Carpe Vita – Best of the Maldives
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Dive on the best dive sites in the Maldives.
During this diving vacation you will discover the most amazing dive sites of Maldives on liveaboard Carpe Vita during ‘Best of Maldives’ itinerary.
The Carpe Vita is a 38-meter luxury liveaboard offering space and comfort for up to 20 passengers.
The boat is equipped with modern facilities, including a spacious lounge, sun deck, bar, restaurant and dive deck.
Throughout the year, the Carpe Vita sails the ‘Best of Maldives’ itinerary.
During the‘Best of Maldives‘ itinerary, you’ll dive the Maldives’ most famous dive sites, including North Male’
Atoll, Rasdhoo Atoll, North Ari Atoll, South Ari Atoll, Vaavu Atoll and South Male’ Atoll.
Expect channels and pinnacles full of marine life and exciting night dives including manta rays and sister sharks.
Divers will also have the chance to spot a diversity of sharks, reef fish, turtles, moray eels, eagle rays and macro life such as nudibranchs.
A highlight is the possible encounter with hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.
Best travel time: Whale sharks are spotted here throughout the year. As well as the mantas. Still, we recommend going here between October and May. You then have the best chance of nice weather and little wind.
This trip describes the “Best of Maldives” 8-day liveaboard itinerary.
It is also possible to perform this itinerary as an 11-day liveaboard.
The dive sites remain the same, although of course you make more dives on the sites because you have 3 extra dive days.
In addition, an 8-day trip includes 1 beach BBQ and 1 night dive, while the 11-day trip includes 2 beach BBQs and 2 night dives.
Starting price for the 11-day trip is approx.
€3599,- p.p.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for the Maldives
All year round you can dive here with a 3mm.
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | Flight to the Maldives
Today you begin your journey toward the enchanting Maldives.
Your adventure begins with a night flight that takes you to Malé, the vibrant capital of the Maldives.
Are you flying from Europe?
Then flying from Düsseldorf is often the most interesting financially.
We are happy to advise you on the best departure airports based on your preferences and location.
The second day you will arrive in Malé.
From 14:00 you are welcome to check in on the boat.
The crew of the Carpe Vita will pick you up at the airport.
Given the regular arrival times of flights, this often fits seamlessly.
Of course, we take this into account when selecting flights for you.
Once on board, you can install yourself in your cabin, prepare your diving equipment and then relax.
Take your time to acclimate and enjoy the surroundings.
Tomorrow you will dive into the adventure!
Day 3 - North Malé
The Best Of Maldives route can be sailed two ways, from North Male, via Rashdoo, Ari Atoll and Vavuu back to South Male atoll…. or from South Male atoll just the other way.
The route will be determined according to weather conditions.
For this trip we assume that you start in North Malé.
With its crystal clear azure waters, rich coral reefs and diverse aquatic ecosystem, North Malé Atoll is a must visit!
The dive sites of this Atoll are very diverse, we would like to highlight some of them….
Known for its exceptional biodiversity, Banana Reef has a horseshoe shape adorned with a vibrant array of corals, including vibrant soft corals, tonnel sponges and gorgonian fans.
Functioning as an artificial reef, the sunken freighter, Kuda Giri wreck, houses a vibrant marine community.
Lionfish, moray eels and snappers are among its diverse inhabitants.
Located on the northern corner of the outer reef, Aquarium teems with reef fish around coral blocks.
Murres and whitetip reef sharks are often seen, along with rays and other fascinating marine life.
Impressive in its coral reef formations, H.P. Reef features caves and crevices that attract strong currents.
Schools of horse mackerel, jacks, barracuda and more are drawn to this site.
Frequently seen visitors are eagle rays and gray reef sharks.
Internationally recognized for its manta rays, Lankan Manta Point offers cleaning stations on coral rocks.
Manta rays gather to be cleaned by polyp fish, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
Bodu Hithi Thila is a captivating reef dive.
Schools of fusiliers, tuna, groupers and thick-lipped fish thrive here.
At 17 meters, a cave reveals its secrets, and whitetip reef sharks can be spotted on the sandy bottom.
Day 4 - Rasdhoo
From shallow lagoons and soft reefs for beginners to challenging, channels and dramatic scenery for advanced divers.
With an unusually large selection of marine life, Rasdhoo Atoll offers the complete diving experience.
Rasdhoo Madivaru, a horseshoe-shaped edge, is patrolled by gray reef sharks, whitetip sharks and schools of eagle rays.
Looking over the edge into the depths, you can see large sea fans and the black coral hanging off the wall, while thousands of anthias flutter around you.
Back in the shallows, you are greeted by schools of reef fish such as oriental wrasse, fusiliers, goatfish, snappers and many others.
Add to that the occasional spotted eagle ray or a school of large barracudaand you have all the ingredients for a near-perfect Maldivian diving experience.
What would make it absolutely perfect?
If you spot one or more hammerhead sharks, as they are regularly seen at Rasdhoo!
Day 5 & 6 - North & South Ari Atoll
North Ari is known in part for Maaya Thila, a marine protected area known for the various dives you can do here.
At sunset, Maaya Thila becomes a famous night dive site in the Maldives, where you can encounter gray reef sharks and white tip sharks for an exciting night dive.
The adventure begins at the top reef, just 6m deep, and gradually descends to 30m along the reef edge.
Here you will also discover a world of caves and overhangs teeming with marine life.
At the South Ari Marine Protected Area, if you are lucky, you will encounter a whale shark.
Manta rays are also spotted at Madivaru, better known as Manta Point, especially during the northeast monsoon.
In central Ari are classic thilas such as Kudarah Thila, a natural wonder filled with marine life and colorful corals. Fish Head, a top diving spot worldwide, is known for its rich diversity of fish species and is home to sharks.
The most common species in this area are scorpion fish, barracudas, moray eels, and blue-striped snappers.
There are also numerous black corals, sea fans, and anemones to admire.
Day 7 - Vaavu
The channels of Vaavu Atoll are popular because of the drift dives you can do. Devana Kandu is one of the channels where people like to dive.
The channel is divided in the middle by a reef 250m long.
With an incoming current, divers can make fantastic drift dives here.
On the outer reef there are caves and overhangs that drop vertically from 30m to depth.
Gray reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays and pelagic species are seen around the entrance to both passages.
Many reef fish have colonized these rocks, and it is not uncommon to see blue-face angelfish, valentine kingfish and reef lizardfish.
As divers drift dive the mile-long channel, the northern and southern passages merge along the way.
Day 8 - South Male
The South Male Atoll is known for its current-fed channels.
The underwater landscape of South Malé, famous for its steep walls, ledges and small caves, is rich in reef fish, as well as plenty of macro life and several manta ray cleaning stations.
Kandooma Thila, often known as Cocoa Thila, is one of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives.
It lies in a wide passage guarded by gray reef sharks, and chances are you will also encounter schools of eagle rays, sea turtles and colorful reef fish that cover the entire reef here.
Guraidhoo Corner is another stunning location.
This large marine protected area is home to a huge concentration of reef life, including sharks, schools of trevallies, rays and sea turtles.
Day 9 & 10 - Return home
The beautiful diving trip in the Maldives is over. Don’t you want to go home yet? Then be sure to check out the options for extending your stay at a resort. Or maybe you’ll still go south to the tiger sharks?
Are you flying early in the morning?
Then you’ll probably land in Europe on day 9 as well.
Are you flying late afternoon/evening today?
Then you may be home a day later.
In that case, we can also definitely look at a day hotel, so you won’t be waiting too long at the airport.
The liveaboard
The boat and cabins
Liveaboard Carpe Vita
The Carpe Vita is a 38-meter luxury liveaboard operated by Carpe Diem Maldives Cruises.
This stunning yacht offers space and comfort for up to 20 passengers and is equipped with modern facilities, including a spacious lounge, sun deck, bar, restaurant and dive deck.
In total, the Carpe Vita has 10 comfortable cabins spread over three decks, divided into Suites (2), Superior Suites (2) and Standard Cabins (6).
Each cabin has air conditioning and an en-suite bathroom.
Accommodations on board:
-
Upper Deck: Two Suites are located here as well as the restaurant and bar.
-
Main Deck: On this deck you will find two Superior Suites.
There is also a lounge (with air conditioning), a room for diving equipment, an office, a common toilet and an outdoor seating area. -
Lower Deck: The lower deck offers six standard cabins and crew accommodations.
-
Sun Deck: The sun deck is the perfect place to relax with an outdoor seating area and lounge chairs.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is US$ 2.714 per person based on two people in one room. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates.
Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities?
Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from US$ 2.714 p.p.
- 7 Nights in a standard cabin lower deck
- Accommodation on full board basis & beach BBQ
- Return transfers airport - liveaboard
- Dive package consisting of approximately 17 dives
- Free Nitrox Upgrade if certified
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Malé from US$ 737 p.p.
- Green Tax $12.00 p.p.p.n.
- Dive insurance (mandatory in the Maldives)
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe.
However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide.
Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Surcharge Upgrade Main Desk Superior Cabin approx. US$ 211 p.p.
- Surcharge Upgrade Upper Deck Suite approx. US$ 421 p.p.
- WiFi on board approx. US$ 24 p.p.
- Soft Drinks & Alcoholic Beverages
Send this trip by email
Want to save the details of this trip or share it with someone?
You can do so by emailing the trip.
Where may we send the email to?
Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
You dive from the Dhoni, the small dive boat that sails with the liveaboard.
You will make drift dives, among other things.
The liveaboard sails as close as possible to the dive sites.
Then you sail the last minutes (often really 1 to 5 minutes) to the dive site.
Except for the arrival and departure day, you will make 3 dives per day + 1 or 2 night dives.
Yes indeed, including the manta night dive is fantastic.
Diving equipment
There are 11.5L and 13.5L tanks
Diving with Nitrox is free, but only possible for certified divers.
Yes, you can rent equipment.
Price on request.
Liveaboard
Yes, cost approx. 25/30 USD
Generally, the answer is; Yes.
However, you can also reserve a cabin for yourself at a surcharge of approx.
€1520,-
The dives are from the Dhoni.
Related diving trips
We are EWDR
