Dive experience: Recommended for Emperor Virgo liveaboard trips: Maldives Central and Northern Atolls: participants should be Advanced Open Water Diver qualified. Maldives Central & Southern Atolls: divers should be Advanced Open Water Diver and have 30 logged dives. Maldives Southern Atolls: Advanced Open Water Diver and 100 logged dives. Divers with less experience will be able to join trips but may have to sit out some dives if their scuba skills are insufficient for the planned dives.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (1 BBQ on deserted island weather permitting), snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, glass of wine with dinner, transfers to the boat from the airport, dives (as detailed in the trips above), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, experienced English speaking divemasters (6 divers per guide), tanks, weights and weight belts, Green Tax, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (full set including SMB and dive computer USD 271 per week, must be pre-booked), reef hooks, dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, 15 litre tank (USD 88 per week), torch (USD 10 per week). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: MV Emperor Virgo liveaboard trips typically begin in Malé, though some southern trips depart from Kooddoo or Kadhdhoo. The vessel remains in port on the first night, so flights can arrive at any time on embarkation day.
2 complimentary transfers run from the airport to the boat on day one: at 12 noon and 4 pm. Guests using the midday transfer should note that cabin cleaning may not be fully complete until 1 pm. At Malé (Velana) International Airport, the meeting point is beside the Help Desk. For departures from Gan (Addu City), a representative wearing an Emperor Maldives shirt and holding a sign waits outside the arrivals hall.
Transfers outside the scheduled times can be arranged for USD 15 each way. This fee is waived for groups of 8 or more arriving on the same flight who require an alternative embarkation-day transfer after 12 noon.
Further travel guidance, including airline recommendations, can be found in our How to get to the Maldives section.
The final snorkel or dive activity takes place around 1 pm on the penultimate day. The Emperor Virgo then returns to port for the last night. Disembarkation is at 8 am. A minimum 18-hour surface interval must be observed before any post-cruise flights.
Non-diver rate: Non-divers receive a free snorkeling kit and a voucher worth USD 50 to spend on board.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - solo travellers may choose to share a cabin, or pay a supplement of 50% of the published price for their own cabin. If there is no other same sex guest for you to share with, you will receive a cabin to yourself with no single supplement.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 9 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 10+ guests).
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 16 guests and 2 additional persons can join free of charge.
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 Emperor Virgo 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 with the Emperor Virgo 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.
The MV Emperor Virgo liveaboard has a total of 9 cabins: 2 Main deck twin/double bed cabins, 5 Standard twin/double cabins on the lower deck and 2 Upper deck twin/double cabins. All twin bed cabins can be converted to doubles, and all feature an ensuite bathroom, TV, DVD and minbar.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning
- Windows (upper and middle deck only) or portholes (lower deck)
- En-suite bathroom facilities with hot water shower, towels, toiletries and hand basin
- TV and DVD player
- Minibar
- Wardrobe and mirror
- Reading lights
- Safe box
- Bedding
- 24-hour, 220v electricity supply with 3-pin UK style sockets (adaptors available)
- Fire detectors
- Life jackets
- Space for luggage
No. of bathrooms / showers - 9 / 9 - hot water
Maldives Central Atolls
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: from North Male, Rasdhoo, Ari atolls, Felidhoo, South Male
Day 1
After meeting the crew of 12 onboard Emperor Virgo in Male and settling into this spacious 31m liveaboard, you’ll have the afternoon to unpack and prepare your equipment. A comprehensive boat briefing will be held once all guests have arrived, followed by dinner. Use this first day to relax and recharge before the diving schedule begins in earnest tomorrow morning.
Core Days
Get ready to dive the best of the Maldives with the Emperor Virgo liveaboard. Navigating through Male, Felidhoo, and Ari atolls, you’ll explore famous channels and pinnacles home to mantas, hammerheads, and grey reef sharks. Whether it’s the adrenaline of a drift dive or the magic of snorkelling with whale sharks, every site offers a new encounter. You will also explore a notable wreck in South Male, perfect for spotting hidden macro life. The liveaboard maintains a pace of 3 dives per day, concluding the trip with 2 morning dives on the final full day to allow for a scenic return cruise to Male.
Rasdhoo Atoll offers a thrilling change of pace with its dramatic walls and deep-water encounters. It is most famous as a hotspot for hammerhead sharks, which are often seen rising from the blue during early morning dives. The atoll’s unique topography also attracts mantas, grey reef sharks, and eagle rays, providing some of the most exciting pelagic action in the Maldives. You will enjoy 3 dives here, exploring the vibrant reef systems and high-energy channels that make this small atoll a world-class diving destination.
Next is Felidhoo Atoll, where the focus shifts to exhilarating channel diving and famous night encounters. This area is renowned for its high-energy 'kandus' that attract large schools of grey reef sharks and eagle rays dancing in the current. A major highlight of the Emperor Virgo tour is the incredible night dive at Alimatha, where dozens of nurse sharks and large marble rays congregate in the shallow waters for an unforgettable experience. You will complete 3 dives a day here, alternating between adrenaline-filled drifts and exploring the lush, coral-rich overhangs that define this spectacular atoll.
In the Ari Atolls, you will explore some of the most productive waters in the Maldives, famous for consistent encounters with ocean giants. The region is home to legendary pinnacles where mantas frequent cleaning stations and whale sharks are often spotted cruising along the southern reefs. You will experience a mix of vibrant coral gardens and submerged 'thilas' teeming with reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, and schools of colourful fusiliers. The schedule provides 3 dives a day, ensuring ample time to discover the incredible biodiversity and pelagic life that make these atolls a world-favourite destination.
Final Day
Wake up with the smell of the last breakfast of the tour being served in the early morning. Say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport.
[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 ...
"
This was our first liveaboard trip, and Emperor Virgo made it an unforgettable experience. Booking everything through Dive The World was straightforward and stress-free, everything ran like clockwork.
The service onboard was fantastic. The dive team were incredibly professional, safety-conscious, and fun to dive with. Our server and bartender was always smiling and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was excellent and plentiful.">Adam L., Malaysia, 29 April 2025 ...
"
All in all, we had a wonderful week and would recommend the Emperor Virgo for the quality of the diving and the excellent crew. The diving was exceptional, the food was very good, with plenty of variety and generous portions, and the crew were friendly and attentive throughout.
The boat is definitely showing its age though. Some areas, like the bathrooms and the dive deck, could really do with a refurbishment. It's not dirty, just worn." -
Tom R., UK, 11 March 2024 ...
"
From the moment I sat foot on the boat the crew was friendly and forthcoming. It all made me feel very welcome. Dive briefings were done professionally and we were divided into smaller groups. We were limited to 4 divers per guide. The guides noted all dives on the whiteboard throughout the week and they actually plotted our route on a map as well. Cool service.
My cabin was spacious and cleaned daily. The food served was tasty and despite the fact that we have limited ressources the chefs managed to make the menus varied throughout the week." -
Thomas Weber, Denmark, 28 January 2019 ...
