Maldives Central Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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, Ari, Rasdhoo, South Male, Felidhoo and South Male atolls
Day 1
Your Maldives liveaboard diving adventure begins once you board the elegant Carpe Diem. After settling into your cabin, you'll join a comprehensive welcome orientation, during which the crew will introduce you to the vessel's features and safety procedures. The first afternoon includes completing necessary forms and enjoying a relaxed check dive to get you acquainted with the underwater environment. In the evening, a freshly prepared dinner will be served, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow guests and crew members. The boat sets sail early the next morning to begin the dive safari.
Days 2-7
The Maldives are famed not only for their pristine beaches and turquoise waters, but also for the vibrant marine ecosystems that lie beneath the surface. Onboard Carpe Diem, you'll explore the iconic Central Atolls route, diving up to three times per day at some of the region’s most thrilling underwater locations. Expect encounters with a rich array of marine life, including schools of tuna and jacks, graceful manta rays, eagle rays, and numerous species of reef sharks. South Male Atoll is home to dramatic underwater topography—caves, soft coral gardens, and a notable wreck—teeming with big pelagics. One standout site, Miyaru Faru (named after the Dhivehi word for shark), offers thrilling chances to observe grey reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead as they cruise along the current-swept drop-offs. Felidhoo Atoll adds another layer of adventure, with deep channels and a striking wall draped in colourful soft corals, black coral bushes, and intricate swim-throughs. A night dive here is a memorable highlight, where large nurse sharks, giant trevallies, and stingrays make impressive appearances under the lights. In Ari Atoll, divers are frequently rewarded with sightings of the gentle giant whale shark, along with hammerheads, mantas, and other pelagic species, particularly in its protected marine zones. Please note: on the final full day of the itinerary, only two dives are conducted before returning to port.
Day 8
An early light breakfast followed by a departure from the boat for your final destination: Male International Airport.
Maldives Central, Southern & Deep South Atolls (13 Days / 12 Nights - 33 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 Male, South Male, Felidhoo, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Foammulah, Addu atolls
Day 1
Upon boarding the elegant Carpe Diem liveaboard, you'll attend a detailed welcome briefing designed to introduce you to the vessel and its experienced crew. After completing the necessary paperwork, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon check dive to get comfortable in the water. As the sun sets, dinner will be served in the comfort of the boat upper deck dining area, a perfect time to meet your fellow divers and crew. The adventure officially begins the next morning, when the boat sets sail from the harbour at first light.
Days 2-12
While the Maldives are best known for their pristine beaches and turquoise waters, it’s the incredible underwater world that truly captivates. Onboard Carpe Diem, you’ll journey from the Central Atolls to the far reaches of the Deep South, diving 3 times a day through some of the most famous marine environments in the region.
Often called “The Galápagos of the Maldives,” the Deep South is a haven for shark enthusiasts, with the chance to encounter up to 10 different shark species during your trip. You’ll navigate the dynamic channels of Huvadhoo Atoll, home to hammerheads and large aggregations of reef sharks. At Fuvahmulah, one of the most notable drift dive sites in the Indian Ocean, the open sea brings rare opportunities to encounter tiger sharks, oceanic manta rays, thresher sharks, mola mola, silky sharks, and other pelagics.
This route showcases the Maldives at its most raw and untamed, offering a truly memorable diving experience.
Felidhoo Atoll offers thrilling dives through deep channels and fast-moving currents, drawing in a variety of shark species along with schools of trevallies and tuna hunting for smaller prey. One of the highlights here is an unforgettable dive with nurse sharks.
In Meemu Atoll, you’ll have one of the best chances to witness whale sharks feeding on plankton in their natural habitat ,a truly mesmerizing experience. Moving on to Thaa Atoll, you’ll enjoy unforgettable drift dives alongside whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays gliding through the currents.
These remote dive sites are rich in marine biodiversity and largely untouched by human activity, an underwater adventure that will leave a lasting memory.
Please note that on the last full day of the trip there will be only 2 dives before the liveaboard travels back to port.
Day 13
An early light breakfast followed by checkout.
Please note that these trips sometimes run in reverse or use differing ports - check above for details.
Maldives Central Atolls (10 Days / 9 Nights - 24 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, Ari, Rasdhoo, South Male, Felidhoo and South Male atolls
Day 1
Once on board the Carpe Diem, guests will receive a welcome briefing to get acquainted with the vessel and crew. After completing some paperwork, there will be a check dive in the afternoon followed by dinner. The boat departs early the next morning.
Days 2-9
The Maldives are famous for their clear waters and white sandy beaches, but the marine life below the surface is just as remarkable. The Carpe Diem liveaboard follows the 'Classic' Central Atolls route, offering up to three dives a day. You may encounter tuna, jacks, reef sharks, manta rays, and eagle rays.
South Malé Atoll features schools of fish, soft corals, caves, and a notable wreck. Miyaru Faru is popular for shark sightings, including grey reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead. Felidhoo Atoll offers channel dives with reef sharks, along with caverns and overhangs covered in corals. A night dive here may include nurse sharks, stingrays, and trevallies. Ari Atoll is a marine protected area where whale sharks, hammerheads, and mantas are often spotted.
Please note that on the last full day of the trip there will be only 2 dives before the liveaboard travels back to port.
Day 10
On your last day, you will enjoy an early light breakfast followed by checkout.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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, Fuvahmulah, Addu atolls
Day 1
Upon boarding the Carpe Diem liveaboard, guests will receive a welcome briefing, complete some paperwork, and take part in an afternoon check dive. Dinner is served at sunset, with the boat setting off from the harbour early the next morning.
Days 2-7
For many, the highlight of a visit to the Deep South is encountering apex predators at Fuvahmulah Island. Divers can expect sightings of thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips, and tiger sharks. The area is home to a range of large species hunting among abundant smaller fish. Whitetip and grey reef sharks, mola mola, sailfish, whale sharks, and schools of tuna are also frequently spotted.
Huvadhoo Atoll features vibrant reefs, untouched lagoons, walls, and deep channels. It's home to a wide range of marine life, including stingrays, turtles, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, spinner dolphins, manta rays, thresher sharks, and large schools of fish. Hammerhead sharks may also be seen occasionally.
The itinerary includes dives at Addu Atoll, known for over 30 top-rated sites. These include wide channels, healthy reefs, and lagoon thilas where you may encounter reef mantas, turtles, sharks, and large pelagic fish. Addu is also home to the British Loyalty, the Maldives’ largest wreck at 143 metres. Along the outer reef walls, sightings may include dogtooth tuna, silvertips, batfish, fusiliers, and jackfish. Cleaning stations for oceanic manta rays with wingspans over 5 metres are also found here, along with various shark species.
Please note that on the last full day of the trip there will be only 2 dives before the liveaboard travels to port.
Day 8
A light breakfast is served early before the return journey to Male.
Please note that these cruises sometimes run in reverse or use different ports - check the trip schedule for details.
Maldives Far North & Northern Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 27 Dives)
Trip highlights: 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: Baa, Raa, Haa Daalu, Haa Halifu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Lhaviyani, North Male atolls
Day 1
Guests arriving on embarkation day will be warmly welcomed aboard the spacious Carpe Diem liveaboard. Once settled into your cabin, you'll attend a short orientation to familiarise yourself with the vessel and meet the crew. After completing the necessary paperwork, you'll have the opportunity to join an afternoon check dive to ease into the week of diving ahead. Dinner is served at sunset in the air-conditioned dining area where you will get to know your fellow guests. The liveaboard departs from the harbour early the next morning to begin your diving adventure.
Days 2-10
This remote and less-frequented route takes you through the Far North Atolls of the Maldives, an exceptional diving destination known for its deep channels and nutrient rich waters carried by open ocean currents. Divers have the chance to encounter manta rays, zebra sharks, silvertip and grey reef sharks, as well as explore vibrant thilas adorned with some of the Maldives' most impressive soft and hard coral formations. Marine life is abundant, with large fish schools frequently seen on dives. A standout site on this itinerary is Hirimaradhoo Thila, where sightings of elusive guitar sharks are possible, a rare highlight for even the most seasoned diver
Baa Atoll, in the northern Maldives, is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve known for its healthy reefs and diverse marine life. You may encounter small reef fish, turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks. The area features various underwater formations, including coral-covered walls, thilas, plateaus, overhangs, pinnacles, and swim throughs. 1 key location is Hanifaru Bay, a protected site where manta rays gather between May and November to feed on plankton. Snorkelling is permitted here under strict regulations, while several nearby dive sites offer further opportunities to explore the region.
Lhaviyani and Noonu atolls offer diverse diving experiences, with channels that draw in species such as grey reef sharks, leopard sharks, guitar sharks, and eagle rays. Soft corals add colour to the underwater landscape, while pinnacles provide sheltered habitats for reef fish. A key dive site in Lhaviyani is "The Shipyard", where 2 wrecks rest at different depths, creating a unique setting teeming with marine life.
In North Male Atoll, divers can explore nutrient rich thilas, reefs, and drop-offs that attract pelagic visitors. You might spot species like Napoleon wrasse, hawksbill turtles, giant trevally, and barracudas, alongside large schools of reef fish.
Please note that on the last full day of the trip there will be only 2 dives before the liveaboard travels to port in Baa Atoll.
Day 11
An early light breakfast before your flight back to Male.
Please note that some cruises may run in reverse order. We recommend checking the ports listed for the specific trip you're interested in, to ensure all your travel plans align accordingly.
Maldives Central & Northern Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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: Baa, Raa, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo, North Male and South Male atolls
Day 1
Guests collected from Male International Airport will board the spacious Carpe Diem liveaboard. After settling in, a welcome briefing introduces the crew and facilities, followed by some paperwork and a check dive in the afternoon. Dinner is served around sunset in the air-conditioned dining area. The boat departs early the next morning to begin the cruise.
Days 2-7
Prepare for a cruise through the less-visited northern atolls of the Maldives, including Baa Atoll, a designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The reefs here support a wide range of marine life, such as reef fish, turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks. Divers will encounter varied underwater features including walls, thilas, plateaus, overhangs, pinnacles, and swim-throughs. At Hanifaru Bay, a protected area, guests can snorkel (no diving permitted) during the May to November season, when manta rays gather to feed on plankton. Several dive sites nearby provide further exploration opportunities.
In the central and southern atolls, South Male offers caves, soft corals, and a notable wreck site, with frequent sightings of schooling fish and pelagics. Ari Atoll is known for its whale shark encounters in protected zones, while Rasdhoo Atoll can offer sightings of hammerhead sharks, manta rays, grey reef sharks, tuna, and jacks. North Male features thilas, nutrient-rich reefs, and drop-offs that attract larger marine species. Felidhoo Atoll is known for its deeper channels, where divers may observe reef sharks, rays, trevallies, and an occasional night dive with nurse sharks, stingrays, and other large fish.
Please note that on the last full day of the trip there will be only 2 dives before the liveaboard travels back to port.
Day 8
An early light breakfast is served before guests disembark at Dharavandhoo, the final port of the trip. From there, you will make your onward journey back to Male.
Please note that these cruises may occasionally operate in reverse or use alternative ports. Kindly refer to the itinerary details above for clarification.
Ari Atoll (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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 and South Ari Atoll, Rasdhoo Atoll
Day 1
Guests will board the spacious Carpe Diem liveaboard in Male. After a welcome briefing and completing some paperwork, you'll enjoy an afternoon check dive. Dinner is served around sunset in the air-conditioned dining area, offering a chance to meet the crew and fellow guests. The boat sets sail early the next morning.
Days 2-7
Diving in Ari Atoll offers some of the Maldives’ most spectacular marine encounters, with its nutrient-rich waters attracting an incredible diversity of pelagic and reef species. The atoll is renowned for its seasonal gatherings of whale sharks and manta rays, particularly around cleaning stations like Maaya Thila, where these gentle giants glide effortlessly past divers. Fish Head, a protected marine sanctuary, is another highlight, with swirling schools of snapper, trevally, and hunting grey reef sharks, while its coral walls host moray eels, lionfish, and sometimes hawksbill turtles.
Venturing to Rasdhoo Atoll, just north of Ari, rewards divers with drift dives along steep drop-offs, where hammerhead sharks patrol the blue during early morning dives. The atoll’s signature site, Rasdhoo Madivaru, is a magnet for pelagics, including eagle rays and tuna, while its overhangs shelter macro life like leaf scorpionfish and nudibranchs. Every dive at Ari and Rasdhoo promises a dynamic mix of big animal action and lively reef ecosystems in great visibility.
Kindly note that on the final full day of the trip, only 2 dives will be conducted before the liveaboard returns to port.
Day 8
Enjoy a light breakfast before disembarking the boat in Male and continuing your onward journey.
Maldives Central & Southern Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 27 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: Meemu, North Male, Ari, Rasdhoo, South Male, Felidhoo and South Male atolls
Day 1
Guests will be welcomed onboard the Carpe Diem liveaboard near Male International Airport and introduced to the crew during a short orientation. After completing some paperwork, you’ll gear up for a relaxed check dive in the afternoon. In the evening, enjoy your first dinner on board in the air conditioned dining area, offering a chance to meet fellow divers. The boat sets off from the harbour early the next morning to begin your diving adventure.
Days 2-10
The Maldives are renowned not just for their idyllic islands, but also for their thriving underwater ecosystems. Aboard Carpe Diem, you'll explore the Central and Southern Atolls with up to 3 dives a day, offering the chance to encounter a diverse range of marine life including reef sharks, mantas, eagle rays, tuna and jacks. Diving in South Malé Atoll offers an exhilarating mix of big pelagic encounters and vibrant reef dives, with Miyaru Faru standing out as one of the Maldives' premier shark diving sites. This thrilling channel dive attracts large schools of grey reef sharks, along with occasional hammerheads and eagle rays, all patrolling the strong currents that sweep the atoll's outer edge. The atoll's sheltered inner reefs boast coral gardens packed with reef fish, while manta rays frequent cleaning stations at sites like Embudhu Express.
Felidhoo Atoll offers spectacular drift diving in the heart of the Maldives. The atoll is renowned for Alimathaa Kandu, a thrilling channel dive where strong currents attract grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and schools of fusiliers and snappers. Equally impressive is Fotteyo Kandu, considered one of the Maldives' best dive sites, with its dramatic overhangs sheltering white tip reef sharks, soft corals, and occasional passing manta rays.
Ari Atoll offers world-class encounters with whale sharks and manta rays, while nearby Rasdhoo thrills divers with hammerhead shark sightings and exhilarating drift dives along the atoll walls. Meemu Atoll presents further chances to observe whale sharks and mantas, particularly as they feed on the plankton-rich waters of the area.
Note: only 2 dives are scheduled on the final full day before your journey back to port.
Day 11
A light breakfast is served before disembarkation in Male
[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].
