Launched back in 2004, Conte Max was the pioneer liveaboard yacht in the Maldives to combine diving with the wellbeing facilities of an onboard Ayurveda centre. Over the years it has refined its guest service and facilities, and enhanced its cuisine offerings to remain as popular as ever among its growing throng of admiring guests.
Conte Max now has a wealth of experience in the concept of liveaboard dive cruises which combine a small spa specialised in regenerative Ayurveda treatments; ideal in such an awe-inspiring location as the Maldives. For those not familiar with Ayurveda, it is an ancient therapy dating back 6,000 years. Ayurvedic treatments and massages use freshly prepared natural oils and herbs. Such beauty treatments are aimed at relaxing both body and mind and are considered vital to one's overall wellness. A masseur is always on board.
All the Conte Max dive cruise routes are carefully selected based on the operator’s long experience in cruising the Maldives since 1990. The liveaboard trip schedules are organised according to the weather, the seasons, and currents, as well as the water visibility, in order to maximise the chances of great underwater encounters at all the dive sites visited. Dives are conducted from an accompanying 18m traditional Maldivian boat called a dhoni. The Conte Max liveaboard is equipped with 2 compressors and a generator, underwater scooters, and a guest bathroom. As well as being a dedicated diving vessel, the dhoni also frees up space on the Conte Max for guest use, such as a dedicated photography area. The boat is rebreather-friendly, and nitrox is free for EANx-certified divers! If you're a non-diver, a free try dive can be arranged during the cruise! For guest safety, Nautilus Lifelines are available, as well as a defibrillator and spinal barrel for emergencies.
The Conte Max liveaboard can accommodate up to 21 guests in 9 cabins, but usually there are no more than 17. Cabins feature stand-alone beds (no bunk beds), and each has its own ensuite bathroom, with separate shower cubicle. One great feature of Conte Max is that it has a single cabin - a rare find on Maldives liveaboards!
There is an outdoor and an indoor saloon/ dining area (used in case of rain). Meals are served at the table and the menu includes Italian, international and Maldivian cuisines, often using fresh fish, although the chefs are always ready to satisfy any specific guest needs. Once a week with Conte Max, there is a buffet of traditional Maldivian dishes, and a beach dinner. The indoor saloon also has a bar offering a wide choice of soft drinks and spirits, and a TV-DVD area furnished with comfortable sofas.
There are social open-air areas on 3 decks, furnished with sun loungers, sun mats and deck chairs. The decks allow guests to enjoy the breath-taking Maldivian scenery, both when sailing and while relaxing when the liveaboard is moored in the lagoons for the night.
There are 9 cabins onboard Conte Max, 1 on the upper deck with twin beds, 1 on the main deck with twin beds, and 7 on the lower deck. 2 of the lower deck cabins are twin bed, 4 can be used as double, twin or triple share, and 1 can be used for single occupancy. All cabins have private bathrooms.
All the cabins have:
- Individual control air-conditioning
- Private bathroom with hot water shower
- Hand basin, toiletries, towels and bathrobes
- Portholes (lower deck), windows (main and upper deck)
- Reading lights
- Bedding
- UK-style mains outlet 110-220 volts - 24 hours per day
- Cabinet and mirror
- Smoke detector and fire extinguishers
- Luggage space
No. of bathrooms / showers - 9 / 9 - hot water
Maldives Central Atolls
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: Route depends on sea conditions. 3 options:
North Male, South Male, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo atolls; or
North Male, South Male, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo, Meemu atolls; or
North Male, South Male, Felidhoo, Meemu atolls.
Day 1
A transfer from Malé International Airport delivers you to the Conte Max, where the crew handles cabin allocation and conducts the essential welcome briefing. The vessel departs early afternoon, and the check dive serves as both a familiarisation exercise and a gentle reintroduction to the warm, buoyant waters of the Indian Ocean. Lunch and dinner are served as you settle into the rhythm of liveaboard life, and by nightfall, the week ahead begins to take shape.
Core Days
A week aboard the Conte Max liveaboard grants experienced divers something increasingly rare: genuine access to the Maldives' most celebrated underwater terrain, without the crowds. This 36-metre motor yacht operates as a comfortable base for exploring the central atolls. Each channel crossed and each thila descended brings a different character of diving, shaped by seasonal currents and the rhythms of the marine life that inhabits these waters. The subsequent days unfold across a network of atolls that represent the Maldives at its best.
Ari Atoll holds some of the region's most iconic sites. At Maaya Thila, the current sweeps across a submerged pinnacle where grey reef sharks circle, napoleon wrasse patrol the coral gardens, and schools of fusiliers form shimmering walls. Nearby, Fish Head offers a different spectacle: a flat-topped underwater tower rising to 10 metres below the surface, its sides draped in gorgonians and black coral. Grey reef sharks gather on the current-facing edge, allowing for close observation without intrusion. The night dive at Fesdu Lagoon is a rare opportunity. One of only a few places on the planet where manta rays feed after dark, the lagoon comes alive as plankton draws these graceful creatures into the beam of the boat's lights. Watching them glide through the moonlit water, mouths agape, is an experience that lingers long after the dive ends. The wreck of the Fesdu, a 30-metre fishing boat resting at 29 metres, has become a thriving artificial reef. Soft corals cover the structure, moray eels inhabit the deck, and large groupers have taken up residence in the engine room. For those hoping to encounter whale sharks, the southern tip of Ari Atoll offers year-round opportunities, with sightings common at Maamigili and surrounding channels.
Crossing to Felidhoo Atoll shifts the character of the diving with Conte Max. The channels at Fotteyo Kandu and Miyaru Kandu offer exhilarating drift dives through marine protected areas. At Fotteyo, dolphins frequently cross the channel at dawn and dusk, while yellow soft corals carpet the reef slopes. Miyaru Kandu, its name translating directly from Dhivehi as 'shark', delivers on its promise with grey reef sharks, eagle rays and schools of jacks moving through the current. The night dive at Alimatha is a spectacle of a different order. As darkness falls, nurse sharks and stingrays gather in the shallows, drawn by the torchlight. It is controlled, safe and thoroughly memorable. A daytime dive at Dhiggiri, nearby, offers a more peaceful encounter with the same species gliding over sandy bottoms in the full light of day.
South Malé Atoll holds Kandhooma Thila, a site ranked among the top ten in the world for shark diving. White tips, grey reef sharks and green turtles are regularly sighted here, while the wreck of the Gulhi offers a more tranquil alternative for those who prefer macro subjects. Scorpionfish, frogfish and the usual array of reef inhabitants have made this structure their home. The shallow reef at Lankan Manta Point, North Malé Atoll, acts as a cleaning station where manta rays arrive during the southwest monsoon to be tended by wrasse. Rasdhoo Atoll holds its own reputation. Early morning dives at Rasdhoo Madivaru occasionally yield hammerhead sharks cruising the drop-offs before dispersing, while the narrow spur of the reef itself provides a spectacular formation with pelagics such as barracuda and trevally patrolling the outer edge.
Final Day
An early breakfast precedes a final group photograph and farewells to the Conte Max crew. Disembarkation is followed by the transfer to Malé airport.
[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].
A typical day on the Conte Max liveaboard begins early. Coffee is served in the saloon or on deck, a quiet moment to watch the sunrise before the first dive of the day. After returning from that initial immersion, a proper breakfast awaits. The pace then settles. There’s time to log your dives, swap stories with fellow guests, or stretch out on one of the sun loungers before a second dive. Lunch is served around 1 pm, a welcome break before the afternoon’s diving. The third dive is typically scheduled for around 3 pm, followed by snacks to replenish energy. Evenings are for unwinding. As the light softens, drinks from the bar are enjoyed as the day’s final stories are shared, leading up to dinner at 7:30 pm.
The kitchen is a focal point of life aboard the Conte Max, and the liveaboard crew takes real pride in the quality of the meals. The approach to food is straightforward: fresh, flavourful, and varied. Menus draw from Italian and international recipes, with a natural emphasis on fresh fish and vegetables landed at local markets. You might find a classic pasta dish one day, a perfectly grilled reef fish the next, or a light salad with tropical fruit. The chef is known for being accommodating, with guest reviews noting the ability to cater to dietary needs like gluten-free diets. Meals are generally served at your designated table in the open air on the aft deck when weather permits - a simple pleasure as the yacht rests at anchor. If it’s cooler or breezy, the air-conditioned saloon offers a comfortable alternative. Snacks are brought out between dives: perhaps savoury bites or something sweet, designed for a quick energy boost. The bar offers a selection of soft drinks and spirits, available for when you feel like a sundowner.
No week in the Maldives would be complete without a couple of signature experiences. During the week, the Conte Max crew arranges a Maldivian cuisine evening, a chance to sample the rich, spiced flavours of the local islands. Another highlight is the beach barbecue on a deserted island. The crew transforms a stretch of sand into a dining area, complete with a grill and lanterns. Past guests have written about the magic of these evenings: the food, the bonfire, and then the stunningly clear night sky revealing a canopy of stars as you take a zodiac back to the liveaboard. One group even recalled the crew sculpting a whale shark out of sand as a centrepiece, the kind of unexpected, light-hearted gesture that defines the atmosphere on board.
"
Everything was great, well organised, nice and clean cabins, friendly and helpful crew, great guides, amazing food. The dives were really good, saw lot of sharks, mantas, eagle rays. Lot of other activities like snorkelling, island exploring and bbq.
Dive The World were very helpful during the booking process, helped finding out a bit more about the trip itinerary and finding the best option and price." -
Guido, Australia, 16 April 2026 ...
"
Old and shabby boat, without redeeming details.
Itinerary guided mostly by need to repair the air-conditioning (which shouldn't be damaged in the first place), led to loss of some great dives, replaced by bad ones." -
Jose Oliveira, Portugal, 16 March 2023 ...
