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 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, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Central Atolls
Day 1
A representative of Duke of York will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this fantastic 36m motor yacht and its crew of 10. The boat will leave port, usually by 2 pm, and guests will do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day, depending on your arrival time. You will be able to get to know the crew and the boat better during the introductory briefing that the tour leader will give once all the guests are on board. You are about to have a great week of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!
Core Days
The Maldives are known for the stunning beaches and azure waters, but it's the life beneath the water's surface that will leave you speechless. Conte Max will take you to see amazing coral reefs and an abundance of marine life all year round on 3 dives a day. Whale sharks are seen very often, while diving or snorkelling. Felidhoo Atoll will surprise you with its huge schools of fish and larger marine life such as large schools of grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, tuna, Napoleon wrasse and many colourful reef fish. Hanifaru Bay at Baa Atoll is where you could experience a whirling feeding frenzy of manta rays. Mantas arrive in their hundreds to gorge on the nutrient rich soup during the southwest monsoon when the plankton blooms, a spectacle to behold! Be prepared for awesome apex predator encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah Island. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. The Maldives has the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays - up to 9 in a single dive during dives at Meemu Atoll!
There are 3 dives a day, except on the last full day of the trip when there is only 1 morning dive before returning to Male.
A typical day starts with coffee before the first dive of the day. The second dive follows breakfast then lunch is served around 1 pm. The afternoon dive is normally scheduled for 3 pm, and dinner is served at 7:30 pm. The liveaboard operator takes great pride in the quality of its food. 3 main meals a day will fuel you for the diving on safari, while the snacks served each day are aimed for energy boosts and to simply spoil you! Meals are served at your table in the open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con saloon. Fresh fish is the speciality of the cruise, together with plenty of vegetables, and cooked according to Italian, Maldivian and international recipes. There will be 1 beach BBQ during the safari.
Day 8
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour in the early morning. Say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport.
Please note that these cruises use different ports - check above for details.
[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.
