Notes: Child policy: Children aged 12+ years old are welcome to join any Emperor Explorer II trip. Children under 12 (but not younger than 8) may be accepted on board for a full or private charter, subject to consent from the group leader. Parents (or a legal supervisor) need to always be with the child - in the water, onboard, or in the cabin. This means children must be accommodated in the same cabin as a parent. Child rates are the same as adult rates.
Dive experience: Central and Northern Atolls - you don’t need a minimum number of logged dives to join these trips but should be comfortable diving in currents as they can be unpredictable and strong. Many dives are below 18m therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking the PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip.
Southern routes - these expeditions are not for beginners, as many dives are below 18m and currents can be unpredictable and strong. We recommend that you have at least 100 logged dives and we require that you are a deep diver/advanced open water diver or equivalent to join these trips.
Divers with less experience will be able to join Emperor Explorer II liveaboard expeditions but may have to miss some dives if dive certifications and/or experience is not sufficient.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (1 BBQ on deserted island weather permitting), snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, glass of wine with dinner, transfers to the boat from the airport, dives, 4 experienced English speaking divemasters, tanks, weights and weight belts, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, Green tax, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (incl. surface marker device and dive computer USD 271 per week, must be pre-booked), dive insurance (can be arranged on arrival). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival, with equipment ordered in advance (cash - EUR, GBP or USD, or credit card).
Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, 15 litre tanks (USD 88 per week), torch, non-scheduled airport transfers. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: Emperor Explorer II diving expeditions typically start from the harbour next to Malé International Airport. The boat stays moored in port on the first and last nights, which means arrival flights can land at any point on embarkation day without disrupting the schedule. 2 group transfers run from the airport to the vessel on Day 1, at 12 noon and 4 pm. Guests should head to the meeting point beside the help desk in the arrivals hall. For departures from Gan in Addu City, an Emperor Maldives representative in a branded shirt holding a sign will be waiting outside the international arrivals area. Additional travel guidance, including airline suggestions, is available in our How to get to the Maldives section.
The last dive of the trip is scheduled for around 1 pm on the penultimate day. Disembarkation follows at 7 am. A surface interval of at least 18 hours is required before any onward flight.
Non-diver rate: Non-divers receive a free snorkelling kit and a USD 50 voucher to spend on board.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - solo travellers may choose to share a cabin and pay the regular rate, or pay a supplement of 50% for their own cabin. No mixed gender sharing for solo travellers. Solo travellers can secure the double bed in a twin share cabin for USD 35 extra charge.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Please ask for details.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 23 guests and 3 additional persons can join the expedition free of charge.
The Maldives remains one of the most dependable liveaboard destinations on the planet, and the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard was built to make the most of it. Launched as Emperor's Maldives flagship, this 44-metre, 4-deck vessel with a fibre hull was designed around space and comfort rather than squeezing in extra berths. With a maximum of 26 guests, there is room to move, room to spread out camera gear, and room to properly rest between dives. Emperor Explorer II expedition routes cover the classic central atolls through to the deep south, with channels, thilas and cleaning stations all within reach.
Onboard, the layout makes sense for scuba divers. The air-conditioned lounge on the main deck has comfy sofas, a TV, book, music and movie library, board games, an internationally stocked bar and the dining area. Up top, outdoor seating with deckchairs and beanbags catches the breeze, while the sun deck offers loungers for the surface intervals. Cabins on the Emperor Explorer II include 4 suites on the upper deck with queen-size double and single beds, 2 king-size suites on the main deck, and 7 lower deck cabins, each with en-suite bathrooms, individually controlled air conditioning and 2 cabin towels per guest.
Diving runs from a dedicated 24-metre dhoni with 3 staff, fitted with its own compressors, oxygen, comprehensive First Aid and AED, plus diving towels. This keeps tank filling, gear storage and entries separate from the main vessel, which matters on a week of 3 to 4 dives a day. There are 4 dive guides on board the Emperor Explorer II, and nitrox up to 32% is free of charge for certified divers via a membrane system. Tanks are S80 (11.1 litre) aluminium as standard, with C100 (13.2 litre) available on request, and all divers are required to carry a dive computer, SMB and reef hooks, plus a torch for night dives. PADI courses are available, from Discover Scuba through to Advanced Open Water and specialities.
The Emperor Explorer II liveaboard pricing follows a No Hidden Extras approach. Marine park fees, port departure fees, environmental (green) tax and bed (tourist) tax are all included in the cruise price. Meals are buffet style with local and international dishes, and water, tea and coffee are complimentary around the clock. Soft drinks, fresh juices and alcohol are chargeable onboard. Wi-Fi is available through data packages purchased onboard, though signal varies with location.
The operator behind the Emperor Explorer II has been running day diving and liveaboard safaris since 1992, with a fleet that consistently attracts strong reviews. Guides most commonly speak English, German and Spanish. Transfers from Male or Gan airports to the boat are included on check-in day. For divers wanting a Maldives liveaboard with generous space, well-organised diving logistics and transparent pricing, the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard is a straightforward choice. Nitrox is included, the marine park fees are covered, and the dhoni setup keeps the dive operation running smoothly from the first check dive to the final safety stop.
Maldives Central & Southern Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: South Ari Atoll, South Male Atoll, Felidhoo Atoll, Meemu Atoll
Day 1
When you board the Emperor Explorer II in Male, you'll have a light sandwich lunch while your tour leader gives a boat introduction. They'll help you get familiar with the liveaboard and meet the crew. The afternoon is yours to relax, unpack, or sunbathe on the deck. A bell will ring for dinner in the air-conditioned dining area. Get a good night's sleep; you'll begin diving at some of the best sites in the Maldives tomorrow. The boat stays in the harbour the first night.
Core Days
The powerful currents of the Indian Ocean attract a variety of hungry pelagic fish to the Maldives. Divers on this liveaboard trip can spot these creatures from a distance, thanks to an impressive visibility of up to 40 meters. The channels, known locally as kandus, are a highway for a great number of species, including grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, and majestic eagle rays. For patient divers and experienced guides, even bigger surprises often await in the blue, such as encounters with gentle whale sharks, graceful manta rays at their cleaning stations, or even majestic hammerhead sharks in the early morning. It's also a great place to see turtles, which are a common sight on many reefs.
The walls in Felidhoo and Meemu atolls feature majestic yellow soft coral and countless species of reef fish. Beyond the channels, Felidhoo Atoll offers a variety of dive sites, from pinnacles (thilas) to wall dives with beautiful overhangs and caves. These reefs are vibrant with hard and soft corals and teeming with smaller reef fish, turtles, and moray eels. A particular highlight is the Alimathaa night dive, a unique experience where hundreds of nurse sharks gather near the jetty, providing a spectacular and unforgettable encounter.
Meemu Atoll offers a diverse and exciting diving experience that caters to all levels of divers. Known for its healthy reefs and a mix of gentle and thrilling dive sites, it's a fantastic destination for those seeking an authentic underwater adventure. Some of the most popular dive sites include Medhufushi Thila, a submerged pinnacle known for its rich biodiversity and overhangs, and Mulaku Kandu, a channel where the currents bring in a spectacular show of pelagic life.
And just when you think it can't get any better, South Ari Atoll will surprise you again with its close encounters with whale sharks and oceanic mantas. A great liveaboard vacation with the Emperor Explorer II!
Please note that there will only be 2 dives on the last full day of the trip as the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard heads back to harbour. In the afternoon the crew will rinse your dive gear and hang it out to dry. You might also have the chance to set foot on land during the week for a tasty barbeque night of meat and seafood on a deserted island, depending on the schedule and the conditions.
Day 8
Guests will be taken back to Male Airport after check out and an early light breakfast.
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: North Male, Rasdhoo, Ari atolls, Felidhoo, South Male
Day 1
Your liveaboard adventure begins the moment you board the Emperor Explorer II in Male. After a light, sandwich-style lunch served on deck, the tour leader will introduce you to the boat's layout, safety features, and the friendly crew. This is a relaxed and welcoming start, giving you the entire afternoon to settle in and explore. Dinner is part of your boarding day, complete with a complimentary glass of wine. Your first night will be spent in the harbour.
Core Days
The liveaboard diving schedule includes 2 morning dives, 1 in the afternoon, and a sunset or night dive, a relaxed rhythm that lets you explore the Maldives Central Atolls. The route starts in North Male Atoll, where coral-rich reefs and sheltered sites offer a gentle introduction. From there, the boat heads south to Rasdhoo, an atoll famous for early morning encounters with hammerhead sharks and graceful manta rays.
North Ari follows, with beautiful underwater topography, attracting grey reef sharks, turtles, and schooling fish. Diving in North Ari Atoll is a thrilling experience, known for its dramatic underwater landscapes and large marine life. Unlike other areas of the Maldives, North Ari's dive sites are defined by thilas (underwater pinnacles) and kandus (channels) where strong currents create a dynamic environment. South Ari is a highlight for many, and best known for its long, eastern reef where whale sharks are frequently sighted. Snorkelling with these gentle giants near Maamigili is often a key part of the itinerary. The area is a protected marine area, which helps ensure a high chance of sightings.
Later in the week, Emperor Explorer II reaches the quieter, less-trafficked Felidhoo Atoll. This is an ideal location for a night dive with nurse sharks and for spotting morays hidden in the reef. The circuit concludes in South Male Atoll, which is known for its fast currents, vibrant reef life, and the chance to see eagle rays.
Throughout your trip, expect to see a rich mix of marine life, including large fish like sharks and mantas, as well as a variety of reef fish, morays, and colourful corals. Don't miss Maaya Thila, a classic dive site where sharks and mantas frequently cruise by. The night dive with nurse sharks is an unforgettable experience, and snorkelling with whale sharks in South Ari is a true bucket-list moment.
On the last full day, the schedule includes only 2 dives as the boat begins its return to the harbour. That afternoon, the crew will rinse and hang your gear to dry, giving you time to reflect on the week’s incredible encounters.
Final Day
Check out from the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard takes place in Male and guests will be taken to the airport after an early light breakfast.
Maldives Deep South & Southern Atolls (15 Days / 14 Nights - 40 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: Laamu, Thaa, Meemu, Felidhoo, Huvadhoo atolls, Fuvahmulah Island, Addu Atoll
Day 1
Board the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard at Gan on Addu Atoll. After settling in, there's time for a light lunch before the tour leader runs through the essentials: the boat, the crew, and the week ahead. They'll do what they can to make sure you're set for a strong trip. Dinner is served, and the boat spends the night in port. A full night's sleep, and tomorrow the real diving begins.
Core Days
The southern Maldives see fewer boats, deeper water, and channels that pull nutrient-rich currents from the open ocean. Over the coming days, the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard moves through a string of atolls, each with its own character, and each offering the chance to be in the water with the Indian Ocean's larger residents.
Fuvahmulah sits alone, an island without a lagoon, rising from abyssal depths. Here, the south plateau drops steeply to a sandy shelf at around 45 metres. The diving is drift-oriented, and with the current running, you might encounter tiger sharks, thresher sharks, silvertips, and occasionally hammerheads. Oceanic manta rays also pass through. The water is clear, the terrain dramatic, and the shark encounters happen without baiting - Emperor doesn't use chum, so the animals come and go on their own terms.
Further west, Huvadhoo Atoll is the deepest in the Maldives, and the channels here see serious current. Villingili Kandu, on an incoming flow, can be alive with grey reef sharks patrolling the mouth. Kooddoo and Nilandhoo kandus also hold good pelagic potential - silky sharks, barracuda, tuna, and the odd hammerhead if conditions align. Night dives here sometimes draw whale sharks, drawn in by krill around the boat lights.
Laamu Atoll is less visited, and the reefs reflect that. Fushi Kandu, in the northeast, drops from a shallow channel bed to a sandy plateau at 35 metres. The fish life is dense with snappers, sweetlips, eagle rays schooling in numbers, and reef sharks holding in the current. Maabaidhoo Kandu offers similar terrain. The coral here is healthy, the sites uncrowded, and there's a feeling of being somewhere that still sees few divers.
Thaa and Meemu atolls sit in between, with channels that funnel pelagic life. In Thaa, Dhifushi and Dhiyamigili can turn up hammerheads or sailfish if you spend time in the blue. Meemu has manta cleaning stations at Kurali Kandu and Muli Corner, along with grey reef sharks and eagle rays. Vanhuravalhi, a narrow channel, offers good shark encounters and soft coral-covered blocks near the bottom.
Felidhoo Atoll holds some of the central region's most reliable sites. Miyaru Kandu, north of Alimatha, is a classic. Divers hook in at the channel mouth and watch grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and jacks move through. Fotteyo Kandu and Golden Wall add variety with overhangs, yellow soft coral, and the chance for hammerheads or leaf fish depending on the current.
Addu Atoll, the southernmost, brings a different flavour. Maa Kandu has a manta cleaning station at 16 to 20 metres and divers hook in and watch the rays hover over the coral. The HMS British Loyalty, a 140-metre tanker torpedoed in WWII, rests on its starboard side, with the port side shallowing to 16 metres. Black coral grows on the structure, and small marine life fills the wreck. Demon Corner, a drift along Hithadhoo's northern reef, can produce grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional manta passing through the blue.
The last dive morning with the Emperor Explorer II offers one final drift or reef dive before the 18-hour surface interval clock starts. By early afternoon, the boat heads back towards Male Harbour. The crew rinses and hangs gear, and there's time to settle any tabs and pack.
Day 15
Disembarkation is after an early breakfast, with transfers to Male Airport.
The trip sometimes runs in reverse, departing Male and finishing in Addu. It's worth checking when booking, but the diving remains the same either way.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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 Atoll, Fuvahmulah Island, Addu Atoll: HMS British Loyalty
Day 1
Upon boarding the Emperor Explorer II liveaboard in Gan, you’ll be welcomed with a light sandwich-style lunch, while the tour leader gives a quick intro to the boat and crew. Spend the afternoon settling into your cabin or relaxing on the sun deck. A bell rings for dinner, which will be served in the air-conditioned dining room, then it’s time to rest. Your first night onboard the liveaboard is spent in the harbour. The next day, the diving begins at some of the best-loved sites in the Maldives’ Deep South.
Core Days
Fuvahmulah Island is renowned for its exceptional pelagic safari experiences. This remote island is uniquely situated, rising sharply from ocean depths over 2,000 meters, which creates a powerful draw for large marine life. Divers can expect consistent, year-round encounters with tiger sharks, as multiple individuals often patrol the same area daily. The island is also a hub for other apex predators. Silvertip sharks can be seen cruising along the deep walls, and between January and April, schools of thresher sharks, known for their distinctive long tails, frequently glide through the blue. December to May is the 'manta season', when dozens of oceanic mantas gather in the nutrient-rich currents to feed, often performing barrel rolls just feet from amazed divers.
Huvadhoo Atoll is a world-class destination for divers of the Emperor Explorer II seeking incredible shark encounters. Its massive lagoon, one of the deepest on the planet, acts as a natural marine amphitheatre. At night, the waters come alive with a truly unique spectacle as juvenile whale sharks feed on plankton near the surface, their spotted bodies visible in the glow of dive lights. During the day, the action is nonstop at famous channels like Fottey Kandu, where hundreds of grey reef sharks form dense, living walls in the current. The atoll's signature dive site, Gaafaru Kandu, delivers a heart-pounding experience with great hammerheads emerging from the deep blue, their distinct profiles thrilling divers. Beyond sharks, lucky divers may also spot oceanic sunfish, also known as mola mola, drifting lazily, or witness congregations of silky sharks moving in synchronised harmony through the sapphire-coloured water.
Addu Atoll rounds out this trio of southern Maldivian atolls with a special combination of historical shipwrecks and vibrant marine life. The British Loyalty wreck, a 140-metre WWII tanker, is now a thriving artificial reef covered in colourful soft corals and home to large schools of batfish. Nearby, channels like Maa Kandu are regularly visited by both reef and oceanic mantas, especially during the southeast monsoon.
Day 8
Check out is after an early light breakfast. Guests will be taken to Koodoo Airport on Laamu Atoll.
Note: these Emperor Explorer II expeditions sometimes run in reverse, so please check your trip details for ports of departure and return.
[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 day on the Emperor Explorer II follows the steady pattern of Maldives liveaboard diving, with meals placed between dives. The schedule shifts with the trip plan and weather forecast, but breakfast generally lands around 7:30 to 8 am after the first dive, lunch at 12:30 to 1 pm, and dinner at 7:30 to 8 pm. The order matters: every meal comes after a dive, with a long surface interval before the next one. That rhythm shapes the day, and after a few dives it starts to feel natural.
Breakfast is served buffet style in the saloon, and guests are asked the day before which style of eggs they would like, whether fried, scrambled, poached or omelette. Alongside the eggs, expect bread, sausages, beans, French bread, cereals, yoghurts and fruit. Lunch and dinner follow a similar format but change daily, drawing on grilled fish, cooked fish, chicken, beef, several types of pasta, salads, potatoes, desserts and fruit. Once a week, a Maldivian dinner takes over the buffet, with a wide spread and a detailed explanation from the chef on what is being served and how it is prepared.
Snacks are laid out between dives and are complimentary: crisps and chips, cakes, biscuits and local bananas. Water, tea and coffee are available 24 hours a day at no charge. Soft drinks, fresh juices and alcohol are chargeable - beer, spirits, bottles of wine. One detail worth knowing before you travel: importing alcohol into the Maldives is prohibited, so any bottles brought in are confiscated at Customs on arrival and returned at departure.
Dietary requirements are catered for where possible, including vegetarian, vegan and allergy-related needs, provided these are flagged before travel. Because ingredients are sourced locally, some specialist items such as gluten-free alternatives, wholemeal pasta or soya substitutes are not always available, so it pays to bring anything essential with you. Maldivian dishes can carry real heat, which is worth bearing in mind if you prefer milder food.
Beyond the table, the Emperor Explorer II offers a BBQ on a local island when weather and route allow, plus night dives on most expeditions except the Deep South, films in the lounge, and time on the sun deck. Land visits can be arranged on request in some locations. Diving runs from the dedicated dhoni, with 3 to 4 dives per day and no diving on arrival or departure day. Between the meals, the diving and the surface intervals, the day has a clear shape to it, and the saloon becomes the natural gathering point each evening as guests compare what they saw and plan the next day's dives.
