Princess Rani – Maldivian Odyssey
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Diving in the Maldives
Would you like to dive in the Maldives, but are also a bit budget conscious? Then meet the Princess Rani. A fantastic liveaboard sailing the popular central route in the Maldives, at a very attractive price!
The central atolls are known for frequent encounters with friendly whale sharks and graceful manta rays. Also expect a wealth of smaller marine animals, such as nudibranchs, anglerfish and leaf coral fish. In the process, numerous other shark species can also be seen, such as nurse sharks and reef sharks. There is no shortage of stingrays either, eagle rays are found here in schools and at the famous Fish Head dive site you can’t even count the number of stingrays….
The liveaboard M/Y Princess Rani features 10 double or triple cabins with four-poster beds, air conditioning and private bathrooms, and can accommodate up to 22 guests. On board, there is more than enough space to relax between diving and snorkeling, including 3 sun terraces with comfortable loungers and beanbags, and a spacious indoor lounge.
Best travel time: Whale sharks and manta rays can be seen year-round, but for the optimal experience, we recommend visiting the Maldives between October and May. During this period you have the greatest chance of good weather and minimal wind. Note: The Princess Haleema is not available for diving trips from May to August, as this period is reserved for surf vacations.
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 will depart from Amsterdam, Düsseldorf or another major European city for the Maldives. Your trip starts with an overnight flight to Malé, the capital of the Maldives.
Often, flying from Düsseldorf is the most economical option. Together with you, we will see which airports are most convenient for you to fly from.
On day 2, you arrive in Malé. At 11 a.m. there will be a group transfer from the airport to the liveaboard. If you arrive after that time then a private transfer will be arranged, however, you will miss the check-dive. After checking in, safety procedures will be explained on the boat and in the afternoon you will do a dive. Afterwards, it is relaxing and enjoying the delicious food and drinks on board.
Day 3 - Diving around South Male & Kandooma Thila
Over the next few days, you will make 3 dives a day. In between, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served. In addition, you will also stop at one or more (uninhabited) islands as an excursion.
Today you will sail from Malé to the South Male Atoll & Kandooma. The South Male Atoll is known for its current-fed channels. South Malé’s underwater landscape, famous for its steep walls, ledges and small caves, is rich in reef fish, as well as plenty of macro life and various manta ray cleaning stations.
Kandooma Thila, often known as Cocoa Thila, is one of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives. It is in a wide passage guarded by gray reef sharks, and chances are you will also encounter scholls of eagle rays, sea turtles and colorful reef fish that cover the entire reef here. Guraidhoo Corner is another wonderful 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 4 - Miyara Kandu & Felidu
We gon on to the Felidu Atoll where, among other things, we will dive at the Miyaru Kandu Channel, which translates to ‘Shark Channel‘, and it certainly lives up to its name. A huge variety of marine life can be seen here, including tuna, large schools of gray reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, tuna and Napoleon wrasse, as well as many colorful reef fish.
Devana Kandu is one of the other channels where people like to dive. The channel is divided in the middle by a reef 250m long. With an incoming current, divers can do some fantastic drift diving here. On the outer reef, there are caves and overhangs that drop vertically from 30m to the depths. Gray reef sharks, 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 pufferfish and reef lizardfish. As divers drift dive the mile-long channel, the northern and southern passages merge along the way.
Day 5 & 6 - Diving at South & North Ari Atoll
South Ari is known for its stunning underwater topography and spectacular marine life. Reefs affected by climate change are recovering and the visibility of iconic species remains reliable. At the South Ari Marine Protected Area, if you’re lucky, you’ll encounter a whale shark. Manta rays are also spottet at Madivaru, better known as Manta Point, especially during the northeast monsoon. In central Ari are classic thilas like 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 fishs, barracudas, moray eels and blue-striped snappers. Also on display are numerous black corals, sea fans and anemones.
Day 7 - Diving at the Rasdoo Atoll
From shallow lagoons and gentle reefs for beginners to challenging, channels and dramatic landscapes for the advanced. With an unusually large selection of extraordinary marine life, Rasdhoo Atoll offers the complete diving experience. Especially when we tell you that this is where hammerhead sharks are spotted!
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 see large sea fans and nues of black coral hanging from 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, sea barbs, snappers and many others.
Day 8 - Diving on the North Malé Atoll
Today is the last day of diving, you will make one more dive The time at the North Malé Atoll. Big chance you’re headed to Fish Tank. Fish Tank is known as one of the most fun AND chaotic dive sites in the world! With more than 100 local rays as welcoming and friendly as a welcoming committee from a small village, this ray-city offers divers the one-of-a-kind experience of getting very close to rays. Swim, explore, enjoy and take some selfies with the local rays!
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 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 & cabins
M/Y Princess Rani
Board the 35-meter-long M/Y Princess Rani, a comfortable liveaboard. The liveaboard has 11 cabins: four with ocean views and canopy beds on the upper deck, five triple cabins with canopy beds and a single bed on the lower deck, and two double cabins on the lower deck; all equipped with air conditioning and private bathrooms.
Guests can enjoy the excellent service of the Princess Rani’s crew and diving and snorkeling guides. There is ample space to relax between diving, snorkeling and daily excursions, with three sundecks equipped with comfortable lounge chairs and beanbags, and a spacious indoor lounge. Meals are served alfresco on the main deck, with a continuously changing menu of freshly prepared, exquisite Italian-inspired dishes.
The Princess Rani also sails to the Deep South and special itineraries aimed at meeting tiger sharks. These trips are often sold out years in advance, but feel free to ask us about the possibilities.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is €1540 per person based on two or three people in one cabin. 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 € 1525 p.p.
- 7 Nights in a Deluxe Cabin
- Lodging based on full board & water, coffee, tea
- Return transfers Malé Airport - Liveaboard
- Dive package consisting of approximately 15-18 dives
- Free Nitrox Upgrade
- Use of paddleboards and kayaks
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Outbound and return Flight to Malé
- Green Tax
- Dive insurance (mandatory)
- from €700,- p.p.
- €90 p.p.
Optional
- Nitrox
- Diving equipment, excl. dive computer
- Diving equipment
- *This package includes sparkling mineral water, soft drinks, fruit juices, espresso and beer).
- €70, - p.p.
- €200 p.p.
- €90 p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
Boat dives on the reef. Often with sharks, manta rays and other big stuff. You will also make frequent dives on a wreck and many drift dives.
At your doorstep, as the liveaboard goes to all the dive sites. Then you will go to the dive site in the smaller Dhoni. This is often less than a 5-minute boat ride away.
Day 3 to 7 you will make 3 dives per day. Day 2 & 8 you will make 1 dive.
Yes for sure, including Manta rays! This is usually organized at South Ari Atoll.
Yes, among others a Nitrox course for €200. p.p.
Dive insurance is mandatory for anyone wishing to dive in the Maldives.
Diving equipment
Both possible, through adapters.
Yes, but these must be requested in advance. There is even one 18L tank!
Nitrox costs €70 per week
Diving equipment cost, excl. computer, €200 per week. Please indicate this directly when booking.
Other activities & excursions
On some dive sites you can also snorkel very nicely, other dive sites are too deep. If you want to rent snorkelequipment, it is best to indicate this in advance.
Non-divers are welcome aboard the Princess. Besides snorkeling, they can visit (uninhabited) islands or just relax on board.
Liveaboard
Yes, cost approx. €15,-
Yes, or for an additional cost you can reserve the entire cabin. Ask us about the possibilities.
The dives are from a dhoni. This is a fairly spacious boat, on which you are more comfortable than, say, a zodiac. This dhoni drops you on top of the dive sites.
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