The Princess Sara liveaboard is a 40-metre vessel, built in 2018, that offers a blend of modern stability and thoughtful service, purpose-built for safari-style diving across the Maldives atolls. It's a region that evokes images of sheer drop-offs, drift dives over pristine thilas, and encounters with some of the ocean’s most iconic pelagics.
Stepping aboard the Princess Sara, you immediately sense the focus on guest experience. With a crew of 12, the ratio allows for attentive service both above and below the water. The dive operation itself is cleverly managed from a dedicated 70-foot dhoni, the traditional Maldivian support vessel that accompanies all dive trips. This means the main boat remains a tranquil space for relaxing, while the dhoni serves as a fully-equipped dive deck. You’ll find ample space for 30 divers, tank storage, compressors, a camera rinse tank, and emergency oxygen; it's a setup that keeps the diving side of things streamlined and efficient.
When the day’s diving is done, the main deck becomes your retreat. Accommodation on the Princess Sara is spread across 3 decks, offering 10 cabins ranging from standard rooms to suites with private Jacuzzis. All cabins are en-suite with modern touches like individual air-conditioning, entertainment systems, and wi-fi (available for a small weekly fee). Above, the expansive sun deck invites you to stretch out, perhaps cooling off in the open-air Jacuzzi or watching the sunset as the boat motors towards the next anchorage.
The dive cruise routes are designed to showcase this diversity. Depending on the season, The Princess Sara navigates the central, southern, or northern atolls. You might be exploring the channels of Ari Atoll one day and the UNESCO heritage site of Hanifaru Bay the next, with night dives and beach barbecues woven into the schedule. Between dives, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available, and for those seeking an extra thrill, jet ski rides can be arranged.
Ultimately, the Princess Sara liveaboard appeals to scuba divers who value a well-managed, value-for-money operation that doesn't compromise on comfort. It’s a boat where the crew’s genuine passion for the archipelago’s marine life is evident, where the food is consistently praised, and where the logistics are handled so seamlessly that you can simply focus on the dives. For a reliable, high-quality liveaboard experience in the Maldives, it warrants a close look.
Huvadhoo Atoll (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 Dives)
Trip highlights: 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
Day 1
A representative of Princess Sara will meet you at Kooddoo Airport (GKK) and transfer you to the 40m luxury liveaboard yacht. Onboard, welcome refreshments are served during registration. Guests arriving in the morning can prepare their scuba gear and enjoy a check dive before the vessel begins its cruise. Dinner will be served later that day, followed by an introductory briefing from the tour leader, allowing you to get acquainted with the crew and the boat until nightfall.
Core Days
Each day of this special trip are dedicated exclusively to exploring Huvadhoo Atoll, the largest and one of the deepest atolls in the Maldives. This remote region is an advanced diving paradise, known for its sheer volume of pelagic life drawn in by the deep, nutrient-rich channels. The dive guides aboard the Princess Sara focus on exhilarating drift dives through these kandus where you are virtually guaranteed encounters with a wide array of sharks.
Huvadhoo's dynamic channels are frequented by blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, as well as grey reef sharks. Stingrays, turtles, and huge schools of tuna and trevallies are also common sights. More specific to this southern location are sightings of nurse sharks, spinner dolphins, and the opportunity to spot the rarely seen thresher shark. The coral reefs, walls, and untouched lagoons offer pristine conditions for exploring, cementing the atoll's reputation for world-class, current-driven action.
The Princess Sara liveaboard also provides unique nocturnal encounters. Whale sharks often make an appearance under the stern lights at night, attracted by the plankton aggregation. This provides certified divers and keen enthusiasts confidence that they will experience the dramatic, powerful diving that the Maldives Deep South is celebrated for.
Please note that only one dive is scheduled on the final full day before the yacht returns to port.
Day 8
The departure morning begins with the last cooked breakfast of the tour. After saying your farewells and taking final group pictures, the crew will arrange your transfer to Kooddoo Airport for your onward travel.
Maldives Central & Northern 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, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, North Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll: Hanifaru Bay, Lhaviyani Atoll
Day 1
Your Maldivian adventure begins as you board the luxurious Princess Sara liveaboard via a traditional dhoni transfer near Malé airport. Welcome refreshments will be served as you complete your registration. Guests arriving in the morning can set up their gear and enjoy a check dive to acclimate themselves. As the yacht begins its cruise, you'll be treated to a delicious dinner and a comprehensive introductory briefing from the Princess Sara tour leader, setting the stage for a week of unparalleled liveaboard diving, relaxation, and discovery.
Core Days
This liveaboard cruise is an exploration of the Maldives' celebrated northern atolls, offering a stunning variety of world-class dive sites. The tour begins in North Malé Atoll, where channels like Kuda Haa and Lions Head offer thrilling drift dives with grey reef sharks and eagle rays, alongside beautiful thilas (pinnacles) blanketed in soft corals. In North Ari Atoll, sites like Kudarah Thila and Maaya Thila are underwater pinnacles completely covered in vibrant soft corals, sea fans, and sponges. They attract massive schools of snapper, fusiliers, and trevallies, and are cleaning stations for grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, and eagle rays.
The liveaboard adventure continues as the Princess Sara voyages to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll. The region is a sanctuary for megafauna, most famously the manta rays of Hanifaru Bay. From May to November, you will have the unforgettable opportunity to snorkel as hundreds of mantas gather for a spectacular plankton feeding frenzy, performing graceful barrel rolls right before your eyes. The atoll's dive sites, such as Dhonfanu Thila, provide equally breathtaking underwater landscapes of coral-covered pinnacles and overhangs that are full of life. Further north, the pristine reefs of Lhaviyani Atoll await, as well as the iconic Shipyard wreck that offers a fascinating historical dive.
On the final full day, a single morning dive allows for a last glimpse of the vibrant marine life before the Princess Sara returns to Hulhumale. Here, you will have the chance to go ashore and explore the Maldivian capital.
Day 8
Awake to the aroma of a final cooked breakfast on board Princess Sara. After sharing farewells and capturing last group photos with the liveaboard crew, a transfer will be provided to Malé International Airport for your departure.
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, South Male, Ari Atoll, Felidhoo Atoll
Day 1
A representative will meet you at Male International Airport and transfer you to the 40m Princess Sara liveaboard yacht. Onboard, welcome refreshments are served during registration. Guests who arrive in the morning will prepare their scuba gear and may participate in a check dive before the vessel begins its cruise. Dinner is served during the day, and an introductory briefing from the tour leader allows you to get acquainted with the crew and the boat until nightfall.
Core Days
This Maldives Central Atolls dive cruise route focuses on 4 highly celebrated atolls: North Male, South Male, Ari Atoll, and Felidhoo Atoll. The primary goal of this Princess Sara liveaboard is to seek out manta rays and whale sharks. The experienced dive guides focus on current-swept channels, where deep, nutrient-rich waters attract large pelagic species.
South Male is famous for challenging current dives at sites like Miyaru Faru (Shark Reef), where divers can observe an impressive parade of pelagics and patrolling grey reef sharks, often protected from the current by an overhang. South Male also features large schools of fish, vibrant soft corals, caves, and a notable wreck dive known for its diverse macro life. The exploration continues into Ari Atoll, renowned for its marine protected areas where encounters with mighty whale sharks are common. Hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and other pelagic fish are also frequently seen in this region.
The diving further explores Felidhoo Atoll, where channels are excellent for spotting reef sharks. Felidhoo also boasts a spectacular wall dive showcasing caverns, swim-throughs, and overhangs festooned with colourful soft and black corals. A unique experience in this atoll is a spectacular night dive where dozens of huge nurse sharks, stingrays, and giant trevallies gather. Finally, North Male features a variety of current-swept reefs, caves, and drop-offs, with highlights including tuna, jacks, reef sharks, mantas, and eagle rays.
On the final full day, only one dive will be scheduled before the Princess Sara returns to Hulhumale, offering guests the opportunity to go ashore and visit the Maldivian capital.
Day 8
The departure morning begins with the last cooked breakfast of the tour. After saying your farewells and taking final group pictures, the crew will arrange your transfer back to Male airport.
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, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Fuvahmulah, Huvadhoo, Addu atolls.
Trips that use the port of Kadhdhoo also visit Laamu Atoll.
Day 1
Your Deep South adventure begins with arrival at Gan International Airport. You will be taken to board the luxury Princess Sara liveaboard. Onboard, welcome refreshments are served during registration. Guests arriving earlier can prepare their scuba gear for an afternoon check dive. Dinner is served later, followed by an introductory briefing from the tour leader, allowing you to settle in and prepare for the week's adventure until nightfall.
Core Days
This dive expedition is dedicated to the remote, nutrient-rich channels of the Deep South: Huvadhoo, Addu, and the oceanic island of Fuvahmulah. This region is known for delivering exhilarating current dives and a high density of large predators. The dive guides aboard the Princess Sara expertly manage the daily routes to seek out maximum exposure to big fish action.
Fuvahmulah Atoll is often a focal point, an isolated location famed for consistent, deep water dives seeking apex predators like thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips, and tiger sharks. The area's deep waters also attract species such as whale sharks, sailfish, and mola mola (ocean sunfish). Adjacent to this lies Huvadhoo Atoll, the largest and deepest in the Maldives, where you explore powerful channels and vibrant reefs. Here, the currents sweep in blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, spinner dolphins, and occasionally hammerheads.
The cruise continues to Addu Atoll, the archipelago's most southerly point, known for over 30 world-class sites. Addu boasts the vast British Loyalty wreck, the largest shipwreck in the Maldives. Its wide channels and lagoon thilas host cleaning stations for both reef and oceanic manta rays, some with wingspans exceeding five metres. Scuba divers rely on the professional operation of the Princess Sara to safely navigate these challenging but highly rewarding Deep South atolls.
Trips using the Kadhdhoo port may also include diving in Laamu Atoll. On the final full day, only one dive is scheduled before the yacht heads back to port.
Day 8
The departure morning starts with the last cooked breakfast of the tour. After saying your farewells, the crew of the Princess Sara will arrange your transfer to Gan or Laamu airport for your domestic flight back to Male.
Maldives Southern 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, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: South Male, Felidhoo, Vattaru, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu atolls
Day 1
A luxurious 40m yacht awaits your arrival near Male International Airport, where you will be greeted by the Princess Sara team. Onboard, welcome refreshments are served during registration. Guests arriving in the morning will prepare their scuba gear and may participate in a check dive before the vessel begins its cruise. Dinner is served later that day, followed by an introductory briefing from the tour leader, allowing you to settle in and prepare for the week's scuba adventures.
Core Days
The Maldives Southern Atolls offer magnificent diving that spans the South Male, Felidhoo, Vattaru, Meemu, Thaa, and Laamu Atolls. This route is designed to deliver a high concentration of big fish action, with the Princess Sara cruise leader expertly navigating the strong currents of the kandus that sweep through these areas, drawing in pelagic life. The diving campaign begins in South Male Atoll, which features large schools of fish and big pelagics. Famous sites like Miyaru Faru are excellent for encountering patrolling grey reef sharks, often providing protection from the current under dramatic overhangs.
The Princess Sara then transitions into the less-visited atolls further south, where underwater environments are characterised by healthy soft corals, extensive caves, and exhilarating drift dives. Felidhoo Atoll is home to some great channel dives for reef sharks and a spectacular wall featuring caverns and overhangs. A must-do highlight here is the spectacular night dive at Alimatha, where dozens of huge nurse sharks, stingrays, and giant trevallies congregate.
Further south, Meemu Atoll is focused on high-speed drift dives in the company of reef sharks and eagle rays Nearby Thaa Atoll provides rich, fishy reefs and offers the best chance for viewing whale sharks feeding on plankton under the boat lights in the evening. Finally, Laamu Atoll challenges divers with its deep channels and strong currents that attract different types of sharks, manta rays, and schools of tuna and trevallies.
Day 8
The departure morning begins with the last cooked breakfast of the tour. After saying your farewells and taking final group pictures, the crew will arrange your transfer to Kadhdhoo airport (Laamu Atoll) for your connecting flight back to Male.
Please note that the trip sometimes runs in reverse or has differing ports - check port details for your trip.
[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 week aboard the Princess Sara liveaboard in the Maldives follows a gentle pattern that becomes second nature: you wake, you dive, you eat, you rest, and you do it all again, with the Indian Ocean as your constant companion. The structure is relaxed but defined, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the diving without a thought for logistics.
Your day typically begins before the sun is high. A soft wake-up call and the promise of coffee lure you from your cabin. Within minutes, you’re stepping onto the dhoni, the dedicated dive boat, for the first dive of the day, the water glassy and the light just right. Returning with the glow of an early morning dive, you’ll find breakfast waiting.
By 1 pm, lunch is served, a chance to refuel and compare notes with fellow divers. The afternoon holds a slower pace, perhaps a nap on the sun deck or a soak in the hot tub, before afternoon tea and snacks appear: a welcome Princess Sara ritual before the third dive, which might be a day dive or a sunset dive as the light begins to soften.
Evenings are for unwinding. Dinner is often served in the open air on the upper deck of the liveaboard, with a breeze and the stars overhead; if the weather is less cooperative, the air-conditioned dining area offers the same warm hospitality. The true highlight of the week, weather permitting, is a beach BBQ on a deserted sandbank - a chance to feel the sand between your toes as the sun sets and the grill is lit.
The kitchen team on the Princess Sara are the quiet heroes of the trip, and the praise they receive in guest reviews is well-earned. Meals are a vibrant mix of Western and Asian influences, always fresh and varied. You might find hearty sausages and pasta one day, and fragrant fried rice with tuna or chicken the next. There are ample salads, fresh vegetables, and, of course, pizza for a taste of home. The cooks also love to share local flavours; be sure to try a Maldivian breakfast of Mas Huni: a finely chopped mix of tuna, coconut, and onion, served with warm Roshi flatbread.
Dietary preferences are well catered for on the Princess Sara liveaboard, with reviewers consistently noting the availability of excellent vegetarian and pescatarian options at every meal. All food is locally sourced, adding to the freshness and authenticity. Between meals, a station with tea, coffee, and snacks is always available, so you’re never far from a cookie after a dive. As one guest fondly recalled, the front-of-house staff keep everyone well-fed and hydrated, and mix a mean cocktail should you wish to celebrate the day’s sightings.
Please note that pork is not served, in line with local customs.
