FASCINATION

20m / 66ft MAX 6 WIFI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 0

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE

At a glance:

Maldives Central Atolls diving safaris
Ideal for small groups, or families and friends
Cabins with private bathrooms
Tailor-made itineraries and high-end service
Luxury fiberglass hull liveaboard yacht

Fascination is a charming 5 star luxury Falcon fiberglass hulled motor yacht. With twin 820 HP engines and a top speed of 20 knots, it operates week-long liveaboard diving cruises around the islands and atolls of central Maldives, Vaavu and Thaa atolls. At 20m long and taking just 6 guests, it is an ideal choice for small groups or families and special occasions. Built in 2008, Fascination used to be chartered by celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival, but now you can spend your vacation onboard this superb vessel, marveling at playful dolphins, groups of mantas and sting rays, majestic eagle rays, friendly sea turtles, harmless nurse sharks, curious blacktip reef sharks, the famous whale sharks, and multitudes of colourful fish.

On these highly personalised trips, you can swim in the turquoise crystal-like waters, sunbathe on white sand island beaches, visit local islands and fishing villages to discover the local culture and indulge in the Maldivian way of life. Surfing, wakeboarding, fishing can also be pre-arranged for guests.

The top qualified chef will introduce you to Maldivian cuisine, as well as a few international dishes. Typical food includes grilled fish, fresh vegetables, calamari and lemon rice, Asian fish soup, chicken curry and steamed rice, coconut tuna salad, tuna sashimi, fresh fruit. You can also enjoy the homemade bread and cakes, which are baked every morning, and fresh desserts.

The air-conditioned saloon lounge on Fascination has a cozy atmosphere and is furnished with a cream leather sofa and coral pattern designer cushions, and equipped with a TV and DVD player, CDs, films, music system, board games, wifi, a bar with a large selection of wines, alcohol and cocktails, a fridge with soft drinks, and an elegant dining table. Guest accommodations are 3 air-conditioned en-suite cabins below deck: one has a king-sized bed, and the other 2 have twin or double beds.

The outdoor area has a teak table and chairs with comfortable cushions, and a cream leather bench. Often meals are served here, weather permitting. There are 2 staircases leading down to a large swimming platform with 2 hot fresh water showers and a swim ladder. The platform is now used for scuba diving activities. There is also a top deck sun lounge area.

The yacht has all the necessary safety and navigational equipment to assure you of a fun-filled and safe experience. This is includes a 16 ft / 5m accompanying tender, GPS/depth sounder, VHF/DSC/SSB radios, EPIRB, emergency oxygen, first aid, satellite and cellular phones, life jackets, fire alarm and extinguishers, bilge pump alarm, searchlight, and emergency flares. So all-in-all, you should be in safe hands and have an unforgettable and fascinating Maldives liveaboard adventure.

There are 3 en-suite guest cabins on Fascination's lower deck. There is a Master cabin with a king-size double bed (this cabin has 2 bathrooms) and 2 cabins with twin or double beds.

All the rooms have:

Air-conditioning
Portholes
Private bathroom with hot water shower
Hand basin, toiletries, towels, hairdryer
Music system
Bedside table and lamp

Cupboard, shelves and mirror
Bed linen and luggage space
Daily housekeeping
3 square-prong mains outlet (UK style) 220 volts - 24 hours per day
Life jackets

No. of bathrooms / showers - 3 / 5 - hot water

Maldives Central Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 16 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: Lankan Manta Point, Bodu Hiti Thila, Ari Atoll: Rasdhoo Madivaru Channel, Kuramathi Kandu, Rasdhoo Madivaru, Maaya Thila, Moofushi Point, Panettone, Fish Head, Maccha Fushi Wreck, Vila Mendhoo Thila, Maamigili, Kudarah Thila, South Male: Guraidhoo Corner, Kuda Giri, Kudooma Thila, beach/island visits

Day 1
A representative of Fascination will meet you at Male International Airport and transfer to the jetty to board this 20m luxury liveaboard yacht. A welcome drink will served while you register. A safety briefing and crew introduction will be made, then you will be shown to your cabin. If all the guests arrive in good time, the yacht will depart to a nearby snorkeling area. Dinner will be served after an aperitif at 7:30 pm, then you will be able to get to know the other guests onboard this cruise. You are about to have a great week of diving, fun, relaxation and adventure!

Core Days
The classic 'Central Atolls’ route includes a beautiful mix of Maldives highlights - sharks, rays, Napoleon wrasse, mantas, corals, whale sharks … you will love it. South Male features large schools of fish, big pelagics, plenty of soft corals and caves, as well as one very good wreck. Miyaru Faru is aptly named since ‘miyaru’ means shark in Dhivehi and not surprisingly this is where you can encounter the ‘big boys’. An overhang protects you from the current and provides an excellent viewing spot for the impressive parade of pelagics and patrolling grey reef sharks, or even the occasional hammerhead. Ari Atoll is famous for its mighty whale sharks which can be regularly seen in its marine protected areas. Hammerhead sharks, manta rays and other pelagic fish are also commonly encountered here. Highlights here include tuna, jacks, reef sharks, mantas and eagle rays.
A day on board the yacht runs like this - the first dive takes place at 6:30 am. Then continental or local breakfast is served at 8:30 am. A second dive takes place at 10:30 am, then there is relaxation time or fishing until lunch at 1 pm. A third dive takes place at 3:30 pm followed by more leisure time for snorkeling, sand bank visits, sun bathing, or wakeboard. Enjoy a cocktail, beer, or glass of Prosecco in front of a picturesque isle, as the sun sets at 6:30 pm. Dinner is served at 7:30 pm, then guests can play cards, Diqu, Bondi, Chess, or listen to music while enjoying a drink or two. One night dive will also be scheduled.
Meals are taken on the open deck if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con lounge. The qualified chef prepares Maldivian cuisine, as well as a few international dishes. Typical meals includes grilled fish with fresh vegetables, calamari and lemon rice, Asian fish soup, chicken curry and steamed rice, coconut tuna salad, tuna sashimi, fresh fruit. You can also enjoy the freshly baked bread, cakes, and fresh desserts.

Day 8
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour at 8 am. After settling your bill, say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport at 10 am.

Maldives Central Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 25 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: Lankan Manta Point, Bodu Hiti Thila, Ari Atoll: Rasdhoo Madivaru Channel, Kuramathi Kandu, Rasdhoo Madivaru, Maaya Thila, Moofushi Point, Panettone, Fish Head, Maccha Fushi Wreck, Vila Mendhoo Thila, Maamigili, Kudarah Thila, South Male: Guraidhoo Corner, Kuda Giri, Kudooma Thila, beach/island visits

Day 1
A representative of Fascination will meet you at Male International Airport and transfer to the jetty to board this 20m luxury liveaboard yacht. A welcome drink will served while you register. A safety briefing and crew introduction will be made, then you will be shown to your cabin. If all the guests arrive in good time, the yacht will depart to a nearby snorkeling area. Dinner will be served after an aperitif at 7:30 pm, then you will be able to get to know the other guests onboard this cruise. You are about to have a great week of diving, fun, relaxation and adventure!

Core Days
The classic 'Central Atolls’ route includes a beautiful mix of Maldives highlights - sharks, rays, Napoleon wrasse, mantas, corals, whale sharks … you will love it. South Male features large schools of fish, big pelagics, plenty of soft corals and caves, as well as one very good wreck. Miyaru Faru is aptly named since ‘miyaru’ means shark in Dhivehi and not surprisingly this is where you can encounter the ‘big boys’. An overhang protects you from the current and provides an excellent viewing spot for the impressive parade of pelagics and patrolling grey reef sharks, or even the occasional hammerhead. The channel at Felidhoo Atoll is also a great place to find reef sharks and has a spectacular wall showcasing caverns, swim-throughs and overhangs festooned with colourful soft corals and bushes of black corals. There is also a spectacular night dive with dozens of huge nurse sharks, sting rays and giant trevallies. Ari Atoll is famous for its mighty whale sharks which can be regularly seen in its marine protected areas. Hammerhead sharks, manta rays and other pelagic fish are also commonly encountered here. Highlights here include tuna, jacks, reef sharks, mantas and eagle rays.
A day on board the yacht runs like this - the first dive takes place at 6:30 am. Then continental or local breakfast is served at 8:30 am. A second dive takes place at 10:30 am, then there is relaxation time or fishing until lunch at 1 pm. A third dive takes place at 3:30 pm followed by more leisure time for snorkeling, sand bank visits, sun bathing, or wakeboard. Enjoy a cocktail, beer, or glass of Prosecco in front of a picturesque isle, as the sun sets at 6:30 pm. Dinner is served at 7:30 pm, then guests can play cards, Diqu, Bondi, Chess, or listen to music while enjoying a drink or two. One or two night dives will also be scheduled.
Meals are taken on the open deck if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con lounge. The qualified chef prepares Maldivian cuisine, as well as a few international dishes. Typical meals includes grilled fish with fresh vegetables, calamari and lemon rice, Asian fish soup, chicken curry and steamed rice, coconut tuna salad, tuna sashimi, fresh fruit. You can also enjoy the freshly baked bread, cakes, and fresh desserts.

Day 11
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour at 8 am. After settling your bill, say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport at 10 am.

[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].

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

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Dive experience: An Open Water Diver license is required to join Fascination's dive cruises.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (1 deserted island BBQ, weather permitting), snacks, hot drinks, drinking water (1 litre per day), fishing, trawling, island hopping, transfers to the boat from the airport, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English speaking divemasters (8 divers per guide), tanks, weights and weight belts, fishing, snorkelling, island and sand bank excursions, 12% GST on cruise price.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (full set: USD 230 per week), dive computer (USD 70 per week), dive insurance, Green Tax (USD 12 per night), 10% cruise service charge (i.e. tips). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash - Euros or US dollars, or credit card).

Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 70 per week), 15 litre tanks (USD 70 per week), torch (USD 15 per day), use of wakeboard. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

How to get there: Fascination uses the port at Male Airport for its Maldives liveaboard trips. The first and last nights of the cruise are spent in the harbour. Your flight can arrive in Male at any time on the first day. The airport meet -and-greet service runs all day as per scheduled guest flight arrival times; there will be a yacht representative with a board and photo of the the yacht Fascination. If all the guests arrive in good time, the yacht will depart to a nearby snorkeling area.
The last dive on the second last day of the trip will be arranged at an appropriate time for guests to safely board their flights. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. Disembarkation is at 10 am.
For more information see our how to get to the Maldives section.

Non-diver rate: Non-divers receive a 10% discount from the published rate.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is mandatory - single travellers must pay a supplement of 50% of the published price for their own cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: None.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Multiply the above per person prices by 6.

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From USD 257 per day

Customer rating: Excellent!

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FASCINATION

Maldives Central Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 16 Dives)

Maldives Central Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 25 Dives)

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

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