Maldives Liveaboard Group Trip

We have planned a fantastic liveaboard trip to the Maldives aboard Master Liveaboards’ brand new Maldives Master. Join us for this 7-night liveaboard exploring some of the best dive sites of this amazing place in the Indian Ocean!

Where are we going?

This island country is located south of India in the middle of the Indian Ocean. A bucket-list destination for many divers, including us, the Maldives combines 1,192 stunning tropical islands with an underwater paradise.

Our 7-nights Central Atolls and Baa itinerary takes us to some of the best dive sites around Baa Atoll as well as some of the central Maldives atolls. The areas and dive sites that are covered depend largely on the weather and conditions but will include Baa Atoll, North Malé and North Ari. Other areas that we could visit include South Malé, South Ari, and Vaavu Atolls. Manta rays, eagle rays, grey and white-tip reef sharks and an abundance of colorful reef fish are just some of the encounters you can expect on these itineraries.

Why The Maldives?

Diving by liveaboard in the Maldives offer divers with the rare opportunity to see a huge range of beautiful hard and soft corals as well as to come face to face with manta rays, whale sharks, sharks, turtles, barracudas, jacks and tuna.

The main draw to diving in the Maldives are the spectacular pelagic sightings. on adrenaline-filled channel drift dives, you can encounter mantas, eagle rays and various sharks such as whitetip, blacktip, oceanic silvertip, nurse and lemon shark, just to name a few.

Aside from the channel dives, diving the reefs and thilas – seamounts that host manta cleaning stations – are equally exciting. The abundance of marine life in the Maldives can be attributed to the ideal growing conditions, the turquoise waters provide plenty of nutrients for the coral reef while manta rays and whale sharks feed from the plankton.

When are we going?

We’ll embark the boat on August 4th and will disembark on the 11th. One week of amazing diving at the best time of the year to visit the central atolls and especially Hanifaru Bay. August marks the height of the incredible Manta Ray event.

Located in Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay is famous for being a nursery ground for grey sharks. In addition, from mid-May until December, the reef acts like a funnel, filling up with plankton, attracting hundreds of manta rays (and sometimes a few whale sharks) to feed. In Hanifaru Bay, scuba diving is not allowed – it’s SNORKELING ONLY.

There are no guarantees that this natural spectacle will happen while we are there, but the chances are very good! While on the boat, we’ll be in constant contact with locals to monitor if the Manta Rays are there to maximize our chances.

The Liveaboard

Maldives Master welcomes 26 divers on board with spacious modern comfort, providing the best Maldivian diving experience. She was built in 2024 – a brand new boat!

Maldives Master is 140ft long liveaboard vessel that boasts two roomy fixed double-bed cabins, ten convertible twin/double cabins and two single cabins. She features an indoor dining area, a bar, an indoor air-conditioned lounge and an outdoor jacuzzi. A shaded outdoor lounge area can be found on the mid-deck, plus four different sun decks; a viewing deck located at the front of both the mid-deck and upper deck; an open-air deck on the top deck; and an ocean deck at the stern of the boat…all providing comfortable seating and loungers.

The ocean deck is a unique feature allowing guests to relax in the open air while close to the water. On many evenings the floodlights will illuminate the water just off the ocean deck to attract plankton which draws the manta rays and whale sharks. There have been many close sightings of feeding mantas and whale sharks. Have your camera ready!

One of the most outstanding features of Maldives Master is the custom-built dhoni (diving support vessel) Blue Shadow. This 62ft dhoni is spacious, fast, and equipped with all the modern conveniences that divers want. Each diver has their own station with plenty of space to store their gear and kit-up, and the dhoni crew is ready to assist. During the journeys to and from the dive sites, you can ascend the small stairs to the top deck to enjoy the sun and stunning views. There is a toilet with a shower located inside the main deck plus two handheld showers on the back deck, and separate camera and equipment rinse tanks.

Our trip includes full board that consists of breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner and all drinks except alcohol and soft drinks. Nitrox is available (not included) on the boat and the use of it is very much encouraged! 

The diving

Baa Atoll

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Baa is known for its rich marine biodiversity. It features stunning coral reefs but is most famous for Hanifaru Bay where, at certain times of the year, manta rays congregate in large numbers.

North & South Malé Atolls

Located near the capital city of Male, sites feature vibrant coral formations, abundant marine life, and opportunities for drift diving.

North & South Ari Atolls

These atolls are known for their vibrant coral reefs, abundant marine life, and impressive drop-offs. You can expect to encounter a wide variety of marine species, including colourful reef fish, sharks, manta rays, and even the elusive whale shark.

Vaavu Atoll

Notorious for strong currents, which attract pelagic species and create thrilling drift dives, divers can expect plenty of encounters with reef sharks and, if you’re lucky, maybe even scalloped hammerheads and whale sharks.

Your cruise director will schedule up to three dives per day. This means up to 16 dives over 7 nights. The diving day is typically scheduled as follows:

• Light Breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1
• Full Breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2
• Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3*
• Snack relaxation period
• Dinner

*If we offer a sunset or night dive, the schedule will be slightly amended.

DATES AND FLIGHTS

The liveaboard trip will take place from August 4th – 11th, 2026. As usual we won’t include any airfare in the trip. The flight schedule for 2026 is not posted at this point.

Several airlines offer reasonable flights to Male with one layover typically in Istanbul, Doha or Dubai. More information will follow on reasonable flight options.

There are two transfer times for embarkation in Malé – 12:30 and 16:00 only. We’ll make sure to chose suggested flights that’ll line up well with the transfer times.

TRIP COSTS

What’s included?

– 7 nights full board accommodation includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks

– Up to 3 dives daily

– Unlimited, complimentary tea, coffee and drinking water

– Single 12 Litre (80 cu ft) cylinder with air fills

– Weights and weight belts

– Pre- or post- liveaboard land extensions available (contact info@athensscuba.com for more information)

– Embarkation and disembarkation transfers to/from the Male airport and port on the day of embark/debark

What’s NOT included?

• International Flights

• Additional or private transfers

• Equipment rental

• Nitrox – Standard Package : 105 USD per trip, to be paid in advance, on board

• On board merchandise

• Alcoholic drinks

• Soft Drinks

• Crew and dive guide gratuities

• 16% GST (applicable to onboard payment for equipment, nitrox, courses, drinks and merchandise)
• Maldives Green Tax : 12 USD per night, to be paid on board

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PRE- OR POST- LIVEABOARD LAND EXTENSIONS WE MAY OFFER AT A LATER DATE.

For information on single occupancy and other special requests, please email info@athensscuba.com

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