Princess Sara Liveaboard, Maldives

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.

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.