The MV Emperor Virgo liveaboard navigates the rich waters of the Maldives and provides a base for dive explorations that are as relaxed as they are rewarding. All-inclusive pricing - covering marine park fees, taxes, and airport transfers-means your focus remains entirely on the diving, with no unexpected costs to surface later.
Accommodating just 18 guests, the 35-metre vessel is looked after by a crew of 12. Interiors feature light wood finishes, creating an air-conditioned main deck lounge and dining area that feels open and welcoming. Above, the upper deck houses a fully licensed bar, a natural gathering point as day turns to dusk, while the sundeck offers loungers for quiet moments between dives. Cabins are spread across 3 decks of Emperor Virgo, from compact and comfortable lower deck twins with portholes to main and upper deck options. Every cabin includes its own ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, and a minibar, bringing a level of facility often found on more expensive vessels.
A dedicated 17-metre dhoni serves as the diving platform, keeping the main boat free of wet gear. With 3 dive guides on hand, groups remain manageable. The dhoni is equipped with camera rinse tanks and a dedicated table, recognising the needs of underwater photographers. Nitrox is included free of charge, and analysers are available for those who use it. Standard aluminium tanks are complemented by larger steel tanks on request, and all divers are expected to carry a computer, SMB, reef hook, and torch - tools for safe and self-reliant diving in atoll channels.
When diving is done for the day, the facilities of the Emperor Virgo liveaboard support a range of interests. The main saloon has a library of books and a media system for quiet evenings. Wi-Fi is available for those wanting to stay in touch, though coverage varies with location. For photographers, charging stations and an air gun on board add to the practical touches. The atmosphere is less about imposed luxury and more about having what you need, when you need it, leaving you free to simply inhabit the space.
The MV Emperor Virgo liveaboard is operated by Emperor Divers, a name with a long history in the region. Their presence in the Maldives spans years, and this experience translates into diving trips that balance famous sites with less-frequented spots, adjusted for conditions and wildlife movements. For certified divers, this translates to confidence: in the boat, the crew, and the itinerary. Emperor Virgo is a straightforward choice for a week of dependable, affordable diving in some of the world’s most iconic waters.
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: North Male, Rasdhoo, Ari and South Male atolls
Day 1
Once you arrive in Male, the Emperor Virgo liveaboard will be ready for you. Lunch and dinner will be served based on your arrival time. There's no diving today; instead, you'll have an introductory briefing from the tour leader once everyone is on board. This is a great chance to get acquainted with the crew and the liveaboard boat, unpack your gear, and unwind before a fantastic week of diving and relaxation in the Maldives Central Atolls.
Core Days
Get ready to dive some of the best of the Male and Ari Atolls. Experience diverse underwater environments, from drift dives in channels, to exploring pinnacles where you have a high chance of encountering mantas. You'll also have opportunities to snorkel and dive with whale sharks, hammerheads, and grey reef sharks, and discover the beautiful reefs teeming with marine life.
A fantastic wreck dive in South Male will reveal the fascinating macro creatures that now call it home. Rasdhoo atoll's most popular dive sites include Madivaru Corner, known for its shark activity in strong currents, and Hammerhead Point, which is the main draw for those hoping to see schooling hammerheads. Other notable spots are Manta Block, a reliable site for manta ray sightings, and the Rasdhoo Channel, a dynamic dive best suited for experienced divers.
Ari Atoll is a true pelagic dream for divers. Its most celebrated feature is the year-round presence of whale sharks, particularly in the South Ari Marine Protected Area. The atoll is also a hotspot for manta rays, especially during the southwest monsoon (May to November) when nutrient-rich waters attract them to cleaning stations. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of sharks, including grey reef sharks and white-tip reef sharks, as well as eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, and large schools of barracuda and jackfish. The coral reefs themselves are vibrant, providing a home for countless smaller reef fish, turtles, and moray eels.
On the final full day of the trip, there will be 2 morning dives before the return to port.
Day 8
Enjoy your final breakfast on board the Emperor Virgo. Say your goodbyes and take some last group photos, before heading to Male airport.
Maldives Central Atolls (Adventure) (8 Days / 7 Nights - 0 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, Rasdhoo, Ari and South Male atolls
Day 1
The Emperor Virgo liveaboard waits in Malé harbour for this snorkelling specialty tour. On arrival, the tour leader meets you, shows you to your cabin, and runs through the week ahead: where you'll be snorkelling, the islands you might visit, and how the boat operates. There's time to settle in before dinner. If you arrive early enough, lunch is also served. The boat spends the first night in port, and you wake tomorrow to the start of the adventure.
Core Days
Over the following days, the Emperor Virgo liveaboard moves through the Maldives' central atolls: North Malé, South Malé, Ari, and Felidhoo. The pace is different here. Snorkelling replaces scuba, and the days mix time in the water with visits to islands and sandbanks. The guides know the sites and the tides, and they adjust the route to suit the group.
In the water, you follow the same route as the dive boats, but stay at the surface. The reefs drop away beneath you, and the marine life passes close. At Fish Head, a protected pinnacle in Ari Atoll, snorkellers drift over the top while grey reef sharks patrol below and fusiliers school in dense clouds. At Kuda Rah Thila, the reef shallows hold anthias and bannerfish, and eagle rays sometimes circle within view. Alimatha, in Vaavu Atoll, is known for a night snorkel where nurse sharks gather in the sand - 3-metre animals that allow calm, close encounters. Elsewhere, turtles surface for air beside you, and morays peer from crevices in the reef. Whale sharks appear year-round in South Ari - not guaranteed, but common enough that the guides keep watch from the liveaboard.
Between snorkels, there are islands to explore. Dhigurah, in South Ari, tapers to a long sandbank at its southern tip - good for walks and open views. The village itself is small, with painted homes and a few local cafés. Dhangethi, also in South Ari, has a small museum displaying traditional tools and crafts, and older buildings built from coral stone. Fulidhoo in Felidhoo, is compact, with leafy paths and lagoon views. If the timing works, there may be a Bodu Beru drumming performance, the local rhythm played on tight-skinned drums, often in the evening.
Sandbanks appear at low tide. Nagacha shifts with the currents, its shape redrawn by each tide, and on clear nights it's a place to lie back and watch stars without light interference. Rasdhoo Sandbank sits close to its island, with easy access to a modest village of mosques and fruit gardens. Ithafushi, managed by a resort, offers something more polished: shaded seating, planted gardens, and a chance to hear about coral restoration work if the guides arrange it.
Day 8
Disembarkation is after breakfast, with a transfer to the airport. The week finishes where it began, but the images tend to stay: reef fish in clear water, sand under bare feet, and the slow rhythm of Maldives atoll life.
Maldives Deep South & Southern Atolls (15 Days / 14 Nights - 38 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, South Male, Huvadhoo atolls, Fuvahmulah Island, Addu Atoll
Day 1
Upon arrival in Male, you'll board the MV Emperor Virgo. Lunch and dinner will be served depending on when you get there. There won't be any diving today, but you'll have a chance to get to know the crew and the liveaboard better during the welcome briefing from the tour leader, which will take place once all the guests have arrived. This is the time to unpack your kit, settle in, and get into the holiday spirit - a fantastic trip of diving, fun, and relaxation awaits!
Core Days
Looking for a 2-week escape from the hustle and bustle? This liveaboard trip puts you on the trail of the Indian Ocean's biggest inhabitants.
Thaa atoll's underwater world is a major draw for visitors. Its coral reefs are vibrant and home to a wide variety of marine life, including tropical fish, rays, sharks, and sea turtles. Divers and snorkellers can explore stunning coral gardens and underwater caves. Due to its location, the atoll is also known for attracting larger pelagic species like manta rays and whale sharks.
Felidhoo serves as an excellent base for exploring some of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives. The atoll is renowned for its spectacular channel dives, where strong currents bring in a huge amount of marine life, including grey reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and eagle rays. It's also famous for the Fotteyo Kandu dive site, a long channel considered one of the best in the Maldives, where divers can encounter a wide range of pelagic species.
Fuvahmulah is arguably the best place in the world for guaranteed tiger shark sightings. One popular dive spot called Tiger Zoo is located near the island's port. Here, the sharks are drawn by fish waste, and divers can have close, controlled encounters in a safe environment. Sightings are possible all year round. Solitary great hammerhead sharks can be seen at any time and the waters are also home to a variety of other shark species, including silvertip sharks, grey reef sharks, and oceanic blacktip sharks.
You will also head to Huvadhoo, one of the deepest lagoons in the Maldives, where the currents are perfect for even more shark encounters. Here, you'll find whale sharks at night, an abundance of grey reef sharks, and oceanic blacktip sharks. Prepare for some fast-paced and thrilling channel dives. And don't forget to keep your eyes on the open water - you might even spot silky sharks, great hammerhead sharks, mola-mola, and bull sharks.
Diving at Addu atoll is considered exceptional, partly because the reefs were largely spared from past global coral bleaching events. The reefs are healthy and packed with a wide variety of fish. One of the biggest draws is the opportunity to see large pelagic species year-round, including manta rays, sharks, and turtles. The atoll is also home to the largest shipwreck in the Maldives, the British Loyalty, a WWII oil tanker that lies on its side and has become a stunning artificial reef full of marine life.
Just a quick note that on the final full day of the trip, there will only be 2 dives as the Emperor Virgo will be making its way to the harbour. In the afternoon, the crew will be on hand to rinse all your diving equipment and hang it up to dry.
Day 15
Wake up to the aroma of the last breakfast of your trip being served in the early morning. Take a moment to say your goodbyes and snap some final group photos before you head off to Gan Airport.
Please bear in mind that the itinerary for this liveaboard trip can sometimes run in reverse or have different departure and arrival ports. For the exact details, please be sure to check your specific trip information.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 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, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Huvadhoo Atoll, Fuvahmulah Island, Addu Atoll
Day 1
Boarding the MV Emperor Virgo liveaboard in Gan (on Addu) marks the start of your epic diving adventure. Settle in with a meal (lunch and/or dinner, depending on your arrival time), get acquainted with the crew and boat during our introductory briefing, and unpack your gear. While there's no diving today, you've got plenty of time to relax and get into the holiday spirit. The real adventure begins, when the boat sets sail tomorrow morning, for a week of unforgettable fun, sun, and diving!
Core Days
With visibility often of up to 40 metres, the currents of the Indian Ocean attract a huge variety of hungry pelagic species to the Maldives, which can be seen by divers even from a distance. The channels, known locally as kandus, are home to a large number of grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna and eagle rays. Patient divers and knowledgeable guides are often rewarded with exciting surprises out in the blue.
Diving at Fuvahmulah, a solitary island in the deep Indian Ocean, is renowned for its unique marine life encounters, particularly with large pelagic species. Unlike the typical atolls, Fuvahmulah's unique geography - steep underwater drop-offs and direct access to nutrient-rich currents - creates a haven for a variety of sharks such as tigers, oceanic whitetips and whale sharks, and other magnificent creatures.
Diving in Huvadhoo is renowned for its year-round encounters with majestic marine life. The atoll's deep channels bring in nutrient-rich water, creating a haven for large pelagic species. Divers can consistently spot manta rays and a variety of sharks, including grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and even the occasional tiger shark. The atoll is also home to a healthy population of turtles.
Day 8
After a final light breakfast on the last morning of your cruise, you'll disembark the Emperor Virgo and be taken to Kadhdhoo Airport on Huvadhoo Atoll.
Note: Some trips run in reverse. Please check your specific trip for your departure and return ports.
[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].
Emperor Virgo takes great pride in the standard of cuisine served to its guests. The dining experience typically begins with a light lunch on the day of arrival. Each day, the kitchen prepares a light pre-breakfast, a cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals are served buffet-style in the liveaboard's air-conditioned indoor dining area, and you can expect a range of international dishes alongside local Maldivian specialities.
Your dining times depend on the daily diving programme, taking into account both the number of dives and the time needed to transfer to different sites. Dinner is at 7 pm most evenings, after everyone's finished the last dive.
- Complimentary refreshments include snacks, bread and toast, fresh fruit, drinking water, and tea and coffee are available free of charge.
- You can buy soft drinks, beer, wine, and spirits while you are on the boat.
- Chocolate bars and other snacks are also available to purchase on the boat.
- All special diets can be catered for with prior notice.
- Each cruise features a special candlelit barbecue on a nearby island, subject to favourable conditions.
Example dishes:
Maldivian vegetable curry with rice and roti; Grilled fish with pasta and fresh salad, vegan lasagne and sautéed vegetables ... 
