MV Emperor Explorer is a large 42m fibreglass hull motor yacht, newly constructed in 2019 and operating high quality liveaboard diving expeditions around the Maldives. The yacht can comfortably accommodate up to 26 divers onboard. Emperor liveaboard cruises have all-inclusive prices. You will find 'no hidden extras' such as fuel surcharges, local/green taxes, port and park fees, boat transfers.
There is a range of cabins featuring private bathrooms and TV set on the lower, middle and upper decks. The middle and upper deck cabins are higher priced and enjoy sea view windows. Relax between dives, either in the air-conditioned saloon, restaurant/bar area, or on the large sun deck which features sun beds and bean bags. The saloon has comfortable sofas where you can make use of the TV and DVD entertainment system. There is also a library of DVDs, books and games. The upper deck of the Emperor Explorer features a spa massage room where guests can be pampered with a range of massage therapies, such as foot, hot stone, deep tissue, back & shoulders.
Diving is conducted from a large 24m dhoni tender that is equipped with towels, toilet, dive deck, oxygen kits, compressors and tanks. This means that noise from tank-filling is minimised on board the mothership. Nitrox is provided free of charge. Underwater photographers can make use of the dedicated charging stations, air gun, rinse tanks and camera table. If you are a diver looking for the latest yacht to explore the Maldives, then the Emperor Explorer liveaboard could be your best option.
The Emperor Explorer has 13 guest cabins. There are 7 Standard cabins on the lower deck - 5 with double/single beds and 2 with double beds. The main deck has 2 double/single bed suites. And there are 4 upper deck cabins - 2 with king-size double bed suites and 2 with twin bed cabins. All the cabins have en-suite bathrooms.
All the cabins have:
- Individual control air-conditioning and fans
- Windows (upper and main decks) or portholes (lower deck)
- Private bathroom facilities with hot water shower, towels, toiletries and hand basin
- Television
- Wardrobe and shelves
- Dressing table and mirror
- Reading lights
- Bedding
- 220V electricity supply with round 2-pin sockets
- Space for luggage
- Fire detectors
- Life jackets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 13 / 13 - hot water
Maldives Central Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 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, Rasdhoo, Ari atolls, Felidhoo, South Male
Day 1
Your liveaboard adventure begins the moment you board the Emperor Explorer 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
Your 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, you’ll reach 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 snorkeling 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.
Day 8
Check out from the Emperor Explorer liveaboard takes place in Male and guests will be taken to the airport after an early light breakfast.
Maldives Central Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 34 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, Rasdhoo, Ari atolls, Felidhoo, South Male
Day 1
Welcome aboard the Emperor Explorer in Male! As you get settled, you can grab a light, sandwich-style snack for lunch and listen to the tour leader's introduction. They'll show you around the boat and introduce you to the crew, who are all here to make sure you have a fantastic time. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax. You can unpack in your cabin or head up to the sun deck to catch some rays. Dinner will be announced by a bell. Make sure you get a good night's sleep, because tomorrow you'll be diving into some of the most famous sites in the Maldives! You'll spend the first night of the cruise right here in the harbour.
Core Days
The first dives will take place in North Male Atoll, before the tour heads south to the atolls of Rasdhoo, North Ari, and South Ari. The trip will also visit Felidhoo and South Male Atolls towards the end of the week.
You'll see a great mix of marine life, from big fish like sharks and mantas to an abundance of reef fish, moray eels, and colourful corals. Some of the highlights you won't want to miss include a dive at Maaya Thila, which is home to several sharks and manta rays, a night dive with nurse sharks, and a snorkelling trip with whale sharks!
It’s sure to be a thrilling and active week, full of unforgettable moments.
North Male Atoll is a top-rated diving spot, widely regarded as the most explored part of the Maldives. It offers a huge variety of diving experiences, from lively reefs to dramatic drop-offs, underwater pinnacles known as 'thilas', and even a shipwreck.
The atoll is a true diver's paradise with a rich ecosystem. You can expect to see a lot of large pelagic animals, which is a major highlight. It's a great place to spot manta rays, especially at famous cleaning stations like Lankan Manta Point and Banana Reef. You'll also frequently see grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks patrolling the channels and reef edges.
Felidhoo Atoll, also known as Vaavu Atoll, is an exciting diving spot renowned for its deep channels where strong currents attract an abundance of large marine life.
For divers who love big animal encounters, this is the place to be. The fast-flowing currents bring in nutrients, supporting a rich food chain, so you're very likely to see various shark species, including grey reef and whitetip reef sharks, as well as huge schools of trevally and tuna. It’s also a great spot to see eagle rays and stingrays.
Please note that on the final full day of the trip, there will only be 2 dives as the boat will be heading back to the harbour. In the afternoon, the crew will rinse your dive gear and hang it out to dry for you.
Day 11
Check out is around 08:00 hrs on the last day of the cruise, depending on flight times. Guests will be taken back to Male Airport after an early light breakfast.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 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 Atoll, Huvadhoo Atoll, Fuvahmulah Island, Addu Atoll: HMS British Loyalty
Day 1
Upon boarding the Emperor Explorer 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 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 trips 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].
The Emperor Explorer liveaboard serves all meals in the air-conditioned dining room, beginning with dinner on the day of boarding. The schedule for dinner varies based on the day's diving itinerary: around 7 pm on 3-dive days and approximately 8 pm on 4-dive days, after the final dive. The menu features a variety of International, Italian, and local South Asian dishes.
• Guests receive 3 main meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - with additional snacks provided throughout the day. Complimentary bar snacks, including biscuits and fresh fruit, are available, along with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and water which are served all day.
Sample Menu:
• Breakfast: Cold cuts, yogurt, fresh fruit, muesli, and various breads are typically included in breakfast. Eggs are cooked to order (poached, boiled, or fried).
• Lunch: Carrot soup, boiled potatoes, and rice might be featured for lunch, served with proteins such as fish fillet, chicken cacciatore, meatballs, and chicken wings.
• Dinner: Sweetcorn soup, grilled chicken, rice, vegetables, and 4 fresh salads are often included in dinner options, along with roast beef and pasta, plus a sweet dessert to finish.
Advance notice is required for the kitchen to accommodate specific dietary requests, such as vegetarian, vegan, and halal options.
Vegan options might include vegan lasagna, tofu curry, vegetables, rice, pasta, and French fries.
For an additional charge, you can buy alcoholic beverages like beer, bottled wine, and spirits, as well as chocolate bars and other treats.
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 itinerary and conditions.
