Emperor Explorer II Itinerary

Best of Maldives - 11N

Day 1: 
Once onboard, there will be a safety briefing, crew introduction, complete and check dive paperwork, cabin allocation, and boat orientation. Our boats moor in port on arrival day, departing early the next morning. The first dive is a check dive near the port. Following the first dive, we depart from Male Port and commence the itinerary. 

Days 2-10: 
Enjoy a dive holiday that gives you all you could wish for from the iconic sites of Rasdhoo Atoll, North & South Ari Atolls, Vaavu Atoll, and North & South Male Atolls. Awaiting you are channels (Kandus), pinnacles (Thilas), & cleaning stations where you have every chance of meeting mantas, a variety of sharks, and mesmerising marine life of so many varieties.

This itinerary gives you a marine mix of big fish such as shark and manta dives as well as reef dives, reef fish, morays, and macrolife. Get up close at the cleaning stations without disturbing the locals! One of the best-known dive sites is Fish Head, a marine protected site. This medium-sized pinnacle has many resident turtles, huge schools of fusiliers being stalked by trevally, and patrolling grey reef sharks. Overhangs and a large school of blue line snapper, the iconic reef fish of the Maldives, make this a genuinely great dive.

A sunset/night dive at Alimatha, Vaavu Atoll, is a must. Here you can have an incredible experience with the resident nurse sharks—these gentle sharks reach up to three metres long—who offer an up-close encounter when they gather at the end of each day. 

Day 11: 
On the last diving day, 1 dive is available in the morning whilst observing the rule of no diving within 24 hours of reaching altitude. We return to port at approximately 13.00 and moor here overnight. There is the option of an afternoon land visit to stretch your legs and escape the boat whilst in port. Evening time, pack up diving equipment and settle any outstanding bills.

Day 12: 
Depart for the airport at 07.00 the following morning.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics, and local regulations.