Built in 2010, the Duke of York is a 36 metre long liveaboard operating diving cruises throughout the Maldives archipelago. The yacht is European-managed by one of the most experienced operators in the country.
All Duke of York cruise routes are finalised according to the weather, the season, currents, and the prevailing ocean visibility, to maximise the chances of great underwater encounters at all the chosen dive sites. Dives are conducted from an accompanying 18m traditional Maldivian boat called a dhoni. The liveaboard is equipped with 3 compressors and a generator, a guest bathroom, emergency oxygen and safety equipment (radio, life jackets, fire extinguishers etc). As well as being the dedicated dive boat, the dhoni allows more space on the Duke of York for guest use. The boat is rebreather-friendly, and nitrox is free of charge for EANx-certified divers! Non-divers will have the opportunity of a free try dive during the safari! For additional guest safety, Nautilus Lifelines are available, as well as a defibrillator for emergencies.
The Duke of York liveaboard can accommodate up to 25 guests in 11 cabins, but normally there are no more than 20. Cabins feature stand-alone beds (no bunk beds), and each has its own private bathroom. One of the best features of Duke of York is that it has a single cabin - a rare find on Maldives liveaboard cruises!
There is an al-fresco, and an indoor dining area (used when it rains). Meals are served buffet style and the menu includes Italian, international and Maldivian cuisines, often using freshly caught fish, although the chefs are always willing to cook up something to satisfy any guest need. Once a week during an evening there is an island 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.
Duke of York has a spa room on the upper deck. The spa specialises in Ayurveda treatments, an ancient therapy that dates back over 6,000 years. Fresh oil and herb preparations are used to purify the body and relax the mind. A masseur is always at hand to meet your needs.
There are open-air social areas on 3 of the decks, furnished with sun loungers, bean bags, and deck chairs. The decks allow guests to enjoy the awesome scenery of the Maldives, both when sailing and while relaxing when the liveaboard yacht is moored during surface intervals and at night.
There are 11 cabins onboard the Duke of York. 3 on the upper deck - 2 with twin beds and 1 with double/twin bed. 8 on the lower deck - 3 are twin bed, 4 can be used as double, twin or triple share, and 1 cabin 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
- Cabinet and mirror
- Bedding
- Fire extinguishers and life jackets
- Luggage space
- UK-style mains outlet 220 volts - 24 hours per day
- Adapters available
No. of bathrooms / showers - 11 / 11 - hot water
Maldives Central Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 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: 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 short transfer from Malé International Airport takes you to the Duke of York, where the crew assigns cabins and conducts the essential welcome briefing. The vessel departs early afternoon, and the first order of business is a check dive to shake off the travel fatigue. Lunch and dinner are served as you settle in, and by nightfall, the rhythm of the week ahead becomes clear.
Core Days
A week aboard the Duke of York liveaboard offers precisely what seasoned divers seek: unfiltered access to the Maldives' most celebrated underwater terrain. This 36-metre vessel, accompanied by a dedicated dive dhoni, operates as a comfortable base for exploring the central atolls, where the diving changes character with each channel crossed and each thila descended. The coming days unfold across a network of atolls that represent the Maldives at its best: North Malé, South Malé, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo (Vaavu), Vattaru and Meemu. The precise route depends on sea conditions and seasonal currents, but the quality of diving remains consistently high.
In Ari Atoll, the famous cleaning stations at Maaya Thila and Moofushi Kandu offer encounters with manta rays gliding in for their regular upkeep . Nearby, Fish Head presents a different spectacle: a submerged pinnacle where grey reef sharks gather in numbers, patrolling the current-swept edges. The night dive at Fesdhu Lagoon is a highlight for many, with manta rays feeding on the plankton attracted by the boat's lights. It is one of only 3 places in the world where you can witness this behaviour after dark. For those seeking whale sharks, the southern tip of Ari Atoll provides year-round opportunities. The wreck of the Fesdhu, a 30-metre fishing boat resting on the sandy bottom, has become a haven for soft corals, moray eels and large groupers.
Crossing to Vaavu Atoll, the diving takes on a more dramatic character. The channels at Fotteyo Kandu and Miyaru Kandu offer exhilarating drift dives, with grey reef sharks, eagle rays and schools of jacks moving through the current. The night dive at Alimatha is a spectacle of another kind: dozens of nurse sharks and stingrays gather in the shallows, drawn by the torchlight. It is controlled, safe and thoroughly memorable.
South Malé Atoll contributes 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 peaceful alternative for those who prefer macro subjects. The Gulhi has become encrusted with corals and attracts scorpionfish, frogfish and the usual array of reef inhabitants. Rasdhoo Atoll, lying to the northeast, holds its own reputation. Early morning dives at Rasdhoo Madivaru occasionally yield hammerhead sharks cruising the drop-offs before dispersing.
Day 8
An early breakfast precedes a final group photograph and farewells to the Duke of York crew. Disembarkation is followed by the transfer to Malé airport, the week's memories lingering as the Maldives recedes below the wing.
[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 the Duke of York liveaboard, the daily rhythm is set to the pace of the ocean, designed to balance underwater adventure with comfort and a welcoming atmosphere. The schedule is built around the diving, beginning gently with coffee available from 6 am for early risers, a quiet moment to watch the day break before the first dive around 7:30 am. Back on board, a hearty buffet breakfast awaits, a chance to refuel and discuss morning encounters before a second dive around 10:30 am to explore a different site.
Lunch is served around 1 pm on the main deck, enjoyed in the open air or the air-conditioned saloon depending on the weather, followed by the afternoon dive at 3 pm. As evening arrives, there is time to unwind with a drink from the bar or watch the sunset before dinner at 7:30 pm, the main meal of the day and a social affair for sharing dive stories.
The Duke of York team takes real pride in the quality of the food, prepared fresh in the compact galley with a style that is predominantly Italian-inspired, complemented by Maldivian and international dishes. Fresh fish is the undoubted speciality, caught locally and simply grilled, baked with herbs, or prepared in a rich curry, always accompanied by a generous selection of vegetables, salads, and pastas. Between meals, the crew puts out snacks such as fresh fruit and biscuits to keep energy levels up, a thoughtful touch that makes the experience feel all the more relaxed.
Once during the week, the liveaboard crew sets up a beach barbecue on a deserted island, a wonderful evening with the grill fired over a coconut husk fire and the smell of sizzling fish and meats in the tropical air. From the early morning coffee to that final BBQ, daily life aboard the Duke of York is about creating a comfortable, sociable home-from-home, perfectly positioned to explore the underwater world of the Maldives.
