Horizon III is a 36m long fiberglass twin-engine liveaboard yacht that is among the most respected and safest in the Maldives. You will venture away from the crowds to find some of the most incredible species of the Maldives. Head north to Baa Atoll for the annual manta feeding frenzy, journey south to Thaa for night time encounters with whale sharks and Felidhoo for grey reef and nurse sharks, venture to the Deep South for hammerheads, threshers and tiger sharks.
The award-winning Horizon crew have been employed for many years and create a great ambiance onboard. This is evidenced by a returning guest rate of 70%. So confident are they that their cruises will remain popular that every cruise is a confirmed departure. An experienced Ayurvedic therapist offers rejuvenating post-dive spa treatments and massages. There is an upper deck Jacuzzi where guests can relax. The 5 comfortable leisure areas, and the light and clean interior design, provide a ‘home from home’ atmosphere.
There are 12 comfortable en-suite guest cabins onboard, including deluxe cabins with sea views. The restaurant serves up delicious buffet spreads of Western and Asian cuisine, and the bar provides draught beer and a comprehensive drinks menu.
Diving activities are conducted from the accompanying and spacious 20 metre dhoni dive tender. It houses 3 compressors and the nitrox system, the weights, and diver equipment baskets, which removes a lot of clutter from the mothership. You will find a battery charging station onboard, warm water showers, and fish ID and dive reference books. Tanks can fit both DIN and international yoke valves, and are standard 12 litre and 15 litre sizes, air and nitrox. There are 4 experienced divemasters onboard the Horizon, providing one of the most attentive dive services in the Maldives.
Non-divers are welcome on the Horizon too. They can ask the crew or captain to take them to a local beach or sand bar for island hopping, participate in a free guided snorkel tour, read books, play cards or chess, or watch TV in the lounge, try fishing, relax in the Jacuzzi or enjoy a therapeutic massage. So why not come and experience a scuba diving holiday in the Maldives like no other with the Horizon III.
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: South Male: Guraidhoo corner, Kuda Giri; Felidhoo: Alimatha, Miyaru Kandu; and Ari Atoll: Bathala Maa Gau, Maaya Thila, Hafusa Thila, Maalhos Thila, Degaa Thila, Panettone, Bulhalohi Thila, Rahdigaa, Rangali Madivaru, Maamigili Beyru, Dhigurah Beyru, Dhagethi, Dhigurah, Kuda Rah Thila; Felidhoo Atoll: Alimatha, snorkelling at Banana Reef
Day 1
A representative of the Horizon III will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this super 36m motor yacht. The boat will leave port, usually by 12 noon, and guests will prepare their scuba gear and do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day. 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 ‘Classic 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 – you start the day with a coffee. Then the first dive is done early in the morning. Then breakfast arrives. After relaxing for a while, the next briefing and dive is done. Lunch is served, followed by afternoon tea and snacks, then the 3rd dive. A refreshing coconut rounds of the diving activities. During the evening, dinner is served.
Meals are taken in the upper deck open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con dining room. The cook will surely make your trip a delicious one. Try the Maldivian breakfast of Masooni with Roshi. Lunch and dinner are a mixture of Western and Asian and consist of sausages, pasta, spaghetti, pizza, tuna, fried rice, vegetables, salad, fresh juice. A BBQ on a beach/sand bank will also be held (weather permitting). Tea, coffee, and snacks are available all day. All food is locally sourced. Pork is not allowed in the Maldives.
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.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 16 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: Gadhoo Thila, Gadhoo Corner, Gemanafushi Kandu, Mareya Bayru, Gemanafushi Outside, Gemanafushi Kandu, Kodey Kandu, Nilandhoo Kandu, Kooddoo Kandu, VIllin’Gili Kandu; Addu: British Loyalty wreck, Maa Kandu Manta, Maa Faru; Fuvahmulah, island hopping
Day 1
A representative of the Horizon III will meet you during the morning at Kooddoo Airport (Huvadhoo) and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this super 36m motor yacht. The boat will leave port, usually by 12 noon, and guests will prepare their scuba gear and do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day. 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 cruise includes some extraordinary oceanic and atoll dives at Huvadhoo and Addu atolls, as well as at Fuvahmulah. Huvadhoo is made up of vibrant reefs, untouched lagoons, walls and deep channels. Stingrays, turtles and a variety of sharks including blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, spinner dolphins, manta rays, and thresher sharks are frequent visitors here. Occasionally you will also find hammerheads too. But for many, the highlights of a visit to the Deep South are the apex predators at Fuvahmulah Island. Be prepared for awesome encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. Whitetip reef and grey reef sharks, mola mola, sailfish, and schools of tuna are frequently seen.
A day on board the yacht runs like this - you start the day with a coffee. Then the first dive is done early in the morning. Then breakfast arrives. After relaxing for a while, the next briefing and dive is done. Lunch is served, followed by afternoon tea and snacks, then the 3rd dive. A refreshing coconut rounds of the diving activities. During the evening, dinner is served.
Meals are taken in the upper deck open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con dining room. The cook will surely make your trip a delicious one. Try the Maldivian breakfast of Masooni with Roshi. Lunch and dinner are a mixture of Western and Asian and consist of sausages, pasta, spaghetti, pizza, tuna, fried rice, vegetables, salad, fresh juice. A BBQ on a beach/sand bank will also be held (weather permitting). Tea, coffee, and snacks are available all day. All food is locally sourced. Pork is not allowed in the Maldives..
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 Gan Airport (Addu) and your flight back to Male..
Note: these cruises sometimes run in reverse so please check the port of departure and return.
Maldives Central & Southern Atolls (15 Days / 14 Nights - 37 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: South Male, Felidhoo: Alimatha, Devana Kandu, Fahumi Giri, Fotteyo, Fulidhoo Caves, Golden Wall, Kunavashi Kandu, Medhu Kandu, Miyaru Kandu, Vattaru; Meemu: Ashaa Thila, Hakuru Thila, Mulaku Kandu, Muli Corner, Vanhuravalhi Kandu, Veyvar Corner; and Laamu Atoll: Fushi Kandu, Guraidhoo Kandu, Isdhoo East, Isdhoo West, Munnafushi Kandu, Vadinolhu Kandu
Day 1
A representative of the Horizon III will meet you at 11:30 am at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this super 36m motor yacht. The boat will leave port, usually by 12 noon, and guests will prepare their scuba gear and do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day. 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 fortnight of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!
Core Days
Get ready to dive the best sites of the southern atolls of the Maldives. Dive after dive you will explore the beauty of these relatively unknown atolls. Laamu and Felidhoo atolls will challenge you with deep channels and strong currents that attract different types of sharks, manta rays, and schools of trevallies and tuna in search of small prey. Meemu Atoll is where you will have the best chance to see whale sharks feeding on plankton, while Thaa Atoll is all about drift dives in the company of whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays. The beauty of the healthy corals, almost untouched by humans, will leave you speechless.
A day on board the yacht runs like this - you start the day with a coffee. Then the first dive is done early in the morning. Then breakfast arrives. After relaxing for a while, the next briefing and dive is done. Lunch is served, followed by afternoon tea and snacks, then the 3rd dive. A refreshing coconut rounds of the diving activities. During the evening, dinner is served.
Meals are taken in the upper deck open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con dining room. The cook will surely make your trip a delicious one. Try the Maldivian breakfast of Masooni with Roshi. Lunch and dinner are a mixture of Western and Asian and consist of sausages, pasta, spaghetti, pizza, tuna, fried rice, vegetables, salad, fresh juice. A BBQ on a beach/sand bank will also be held (weather permitting). Tea, coffee, and snacks are available all day. All food is locally sourced. Pork is not allowed in the Maldives..
Day 15
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.
Maldives Deep South & Southern Atolls (15 Days / 14 Nights - 34 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: South Male, Felidhoo: Alimatha, Devana Kandu, Fahumi Giri, Fotteyo, Vaavu Caves, Golden Wall, Kunavashi Kandu, Medhu Kandu, Miyaru Kandu, Vattaru; Meemu: Ashaa Thila, Hakuru Thila, Mulaku Kandu, Muli Corner, Vanhuravalhi Kandu, Veyvar Corner; Laamu Atoll: Fushi Kandu, Guraidhoo Kandu, Isdhoo East, Isdhoo West, Munnafushi Kandu, Vadinolhu Kandu, Huvadhoo Atoll: Gadhoo Thila, Gadhoo Corner, Gemanafushi Kandu, Mareya Bayru, Gemanafushi Outside, Gemanafushi Kandu, Kodey Kandu, Nilandhoo Kandu, Kooddoo Kandu, VIllin’Gili Kandu; Addu: British Loyalty wreck, Maa Kandu Manta, Maa Faru; Fuvahmulah, island hopping
Day 1
A representative of the Horizon III will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this super 36m motor yacht. The boat will leave port, usually by 12 noon, and guests will prepare their scuba gear and do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day. 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 2 weeks of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!
Core Days
Get ready to dive the best sites of the deep south and southern atolls of the Maldives. Dive after dive you will explore the beauty of these relatively unknown atolls. Laamu and Felidhoo atolls will challenge you with deep channels and strong currents that attract different types of sharks, manta rays, and schools of trevallies and tuna in search of small prey. Meemu Atoll is where you will have the best chance to see whale sharks feeding on plankton. The beauty of the healthy corals, almost untouched by humans, will leave you speechless.
The cruise also includes some extraordinary oceanic and atoll dives at Huvadhoo and Addu atolls, as well as at Fuvahmulah. Huvadhoo is made up of vibrant reefs, untouched lagoons, walls and deep channels. Stingrays, turtles and a variety of sharks including blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, spinner dolphins, manta rays, and thresher sharks are frequent visitors here. Occasionally you will also find hammerheads too. But for many, the highlights of a visit to the Deep South are the apex predators at Fuvahmulah Island. Be prepared for awesome encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. Whitetip reef and grey reef sharks, mola mola, sailfish, and schools of tuna are frequently seen.
A day on board the yacht runs like this - you start the day with a coffee. Then the first dive is done early in the morning. Then breakfast arrives. After relaxing for a while, the next briefing and dive is done. Lunch is served, followed by afternoon tea and snacks, then the 3rd dive. A refreshing coconut rounds of the diving activities. During the evening, dinner is served.
Meals are taken in the upper deck open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con dining room. The cook will surely make your trip a delicious one. Try the Maldivian breakfast of Masooni with Roshi. Lunch and dinner are a mixture of Western and Asian and consist of sausages, pasta, spaghetti, pizza, tuna, fried rice, vegetables, salad, fresh juice. A BBQ on a beach/sand bank will also be held (weather permitting). Tea, coffee, and snacks are available all day. All food is locally sourced. Pork is not allowed in the Maldives..
Day 15
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 Gan Airport (Addu).
Note: these cruises sometimes run in reverse so please check the port 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 tour had little leadership/guidance. The Tour Leader was also the Head Dive Guide and over tasked. On the separate dive boat, smoking was allowed anywhere on the boat, no restrictions. DIvers would light up cigarette or vape at their equipment, tank, BCD station without regard to safety or non-smokers. We ask the Tour Leader to restrict the smoking to the dive platform but that was not enforced. Also my Dive Guide was tasked with guiding 8 divers. He was unsafe and the group spit several times and we had 3 low-air situations due to his lack of attention to divers. Very bad dive operator." -
Billy Broyles, United States, 1 July 2024 ...
"
I was not satisfied with the facilities and services provided by Blue Horizon.
1. Staff turned up 40 minutes late at pick-up time; no explanation was given when the staff finally arrived.
2. The boat floor was sticky.
3. No water supply for a few times and the water pressure was often so weak.
4. The air-conditioner broke during one night and we were forced to sleep outside.
6. We should have made a night dive but the staff told us the night dive would not be provided as there was no mantas at night; it was so ridiculous!
7. Our diving guide gave a very basic service for us underwater, and there was drift diving.
However, the food quality was fine and many of the staff were nice.
" -
Vincent Ma, Hong Kong, 8 October 2023 ...
"
The Horizon 3 ship is well designed, spacious and bright. The crew seemed very good and all tasks seemed to be done as needed.
The food was good but might have been a little more spicy or perhaps some special national dishes? Room care was good. The group of guests could have mixed more The ship and its maintenance are good It's a good design - better than a lot of the other live-aboard ships I saw." -
MURRAY PARSONS, Sri Lanka, 25 July 2023 ...
"
The whole week went well. The boat was good, the food varied and excellent and we had plenty of room being only 8 passengers out of 22. However, on the Saturday no activity was organized (snorkeling, possibly one or two dives in the morning). We all stayed on the boat waiting for any information. We were also extremely disappointed with the organization of internal flights and we had to spend a whole day in Male where there is absolutely nothing interesting to visit.
Dive The World were very good, available, responsive and competent." -
Ottet, Switzerland, 25 March 2023 ...
