Emperor Serenity Liveaboard, Maldives

Diving at Emperor Serenity

Diving takes place from Serenity's 24m dhoni, staffed by three crew and equipped with compressors, oxygen, first aid supplies and an AED. Keeping the diving operation on a separate vessel means equipment can remain on the dhoni throughout the cruise while the main boat stays uncluttered. Up to four dive guides are onboard, and most Maldives itineraries offer two or three dives a day, with a night dive included where the route allows. Free nitrox up to 32% is provided for suitably qualified divers, while rental equipment can be pre-booked. Photographers have access to charging points, dedicated rinse tanks, an air gun and a camera table. Selected PADI courses, including Advanced Open Water and specialties, can also be completed onboard.

Serenity spends much of the year on Emperor's Best of Maldives route, exploring North and South Male, Ari, Rasdhoo and Vaavu for a varied mix of current-swept channels, thilas, manta cleaning stations and big-fish encounters. Fish Head is one of the route's best-known thila dive sites, with schooling fusiliers, trevally, turtles and grey reef sharks, while Vaavu offers memorable encounters with nurse sharks around Alimatha. Seasonal cruises either head north towards Baa Atoll during the southwest monsoon or south towards Huvadhu, Fuvahmulah and Addu during the drier months, offering opportunities to dive with manta rays, whale sharks and an impressive diversity of shark species. Exact sites depend on conditions and wildlife movements.

Diving in the Maldives

The Maldives combines spectacular pelagic encounters with some of the Indian Ocean's most distinctive reef diving. Ocean currents funnel through kandus — the channels cutting through each atoll — attracting reef sharks, rays, tuna and dense schools of fish, while submerged thilas offer colourful coral, overhangs, cleaning stations and plenty of smaller reef life. Manta rays and whale sharks are the country's headline attractions, but turtles, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, barracuda and vast schools of reef fish are equally characteristic. Diving is possible throughout the year, with the monsoons influencing visibility, currents and where plankton-feeding marine life tends to gather.

Learn more about the diving in the Maldives on the ZuBlu site here.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the ideal itinerary aboard Emperor Serenity, including your preferred cabin type, diving, excursions, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings and vessel transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred room and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment or excursions. This quote will also show any extras paid in advance or onboard - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the operator, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Getting There

Most of Serenity's central and northern itineraries begin and end at Velana International Airport (MLE) in Male. On embarkation day, an Emperor representative meets guests at the airport and transfers between the airport and liveaboard are included. Check-in begins from 13:00, and guests already staying in the Maldives should return to the airport in time for the scheduled 16:00 transfer.

At the end of a trip ending in Male, check-out is around 07:00, arriving at the airport normally around 07:30. Southern itineraries may involve domestic flights to and from Gan International Airport (GAN) or Kooddoo depending on the itinerary. For these trips, allow additional connection time, check domestic baggage allowances carefully and consider an overnight stay in a hotel before or after the liveaboard. Emperor recommends an extra day either side of the cruise where possible.

Other Activities

Snorkellers are welcome aboard and can enter the water when conditions and guide availability allow. Some dive sites with stronger currents are not suitable for snorkelling, while a private snorkelling guide can be arranged in advance for an additional charge.

Selected itineraries also include opportunities to step ashore, including island visits. Back onboard, Serenity's spacious outdoor decks provide plenty of room for reading, sunbathing or simply watching the atolls drift past between dives.

Good to Know

• WiFi: Paid data packages are available onboard when mobile coverage allows; connections are intended mainly for basic browsing and messaging.
• Mobile coverage: Signal varies considerably and is strongest near islands and ports; a local data SIM can be useful.
• Electricity: 220V and 110V electrical supplies are available onboard.
• Plug type: UK-style three-pin sockets.
• Payments on the liveaboard: Cash and Visa or Mastercard are accepted; card transactions are processed in US dollars and local charges may apply.
• Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa is the official currency, although US dollars are used onboard on the local islands.
• Time zone: GMT+5 year-round, with no daylight saving.
• Languages: Dive guides commonly speak English, German and Spanish, with other languages dependent on crew availability.
• Fees: Environmental, bed and port fees are included in Emperor Maldives liveaboard packages.
• Insurance: Comprehensive dive and travel insurance is mandatory for divers.
• Families: Children are welcome, although anyone aged 15 or under must remain under the supervision of a parent or responsible adult.