Few liveaboard experiences blend modern comfort with the raw beauty of the Maldives as well as the Dune Black Manta. Built locally and launched in 2024, this 42-metre steel-hulled vessel was designed by divers, for divers. It carries 28 guests, supported by a crew of 20 who know these atolls intimately. Several of the 16 air-conditioned ensuite cabins have seaview windows, and 2 of the cabins are allocated to solo travellers.
What sets the Black Manta liveaboard apart is how it removes the small annoyances that can nibble at a dive holiday. Nitrox is included for certified enriched air divers, as is Wi-Fi throughout the vessel. The dive deck is spacious, with a dedicated camera room featuring plenty of charging stations and storage for rigs. A 20-metre dhoni serves as the dedicated dive tender, keeping the main vessel quiet and eliminating the morning shuffle of tanks and fins.
From the Maldives central atolls to the northern reaches, the Black Manta plans exciting seasonal trips. Divers can expect channel dives where grey reef sharks patrol the current, cleaning stations where mantas glide in patient circles, and night dives where nurse sharks feed under torchlight. Whale sharks are a genuine possibility, particularly in South Ari Atoll, where the crew actively searches for them. For those who prefer to stay on the surface, snorkellers are well accommodated with a dedicated guide and access to the same sites.
Life between dives on the Black Manta liveaboard is comfortable without being fussy. The sundeck features a jacuzzi and a massage area for post-dive recovery. Meals are served al fresco, drawing on local ingredients and international dishes, with a beach barbecue on a remote island as a regular highlight. The cocktail bar and indoor lounge offer space to socialise or simply review the day's photos on the large screen. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available for those who want to explore beyond the dive sites.
Diving standards are taken seriously. Guests need AOWD certification with at least 30 logged dives, and the dive guide ratio is capped at 1:7. The Black Manta carries full safety equipment, including 2 tenders and a dedicated dhoni, plus emergency systems compliant with international standards. If you have not yet qualified, advanced courses can be taken onboard. Equipment rental is available and, from the moment you step aboard, the crew handles your gear.
From the airport meet-and-greet to the final breakfast transfer, the Black Manta liveaboard delivers a polished, no-surprises experience backed by DUNE's 28 years in dive travel. Free nitrox, free Wi-Fi, spacious cabins, and a crew that treats each trip like a personal expedition. It adds up to something rare: a liveaboard that feels both luxurious and unpretentious. The Maldives' best atolls are waiting. The Black Manta is a very comfortable way to reach them.
Maldives Central & Southern Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 25 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo, Meemu, and Nilandhe atolls
Day 1
Embarkation takes place at Malé, depending on your departure date. The crew from the Black Manta liveaboard will be waiting to welcome you aboard. Once onboard, enjoy a welcome drink while the Cruise Manager delivers the safety briefing and outlines the ten days ahead. Dinner is served in the evening, and the vessel prepares for the cruise south.
Core Days
The Black Manta pushes south through some of the Maldives' most remote and rewarding waters. The trip begins in North Malé Atoll, where the diving sets a high standard. Thilas with abundant corals provide exceptional habitat for fish and smaller creatures. As you move into the deeper channels, the action intensifies. At sites like Rasdhoo Madivaru, you can expect to encounter grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and large dogtooth tuna, with the possibility of hammerhead sightings.
Venturing further south to Ari Atoll reveals some of the most celebrated marine protected areas. South Ari is renowned for whale shark encounters, with frequent sightings around Maamigili Beyru. Kudarah Thila offers spectacular overhangs adorned with sea fans and healthy soft corals, teeming with schools of snapper and fusiliers. The dive sites in North Ari, such as the manta cleaning stations, deliver memorable encounters with these graceful rays.
The Dune Black Manta continues to the less-visited atolls of Felidhoo, Meemu, and Nilandhe. Here, the diving is characterised by exhilarating channel dives, steep drop-offs, and pristine coral-covered walls. Expect encounters with white-tip and grey reef sharks, turtles, and huge shoals of barracuda, jacks, and tuna. A night dive at a site like Alimatha House Reef is a highlight, where nurse sharks and stingrays gather in the torchlight. On the Dune Black Manta, each dive site is chosen for its unique character, ensuring a diverse experience across the central and southern atolls.
Day 11
After breakfast onboard, you disembark at Malé, depending on your trip dates. The crew will arrange your transfer to the airport, leaving you with memories of a comprehensive Maldives diving adventure.
Maldives Central Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 16 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, South Male, Felidhoo, South Ari, North Ari atolls
Day 1
Embarkation takes place at Malé, where the crew from the Black Manta liveaboard will be waiting to welcome you aboard. Once onboard, enjoy a welcome drink while the Cruise Manager delivers the safety briefing and outlines the week ahead. Dinner is served in the evening, and the vessel spends the first night moored at Hulhumalé marina.
Core Days
The Dune Black Manta cruises through the heart of the Maldives, exploring South Malé, Vaavu, South Ari, North Ari and North Malé Atolls. You'll wake each morning to a light breakfast before the first dive briefing. The trip begins in South Malé Atoll, where the diving sets a high standard. Long reefs and seasonal manta cleaning stations offer encounters with mantas and an abundance of reef fish and macro species. From there, the vessel crosses to Vaavu Atoll for an unmissable night dive, a feeding frenzy of nurse sharks, stingrays and jacks that ranks among the most thrilling experiences in Maldivian waters. Small caves, large overhangs, drop-off walls and sloping reefs covered in corals characterise the diving here. Titan triggerfish are common, and larger marine life such as grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, tunas and barracudas are also found on the Dune Black Manta dives.
Moving west to South Ari Atoll, the focus shifts to the big animals that give this region its reputation. In the marine protected area, whale sharks regularly show up. The Black Manta crew will search for their presence and give you a chance to snorkel or even scuba dive with them. The area also offers many thilas and some wrecks, with grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, moray eels and scorpionfish all part of the fauna here. The crew may also lead a visit to a nearby local island, offering a glimpse of Maldivian life above the water.
North Ari Atoll brings more pelagic encounters. The channels are wider and the ocean deeper, attracting grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks and other large pelagic fish. Multiple manta cleaning stations, extraordinary thilas and a wreck with rich marine life are the highlights for guests on the Black Manta. Eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, Napoleon wrasse, schools of blue-stripe snapper, batfish and fusiliers are all regular sightings. The day ends with a manta night dive, an extraordinary experience as enormous manta rays feed in the torchlight.
The final day of diving brings the Black Manta back to North Malé, where you will find stunning reefs, small caves, colourful corals and prolific reef life before returning to Hulhumalé.
Day 8
After breakfast onboard, you disembark at Hulhumalé marina.
Maldives Central, Southern & Deep South Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 25 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North and South Male, Felidhoo, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Addu atolls, and Fuvahmulah
Day 1
Embarkation takes place at either Gan in Addu Atoll or Malé, depending on your departure date. The crew from the Black Manta liveaboard will be waiting to welcome you aboard. Once onboard, enjoy a welcome drink while the Cruise Manager delivers the safety briefing and outlines the ten days ahead. Dinner is served in the evening, and the vessel prepares for the journey south.
Core Days
The Black Manta pushes south through some of the Maldives' most remote and rewarding waters. The trip begins in North Malé Atoll, where the diving sets a high standard. Thilas with abundant corals provide exceptional habitat for fish and smaller creatures. From there, the vessel crosses to Felidhoo Atoll to get straight into the heart of the action for sharks, rays and jacks searching for food. Moving south to Meemu Atoll, you'll discover virgin reefs and excellent channels with steep walls and overhangs covered in soft corals. This is a great area for encounters with hammerheads, grey reef sharks, white-tip sharks, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse and turtles.
Thaa Atoll offers varied topography of channels and thilas with coral gardens and overhangs, where reef sharks and schools of jackfish are regular sightings. Laamu Atoll is characterised by drift dives and deep canals that attract sharks, rays, jacks and tunas, with intact caves and drop-offs to explore. The central lagoon hosts large shoals of parrotfish, triggerfish, and turtles.
Huvadhoo Atoll is a paradise for sharks. You'll encounter grey reef sharks, white-tip sharks, silver-tip sharks and black-tip sharks, especially in Viligili Kandu and Khoodoo Kandu, some of the most famous channels in this atoll. The south of Huvadhoo offers a wide choice of channels and rich coral life, with strong chances of encountering dolphins and sailfish during a drift dive in Mareeha Channel.
Fuvahmulah Atoll is something entirely different, an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean offering encounters with large pelagic species such as tiger sharks, oceanic manta rays and more. A full day there delivers 3 unforgettable dives. Addu Atoll is your final destination, with manta points and a wreck dive completing the southern odyssey.
Day 11
After breakfast onboard, you disembark at either Malé or Gan, depending on your trip dates.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 16 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Huvadhoo, Addu atolls, and Fuvahmulah
Day 1
Your embarkation port for this 7-night itinerary depends on your departure date, either Gan in Addu Atoll or Kooddoo in Gaafu Alifu. After settling into your cabin aboard the Dune Black Manta liveaboard, you'll be offered a welcome drink while the Cruise Manager runs through the safety briefing and the week's schedule. Dinner is served as the vessel prepares for the days ahead.
Core Days
For divers who want to get straight to the heart of the action, this 'Full on South' route delivers. The expedition focuses entirely on the southernmost atolls: Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu , where the shark encounters are among the most reliable in the Maldives. This is shark territory: grey reef sharks, silver-tip sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads and more. The Black Manta liveaboard is your base for this southern push, a comfortable, practical vessel designed for serious scuba diving.
The action starts in Huvadhoo. Kooddoo Corner serves as the check dive, with green turtles, Napoleon wrasse and a backdrop of reef fish setting the scene. From there, the intensity builds at Vilingili Kandu, a site known for its wall of grey reef sharks and eagle rays. Kooddoo Kandu delivers schools of grey reef sharks and dogtooth tunas in numbers that are hard to forget. Crossing into South Huvadhoo, Nilandoo Kandu brings encounters with grey reef sharks, barracudas and large aggregations of jackfish. Kondey Out offers a memorable drift along the outer reef, while Kondey Kandu and Marea Kandu host hunting dogtooth tunas and a wealth of pelagic life.
Fuvahmulah is the standout stop on this tour. The house reef here is widely regarded as the best location in the Maldives for encountering large sharks: tiger sharks, hammerheads and other impressive species. The encounters are close and intense, making this an essential destination for any serious diver.
Addu Atoll marks the final leg of the expedition. Kuda Kandu is a lively channel where schools of jackfish, snappers and barracudas gather. Maa Kandu is a well-known manta cleaning station with excellent visibility for observing these graceful giants. Koatey Faru, a marine protected area, showcases vibrant coral formations and large schools of fish. You'll also have the opportunity to explore the British Loyalty wreck, a 140-metre oil tanker scuttled in 1946, now transformed into an artificial reef draped in corals and sponges.
Day 8
Breakfast is served onboard before disembarkation at either Gan or Kooddoo.
Maldives Northern Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 25 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, Baa, Hanifaru Bay, Raa, Shiviyani, Lhaviyani, Noonu atolls
Day 1
Embarkation takes place at Malé, where the crew from the Black Manta liveaboard will be waiting to welcome you aboard. Once onboard, enjoy a welcome drink while the Cruise Manager delivers the safety briefing and outlines the ten days ahead. Dinner is served in the evening, and the vessel spends the first night moored at Hulhumalé marina.
Core Days
The Black Manta cruises north through some of the Maldives' most productive waters, crossing North Malé, Baa, Raa, Shaviyani, Noonu and Lhaviyani atolls. The trip begins in North Malé Atoll, where the diving sets a high standard. Reefs and seasonal manta cleaning stations, including the famous Lankan Paradise, offer the chance to watch mantas looping gracefully at only 15 metres. Nassimo Thila, a spectacular reef covered in colourful soft corals, is a favourite for underwater photography. Coral growth is abundant here, providing habitat for a rich variety of reef fish and macro species.
From there, the vessel crosses to Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve since 2011. The reefs here deliver a spectacular mix of marine life, from tiny reef fish and turtles to the giant filter feeders that give this region its reputation. Walls and thilas covered in hard and soft corals, including Dhonfanu, Daravandhoo and Nelivaru, plateaus, overhangs, pinnacles and swim-throughs are all yours to explore. Hanifaru Bay, a marine protected area on the eastern side of Baa, is legendary for hosting one of the world's largest seasonal concentrations of manta rays, attracted by plankton blooms between August and November. Scuba diving is not permitted inside the bay, snorkelling only, with an accredited guide in strict compliance with local regulations, but the surface encounters are unforgettable.
Pushing further north into Raa Atoll, the diving shifts towards more pelagic encounters. Canyons and caves draped with soft corals are the hallmark here. Thilas and giris are alive with parrotfish, unicorn fish, gobies, basslets and fusiliers, while jacks, tunas, stingrays and Napoleon wrasse patrol the blue. Eagle rays, marble rays, grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks and silvertip sharks are all possible sightings. Shaviyani Atoll offers dazzling reefs where guitar sharks, eagle rays and schools of batfish are regular visitors. Flourishing soft corals and anemone gardens thrive in the nutrient-rich water, attracting predators including black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, leopard sharks and guitar sharks feeding on smaller fish. One evening, the crew will lead you ashore for a barbecue dinner on a remote desert island, a classic Maldivian experience.
Noonu Atoll brings a change of pace with Christmas Tree Rock, a pinnacle shaped like its namesake. Layered ledges and plateaus, covered in vibrant soft corals, particularly in shades of pink, create a breathtaking underwater landscape. Lhaviyani Atoll delivers wall dives and current-swept pelagic channels frequented by grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, black-tip reef sharks, tunas, barracudas and eagle rays. A highlight here is diving on 2 wrecks from the 1980s. One of them dramatically protrudes above the surface. Both are now colonised by hard and soft corals and teem with fish life. The crew also leads a visit to a nearby local island, offering a glimpse of Maldivian life above the water.
Throughout the cruise, the Dune Black Manta liveaboard supports the Manta Trust, an organisation dedicated to the research and protection of mantas, with guests contributing directly to scientific programmes. A professional photographer accompanies each expedition to capture these exceptional encounters.
Day 11
After breakfast onboard, the crew will assist with your departure to the airport according to your flight schedule.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
On a day aboard the Dune Black Manta liveaboard, mornings start early with the first light filtering through the windows of the saloon. Before the first dive, the crew sets out complimentary snacks such as fresh fruit, biscuits, or light cakes, to give you a quick energy boost as you prepare your kit.
The first dive of the day usually takes place in the cool of the morning. After surfacing and rinsing off, you return to a full breakfast served buffet-style in the outdoor dining area, with panoramic sea views stretching across the atolls. Depending on the weather, meals may also be enjoyed indoors in the air-conditioned saloon. The chefs prepare a variety of international dishes with local influences, using fresh ingredients. Breakfast might include eggs cooked to order, fresh tropical fruit, cereals, and local breads.
The diving schedule generally includes up to two or three dives per day, except on embarkation and disembarkation days when no diving is scheduled, and on the final diving day when there are typically 1 or 2 dives. Between dives, the outdoor dining area becomes a gathering spot. Lunch is served after the second dive of the day. The menu rotates daily, offering buffet-style selections that might include vegetable rice with egg, grilled fish with lemon chilli, chicken piccata, or fish fingers with tartar sauce. Salads, fresh bread, and a selection of fruits round out the meal.
In the afternoon, another snack appears before or after the third dive: perhaps fresh fruit, biscuits, or another light bite. The Dune Black Manta keeps you well-fuelled without ever feeling rushed. Dinner is served after the last dive of the day, when the sun is low and the sea takes on deeper shades of blue. Evening meals are more substantial: beef steak with sauce, prawns, tuna shiitake, mashed potatoes, and boiled vegetables are typical offerings. Desserts might include ice cream or passion fruit mousse.
Vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice. For gluten-free diets, the team asks to be informed ahead of time so they can coordinate with the onboard kitchen.
Throughout the day, complimentary beverages include drinking water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Beer, wine, and spirits are available for purchase from the bar.
One of the distinctive features of the Dune Black Manta liveaboard is the Dune Touch programme. Once per itinerary, usually in the evening, the crew organises a special cultural gathering. Each guest is invited to bring a small culinary specialty or snack from their home country: cheese, sausages, biscuits, pâté, or similar items. These are shared among all passengers, creating a gourmet exchange of regional flavours. Drinks are provided, and the atmosphere is warm and festive. Smart dress is recommended for this evening, as it is intended to be a memorable highlight of the cruise.
When conditions permit, the crew may also organise a beach BBQ on a remote island, adding another layer to the Maldivian experience.
The daily routine aboard the Dune Black Manta is structured around the diving, but never feels rigid. Meals punctuate the day at sensible intervals: snacks before the first dive, breakfast after, lunch after the second, an afternoon snack, and dinner after the last dive. It is a schedule that respects the needs of scuba divers: enough time to digest, enough time to rest, and enough time to simply sit on the outdoor deck and watch the ocean roll by. The crew are attentive without being intrusive, and the atmosphere is relaxed throughout.
Whether you are topping up your tan on the sun deck, reviewing the day's photos in the dedicated equipment station, or sharing stories over dinner, the Dune Black Manta liveaboard offers a comfortable and well-paced liveaboard experience. The food is generous, the setting is open to the sea, and the days slip by in a pleasant cycle of diving, eating, and resting. Exactly as a week in the Maldives should be.
