Ocean Sapphire Liveaboard, Maldives

Ocean Sapphire is a 35-metre wooden liveaboard operating dive safaris across the Maldives. Its 11 cabins accommodate 22 guests in standard occupancy across the lower and upper decks.

Boat Interior

Polished natural teak and pine finish the vessel’s interiors. The main deck centres on a restaurant serving buffet-style international and Maldivian dishes, with seating for 22 guests in standard occupancy. One bar is located beside the restaurant, while a second on the top deck offers a setting for cocktails at sunset. The sun deck has outdoor showers and a Jacuzzi accommodating up to six guests.

Cabin Types

Ocean Sapphire has lower-deck twin and twin/double cabins, along with upper-deck oceanview cabins. Lower-deck cabins include air conditioning, a dressing table and chair, a wardrobe, an en-suite bathroom, shower gel, shampoo, and body lotion. The upper-deck cabins have double beds, air conditioning, and bathtubs.

Dive Deck

A separate diving dhoni accompanies Ocean Sapphire and carries the dive equipment. It has two Bauer Mariner 320 compressors, each with a filling rate of 320 litre/min, and 11.1-litre and 13.2-litre aluminium tanks with DIN/INT fittings.

The dhoni also carries BCDs, regulators with depth gauges, wetsuits, dive computers, dive lights, fins, masks, snorkels, DSMBs, compasses, reef hooks, and weight belts.

Safety and Navigation

Navigation equipment includes GPS, a depth sounder, maps, binoculars, and an SSB marine radio. Fire alarms, fire extinguishers, life jackets, life buoys, searchlights, and mobile phones are also carried onboard.

Divers must be certified, and outdoor activities remain subject to weather conditions. The crew selects suitable dive conditions and anchoring times, with arrangements communicated by the cruise director and dive-base leader.

Non-diving Activities

Guests can join scheduled snorkelling and fishing excursions, visit local and deserted islands and Malé, and enjoy a beach barbecue dinner. The sun deck has a Jacuzzi accommodating up to six guests.Jet skis, SUP boards, kite-surfing and surfing equipment, as well as spa treatments, can be arranged in advance.

Itineraries

The Best of Maldives covers North Malé, South Malé, Vaavu, and Ari atolls, combining reefs and sandbanks with manta and whale shark locations and the Alimatha night dive. Diving Extravaganza explores the channels and drift dives of Vaavu and Noonu, while Hanifaru Bay – Manta Madness visits Baa Atoll for seasonal manta gatherings. Deep South departures feature fast currents, walls, channels, reef life, and shark encounters.

Trips include up to three dives per day, except on embarkation day and during the final 24 hours before flying, plus one weekly night dive. Charter routes can be customized according to the group’s requirements.

When to Go

Ocean Sapphire operates departures throughout the year, with itineraries scheduled according to the published programme and operating conditions. Routes range from the central atolls to Baa Atoll and the Deep South. From June to November, Hanifaru Bay is associated with seasonal manta gatherings, and whale sharks may also be encountered.