharks, grey reef sharks etc. We had some whale sharks at night behind the boat, feeding off the plankton. Awesome diving in the Maldives! Water temperature was everywhere, and at any depth, 28 Celsius.
Very comfortable boat to dive in the Maldives. The diving team is partly Italian and French (3 to 4 guides for the whole boat). Food is Italian, it's not really buffet style as there is a set menu, but it is very good. Meals are served outside on a very large table (sometimes it's windy, or sunny, or raining, sometimes the boat is travelling and it is very noisy outside, some people like it, some don't ...). The cabins are huge and beds are really great. The A/C is loud and not efficient. You can't really control the temperature or the power (no remote control, and no personal A/C unit in the cabin). Nitrox percentage is not very high (26-28 %). The local boat crew are very nice and very hard working. The Sri Lankan chef is very friendly and does an amazing job. Most guests are Italians, so if you are coming on your own and you don't speak Italian, you may not enjoy the trip so much. The diving was good in the South of the Maldives with channel dives with pelagics and a manta cleaning station in Addu atoll.
This was our first liveaboard experience and it was outstanding. The dive crew were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The Dhoni crew were excellent with our gear and getting us in and out the water. The chef provided great meals every day. A huge variety of dives, we saw loads of sharks including a hammerhead!! Great trip, I highly recommend Carpe vita. And thanks to Natthi, our dive guide with endless patience:)
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2023-02-24by V. Marc diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.0
Could be Great. (Maldives Aggressor II)
Cabin&facilities was good. However, the Dhoni probably needs repair. Smoke diesel comes out from the Dhoni and you can see and smell the fumes. The Liveaboard needs TCL paint on the outside.
Requirements for dives Safari wasn’t enforced. Group sometimes merged with one another.
Disappointing experience - not the Best of the Maldives (Carpe Novo)
Cabin - old and a bit of a mouldy smell. Our bathroom has an issue with the drain and smelt very strongly of rotten eggs on some days. It was also close to the eating area so could be noisy. It shouldn’t be called a suite and the photos do not reflect the room.
It was cleaned regularly and well.
General - there was nothing to do outside of diving and the common areas were not so nice to relax in - we could have been on a boat anywhere at all. We could see all the other liveaboards - which looked like they had a bit more ambience especially in the evenings.
Diving - it was good not amazing - not sure why this is a bucket list destination! Every dive site has many many liveaboards - sometimes up to 18 - which suggests a lack of sites to visit. These sites are being dived to death unfortunately. The itinerary also did not match what was listed - they headed for where the visibility was worse as there was more chance of pelagic - but it was just poor visibility. The instructors seemed a little bored of the sites and had no enthusiasm at all - plus didn’t stick to the dive plan which was a bit chaotic. On one we were dumped for 15 minutes at a feeding station with nothing to look at while they went off doing something else (showing seahorses to the other dive guides I think) despite the entire group requesting to be located at a different location pre dive.
Staff were nice and the food was good.
There were 7 Russians non divers on the boat for an inexplicable reason who had nothing to do and made the atmosphere uncomfortable.
Ultimately - it’s just mass commercial diving - and I wouldn’t do it again.
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2023-01-17by M. Angela diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Trip of a lifetime (Scubaspa Yang)
Wow. What a gorgeous boat with great food. The diving was AMAZING - a trip of a lifetime. But most of all, we had a really great team/crew supporting us - diving, serving, housekeeping, everything. THANK YOU!
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2023-01-01by P. Margie diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
4.8
Amazing Maldives diving on Carpe Vita (Carpe Vita)
Very happy to have chosen Carpe Vita, fully equipped diving facilities, comfortable cabin, ample spread of food on every meal and most of all the professional crew members on board. The crew members go the extra mile to ensure our comfort throughout the journey while making great calls for some route changes in anticipation of bad weather . The dive guides are seasoned and well versed of each dive sites. We've seen Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Mobula Ray, Grey Reef & White Tip Sharks and managed to snorkel with 3 whale sharks! Amazing experience!
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2022-10-26by C. Vincent diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.5
Great experience with Carpe Vita (Carpe Vita)
I dove with the Carpe Vita team (16th Oct to 23rd Oct 2022) via South Maalhosmadulu Atoll - Baa, North Ari Atoll and ends in South Ari Atoll - Alifu Dhaalu. The trip was very organized and well prepared.
From Male, we flew to Dharavandhoo to meet the team and board the boat. After settled in, we did our check out dive. The first 2 days was raining a little, but that doesn't stop the dive plan. The weather seems to cooperate throughout the entire trips, the sun was bright and clear weather all the way.
As for the dive experience, we were fortunate to see manta on our 1st dive. Lots of sharks, whalesharks, beautiful reefs and healthy marine ecosystem. Hanifaru Bay ($20 marine fees) was the highlight of the trip, with clear sky and bit of luck, we saw like almost 30 mantas!!! Our DMs was truly professional and very experienced (I would recommend). The remaining of the dives was truly splendid, exceeds my expectations (since its low season/winter season).
The cabin was very comfortable (I stayed in the Deluxe room). The bathroom is very clean and good water pressure for the shower (Hot and cold water). The housekeeping team clean the bathroom on daily basis. However, the towels are not replaced on daily basis (Upon request).
The food is buffet style. I have no complaint on the foods. A mix of variety (local and western) were served. And snacks were served in between dives. On the last night before heading to Male, we had BBQ dinner on a secluded island. It was great and quite special. The sunset scenery on the island were magical.
On the last day of the trip before checking out (8.00am) breakfast was served, which is not very common on a LOB trips. However, I do appreciate it as you may get quite hungry when you're in the airport (although there's cafe and restaurants). After breakfast, they arrange the transfer to the airport (By Dhoni).
Overall, the whole experience with Carpe Vita team was exceptional!!! I'm glad I booked the diving trips on this boat. The team was great, the DMs are very experienced and knowledgeable. In fact, I was thinking to to go on the next trip with Carpe Vita again.
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2022-10-26by Z. Fairuz diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.0
Good value for money (Amba)
Overall good old boat with enough space.
Sometimes termites in certain cabins.
Dhoni wasn‘t appropriate (not enough space, slippery, technical problems)
Good food with homemade bread (didn‘t like the artificial desserts).
Good choice of dive spots, safe briefings, 2 experienced guides.
Good staff that is motivated.
German manager on board who solves every problem.
Guests mostly german speaking.
Fun diving trip in Northern Maldives, the crew is (Horizon 3)
Fun diving trip in Northern Maldives, the crew is nice and helpful and the service is good, except for room service The towels and shower soap were not changed until after I ordered.
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2022-09-21by B. MOHAMED diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
4.3
Fantastic diving sites (Horizon 3)
Dhoni staff was excellent and especially the barman on the boat made the evenings pleasurable. Dives were deep and it is not possible really to dive with air, so nitrox should be free of charge and included. We took an expensive PADI Drift Dive course and there only theory which we already knew. There was no open water skills training for example how to use the reef hook and dive in the currents safely with a buddy. The instructor never dove with us.
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2022-06-04by V. Juha diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
4.0
Good service (Emperor Serenity)
It was my 3rd time with Emperor fleet.
I was with Explorer previously.
My first time on Serenity.
Cabin was similar to Explorer, not too bad, very spacious (main deck cabin).
My friend used lower deck cabin, it was a bit humid during the trip (maybe because of rainy season).
Service was good: good crew and food.
Diving was good, but weather was quite rough, nothing they could do (try to avoid but did not succeed). They guides could be a bit more soft or nicer, I understand that diving in rough weather can be challenging, but not need to be military style.
I felt sometime I was in military training also, my friend who is first time liveaboard trip she got bit scared at the beginning of trip
Over all it was good trip different then i did before, challenge weather condition , bit long time to break the ice with guide, but i still enjoyed the Maldives ocean and diving.
I will definitely come again. Thanks a lot for a good trip. Keep it up.
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2022-05-19by S. Suk Kyoung diving Maldives onboard Emperor Serenity
4.8
Great crew and boat! (Maldives Blue Force One)
We had a fantastic experience on board Blue Force One! The crew was amazing, the boat was very nice and the food was tasty. I would highly recommend it! Well done, David and team!
Great trip with Adora. Nice guides, excellent facilities, very comfy. I could clearly recommenf the boat. In fact I will return as soon as possible
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2022-05-04by R. Francisco diving Maldives onboard Adora
4.8
Spacious Boat for Fun Diving in Maldives (Carpe Novo)
The Carpe Novo boat was very spacious with several areas to hang out and quite large rooms and bathrooms. The cleaning service was great - everything was cleaned each morning. The roof lounge area was very fun to hang out on and enjoy the cruise or sunset. Sometimes they forgot to take the futons back out though and they were still wrapped up. The diving was nice-- we didn't always luck out with the right currents but they adapted the route based on how conditions were. Each of the guides had their strengths: one guide was super friendly and enthusiastic and helpful, others are artists and draw amazing sketches of the dive sites, and others are very knowledgeable of the dive sites. We also really enjoyed being able to leave our gear on the smaller dive boat, and it was also quite spacious! The chef and bartender were amazing and there was so much variety in the food with great service. The curries were excellent and the salads were always varied and interesting.
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2022-04-21by C. Catherine diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
3.5
Good boat with bad diving instructor (Carpe Novo)
Boat - mostly functional equipment and appliances (some sun beds were broken thought).
You get daily fresh towels and cleaning of bathroom which is great.
Food - plenty of variety, but compared with what you get on Egyptian liveaboard it is just “ok”.
Diving - weakest part of the whole tour. We got only 3 diving instructors instead of 4.
Our instructor was outermost unprofessional and endangered the group many times. How?
- lost the group under water 4 times
- instead of guiding the group and showing things stayed mostly behind playing with Nemo fish and poking with his stick in the ground
- let dive part of the group on Nitrox without certification and said to them that the gas was air while it wasn’t
…
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2022-03-29by N. Dmitriy diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Incredible time and service (Maldives Aggressor II)
The crew went above and beyond to accommodate us in every way. Facilities were safe and clean. Staff was attentive and sincerely friendly. Our dive guides were excellent and showed us the absolute best of the Maldives, making it most certainly the trip of a lifetime. I can't think of a single complaint other than I don't live on the boat full time.
Fantastic week diving the deep south on Carpe Novo in late Feb/early March 2022. Fantastic manta diving, snorkelling off the back of the boat for two hours at night with the whale sharks, and my first (5!) tiger sharks. Really knowledgeable guides who made the week fantastic and were really nice guys to have on board the boat. Safety standards high, but the Tiger Zoo dive, arranged by another company, felt less safe; the entire set up had a bit of a production line feel to it and it was very difficult to hear the dive briefing on the dhoni. Carpe Novo was a spacious and comfortable boat and cabins (incl. bathrooms) were really spacious and comfortable too (though my bathroom had an occasional smell of stagnant water). Really good service on the boat itself; chef in particular was very attentive to my dietary requirements as a vegetarian. The only thing I would say is that the guys on the dhoni could have been a little more attentive and enthusiastic. The food on the boat was plentiful and tasty, I particularly enjoyed the choice of salads, but was also a little repetitive by the end of the week.
Suggestions for Carpe Diem management:
- For the itinerary, is it possible to offer one less day of channel diving (which became a little repetitive) and an extra day at Fuvahmulah?
- Offer dive debriefs
- Though cleanliness on the boat was at a relatively high standard, it was evident that underneath the beds hadn't been cleaned for some time. Some of the cushion (and sun loungers) had seen better days
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2022-03-12by B. SOPHIE diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.8
Good staff and good time (Maldives Aggressor II)
Thanks to the engaged and funny staff onboard. They made my trip memorable on a slightly worn but nice boat.
The diveguides planned and executed the dives very professionally
코로나때문에 해외를 못나가다 2년만에 다녀온 해외투어였어요. 몰디브 남부로 도는 리브어보드답게 채널다이빙 너무 멋졌고 생각지 않았던 리프 다이빙도 좋았어요. 투어전 전체 일정에 대한 브리핑이 따로 없어서 매일이 서프라이즈 같았던 다이빙 트립이였습니다. 물도 콸콸 잘나오고 방 청소 진짜 열심히 해주고 크루들 모두 친절하고 편했어요
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2022-02-17by K. Ahram diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
5.0
An excellent and unforgettable trip! (Scubaspa Yang)
This was a trip to remember. Everything was so well prepared and the staff were extremely well organized, friendly and attentive to all the requests. The trip included an exceptional island dinner and island sunset get together, which were very well arranged and perfectly executed. The spa service was also very exceptional and relaxing. The boat has plenty of room to lay down and relax both during the trips from island to island (when everybody is onboard) and also while docking.
I loved the food selection and you will be in for a treat and it would be difficult to lose weight if you plan to :).
Several snorkeling trips were organized as well and those who went have enjoyed them.
I will certainly be coming back to Scubaspa and I hope this gem continues to provide its exceptional services to the tourists visiting Maldives.
Best regards, Ammar
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2022-02-08by A. Ammar diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Excellent (Duke Of York)
I had a fantastic time on the Duke of York. It is managed by an Italian company that primarily books Italian tourists, but my cruise included passengers from many other countries. We had a wonderful time. The trip was well-managed and the food was incredible. Our guide, Muzey, was very professional and knowledgeable. Between dives, I loved that the ship had both sunny and shady areas to relax in. I would book with Duke of York again.
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2022-01-25by M. Isabelle diving Maldives onboard Duke Of York
5.0
Sunshine outside and inside this liveaboard-yacht (Horizon 3)
The dive guide in chief - Sina - is very competent, always searching for the best dive spots and his sunshine-character is infecting both the crew and guests (by the way: this Maldivian guy is speaking perfect „Berndütsch“ :-) The boat is a not brand new one but clean and comfortable. Due to the fact that my dive buddy was breathing nitrox out of a 15 L tank, my dive guide upgraded me from a 12 L to a 15 L tank….. for free! The pressure of the tanks can vary each dive (189-220 bar). The food is nothing to complain about (except you don’t like curry nor pasta nor potato, fisch and meat, ice cream nor cake). I think it's really a shame, that only one reviewer who gives a 4 out of 10 drops the total rating on a 7.8 score „not bad“. That’s without any doubt reducing the grading of this comfy liveaboard unrealistic!
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2021-12-13by R. Frans diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
5.0
Simply the best! (Maldives Blue Force One)
While this was my first liveaboard experience and I cannot compare it to anything I responsibly state that it is hard to beat their service! The boat is spacious, meticulously clean, with professional staff. It is the atmosphere and the treatment by the staff that really impressed me. While they were all top notch professionals they did their work in a very friendly way, being approachable and patient with all guests making us all feel like we were a big group of friends. The dives were very well organized and carried out. No negative comments on anything whatsoever.
I plan to do more liveaboards in the future and will for sure, whenever possible do it with Blue Force One. In fact, I am a little hesitant to try any other boat after spending a week on this one :).
I highly recommend Blue Force One. Go for it!
The crew was outstanding. They made sure that every dive was safe and enjoyable. They really seem to love their jobs and were very engaged with all of the guests.
Maldives, 10/31-11/6/21
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2021-11-10by F. Paul diving Maldives onboard Soleil 2
5.0
Eine der besten Tauchsafaris! Essen und Tauchen sensationell gut. (Princess Rani)
Princess Rani ist insgesamt meine 6. Tauchsafari und die 2. Tauchsafari auf den Malediven. Ich habe die Tauchsafaris direkt hintereinander gemacht und habe so einen Vergleich.
Hervorzuheben ist das Essen bei Princess Safari. Das Essen war meist italienisch und sensationell gut. Man hatte immer das Gefühl, dass man bei einem sehr guten Italiener in Deutschland isst. Besonders hervorzuheben ist, dass keine Büffet Atmosphäre á la All Inclusive Resorts besteht, sondern das Essen von der Crew serviert wird. Man sitzt mit allen Tauchern gemeinsam am Tisch und isst zur gleichen Zeit, wahrscheinlich wie bei einer großen italienischen Familie.
Wir hatten Hussain Shaphew als Tauchguide. Ein sensationell guter Tauchguide und ein super Mensch. Er hatte Unterwasser ein tolles Tauchermanagement. Ich habe Unterwasser gerne fotografiert und er hat mir immer wieder Fotoobjekte (Makro) gezeigt, auch bei Tauchgängen mit vielen Haien. Shaphew kennt die Tauchplätze sehr gut und konnte uns sehr viele Highlight Tauchgänge bescheren. Ich war eine Woche vorher auf einem anderen Safari Boot und habe die gleichen Tauchplätze betaucht, aber mit Shaphew waren die Tauchplätze doppelt so schön.
Bei uns war Donatella, eine der Leiterin von Macana (Princess Rani), auf dem Boot. Sie hat die Gäste toll betreut. Hervorzuheben ist, dass man am Anfang ein Getränke Paket (75 €) buchen kann und Soft Drinks, Mineralwasser (San Pellegrino), Espresso usw. inklusive sind. Donatella und Pierregiacomo haben auf besonderem Wunsch von mir noch ein Tauchplatz (Kandooma Thila) angefahren, obwohl alle auf der Safari angebotenen Tauchgänge bereits absolviert waren.
Das Boot wird von Tauchliebhabern geführt und die Taucher entsprechend behandelt.
Das Preis- und Leistungsverhältnis ist sensationell gut. Alleine nur das Essen wäre den Preis wert.
Ich bedanke mich bei der gesamten Crew für eine sehr gelungene Tauchsafari.
Grazie per l'ottimo servizio sul liveaboard.
Wer eine Tauchsafari auf den Malediven plant, sollte dieses Boot definitiv in die engere Wahl nehmen. Toller Service, tolles Essen und auf Tauchliebhaber ausgelegtes Boot.
Ich freue mich auf ein Wiedersehen!
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2021-10-30by O. Faruk diving Maldives onboard Princess Rani
5.0
The best team and boat in the world (Princess Dhonkamana)
It's not our first time with Macana and definitely not the last, thank you Valter, Donatella and all the team of Macana.
I don't even know how to start and tell how happy we were with everyone and everything.
From the food, safety, change of schedule for our swimmers and all with a huge smile.
Thank you for what we learned, for our happiness.
Open water swimmers of Water World Israel
I had a great trip in the Maldives with Agressor. The boat was the roomiest I experienced on a live aboard. The crew was outstanding. Shaker the trip director was outstanding. Food was great and the diving of course was excellent.
Die Tauchplätze waren sehr gut ausgesucht. Es gab sehr fantastische Tauchgänge mit vielen Haien und Mantarochen. Der Service on Board ist Ok. Was ich vermisst habe sind frische Handtücher, wie beispielsweise bei anderen Booten. Auf dem Dhoni arbeitet Achmed unermüdlich und macht eigentlich den Job für Zwei. Toller Dhoni Mitarbeiter, hilft beim Anziehen, beim Equipment vorbereiten etc.
Definitiv mein Mitarbeiter der Woche in Sachika!
Der Dhoni ist sehr komfortabel. Man kann aus dem Dhoni komfortabel ins Wasser springen. Auf dem Dhoni gibt es eine komfortable Toilette. Für Kameras gibt es einen beleuchteten Wassertank.
Die Flaschen werden immer reichlich mit Nitrox gefüllt, meistens mit 210-220 Bar. Der Preis für Nitrox (70 Dollar) ist sehr gut.
Das Boot ist sehr auf italienische Gäste ausgelegt, viele sprechen kein Englisch. Wer also viel Wert auf den Austausch mit anderen Tauchern Wert legt, sollte sich vorab informieren, ob es nur italienische Taucher sind oder italienisch lernen :-) Die Dive Briefings starten ausführlich auf italienisch, später gibt es ein Briefing auf Englisch.
Das Essen ist gut. Es gibt aber keine größeren Spezialitäten. Als Getränke gibt es morgens Orangensaft (nicht frisch gepresst!) und Mangosaft, aber aus der Flasche. Den ganzen Tag über gibt es nur Wasser, Tee (Teebeutel) und Kaffee (Nespresso, nicht aus einer Kaffeemaschine).
Unsere Kabine war sehr groß. Dusche und Toilette sind ebenfalls groß und komfortabel. Für nasse Kleidung gibt es auf dem Sonnendeck Wäscheleinen zum Aufhängen.
Folgendes wäre aus meiner Sicht verbesserunswürdig: Man könnte die Tauchgruppen mit ein wenig Zeitunterschied (5-10 Minuten) ins Wasser lassen, damit man sich bei den Spots nicht in die Quere kommt.
Fotografieren ist nahezu unmöglich auf der Sachika. Wenn man ein Foto geschossen hat, war der Dive Guide (in unserem Fall „small“ Ali) 50-100 Meter weit entfernt. Da braucht man einen guten Buddy, der auf einen wartet.
Die Tauchgänge sollten flexibel auf Kundenwünsche zugeschnitten werden können. Wenn der Kunde mehr Zeit bei den Haien verbringen möchte, könnte man die Tauchgruppe aufteilen und nach Wünschen tauchen lassen. Eine Gruppe, die bei Haien tauch und eine andere Gruppe, die gegen die Strömung tauchen möchte, um Korallen zu sehen.
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2021-10-22by O. Faruk diving Maldives onboard Sachika
4.3
A Perfect Diving Week (Maldives Blue Force One)
Lovely week of diving. The boat is mainly frequented by the Spanish speaking divers, which is a great plus (good latin music and in general good mood).
Sara, my dive guide, was simply wonderful. Clear, straight when talking to the team, emotional (positive) when diving and very professional.
Small improvements and repairs in the bathroom are needed. Room was fine (Upper Deck, #110) and dry.
Coffee in the morning before the dive was often not available.
I would book it again!
An excellent trip, well managed and coordinated. I had a single cabin which was bigger than my hotel room in Male! Always hot water for a shower after a dive. Room always clean and made up in the morning.
Dive guides a really lovely set of guys, always felt safe in the water and saw some amazing stuff. We even skipped a site for safety concerns, but found another nearby.
Tank always full and boat boys ever helpful with gear and entering and exiting the after.
Food was good, tasty and always enough.
Add a great bunch of divers made this a great trip.
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2021-10-16by H. Frederick diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
4.3
Amazing trip (Emperor Leo)
Overlooking several inconveniences but small and a bit larger it was an amazing experience. The boat was broken down when we got there and they didn’t say anything until the day we were supposed to travel to different areas. Some of the guides would rather just drop in and swim as fast as they can to get to the end point of the dive, but once things were communicated everything worked out. If booking and you have the choice of cabins, try to get a higher number. Low numbers are by the engine room and the constant droning of the engine and occasional Whif of exhaust is not fun to sleep too.
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2021-09-28by L. Andrew diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
5.0
Best of Maldives trip 11-18.09.2021 on Emperor Leo (Emperor Leo)
This was my first time in the Maldives and with the Emperor Fleet. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by this trip. First of all, the dive guides Jules, Imane, Shafiga and Fish made sure the dives were great. The boat is very spacious and well maintained, with lots of space on the sun deck and main deck for relaxing, briefings and meals, and there is also a working jacuzzi for the hot days. There is a second boat alongside Emperor Leo, the diveboat Sirina. All the gear and cylinders are stored on it and it is quite spacious. About the dives I can say that already from the first check dive we saw five manta rays and on the second and third dives plenty of white tip, black tip and nurse sharks. There was also a nightdive with a manta ray flipping over the flashlights to feed on plankton, while a black tip shark passed by. One evening dinner barbecue was held on Dhigurah island and it was very pleasant. There is another small boat used to go to the island, a donnie. On the other dives we saw plenty of marine life: giant mantas, stingrays, turtles, octopi, many kinds of moray eels on the last dive at Landuoy Giri, but also lots of small marine life perfect for macro. After the end of the diving days, those that wish can serve drinks at the bar, with plenty of happy hour times. For those that have cameras, there is lots of room to rinse and store them, as well as plenty of space to charge batteries. Therefore, I strongly recommend this liveaboard and would go again any time.
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2021-09-23by C. Octavian diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
2.5
Not bad in overall (Horizon 3)
The crews in Blue Horizon III are great; they try to go as many different places as they can and show many species. Moreover, even though it was the right after the COVID with the vaccines, they managed the conditions well and get the PCR right on time for the people who needed.
However, the food was a bit similar everyday and the communication between DiveBooker.com and the crews were not clear. I got assigned to another room that I did not book and DiveBooker.com does not understand clearly of the boat conditions.
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2021-09-23by S. MIN JI diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
5.0
Brilliant Trip, Amazing Staff (Adora)
Just returned from an 8 day trip on Adora. Absolutely amazing. The (all local) staff go above and beyond to ensure you have a great time. Service was brilliant. Special shout out to the dive boat (dhoni) assistants who made the diving extremely streamlined and are very helpful pre and post dive with tanks, wetsuits etc. all organized for you.
Couple of things I wish I knew beforehand (that you may find helpful):
1) despite the boat offering free WIFI, the router depends on a dongle which relies completely on cell service (and proximately) from cell towers - proving very unreliable. If staying connected is important to you, buy a SIM at the airport and use that. The packages are very reasonable. I purchased an e-SIM (ooredoo) during the trip which, despite being reasonably tech savvy (and 34yrs young), I failed to get connected to mobile data.
2) the coffee included is instant and the milk UHT. There is a Nespresso capsule machine onboard, so if you're an espresso and/or a non dairy person, take pods and milk with you.
3) the PCR tests (if required) are done on day 6 (Sat) back in Male harbor in the evening and results are received the next morning (roughly 12 hours later).
It was not an easy trip - late May, challenging weather, strong wind, rough sea and unforeseen changes caused by a pandemic. But thanks to the crew, the captain and managers, overall the trip was just perfect. As Judith from their customer support team said, "it has been a demonstration of our capacity for action and resolution when things don't go as expected" and it's 100% true.
Amazing team of a great boat! Diving is organized very well, many dive guides, small groups, informative and fun briefings performed by boat co-owner who works as a dive guide and never misses a dive, four Mares Horizon rebreathers and certified guides.
Rich choice of delicious food every time for all - vegetarians, meat or fish eaters, spacious cabins that are cleaned every day while guests are diving, even yoga mats and dumbbells for your morning workouts.
I went on a one week adventure with Scubaspa Yang and it was everything I could imagine and more. I booked Sea Star cabin which was comfy, spacious and beautiful. It has a purple mood light - nice little touch. Scubaspa Yang is the biggest liveaboard in Maldives and the most beautiful boat I ever stepped on. It has gorgeous bar where bartender Sajiv was making superb cocktails. The boat has spacious sun deck and lovely spa where one can enjoy treatments during the cruise. I booked the Balinese massage and for almost an hour I felt like I’m in different world. The buffet meal selection is top restaurant quality. Every night it was themed with cuisine from different country (Mexican night was my favorite). The team was absolutely amazing. All the way from Simon, the cruise manager to the fantastic boat crew, especially Pavel who was so helpful, the lovely housekeeping team, the Captain, the waiters - especially Jim, who was an absolute star and to me the best waiter in Maldives. Huge thank you to Jahwed and Sheppa for amazing dives. Maldives it’s true paradise for scuba divers, it tops destinations such as Seychelles, Zanzibar and Philippines.
It’s really hard to pick what was best so here are my top three: dinner on deserts island, encounter with a large school of friendly nurse sharks and seeing a whale shark for the first time.
Thank you so much Scubaspa and hoping to be back for another adventure soon!
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2021-05-22by O. Katarina diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Renovated boat with excellent crew and gides (Seafari Explorer 2)
We have been two of only 10 guests (9 divers) on this newly renovated (it is still some minor work to do) boat for 22 divers. It is really excellent, with spacious cabin, a lot of social space, excellent crew with fabulous cook.
There are nice sun deck on top, two jacuzzi, each cabin have shower and bath tub. Air-conditions are in each cabin & inside places.
Free internet, free Nitrox, free additional dives - what do you need more?
Dive masters Dominique, Ezio, Bebe and others are highly professional and really helpful.
Boat have only one issue - the termites are "eating wood" all around. The crew fight with them all the day, but with less success. Luckily they don't bites or harm the people.
I was on the trip departing March 28, 2021 (South and North Maldives). It is a very convenient boat with enough space. Diving Dhoni is very specious too and is very convenient for diving. You just leave all your diving equipment on the dhoni for the entire trip. WiFi works well when the boat is in a proximity of islands but there is no signal on the sun deck and in the back of the boat (something I think Carpe Diem should improve). The food was very good, probably the best I had on liveaboards (this was my 4th liveaboard). The crew is very friendly and ready to help. The dive guides are very serious about the safety. Overall it was a good trip, though the general impression was a bit spoiled by bad weather (and obviously the crew could not do anything about it) and by the fact that 7 out of 15 guests and a few crew members (including 2 out of 3 dive guides) got stomach problems. Everyone who got hit by it missed 1-3 dives.
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2021-04-10by S. Konstantin diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
5.0
Best of Maldives (Emperor Serenity)
It was my third liveaboard and definitely the best one, wonderful trip!
Absolutely everything was pretty good.
Well organized from meeting at airport thought all trip, daily diving and to leaving.
I'm scheduled person and was happy that we had whiteboard with all information, map, daily updated plans and follow them in minutes.
There were 18 divers on the boat and, I guess, because of COVID restriction (March 2021) every single diver had separate room.
I was in room 1 (lower deck), it is quite big and comfortable, especially bathroom.
Room is a bit noisy, especially during moving, but we didn't do it at night so I'd been sleeping well.
I rented only regulator so can not say about dive gear quality but tanks was just amazing!
Almost each dive that we had was 60 minutes long.
Crew are very friendly and did their best to make our trip the best one.
Thank you, guys!
Everything - management, food, service, cabin was excellent. I will return on this boat 100%. It looks like perfect hotel on the water. Thank you !!!
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2021-02-23by L. Sergey diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Great Choice (Carpe Novo)
I as my second time trip on board the Novo, glad to see the boat still in great shape and well taken care of.
Overall the trip was fine without issues, best food on any of my Maldives liveaboard.
The team helped with arranging the pcr test on the last day at the airport as it wasn't possible to do it during the southern atolls trip.
Overall would book it a third time :)
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2021-02-09by M. Ramez Naeem diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Perfect trip on emperor serenity (Emperor Serenity)
For us it was the perfect liveaboard. The whole crew was fantastic and took care of our needs every time. The guides really care about the environment, the safety and the life underwater. They try to reduce plastic on board where ever it is possible. In addition we received environment friendly shampoo and so on. Our cabin was really big with a great view. The bathroom was also big and really luxurious for a boat.
The food was fantastic. I'm a vegetarian and I received some extra food every day.
The trip was really great and we would book serenity again.
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2021-01-27by H. Alexander diving Maldives onboard Emperor Serenity
5.0
Great week (Adora)
Very nice service, confortable boat, large cabins, single cabin, good food (and plenty), amazing tour (best of Maldives). Sharks, whale sharks, mantas, rays, turtles and all the other smaller animals, corals and plants...
We were fully satisfied and looking forward to the next trip. Note also that I appreciated a local team and a local company running this operation.
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2020-12-31by W. Cornera diving Maldives onboard Adora
4.5
Nice and comfortable, highly recommended (Maldives Blue Force One)
Had a great one week cruise along central atolls, the boat is the among the biggest I've been on and as it wasn't fully booked I had the room to myself which was a nice bonus.
Overall the boat is clean and comfortable and they dive dhoni is brand new and quite spacious so it make diving more comfortable,.
Food was fine but becomes repetitive after a few days but that's expected.
The highlight video that was shared with us free of charge at the end of the week was a nice touch.
Overall I would highly recommend them
We had a great time. The staff are amazing. Everything was spot on. They did go beyond their duty. They are very friendly and always try to make your trip memorable.
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2020-02-24by A. Maan diving Maldives onboard Carpe Diem
4.3
Great time in the Maldives (Maldives Blue Force One)
I went to the Blue Force One Maldives in December 2019 and it was a really good experience. The boats and facilities are really large and comfortable and clean.
I guess it is important to note that you don't dive directly from the main boat. The main boat is where we live and eat, but there is a smaller dive boat that takes you to the actual dive sites. The travel can be very long and definitely something that I was not expecting. Despite many repeated requests from multiple people on board, the crew failed to give very clear directions as far as: 1. how long would the ride be from the main boat to the dive site or 2. the proper order of jumping 3. some update about the dive site and what it meant for changes to the dive brief. I cannot remember that one dive went as planned, but I am okay with being adaptable. What I did not like was the lack of communication. The dive guide would say : "alright, gear up" and we ended waiting another 15min before going in the water. This happened almost daily and was really frustrating. We told them many times to me more accurate about telling to gear up 1min before hitting the water, but they never listened.
The food was okay but nothing outstanding. I have done a few liveaboards and that was the least appealing food I had. It was bland.
I would probably choose a different company if I were to dive the Maldives again, just because the lack of communication was not acceptable for the standards of a liveaboard.
MALDIVE LIVEABOARD-BLUE FORCE ONE 04-01-2020 (Maldives Blue Force One)
Hi,
In the beginning, thanks Divebooker for the professional organization of Maldives liveaboard.
We were a group of 23 people and more than a half of us were scuba divers. It was like family trip. We choose the Central Atolls Classical route for 7 nights and it was one of the best adventures for the non divers as well as for the divers. We were lucky to have seen the largest ocean fauna as wale shark, even non divers can snorkeling together, many species of sharks, Giant mantas, Spotted Eagle rays, Stingrays, Guitarfish, Morays and so on. We did not expect such a good dive, this trip surpassed our expectations :)
The crew aboard Blue Force One are 10 points and more. Guys, You are the best!
We definitely recommend traveling with Divebooker.
Overall the best liveabord i've been on in terms of comfort, space and cleanliness.
There was a dedicated camera room to charge and maintain your camera with even pressurised air hose to use for cleaning and drying camera equipment, diving from the dhoni was very comfortable.
Food was fine but not that tasty, they tried to introduce variety but that didn't always work out well at least for me.
The only thing that could be improved in my opinion is the communication from the guides regarding the overall plan.
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2019-12-12by M. Ramez Naeem diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
The experience of a lifetime (Maldives Blue Force One)
My week with Blue Force One was extraordinary. I took the central atolls classical route during the first week of September.
The team is absolutely brilliant. Guides Angel, Javi and Xille provided wonderful dives and videographer Oriol captured everything giving us a beautiful 8min film memento. 18 dives were done over six days with mind-blowing moments alongside mantas and sharks.
The yacht is superb and a wonderful environment to be in wether you’re eating, sleeping, sunbathing or simply watching a magnificent sunset. The food was delicious. The accompanying ‘dhoni’ diveboat harbours all the dive kit and the brilliant crew take care of everything to first-class levels.
I will 100% book again
This was the first time on a live aboard in Maldives. We have been in Maldives before on resorts, but this was really good option. I booked the dive package and my wife the dive/ spa package. The dive/spa package have in our opinion too few dives, however we solved that problem by taking the AOWD. We are very happy with our guides and training and would like to thank our instructor Wishoo. I can recommend Scubaspa and Divebooker
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2019-09-03by W. John diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yin
3.8
Spacious boat and rooms LOB (Scubaspa Yang)
The boat and rooms are big. The food is good, lots of green salads every day and desserts are beautiful. I signed up because I thought this boat is different with other LOB as they have yoga classes and snorkeling trips. I did not know that yoga classes and snorkeling trips always clash with diving. So guest needs to choose either one, diving, snorkeling or yoga class. The staffs are friendly and mostly have been with the boat for 5 years. They are like a family. They did not enforce mandatory 10-20% tips of your dive package. They mentioned tips are voluntarily and the amount is at your discretion. They have gym to keep you fit after all the good foods and less mobility living on boat. You need to pay for fruit juices and alcohol or special tea (other than tea bag). Tea and coffee are only free during breakfast. I like the night dive experience most, lots and lots of big nurse sharks. Medical Fitness certificate is compulsory if you tick any yes in the Medical Statement (the medical condition, age limit...). Overall it is good dive experience. Going to Maldives in August may not be the best decision though. The weather and sea can be really rough. Many guests had sea sick in my trip. You also could hardly see sun. It is good if you are afraid of sun and love rains and choppy seas.
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2019-08-20by B. Shinta Narulita diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
You have to try it! (Scubaspa Yang)
This was our first liveaboard and we really had perfect time on Scubaspa Yang.
Very helpful staff, good food and nice bunch of guest all ages and nationalities from all over the world. You have to try it!
Samo, Slovenia
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2019-07-16by P. Samo diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
4.5
Sachika for easter (Sachika)
Thank you to the whole team for the great scuba diving experience in the north of Maldives. Had a wonderful time with everyone. The food was delicious and the diving spots remarkable.
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2019-06-06by y. aline diving Maldives onboard Sachika
4.5
New Year in the Maldives (Emperor Voyager)
We organized a small group trip to Maldives to spend a week on Emperor Voyager, one of the numerous Emperor fleet in Maldives. We organized our trip through Divebooker.com.
I have to say we had a fantastic time, The diving was great, the crew knowledgeable and helpful and the itinerary such that we saw what we believe was some of the best diving in Maldives. We stayed around central Maldives, so there were no long portages allowing us usually 4 dives per day.
The scope of dives on this trip were not for the inexperienced. In fact I would say, in order to get the most out of what the trip had to offer, you need to be advanced certified and have experience diving in current, and importantly, be comfortable with it. In that way you can relax and enjoy what is going on around you.
The Emperor crew were great, as were the guys from Divebooker. Professional as always, with nothing being too much trouble.
I highly recommend joining Voyager for a week and making your arrangements with Divebooker.
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2019-04-13by T. David diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
5.0
Water World open water training camp (Princess Dhonkamana)
I don't know from where to start but my team had the trip of the lifetime.
Everything was more than perfect and I can say the Dhonkamana team from the diving instructor, food, route changing for the swimmers to enjoy the beauty of the Maldives.
As the open water coach I would give them 20 and not 10 in the review.
Thanks again Valter, Alice, Peir & Gigi, we will probably meet again soon
Opinions of divers on board was that maybe a few more reefs and drift dives. Everything else was brilliant. Well organized. Please liaise with boat about pick up timing. I spent 4hours at Male airport. Fabulous holiday
The perfect way to bring in the new year! (Carpe Vita)
My friend and I had the most fantastic time on board and diving with Carpe Vita to bring in the new year 2019. Yes, it was more luxurious than we needed - we booked after some cheaper deals had gone - but the fact that on board everything is perfect made this the most relaxing holiday I've ever had. The (all local) dive guides were friendly and welcoming, briefings comprehensive and safety underwater top notch. As for the diving itself, we saw everything we could have wished for on this trip. Highly recommended.
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2019-01-09by M. Charlie diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.0
Great live board and dive guides (Emperor Serenity)
We just finished a week diving on Serenity. It was really great. The briefing, the staff, dive guides and the boat are great. Very safe crew and great instruction.
Every dive was different and the crew went the extra mile to show us the best in Maldives.
We were in cabin 4 which is one of the smallest cabins. It was fine Other cabins are even bigger and better.
There was not a dull day, BBQ one the beach, visit local island (good to buy some items), visit of Male the last day (skip it as there is nothing to see there).
It is one of the nicer boat so you won'g be disappointed. Great main boat and spacious dhoni. We had a great time diving with these guys.
Food could be improved. Not bad but not great. My stomach got upset at the end of the week. I had way better food on my other liveaboards.
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2019-01-02by P. Sandrine diving Maldives onboard Emperor Serenity
I strongly recommend diving with Blue Horizon. The highlight of the experience (other than diving) was the quality of the crew and the guides; they were helpful, knowledgeable and a lot of fun. We dived in the north atolls in the Maldives, which are best for macro rather than pelagics/sharks/etc. The visibility wasn't great (we were there in September, so a bit rainy), but in a display of expertise our Cruise Director redirected the route to a different side of the atoll where it was much better (example of their quality!). The boat is a little aged, but it was very clean and well looked after. All in all, great experience.
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2018-09-30by S. Stephanie diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
4.3
Very nice! (Horizon 3)
I really enjoyed my 1 week scuba liveaboard at Horizon III. Very kind, happy and service minded staff!! Good dive sites! Super comfy beds even in the cheapest rooms and to have a bathroom per room is great. Had some problems with our aircon but except for that I had no issues during the trip
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2018-09-19by R. Linnea Therese diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
I spent a week on the "Best of the Maldives" itinerary. Everything about the trip was excellent. The boat is great, very comfortable and the crew cannot do enough to help you enjoy your time. The diving is from a separate boat which stays throughout and is extremely well set up for diving from. The guides have the perfect balance of promoting safety and environmental awareness, diving with minimal impact on the marine life, finding the most interesting things for us to see and keeping the whole thing fun. Oh, and the chef is amazing! We were well and truly spoiled.
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2018-08-28by N. Christine diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
4.8
An excellent week (Horizon 3)
We had a great week diving, lots of different sites, excellent guides and back up. Guides pointing out small difficult to see shrimps, nudibranch, and fish.
We went to see Mantas and only saw two, but that was the fish not the guides, did see whale shark, lots of sharks, eagle rays etc.
Boat, our air-conditioning worked but was not efficient, beds comfortable and bathroom all fine.
Food was very good, beer was a bit expensive.
The dive boat was good with a wide ladder, the boat boys were great, always there to help with equipment and getting out of the water.
Would recommend.
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2018-08-08by H. Frederick diving Maldives onboard Horizon 3
3.8
Not bad (Carpe Novo)
Diving was hit and miss, understandable at this time of year. Dive guides were talkative amongst themselves but not so much to the divers in English
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2018-07-31by D. Paul diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Simply the BEST!!! (Scubaspa Yin)
I have been on many liveaboard vessels in my 40 years of diving.
The Scubaspa is simply the best boat i have ever been on!
The boat offers superb cabins and bathrooms, the dining room is spacious, the food delicious, the crew awesome. SIMPLY THE BEST!!!
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2018-07-31by D. Paul diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yin
5.0
Amazing experience (Carpe Vita)
Thanks a lot to the crew, dive masters team and Steven W. for the amazing experience on Carpe Vita. Everything was perfect. The cabins were comfortable and were equipped with everything needed, chef was great and indulged us with delicious food during the whole trip, the crew was super welcome and always ready to help. Special huge thanks to dive masters for discovering the beauty of Maldives underwater. The mantas and sharks dives were absolutely outstanding! Very special help goes to Steven W., who equipped us with marine biological knowledge and made our stay not only relaxing, but also with the purpose!
Highly recommend the boat!
Thanks!
Natalia
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2018-07-25by G. Natalia diving Maldives onboard Carpe Vita
4.3
Scuba Spa Yang - Value for money? (Scubaspa Yang)
The boat itself was very comfortable, clean, spacious and well maintained. The staff that we came into contact with were mostly friendly and helpful. Some of the staff, including the director, were not very involved with the customers which was a little disappointing particularly when some of them were interacted with on a daily basis. Safety was well considered and implemented. I feel the staff need to learn to be more interactive as trying to get information out of the dive staff was difficult. The food was fantastic! It was a pity the drinks were so expensive, even a cup of tea!
All in all, it was a nice trip and was enjoyed but as far as value for money, particularly for diving, there is much better places to go for better diving, better service and a lot less money.
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2018-05-18by M. John diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Incredible diving week (Scubaspa Yang)
We had an incredible time with Scubaspa Yang on last week's dive. The boat is superb, facilities well maintained and staffs always greets us with a big smile. Dive crew and captain was professional and the dhoni was clean and tidy after each trip.
We will return!
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2018-04-24by L. Jen Jun diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Excellent diving experience (Princess Haleema)
It’s an Excellent diving experience. We were lucky to see whales sharks, several mantas came to our boat ‘dancing‘. We were so exciting! And the crew and dive directors are very nice
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2018-04-11by L. Juanjuan diving Maldives onboard Princess Haleema
2.5
Seafari should have a better management (Princess Haleema)
Globally good trip but started horribly as it was disagreement between one of the manager and the captain of the boat and his crew who refused to leave the harbour. We stayed 2 full days on the harbour and wait till the manager leaves and arrives another manager to replace him. After this episode, globally it was ok but started very badly.
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2018-04-11by M. Clementine diving Maldives onboard Princess Haleema
4.8
Great dive boat let down by the Scuba Spa head office team approach to last minute changes (Scubaspa Yin)
The team on the boat were excellent and the concept of the dive/spa combo worked really well for us. Unfortunately Scuba Spa's customer service and approach let them down. They had a late booking that wanted Scuba Spa Yang on an exclusive basis. Scuba Spa decided to move all those that had booked Yang on to Ying with no consultation - they informed us by email the day before departure, so late we had no option to cancel (we were on the plane when the email was sent). Nobody spoke to us on arrival to apologise. After much research we had specifically chosen Yang plus the change resulted in there being 28 divers on board - way above the advertised maximum of 22 which did impact the experience on many of the smaller fast current dive sites. Would I book with them again - I doubt it, do not feel I could trust them.
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2018-04-08by K. Fiona diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yin
5.0
unforgettable trip (Emperor Leo)
Delicious food, comfortable and clean rooms, friendly and social crew - that makes it a perfect boat ;)
We were with MV Leo at South Male trip in March 2018 and it was awesome ;) Unforgettable trip, a lot of big stuff underwater, school of sharks ;)
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2018-03-13by P. Krzysztof diving Maldives onboard Emperor Leo
4.8
Beautiful boat, very nice crew, and beautiful diving (Carpe Novo)
It was our first time diving in the Maldives. We came to see Mantas, and we were not disappointed: we have seen 10s of them on different dive site.
The Carpe Novo was very spacious. The cabin was nice, the bathroom was very large.
The large dive boat is very convenient (not an inflatable type of small boat to get to the dive site as it was on other live aboard). It was easy and comfortable to get setup on for the dive, and getting back in after the dive: much better than expected. You leave your dive equipment on the dive boat, which is extremely convenient.
The food was good, including fresh fish caught from the boat. But one person in our party was eating gluten free, and even though that had been specified early on, the food shopping had not been done accordingly. We were told that people eating gluten free typically pack their own pasta and bread in their suitcase. :-/ If so, it would have been nice to be informed about that pre-boarding.
All that being said, that was a great experience. I would happily book another trip on Carpe Novo.
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2018-01-02by M. Jerome diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
My best week ever (Scubaspa Yang)
We were on Yang (scubaspa) from 16th to 23rd of December 2017.
It was a perfect week.
The dives were well sorted, we saw all the „big stuff“ (whale sharks, mantas, nurse sharks...).
The service and food was excellent as well.
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2017-12-26by P. Michael diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yang
5.0
Amazing crew and diving (Maldives Blue Force 3)
Could not be happier with the week spent with Red Sea blue force 3. Diving was great and safety was always top concern. Food was great, always plentiful and good variety. Chef made each meal tastier than the one before. Crew was top notch, always there to help weather with food, with your gear or just giving hand in or out of water. The three divemasters we had took utmost care of the teams. Val, Mahmood and Ahmad were as good divemater you can get. Overall no complaints. I want to comeback just for these. On top, you add amazing dives with sharks, wrecks, reefs and corals. Need I say more. Overall I did 15 dives, and skipped two night dives. WiFi was there but spotty, who cares. You will have plenty to do :) bathrooms were clean and cleaned every day too. Beds were as good as it gets on liveaboard. I truly recommend this to everyone.
With love and gratitude- Rumman
Hi,
Overall good experience.
One downside was the fact that we had to go for 10 hours from Ras Mohammed to the brothers at a rough sea. Next time i'll book a trip in a smaller area.
The service on the boat and the guys always helping out was great!
No effort on briefing and safety.
Great crew, food and service but divemasters lacked professionalism, very poor briefings less dives and nitrox than expected.
Amazing Trip in the Maldives (Maldives Blue Force One)
I was fortunate enough to choose Blue Force 1 for my weeks diving in the Maldives. First impression, a warm welcome by the amazing Nigel Pickford photographer to the gods, well could be. A very warm greeting was given and l immediately felt at home as l was introduced to some of the crew and other clients. We shortly sped out to the wonderful, Blue Force 1, Eva one of the other clients insisted that it be a shiny boat, and it was, first impressions again were a unanimous WOW, is that ours. We settled in quickly and were introduced to the Boat it's crew and basicaly what to expect on the trip and what the crew expected from us. excellent management. Ok the trip, my first in the Maldives, Bloody Brilliant, saw loads of underwater life of all shapes colours and sizes, the excitement was contagious as we came up dive after dive, with talk of what we had seen. - Manta's and more Manta's and yes ,well, more Manta' s awesome simply amazing never to be forgotten. It was great to meet and make friends, whom l hope to stay in contact with in the future as l shall be travelling for a few more years. I recommend Blue Force 1 to anyone who wants a thrill, to see stunning underwater creatures and meet amazing staff ( thanks Bugatti) for looking after me. Looking forward to meeting up with Nigel at some point somewhere in the world, and to meeting some lovely ladies in Colombia, cheers for a great trip1
The Boat
The boat is one of the newest on Maldives (it was built in the end of 2015). This is noticeable for its interior design.
The meal is a full board in a buffet style, but the food is really varied. We had the opportunity to choose from fish, chicken, beef, sashimi, shrimps, vegetables and fruits. We have to give chef his due (he's local by the way), everything was delicious.
Other services such as alcohol or dive equipment renting are for extra price. What concerns Azalea, they also make a night barbecue trip to the most distant sandbank of Vaavu Atoll (the closest island is about 20 km away)
The boat could be divided into 3 decks and plus a sun deck.
There are 6 Standard cabins, a few stockrooms and a crew cabin on the ground deck. They are small, but comfortable (nobody complained).
On the main deck there are two Junior Suite cabins and one large and the most expensive - Master Suite. There is a dining area on that deck as well. Breakfast and lunch are served inside and the dinner is outside.
There's an entertaining area with comfortable sofas, bar, music and TV on the upper deck.
And on the very top there is a sun deck where you can sunbathe or chill out in a jacuzzi.
The itinerary.
The cruise usually lasts for 7 nights and 8 days visiting up to 3-5 Atolls. There are about 15-18 dives including 2 night dives in total. But in my case, the trip was shortened for one day.
Day 1
I was met at the airport and accompanied to the dhoni boat which usually anchors near Hulhumalé. Then we checked in and had a lunch. Later, there was a check dive.
After that I went for a dinner. There's no fixed time for breakfast, dinner or supper. It depends on the diving schedule which is made by dive instructor.
Day 2
From the early morning, before a breakfast, there is a first dive.
After the first day of diving we headed to the South Malé Atoll. All the movements are made during the day and last for about 1-3 hours.
The second dive was near Como Cocoa Resort. Apart from the beautiful and colorful corals there's nothing interesting out there.
Then we moved to the Vaavu Atoll near Alimatha Resort for night dive. This one is famous for its nurse sharks.
There were a lot of divers from other liveaboards. On that day the current was not so strong and most of the sharks were not on the bottom (the average diving depth is about 15 meters), but close to the surface where it was harder to dive because there was nothing to hold on (the current really shifts you). So it's great if we've met at least 10-15 sharks.
Day 3
From the very morning the weather started to change and we did another dive near the same resort. The majority of dives we did in the channels with a strong current. There are usually many schools of fish and a lot of sharks, so it was really captivating. This time we were lucky to meet white tips sharks, a few eagle rays , turtles and a huge number of small fish.
Soon after the dive we headed to the local island of Thinadhoo. There's a nice spot near it which is called Golden Wall. It's got the name because of the color of yellow color corals which grow there. Besides we've met a sсhool of grey barracuda fish.
The last dive of the day was near the most eastern part of the Maldives - Fotteo. Here we had to make 3 dives (it's easy to imagine how much is intriguing under this water).
In the evening we were pleased by a surprise - the barbecue on a sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean! However the weather became worse, the wind got stronger and ocean got rough as well. It was time to come back to yacht.
Day 4
In the strong morning rain and wind we returned to the same spot and did another dive. It was one of the most impressive dive during our safari. Plenty of sharks, schools of fish, colorful corals which I’ve never seen before, wonderful grottoes and small caves - that's why this dive is memorable for.
As weather didn't get better, we have to go back.
The next dive was near Alimatha Resort (I would note that there are plenty of great diving spots near this resort).
And the last dive was in another spot near the resort. Here I've met a very curious turtle who found my camera really interesting. But it's probably because she wanted to taste it
After the dive the yacht moved to the Guraidhoo local island and Kandooma Reasort.
Day 5
The morning dive was notable for the huge amount of turtles we've met - 5 or 6! I've never seen so many of them in one place before! But that was actually the only cool thing about this spot.
Then we've moved several times around North Male Atoll and finally we stopped somewhere in between One&Only Reethi Rah and Coco Bodu Hithi Resorts. Here we were to have a night dive but not in a channel so there was almost no current.
Here we've seen plenty of corals which flourish only at night, an octopus and a sea turtle sleeping under the rock. They say it's very unusual. So we were lucky!
Day 6
On our last day we finally met manta rays! It's really spectacular although I've seen ten of them before.
That was a perfect ending for our diving safari around the Maldives!
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2017-04-10by H. Alex diving Maldives onboard Azalea
4.8
Dive and forget the rest (Scubaspa Yin)
When we arrived atthe boat the staff told us: just dive and do'nt worry about the rest. Just enjoy!!
And they did it with a very high standards of service and diving. All the details under control to make us enjoy our holidays.
All the staff with a smile and great and amazing efforts like the incredible barbacue, and all the moments trying to do all the best for us.
Thanks to all the staff for this experience!.
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2017-02-12by D. Gloria diving Maldives onboard Scubaspa Yin
5.0
Ocean Divine, Maldives (Ocean Divine)
Spent the second week in January on the Ocean Divine...beautiful boat/accomodations, very good food, excellent service.
The highlight of the trip was diving with the manta rays. Unfortunately 80% of the coral in the Maldives, at least in Ari Atoll where we were, has died. The fish are beautiful and brightly colored, but it was sad to see all of the devasted reefs. I wish I had gone diving there last year before El Nino came along...
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2017-01-25by M. Paula diving Maldives onboard Ocean Divine
5.0
Amazing time on Carpe Novo (Carpe Novo)
I dove for a week on the Carpe Novo in August and cannot say enough about it. I cannot think of one bad or even neutral thing to say about the experience. The boat is new this year, so it is very clean, modern, and comfortable. There is a part of the boat to suit anyone's needs for sun, shade, air con, social or private time. The food was amazing, with enough variety to suit anyone's taste. The crew worked hard to make everything run smoothly. They were well organized for dives, with equipment and tanks always ready. The dive guides were professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. The dives were incredible, to include an amazing manta cleaning station with no less than 9 rays at the same time and a night dive with so many nurse sharks! Healthy reefs and lots of variety of fish to be seen and photograph. I highly recommend this live aboard and most definitely plan to return some day soon! You will not be disappointed. Cheers!
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2016-09-19by N. Angela diving Maldives onboard Carpe Novo
5.0
Great Safari Experience - worth it! (Adora)
The Best of Maldives xtra tour was magnificient, the boat was perfectly fine, my cabin luxurious, the guides (all local) were relaxed and polite and the food really excellent! It was worth the money, I appreciated the service and was luckily able to see everything under water what Maldives has to show!
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2016-05-12by S. Anita diving Maldives onboard Adora
4.8
Great boat, great staff, great experience (Maldives Blue Force One)
As this was my third visit to the Maldives and leading a party of 3 other divers, two of which are divermasters and 1 an assistant instructor, our standards were high. Our whole experience could not have been better. From the moment we stepped on board. The staff were welcoming and the dive guides were great hosts. The itinerary was perfect and we managed to see all of the maldivian marine life that we had on out tick list. I would definitely look at booking the same boat if we save up enough for a re-visit. Many thanks to divebooker for the great cusotmer experience, special thanks to Valerie for her help.
We have just finished a dream holiday in the Maldives on Blue Force 1, booked through Divebooker.com. Everything lived up to expectations. The Divebooker advice was accurate and personal and we were not disappointed by anything. The diving from Blue Force 1 was superb with great dive leaders, Meri and Chiqui. The boat was very comfortable with plenty of fresh good food and a friendly and helpful crew. We will be back. Thank you Divebooker !
Continue to Create AWESOME Memories, Emperor Voyager!! (Emperor Voyager)
I was with Emperor Voyager for the Christmas week (19-26 Dec 2015). From the time I arrived in Male till the time I got on to my next LOB, the process has been smooth. Emperor being a foreign-owned LOB/Dive Company, is structured, well-organized and have a team of hardworking and awesome Staff… from the Operation Manager, Dive Guides, Captain to the folks who help you up to the dhoni after each dive, the Chef & bar man to the ones who clean your room (always a clean room after your second morning dive), I would consider this a dive paradise on earth. I am not sure if I would pay a little extra for a more luxurious LOB as Emperor Voyager is itself a luxury with a very reasonable price!
The itineraries were pretty standard as of any other LOBs… South/North Male, Vaavu and South/North Ari Atoll but the difference will be the dive sites. I had a number of “best” in this trip… countless of reef sharks (fat ones!), nurse sharks, close encounter (almost face to face) with the Manta rays, beautiful overhangs and vast varieties of fishes (Morays, Giant trevallies....) My most memorable Christmas Eve is with Emperor Voyager when we had the Mantas loitering around our boat the whole night (because the crew hung the spotlight to attract them); not to mention nurse sharks too!!! :)
I would highly recommend Emperor Voyager if you are looking for an unforgettable dive trip! Well done, Bernie & his team of dedicated and customer-oriented Staff & Crew! Thank you for your passion that create awesome memories for divers!
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2016-02-21by H. Jennifer diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
5.0
Just perfect, Thank you. (Emperor Voyager)
Nice clean, spacious boat with great facilities. Cabins cleaned are cleaned daily (whilst diving).
Tea and coffee always available and a well stocked bar on board. Meals are provided at just the right times of the day after diving, there is always something for everyone, even fussy eaters on board!
The Dive briefs are informative and perfectly timed. The Diving takes place of another boat so no kit clutter or wet floors on the back deck.
Guides and crew aboard Voyager are so knowledgable, helpful and friendly.
Throughly enjoyed the experience provided by Emperor Divers from start to finish.
Also a big thanks to Diverse Travel who made all the arrangements in getting us there.
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2016-02-20by W. Carl diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
4.8
Emperor Voyager - Christmas/New Year 2015 (Emperor Voyager)
Had a great time between Christmas and New Year, would highly recommend the Boat for the experience. New Year's Eve - we all sat at the back of the boat with fireworks in eyeshot and mantas swimming at the back of the boat with a warm breeze blowing, what more could you ask for....
The service was very good. The cabins were cleaned daily with no complaints. We did however have the bathroom floor filling up with water through the drain everyday so the floor was always wet and dirty under your feet. There was also a constant musty smell. Ah well, we were never that long in the cabins anyway.
Also there weren't too many seats at the back of the boat or sunbeds on deck for the twenty of us.
Food however was very good and despite my gluten intolerance, this was never too much trouble!
The BBQ island trip was amazing....
The extra facility of the dhoni were spot on and the boat hands were always happy to help. Dive briefings and guiding was excellent!
Overall, a great trip that I would highly recommend on the Emperor Voyager.
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2016-02-15by N. Joyce diving Maldives onboard Emperor Voyager
4.8
Highly recommended (Maldives Aggressor II)
I shared a deluxe room with a friend in Jan 2016 and had an absolutely amazing week of diving, the quality of the service from the local staff exceeded my expectations in every way! In particular the dive team were amazing, even when nature didn't co-operate, and the chef was without a doubt worth 10/10.
Otherwise the accommodations were good, even though it is an older boat and certainly any issues were dealt with quickly by the staff.
