Best of Maldives Liveaboard
November 2 - 9, 2025
Expedition Overview
Join us for a luxury 7-night liveaboard expedition through the Maldives’ most iconic dive sites. This journey takes you across Rasdhoo Atoll, North & South Ari Atolls, Vaavu Atoll, and North & South Male Atolls, where you'll encounter sharks by the dozen, graceful manta rays, schooling fish, and vibrant coral reefs. Timed perfectly at the start of the dry season, when conditions are calm, visibility is excellent, and manta activity peaks, this expedition delivers everything the central Maldivian atolls are known for.
Expect high-energy channel dives with grey reef sharks, manta encounters at cleaning stations, whale shark searches in South Ari, night dives with nurse sharks in Vaavu, and much more. From thrilling pelagic action to colorful macro life, this is the kind of diving that keeps divers coming back year after year.
Aboard the newly upgraded Emperor Serenity, you’ll enjoy spacious cabins, delicious food, and plenty of room to relax between dives. Expedition leader Matthew David Kaplan will be offering masterclasses in underwater filming, editing, and storytelling (above and below the surface) and Dania Rodríguez will lead yoga & meditation sessions, creating space to reset between high-energy dives.
Ready for the Maldives?
Highlights include
High chance of encounters with mantas and many species of sharks (grey reef, whale shark, white tip reef, nurse sharks, and more.
Filmmaking & storytelling masterclasses with Matthew David Kaplan
Yoga & meditation sessions with Dania Rodríguez
40m luxury liveaboard with 13 ensuite cabins & separate diving dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat)
15–30m+ visibility, 26–30°C water temps
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Prices in EUR per person
Lower deck cabin
Your price: €2,575
Main deck suite
Your price: €2,875
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Prices are displayed per person sharing a twin/double cabin
7 nights accommodation; 6 days of diving
3 meals a day; afternoon snacks; a BBQ dinner on local island (weather allowing); unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee
Total of 17 dives (including 1 night dive)
Dive guide, 11.5 litre tanks, weights
Nitrox
A glass of wine during dinner
Return airport transfer at specified times
Government taxes and bed tax
All port, fuel, and marine park fees
Land visit
Separate diving dhoni
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Flights
Diving equipment, 15 litre or other sized tanks
WiFi
Alcohol, soft drinks, juices
Crew gratuities
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Dive and travel insurance
Trip Program
Day 1 – Arrival – 02 Nov 2025
Arranged transfers depart from the Velana International Airport in Male to the boat at 12:00pm and 4:00pm.
Once onboard Emperor Serenity, meet your expedition team and get settled into your cabin. There will be a safety briefing, crew introduction and boat orientation.
That night we stay moored in port.
Day 2 – Begin exploring the Best of Maldives route
Start the day with a check dive near Male, after which we will depart and commence our itinerary.
Days 3–6 – Diving the Atolls
We dive some of the region’s best-known sites (weather permitting):
Ari Atoll – Manta cleaning stations, whale shark spotting
Vaavu Atoll – Alimatha night dive with dozens of nurse sharks
North/South Male – Channel dives, coral thilas, and pelagic sightings
Throughout the trip, you'll have the opportunity to take part in:
Filmmaking workshops – Learn how to capture and edit underwater stories
Yoga/meditation sessions – Energize, wind down and recharge before or after the diving day
Day 7 – Final Dive & Return to Port
Enjoy one last morning dive before heading back to Male. We return to port at approximately 1:00 pm, and moor here overnight. That afternoon, there’s the option for a quick visit to shore before our final evening onboard.
Day 8 – Disembarkation – 09 Nov 2025
Transfer to the airport, departing the boat at 7 am, arriving at the airport at 7:30 am.
Expedition Leader
Matthew David Kaplan
Matthew David Kaplan is an ocean filmmaker and dive expedition leader, dedicated to sharing the magical underwater world with a global audience. His mission is to conserve, restore, and protect our oceans and planet through storytelling, education, and action.
As a contributor for Discovery, Scubapro Global Dive Team member and Lead Ambassador at Only One, Matthew’s ocean adventures take him around the world.
Expedition Leader
Dania Rodríguez
Dania is a PADI Master Instructor and expedition leader with more than a decade of professional dive experience across Indonesia, the Maldives, Costa Rica, Thailand, Egypt, and beyond.
She has led dive operations at every level, from remote liveaboards and 5-star resorts to top-tier dive centers, holding key roles such as Operations Manager, Lead Instructor, and Cruise Director.
Beyond diving, Dania brings a creative and holistic dimension to every expedition. As a passionate educator, certified life coach, performing artist and storyteller, she blends technical diving expertise, underwater photography, and wellness practices like yoga and meditation, to create unforgettable experiences above and below the surface.
IG: @daniaunderwater
The Boat - Emperor Serenity
Freshly rebuilt from the hull up, Serenity is a brand-new liveaboard that blends the style and comfort of its award-winning predecessor with a fully updated design. At 40 metres, she offers plenty of space for up to 26 guests across 13 ensuite cabins across 3 decks.
Expect a relaxed, modern feel, excellent service, and multiple outdoor areas perfect for sunset watching.
A separate 24m diving dhoni and up to four experienced dive guides ensure smooth, well-paced days underwater.
FAQs
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It is a requirement that you purchase comprehensive dive and travel insurance covering the specific time of your trip.
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Advanced Open Water recommended
You don’t need a minimum number of dives to join this trip, but you should be comfortable diving in currents, as they can be unpredictable and strong. Many dives are below 18m, therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip. Divers may find some dives challenging and could be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience. Diving is from a dhoni to give precise entry and exit points. -
Velana International Airport (Male)
If you have to wait on arrival or departure, the airport is reasonably comfortable. You’ll find a shop for local SIM cards, a post office, a currency exchange, and a few decent coffee shops and restaurants. -
We recommend arriving on the same day the liveaboard starts, ideally before mid-morning. Transfers to the boat from the airport are at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, so please plan your flight to land in time for one of those.
If you’re arriving the night before, there are plenty of hotels near the airport for an easy overnight stay. You’ll just need to make sure you’re back at the airport in time for either transfer on the first day of the liveaboard.
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Yes, if you don’t have your own gear, it’s absolutely possible to rent everything you need on board. Ahead of your trip, we’ll collect your details and equipment sizes to make sure it’s all prepared and ready for you when you arrive.
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Data packages via a code are available to purchase on board, and internet is available when a mobile signal is present.
We recommend you buy a SimCard on arrival at Male airport.
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We recommend booking a flight at or after 10:00 am on November 9th.
