Diving in the Maldives is one of those mesmerizing experiences that stays with you long after you’ve left the country’s pristine islands, swaying palm trees and crystal-clear waters behind. Maldives is one of the top destination of choice for divers from all over the world, this tiny Indian-Ocean Country is made up of more than a thousand tropical islands with coral reefs, spreading over some 900,000 square kilometers. Just beneath the water’s surface lie some of the world’s best dive sites; home to an incredible variety of marine species. With stable politics, white sandy beaches, a balmy climate and friendly people the country’s overwater charms are also second to none.
In other words, choosing the Maldives as a diving destination is a no-brainer. But choosing between land-based or liveaboard diving can leave even the most seasoned scuba diver confused. Here is our guide to what makes liveaboard diving in the Maldives a loving favorite of the international dive community.
1. Mobility: Since they are mobile, liveaboards offer a level of freedom and ease that is unmatched by other kinds of diving in the Maldives. Imagine arriving at Male International Airport and, instead of facing a long transfer, being able to personally welcomed by and swiftly taken to your boat, which is already anchoring nearby. Then, imagine spending your days being chauffeured between the best dive sites in the Maldives, enjoying top notch onboard services and cuisines, visiting local islands and watching the exotic scenery pass by as you relax on the sun-deck.
2. Easy Accessibility & Variety: Because of the unique geographical location, the Maldives are blessed with innumerable world-class dive sites, many of which are yet to be discovered. In terms of offering easy access to as many of the best diving sites in the Maldives as possible, liveaboard cruises are simply unbeatable: no long transfers, no bumpy speed boat rides. Whichever direction your route takes, at the end of the trip your logbook is sure to feature plenty of stunning, and in some cases legendary dive sites.
3. Large Fish: One of the main reasons the Maldives are so popular with divers is their abundance of large marine animals. Whales sharks, manta rays and various kinds of reef sharks are among the common fish of the Maldives. Close encounters with these giants of the ocean is a fascinating experience, unlike seeing an elephant or a lion in the wild for scuba diver, which is why liveaboard cruises also commonly called as “safaris”.
4. Adventure Holiday: Boat holidays in the Maldives offer a tempting sense of adventure. As the boat makes its way through the atolls, it often stops by local fishing villages, anchors near uninhabited islands and crosses channels between atolls. Scuba diving cruises allow you to discover several atolls, meet locals and discover authentic Maldivian culture in a relaxed casual way. With many liveaboards in the Maldives, you can spend time in between dives doing other exciting water sports such as water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, fishing and canoeing.
5. Friendly Atmosphere: Whether you are a single traveler, on your honeymoon or traveling with a bunch of friends, liveaboard cruises offer a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, flexible and social way to enjoy the best diving in the Maldives. Comfortable communal spaces offer plenty of opportunities to make new friends and swap diving experiences over dinner, while the spacious layout of the ships allows you to find your favorite spot to read a book or watch the sunset while sipping your favorite sundowner cocktail.
6. Affordability Pricing: The Maldives is well known for its luxury hotels, resorts and high-end services, the luxury liveaboards offer a superb level of services and facilities as well and prices are well below those of an island holidays. And package prices for cheap diving holidays in the Maldives usually includes numerous extras such as airport transfers, dive transfers, meals plus snacks and select beverages, island visits, sports activities and so on.
7. Visiting Uninhabited Island: Most safari boats offer excursions in the Maldives include free visits to uninhabited islands and, with maldives weather permitting, the dinner is served on the beach. Having an island (almost) all to yourself is a memorable moment to treasure: once you land on the island and venture away from the shore, you might come across a variety of exotic birds such as white terns, flowers and butterflies. On a few islands, you can even find remains of old settlements and temples.
8. No Heavy Lifting: Diving from a liveaboard in the Maldives is easy. During the trip, there is no need to carry your diving equipment back and forth in between dives as all the diving equipments are stowed directly on the “Dive Dhoni” a refitted traditional Maldivian fishing boat, which acts as a floating dive base and the dhoni is accompanied by the mother ship.
9. Sleeping Under the Stars: For many divers, diving safari in the Maldives is never complete without spending at least one night on the deck. The stars over this part of the world are simply breathtaking and it is common to see several shooting stars before you fall in to sleep being gently rocked by the waves.
10. No Shoes, No News: This famous holiday slogan is often followed on dive safari boats in the Maldives. If you want to completely switch off and get away from it all, there is no better place for it than a Maldivian liveaboards.
