Prices are per person per week and in Euros based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.
Exact pricing is available on the schedule here as prices vary dependant on the time year and the length of the trip and sometimes special offers are available.

Included in the trip price is

Shared cabin;
7 nights;
6 days diving,
3 meals a day;
afternoon snacks;
1 BBQ dinner on local island (weather allowing);
unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee;
total of 17 dives (inc 1 night dive);
guide, tanks, weights.
Free Nitrox;
return airport transfer;
Government taxes and bed tax; Male city tour (on request); separate diving dhoni.

Not included in the trip price is

Flight,
diving equipment,
alcohol, soft drinks, juices.
Anything not in the “included in the trip price is” segment above.

The upper deck cabin is an extra €200 per person per week supplement and the main deck cabin is an extra €160 per person per week supplement more than the standard price shown in the schedule.

Terms and conditions:

Individual bookings:
Booking deposit:
30% of booking is required within 7 days of booking - non refundable
70 % is due to 90 days prior to departure - non refundable.
Balance due 90 days before your trip departure date - non-refundable.
Individual booking made less than 90 days before the departured ate are payable in full at the time of booking.
Cancellation at any stage involves forfeit of monies already payed.

Group charter:

Booking deposit:
10% - within 7 days of booking - non-refundable
Second deposit:
20% 180 days prior to departure - non-refundable
Balance due
90 days before departure - non-refundable

There are 18 berths over 9 well appointed comfortable cabins including 2 sea view upper deck double or twin cabins, 2 main deck double or twin cabins and 5 lower deck twin or double cabins of which one can be a 3 person cabin with 1 double bed and one single bed all with en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning.
The upper deck cabin is an extra €200 per person per week supplement and the main deck cabin is an extra €160 per person per week supplement more than the standard price shown in the schedule above.

• 

  Twin / double upper deck

• 

  Twin / double upper deck

• 

  Twin / double upper deck

• 

  Twin lower deck

• 

  Twin lower deck

• 

  Double lower deck

• 

  Double lower deck

• 

  Double lower deck

Emperor Virgo leaves from and returns to Male but doesn’t follow a set itinerary as it’s all about the giving you the best diving possible. As you may know the Maldives has 2 very distinct currents running at different times of the year and this effects which side of the Maldives all the marine life is on at any particular time. Basically, dependant on the currents and the winds, we will select the route and dive sites.

Our divemasters are very experienced in the hunt for whale sharks, Don’t worry that you might miss the other stuff though; Mv Virgo visits the best dive sites in the area to see sharks, mantas and all the schools of fishes and stunning reefs that the Maldives are famous for just like any other boat but we will also try really hard, and normally succeed, to find you a whale shark. It is the experience of a lifetime to swim with one of these gentle giants - don’t forget to bring your snorkel as you never know when we may run across one of these giants.

The Best of the Maldives route covers dive sites in the areas of North Male - Rasdhoo - North Ari - South Ari - South Male

However we reserve the right to change it dependant on the conditions and prevaling currents.

On the last day there is a free trip around Male to experience a little of the culture and life that makes this oasis in the Indian Ocean so unique.

The Best of the Maldives does just what it says on the tin - you dive the best and most famous dive sites of the Maldives in a single week of sublime liveaboard diving. This is a dive holiday in the Maldives to remember that hits all the seasonal hot spots of North Male, South Male and Ari Atoll. Dive the many channels, drifts and pinnacles, encountering the manta, whalesharks and reef residents as you go. The exact order of things is left deliberately flexible to ensure that no matter what time of year your holiday to the Maldives is, the breathtaking world underwater is unveiled in all its perfection.

Best of the Maldives itinerary aims to mix up big fish manta and shark dives with scenic reefs dives, hunting out the smallest reef fish, morays and macro life that are so abundant. Cleaning stations allow you to get up close and personal with massive Maldivian manta, and dives at Manta Point, Dhonkalo Thila and Madivaru provide just such opportunities. Maaya Thila is one of the best known dive sites in the Maldives and for a good reason. This pinnacle is about 30m diameter that descends to reveal sharks and fish a plenty. Night diving here is hard to beat and should not be missed. Log yet more pelagic sightings as grey reef sharks patrol the Ari Atoll area. The boat will also take some time out along the route to look for whalesharks you can snorkel with - grab your fins as these gentle giants can move fast!

Best of Maldives itinerary from Nov to May 7 nights

• Day 1 Arrive Male
• Day 2 North Male Check Out Dive / Ari North - Night Dive (3 Dive)
• Day 3 Ari North Fish Head (3 Dives)
• Day 4 Ari South - Whale Shark (3 Dives)
• Day 5 Ari South Thila Dives - Night Dive (3 Dives)
• Day 6 South Male - Grey Sharks - BBQ Island Party (3 Dives)
• Day 7 North Male - Manta Point - Last night Party (2 Dives)
• Day 8 Depart Male

For your flight times for this trip ideally you should aim to arrive around mid-afternoon on the day of departure as due to a same day turn around of the boat the guests from the trip before will be departing in the morning. The rest of the morning the boat will be being cleaned and prepared for your arrival around lunchtime. There are 3 complimentary transfer times from the airport to the boat on embarking day at 11:00am, 16:00pm and 22:30pm.

Guests taking the 11:00am transfer from the airport to the boat have to accept that the boat may not be fully cleaned or ready for boarding until 13:00pm. A light sandwich style snack will be provided for lunch. Any other transfers required on embarking day, other than the 3 stated above, can be arranged at a charge of 5 EUR per person, this charge will be added to your booking invoice.

If you would like to arrive the day before it is possible to stay in the airport hotel which is on the adjacent island (HulhulMale) as the airport (Hulhule island) or stay in another guesthouse on Hulhulemale Island for the night, we don’t recommend booking somewhere in Male as this involves a ferry ride to the next island. If you stay on Hulhulemale island your hotel will then deliver you back to the airport the following day (the day of departure) where you will be met by the boats representatives and taken directly to the ship. Please check with your hotel / guest house if this is a free transfer as some of them charge for this service. Planes do not fly late into the night so you will be able to sleep.

On departure : Guests will depart from the boat at 7am and returned to the airport so the boat may be cleaned for the next incoming guests. The crew will transport you back to the Airport arriving at about 7.30. If you are travelling later in the day you may consider a day room pass at a local hotel such as the Hulhule Island Hotel which is the closest to the airport. Normal day passes are for 12 hours and include use of the swimming pool, shower, towels, luggage storage etc., depending on which package you choose.

The day before there are only 2 dives ending around lunchtime so you may fly out in the late morning and still have the requisite no fly time required - Always refer to your dive computer for this but PADI recommends 18 hours.

Dive Insurance

The guests can purchase short-term dive insurance from us before arrival or onboard MV VIRGO. Please, contact us for details.

Boat:

• Length: 105Ft
• Engine: 500HP
• Generators: 2 x 33KW
• Water Makers: 1.2 ton per day
• Beam size(ft) 30
• Draft size(ft) 8ft
• Built refit 2012
• Cruising speed 10
• Maximum speed 12

Deck Formations:

• Lower Deck: 5 Twin/DBL Rooms
• Main Deck: 1 Single Cabin, Bar, Dining Area, Lounge Area.
• Upper Deck: 1 Jacuzzi, 2 Twin/DBL Upper Deck Rooms,
• Sun Deck: Numerous Sun Loungers.

Separate Diving Dhoni:

• Fully equipped 45ft Diving Dhoni complete with Oxygen Kits, 2 x Coltri Compressors, 30 Tanks.

Crew:

• Boat Crew: 12
• Dhoani Crew: 3
• Diving Guides: 2

Internet

WiFi internet is available onboard, though the availability and signal strength depends on the area. Internet may be not available at some places while cruising. Wifi access is USD 20 per week. Please, ask barmen for details while onboard. Please, note, we do not provide laptops/computers/other devices to use internet onboard, you should have your own computer to use our internet facility.

The Maldives offer the best that diving and snorkelling has to offer, Manta rays are guaranteed on pretty much every trip and there are a myriad of sites where you can see these beautiful creatures of the sea.
All of our liveaboards will do the best to give you the best experience possible dependant on the current conditions on the date of your trip and our boats are liveaboards for people enthusiastic or serious about their diving but also welcome snorkellers and non-divers who will have their own separate itinerary.
One of the highlights of any Maldives safari is the possibility to see one of the gentle giants of the ocean. Whale sharks are unusually common in the Maldives and are seen nearly year round in some areas and all our liveaboards will do their utmost to give you this chance encounter of a lifetime.
Diving from a liveaboard in the Maldives is without doubt one of the cheapest and easier ways to experience the best that the Maldives has to offer and these are, in our opinion, the best liveaboards in the area in terms of value for money, comfort and quality of service.

Maldives dive sites

Ari Atoll - Some of the popular dive sites

Kudarah Thila

Type of dive: Reef dive
Description: One of the best dive sites for soft coral and fish life.
The marine life here is so abundant, that the divers have named it ‘fish soup’. The thila is in a circular shape and can be covered in a single dive at different depths, if the current is not very strong.

Maaysa Thila

Type of dive: Reef dive / Night dive
Description: The thila is about 80mters in diameter.

The whole thila can be done at different depths in a single dive. There are manycaves and overhangs around the thila. The large rocks on the north eastern side have large black coral trees growing on them. The site is famous for the sharks and a great barracuda which reside here. The site can be dived at any time of the day, each with different activity going on the reef. The best chance to get close to these creatures is at night time, when they are hunting. You will see sharks, barracudas, rays and eels trying to grab a morsel.

Bathala Maaga Kanthila

Type of dive: Drift dive
Description: The northern tip of Magaa reef extends into Bathalaa Kandu and is home to a number of grey reef sharks and white-tip reef sharks. They can be seen patrolling along the reef looking for food.

Maalhos Thila (Blue Curves)

Type of dive: Drift dive / Reef dive
Description: The thila is known for the abundance of soft coral growth on the thila, particularly the blue/violet colored variety that grows on the ceiling of the caves and overhangs, thus the name ‘blue caves’. In addition a large variety of fish life can be observed here.

Rasdhoo Madivaru

Type of dive: Drift dive / Channel dive
Description: The reef on the southern side of Rasdhoo drops vertically to the ocean depths. The site is home to a school of Scalloped Hammerhead sharks (sphyrna lewini). In the early hours of the morning they rise from the deep waters off the atoll into the shallower depths, accessible to divers.

South Male Atoll - some of the more popular dive sites

Guraidhoo Kandu South

Type of dive: Drift dive / channel dive
Description: Since the eastern side of the channel is Open Ocean, large predatory fish can regularly be spotted here. This site is famous for sightings of sharks, schools of eagle rays and the occasional Sail fish and Hammerheads. The best condition to do the dive is when the current is flowing into the Atoll. The dive begins on the outer reef following the current into the atoll. Most of the pelagic species can be observed on the eastern side, where the reef drops off into the deep ocean. At the end of the dive in the channel, along the reef you can find overhangs with plenty of soft coral growth and small fish.

Kandooma Thila

Type of dive: Drift dive / reef dive
Description: Located in a channel, the reef is subject to strong currents at times. The ocean currents carry lot of nutrients to the reef, supporting an abundance of sea life. The site is well renowned for the soft coral growth, turtles, diverse fish life and invertebrates found on the reef. At the reef slope you may find sharks and eagle rays.

Embudu Kandu (Express)

Type of dive: Drift dive / channel dive.
Description: Similar to Guraidhoo Kandu, but more sharks are likely to be spotted here. The currents can be very strong at times. The stronger the current however the better chance of seeing sharks. Under the guidance of an experienced dive guide, the dive can be managed done easily.