Notes: The minimum recommended age for diving is 15 years old. All children who want to dive with Blue Force 3 must hold the required certification and dive accompanied by a responsible adult.
Dive experience: These Maldives liveaboard diving tours are recommended for advanced divers or experienced divers with 50 logged dives. Except safaris that visit the Deep South - advanced, nitrox, and at least 100 logged dives are mandatory.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, tea and coffee, return boat-local airport transfers, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (6 divers per guide), tanks, weights and weightbelts, dive insurance.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (full set USD 210 per week), SMB (USD 20 per week), dive computer (USD 70 per week), sales tax (USD 195), service charge (i.e. crew tips: USD 160), Green Tax (USD 12 per night), Hanifaru Bay MPA fee (when visited: USD 30). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival, with equipment ordered in advance (cash in Euros or US dollars, or bank card).
Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 90 per week), 15 litre tank (USD 90 per week), torch (USD 15 per dive), Horizon S/C rebreathers, Divertug U/W scooters (USD 100 per 2 dives). Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: The Blue Force 3 liveaboard departs on 1 week cruises every Saturday. If your trip departs from Male, a team member will be waiting for you at the airport's arrivals hall, holding a Blue Force signboard. Embarkation begins at 11 am, but you should aim to arrive before 3 pm if you would like to take part in the check dive that afternoon. The boat will depart from Male during the same afternoon. If your trip departs from Kooddoo or Gan, you should aim to arrive at Male airport before 10 am so that you can take the domestic flight to the outer atolls. Likewise, a team member will be waiting for you at the local airport and escort you to the boat for departure in the afternoon.
The final dive will be in the morning of the last full day of the cruise, then the boat will travel back to port in the afternoon. Disembarkation is at 7 am. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. If the cruise ends in Male, you can join a complimentary city tour on the Friday afternoon. If your departure flight from the Maldives is late on Saturday, it is recommended that you use a day hotel (which can be booked on arrival). If your port of disembarkation is Kooddoo or Gan, you will need to catch a domestic flight back to Male.
For more details, including airlines, see our How to get to the Maldives section.
Non-diver rate: None. Non-diving activities are provided onboard.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 70% for sole occupancy. Also applies on cruises on special offer.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 5 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise free of charge in the lowest price cabin (total 5-16 guests), pay for 14 guests and 3 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (total 17-21 guests), pay for 18 guests and 4 additional persons can join free of charge (total 22+ guests).
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 20 guests and 6 extra persons can join free of charge.
The Blue Force 3 liveaboard is a 42-metre steel-hulled vessel launched in late 2018 and dedicated to dive the Maldives atolls in comfort and safety. Whether your ambition is to encounter pelagic action in the Deep South or drift with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, this yacht provides the range and reliability to take you there.
Onboard, the atmosphere is intentionally social and unhurried. Accommodating 26 guests across 3 decks, the choice of cabin ranges, from practical triples on the lower deck to upper-deck suites with sea views, all featuring private bathrooms and individual air-conditioning. The upper deck bar of Blue Force 3 becomes the natural gathering point as the sun dips below the Indian Ocean, a place to compare dive logs over something cold while the 850 HP Caterpillar engines quietly power you toward the next dawn drop-off.
Diving onboard the Blue Force 3 liveaboard is facilitated by a separate 23-metre dhoni, a dedicated support vessel that carries all compressors, tanks, and nitrox systems. This independence from the mothership allows for exceptional manoeuvrability on site: you roll off the dhoni directly into the blue, and it retrieves you without the main vessel ever needing to reposition. For technical enthusiasts, the availability of Horizon rebreather units and DiverTug underwater scooters adds a layer of exploration usually reserved for specialist expeditions, extending both bottom time and range for those qualified to use them.
Behind the hardware lies the real story: the people. The Blue Force liveaboards fleet brings over 25 years of continuous operation in Maldivian waters to the table, with a fixed crew whose longevity fosters genuine rapport with returning guests. With 4 dive guides on duty, groups remain small enough to accommodate individual skill levels while ensuring safety briefings are thorough and current knowledge is shared. It is this stability of experience that explains the operator’s impressively high rate of repeat clientele.
Village visits and sandbar stops break up the week, while the sun deck and bow-top tanning area offer space to simply breathe the salt air. For those seeking surface-level adventure, kayaks, paddleboards, and even a banana boat are on hand. Yet the focus on Blue Force 3 remains respectfully on the underwater world predictable only in its capacity to surprise.
If the Maldives has lingered on your wish list, the Blue Force 3 liveaboard offers a modern, comfortable, and genuinely experience-led way to explore it. For cruises, availability, or to discuss anything else with a specialist, contact the Dive The World team today.
Maldives Central & Northern Atolls (Express) (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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: North Male, Baa Atoll: Hanifaru Bay, and possibly Ari and Rasdhoo atolls
Day 1
This Blue Force 3 liveaboard is designed for certified divers who want to experience the Maldives North's seasonal megafauna combined with the Central Atolls' reliable channel action. Your experience begins as you board the liveaboard near Male International Airport. After a thorough welcome and safety briefing, a restorative lunch is followed by an essential orientation check dive, perfectly setting the stage for the week before your first dinner on board.
Core Days
The initial days of the safari are dedicated to the classic Central Atolls, offering a powerful introduction to the Maldivian rhythm of channel and pinnacle diving. In North Male, you'll explore renowned dive sites, including Miyaru Faru, aptly named Shark Reef. Here, a current-sheltered overhang provides a prime vantage point for viewing patrolling grey reef sharks and an impressive, flowing parade of other open-ocean pelagics.
The focal point of this brief route is the spectacular Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. During the appropriate season, the plankton-rich waters here attract a staggering number of oceanic manta rays to Hanifaru Bay for an immense feeding spectacle. While diving is restricted to protect the environment, you will have the extraordinary opportunity to snorkel directly alongside these magnificent animals as they barrel roll to consume huge mouthfuls of plankton. It's a world-class encounter that forms the core of this expedition.
Throughout the safari, the crew will also monitor conditions for optimal sightings. If time and weather allow, the cruise may veer towards Rasdhoo Atoll, where the morning deep blue holds the possibility of encountering elusive hammerhead sharks. Alternatively, you may explore Ari Atoll, known for its nutrient-rich waters that offer a good chance to encounter the gentle giant of the ocean, the whale shark.
For surface intervals, the Blue Force 3 liveaboard offers excellent snorkelling, kayaks, and paddleboards, along with opportunities to visit traditional fishermen's villages or the pristine isolation of deserted sandbanks.
Day 8
After a memorable week, your expedition concludes with a final breakfast on the last day, followed by disembarkation near Male International Airport.
Maldives Central & Southern Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, 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, South Male, Felidhoo, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu and Huvadhoo atolls
Day 1
Your adventure begins with boarding the Blue Force 3 liveaboard at Kooddoo in Laamu Atoll, where you'll be greeted for a welcome brief covering essential safety rules and onboard services. After a first onboard lunch, the essential check dive takes place, allowing you to settle in before enjoying dinner and cruising toward the initial sites.
Core Days
The Maldives Central and Southern Atolls dive cruise onboard the Blue Force 3 liveaboard is an extensive, experience-led exploration tailored for the certified diver. This ambitious route combines the high-velocity channel diving of the central region with the pristine, pelagic-rich waters of the south, promising an extraordinary quality of dive encounters.
The main body of the safari is a focused deep dive into 7 prominent atolls, each contributing a unique highlight. You'll begin by traversing North Male and South Male Atolls, which serve as the perfect warm-up, offering classic Maldivian drift dives over vibrant, current-swept reefs and pinnacles. Further south, Felidhoo Atoll is a magnet for high-energy action. Its famed channels, powered by strong currents, draw in schools of tuna and trevallies, which in turn attract a procession of patrolling reef sharks. Felidhoo is also home to the legendary night dive at Alimatha House Reef, where dozens of nurse sharks congregate.
The voyage continues to Meemu Atoll, showcasing deep channels frequented by grey reef sharks and eagle rays, alongside reef structures draped in beautiful soft corals. Thaa Atoll expands the megafauna possibilities, featuring known manta cleaning stations and acting as a seasonal location for sightings of hammerheads and whale sharks.
For non-divers, the Blue Force cruise offers excellent surface activities like snorkeling, kayaks, and paddleboards, including visits to deserted islands and sandbanks.
The liveaboard tour culminates in the remote Huvadhoo Atoll, one of the world’s largest and deepest. Diving here is a return to untouched Maldivian nature, with pristine lagoons, walls, and deep channels. Huvadhoo provides consistent encounters with stingrays, turtles, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, spinner dolphins, manta rays, and the impressive thresher shark. Experienced divers may also, on occasion, witness elusive hammerhead and tiger sharks hunting.
Day 8
After an unforgettable week exploring these diverse atolls, your trip concludes. Disembarkation is near Male International Airport, after a final breakfast.
Note: these cruises operate in either direction.
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: North Male, South Male, Ari and Felidhoo atolls
Day 1
This Maldivian Central Atolls trip on the Blue Force 3 liveaboard provides certified divers with a focused, action-packed exploration of the archipelago's most iconic sites. Your week begins with a warm welcome aboard near Male International Airport. Following the essential safety and vessel briefing, a check dive is conducted after lunch, allowing you to settle in and enjoy the evening's dinner with fellow guests.
Core Days
The core of this Blue Force 3 safari is dedicated to the thrilling diving of North Male, South Male, Ari, and Felidhoo atolls. The experience is centred on pelagic observation, from sharks and rays to turtles and dolphins, achieved through a mix of current-driven channel dives and submerged pinnacles. You'll explore vibrant, current-swept reefs in the North and South Male atolls, serving as the perfect acclimatisation to the dynamic Maldivian waters.
Felidhoo Atoll presents an exciting challenge with its channels and a spectacular wall featuring swim-throughs and overhangs festooned with colourful soft corals. The action here is electric: its famed channels, powered by strong currents, draw in schools of tuna and trevallies, which in turn attract a procession of patrolling reef sharks. An unmissable experience is the night dive with dozens of huge nurse sharks at the famed Alimatha House Reef.
The dive cruise continues into Ari Atoll, known for its submerged pinnacles and cleaning stations, offering regular encounters with schools of eagle rays and graceful mantas. The plankton-rich conditions in this region also make it a seasonal hotspot for memorable whale shark sightings. At sites like Miyaru Faru, whose name in Dhivehi means 'shark,' a current-sheltered overhang offers an excellent vantage point for viewing patrolling grey reef sharks and the impressive parade of open-ocean pelagics.
Beyond the scuba diving, the tour is balanced with tranquil surface time, offering excellent snorkelling and visits to local islands and deserted sandbanks.
Final Day
After a week of incredible underwater scenes, your time with the Blue Force 3 liveaboard culminates with a final breakfast before you disembark near Male International Airport.
Maldives Deep South Atolls
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, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu atolls
Day 1
The Maldives Deep South Atolls dive tour with the Blue Force 3 liveaboard is an ambitious deep-ocean expedition, purpose-built for certified divers seeking the archipelago's most remote and awe-inspiring encounters. Your unforgettable adventure begins as you board the Blue Force 3 near either Male International Airport or Kooddoo in Laamu Atoll. After a welcome brief, you'll have time to settle into your cabin and complete a crucial check dive after lunch, before enjoying a relaxed dinner that sets the tone for your week of exploration.
Core Days
The core of this liveaboard safari is a focused penetration into the Deep South, venturing far off the standard tourist routes to experience an unparalleled quality of pristine diving across Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah, and Addu atolls. This region is distinguished by its sheer abundance of large pelagic life. Huvadhoo, one of the world's largest and deepest atolls, is a primary focus. Here, the scuba diving centres on deep channels and walls, with vibrant, untouched reefs. Divers can expect consistent encounters with blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta rays, spinner dolphins, and the impressive thresher shark. The powerful currents frequently draw in even larger visitors, including occasional hammerhead and tiger sharks.
For many experienced divers, the ultimate highlight of this tour is Fuvahmulah Island. This unique open-ocean atoll is a renowned convergence point for apex predators. Be prepared for truly memorable encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks, massive thresher sharks, and the ultimate prize: the majestic tiger shark. Diving here offers the chance to observe a diverse assembly of large predators, including grey reef sharks, mola mola (ocean sunfish), and sailfish, hunting in the rich, nutrient-dense waters.
The Blue Force 3 dive cruise also integrates the unique features of Laamu and Addu atolls. Laamu's channel dives offer exciting, current-swept action, while Addu, the Maldives' southernmost atoll, provides a fascinating contrast with its unique reef topography and a sense of remoteness. Beyond the diving, the vessel offers excellent surface activities like snorkelling, kayaking, and paddle-boarding, with opportunities to visit remote sandbanks and local islands for a complete Deep South experience.
Final Day
After a final breakfast on board the liveaboard, your time exploring the South Maldives concludes, with disembarkation to either Male International Airport or Kooddoo in Laamu Atoll.
[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].
Onboard the Blue Force 3 liveaboard, the day typically begins as the Indian Ocean lightens. An early knock on the cabin door preludes a briefing in the saloon, where your dive guides outline the plan for the first dive. Breakfast is a relaxed, buffet-style affair before you suit up for the morning’s exploration. You can expect 3 dives on most days, with the schedule carefully paced. There’s usually a surface interval for a proper sit-down lunch back on the boat, and a chance to relax on the sun deck before the afternoon dive. Night dives are offered twice during the week, revealing the reef’s nocturnal hunters.
Snorkellers will find plenty to explore on the house reef stops, and there are kayaks and stand-up paddleboards available for guests. The cruises often include visits to a deserted island or a sandbank. Here, you can stretch your legs on pristine white sand, and if the weather and anchorage allow, the Blue Force crew might set up a beach barbecue lunch, a simple, memorable experience of the Maldives above the water.
Meals with the Blue Force 3 are a central part of the day, served buffet-style in the air-conditioned dining room. The kitchen team prepares a varied spread designed to suit a range of appetites after a day in the ocean. Breakfast includes cereals, yogurt, pastries, and fresh juices, alongside cooked options like beef bacon, sausages, and eggs made to order, whether omelette, scrambled, or fried. Lunch and dinner might feature a selection of grilled fish, chicken or beef dishes, seafood, pasta, rice, and soups, always accompanied by vegetables. Fresh fruit and ice cream are typically on hand for dessert. For the hours between meals, chilled water, coffee, and tea are available around the clock.
"
We had a fantastic first liveaboard experience! Everything was high quality, the professional dive guides, the delicious food. Communication with Dive The World was smooth and clear, which made booking very easy. The diving itself was superb. We saw everything we hoped for. The boat was comfortable and clean, and honestly, there is nothing to improve." -
Jeroen H., Netherlands, 26 April 2025 ...
"
What an unforgettable week! From the moment we arrived, the Blue Force 3 treated us like family. The dive guides were absolutely top-tier, patient, knowledgeable, and always finding the best spots to witness the marine life. The boat is modern, the cabins are spacious, and the food is delicious. Dive The World made the whole booking process effortless, answering all our questions promptly in Spanish!. We truly felt safe, cared for, and completely spoiled. ¡Nos vemos pronto, Blue Force!" -
Carlos G., Spain, 16 January 2025 ...
"
Amazing trip, diving, boat, food and staff were excellent. Only minor issues were we had trouble with our aircon for 1 night and we didn't like the long wait to transfer to the boat; it was very hot at the international airport." -
Mark Ward, Australia, 21 September 2024 ...
"
Everything felt very professional - the sites we went to were amazing and the dive guides were very good. Our dive groups were 5 divers per guide which was a very good size.
Dive The World were very helpful with finding the right destination and ship that fit my diving experience. However their emails went to my spam every time." -
Victoria Bilenberg, Denmark, 13 April 2024 ...
