Looking for the best way to enjoy a diving holiday in the Maldives? Joining a liveaboard is the only way to go. There are many really incredible, luxurious boats that offer extensive dive itineraries all over the Maldives.
These scuba dive liveaboards may be based on boats, but that doesn’t mean you will have to sacrifice any comforts during your holiday. These boats are fully-equipped to the same standard of any top Maldives resort. This means that you will get to enjoy the best possible base for scuba diving, while still relaxing completely.
If you are serious about experiencing the best dive sites and atolls in the Maldives, then a liveaboard is definitely a wise choice. We have chosen some of the best Maldives liveaboards available, to help you make the most out of your scuba safari.
Why Choose a Liveaboard Maldives Holiday?
The Maldives is a dream destination for any scuba diver. The place is just brimming with marine life – including whale sharks, huge rays, colorful coral reefs, and a massive amount of fish. The water is warm, clear, and seriously inviting.
One of the challenges with scuba diving in the Maldives is that many of the best sites and atolls are difficult to reach. These can be far away from any accommodation, and inaccessible through a day trip. This is where liveaboards come in handy.
A liveaboard holiday means that you will be traveling around on a remarkably comfortable boat. This allows you to experience all of the best diving locations, secret beaches, reefs, and beautiful Maldives islands.
All liveaboards come with experienced dive guides, scuba equipment, full meal plans, and comfortable rooms. This means that you just need to sit back and relax, while the liveaboard takes you to the top diving sites in the Maldives.
The 16 Best Maldives Liveaboards
Choosing which liveaboard to spend your Maldives holiday on can be difficult, as there are so many truly amazing options out there. Whether you want to focus on a luxurious experience or see as many dive sites as possible, there is a boat for you. Here is a roundup of the best Maldives liveaboards to choose from. Each one offering an unforgettable experience.
Scubaspa Yang
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/scubaspa-yang
Want to explore the best Maldives diving in complete style? The Scubaspa Yang will be sure to provide an unforgettable voyage. This is a premium liveaboard option with plenty of amazing facilities and activities available onboard.
This liveaboard offers the best of the Maldives trips, which are around 5 – 8 nights long. Guests can enjoy incredible comforts on this 50m yacht – which is also an authorized PADI 5-star dive resort.
Some highlights of the Scubaspa include the onboard yoga classes, the relaxing spa, jacuzzi, fitness center, and of course the incredible food. Guests will enjoy a beach BBQ during the trip as well. The yacht has a large sundeck, modern communal spaces, and cabins that feel like you are in a hotel.
The diving here is world-class, and the experienced dive instructors will be able to take you to all of the absolute best sites in the Maldives. Beyond the diving though, passengers can still enjoy snorkeling trips, stand up paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking, and plenty more.
The Scubaspa Yang is one of the more luxurious and well-equipped liveaboards available. With all of the cool facilities onboard, you will certainly feel a whole lot more relaxed and refreshed after your trip on this yacht.
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Emperor Serenity
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/emperor-serenity
Just because you will be living aboard a boat, doesn’t mean that you will have to sacrifice any comforts. The Emperor Serenity is a sophisticated 40m boat with 13 en-suite cabins. This Emperor Divers liveaboard can accommodate 26 passengers at a time, and it operates throughout the year.
The Emperor Serenity focuses on general ‘best of the Maldives’ trips which last around 7 nights. These voyages will give you a great understanding of the entire area’s greatest dive spots and diverse marine life.
The scuba dive liveaboard comes with 4 professional and experienced dive guides, as well as 13 friendly boat crew members. Divers are well catered for with all equipment available, and nitrox is free.
This awesome liveaboard has an onboard spa, a fun bar area, covered and open sundecks, and a quality entertainment area. The rooms are spacious, modern, and well equipped. For added luxury, you could book the 2 suites which include king-sized beds and unbeatable sweeping ocean views.
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Carpe Novo
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/carpe-novo
The Carpe Novo is a newly built, 43m boat offering comprehensive dive trips around the Maldives. You can choose between a wide range of liveaboard excursions (ranging from around 7 to 14 nights), highlighting different areas and dive sites. This is one of the best liveaboard options for those that want to choose between specific sites to focus on in the Maldives.
The boat has 12 cabins, catering to a maximum of 22 guests. These v]cabins all have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, TVs, and hotel-style comforts. The rest of the boat is well equipped as well, with sleek communal areas, sundecks, and entertainment areas. The food (which is all included in your trip) is a particular highlight on the Carpe Novo!
Your trip on the Carpe Novo will include free toiletries, airport transfers, a beach BBQ, nitrox, land excursions, towels, a snorkeling guide, and more.
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Emperor Leo
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/leo
The Emperor Leo is a sleek 35m yacht offering a real boutique Maldives liveaboard experience. There are 12 cabins onboard this vessel, including the luxurious executive suite.
You can choose between a ‘best of the Maldives’ trip, or rather focus on the deep south or south-central areas of the Maldives. Trips on the Emperor Leo generally last 7 nights. All diving trips take place from the large tender dhoni – giving you more space aboard the yacht to enjoy.
Guests can make full use of the jacuzzi, the large dining area and bar, and the beautiful sundecks and entertainment areas. This is a seriously well-equipped, stylish yacht.
A trip on the Emperor Leo includes a full meal plan, local flights, a beach BBQ, towels, land excursions, nitrox, snorkel gear, and more.
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Maldives Aggressor II
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/maldives-aggressor-ii
If you are after some of the absolute best Maldives liveaboard diving, then this 41m yacht comes highly recommended. There are a number of different dive trips you can take on the Maldives Aggressor II, with trips generally being between 7 – 10 nights.
Each day, you will do up to 4 exciting dives. Whether you want to do a ‘best of the Maldives’ voyage or focus on other particular areas, this yacht can take you there.
A maximum of 22 guests can be accommodated on this boat. Each cabin is modern and spacious, with a private bathroom and shower. The food is delicious (and all-inclusive), and all wine, beer, and soft drinks are also complementary.
There is a jacuzzi, a large, partially-covered sundeck, and excellent dive facilities. You will be greeted with a delicious welcome cocktail on arrival, and continue enjoying a relaxed and adventure packed trip on this top liveaboard.
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Eco Blue Liveaboard
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/eco-blue
Eco Blue is a homely liveaboard that offers year-round diving trips to some of the best Atolls in the Maldives. There are a number of different trips that you can make on this boat, ranging from 7 – 14 nights.
This boat is comfortable and well equipped, offering guests all the comforts that you would want on a dive holiday. The bar is well stocked, the coffee is great, and the food is delicious. There are also some very inviting sundeck and entertainment areas.
This liveaboard includes an extensive diving package, with access to top of the line gear. The dive guides are experienced and knowledgeable about the area – ensuring that you will see plenty of the amazing marine life that the Maldives is famous for.
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Emperor Virgo
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/virgo
The Emperor Virgo offers some of the most fun and exciting liveaboard diving holidays in the Maldives. The varied itineraries available allow you to enjoy a wide range of dives, and really experience the magic of the Maldives.
This boat is a 32m floating luxury resort – equipped with all your holiday needs. From the two fun bars to the yoga classes, delicious onboard restaurant (with a full-board meal plan), entertainment area, and upper sun deck. You will be sure to have an amazing time while out at sea.
Nitrox refills are free, cabins are cozy, and the crew is especially attentive and friendly. This is an exciting Maldives diving liveaboard that anyone can enjoy.
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Ocean Divine
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/ocean-divine
With owners that have over 30 years of experience in the Maldives, Ocean Divine offers a seamless liveaboard experience. You can choose between scheduled diving cruises of the North Atoll, Ari Atoll, Felidhu Atoll, Central Atoll and Southern Atolls of the Maldives. These tours take place from November to April, allowing divers to see a huge range of incredible Maldives marine life.
If the three dives a day isn’t enough to keep you busy, guests can also enjoy the onboard masseuse, the top chef, and modern entertainment facilities. Stand up paddleboarding, freediving, snorkeling, and land excursions are also included.
Only 12 guests can board the Ocean Divine at a time, allowing for a more intimate experience. Every request that you have will be taken care of on this liveaboard, allowing you to fully enjoy the spectacular diving and natural beauty around you.
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Emperor Explorer
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/emperor-explorer
Year-round dive safaris in the Maldives don’t get much more sophisticated than this. The Emperor Explorer is a new, modern yacht with 13 luxurious cabins. A total of 26 guests can enjoy the well-equipped cabins and quality amenities on offer here.
The Emperor Explorer focuses on offering the best of the Maldives dive trips ranging from 7 – 10 nights. This is a great liveaboard for those that want to get a general sense of the region’s diving and explore a range of different sites.
Even if you’re not a diver, though, you will still love this boat. All non-divers will receive a free snorkeling kit and a $50 gift voucher to spend onboard.
A delicious full-board meal plan is included on the Emperor Explorer, as is wine with your dinner, nitrox, a beach BBQ, airport transfers, and plenty more. Facilities on this amazing boat include a large sundeck with loungers, a chilled-out entertainment room, and a stunning open-aired terrace – perfect for enjoying a drink.
All diving takes place from the accompanying dhoni. This gives you more space to enjoy during the liveaboard adventure.
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Ari Queen
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/ari-queen
Maldives liveaboards don’t get much better than the Ari Queen. 24 guests can enjoy the year-round trips that this luxurious boat has to offer. This liveaboard specializes in a classic central dive itinerary that lasts 7 nights. This allows you to explore and experience a number of well-acclaimed diving sites in the Maldives.
The Ari Queen has an experienced crew of 15, including some really knowledgeable dive guides. The boat itself includes deluxe cabins and suites – making it feel like you are on a floating hotel.
The facilities, sundeck, and entertainment area are some of the best, and the food is truly delicious. This is a comfortable liveaboard that any avid diver will love.
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Emperor Atoll
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/emperor-atoll
The Emperor Atoll, a 26m vessel, offers a slightly less luxurious and more down-to-earth experience than other Maldives liveaboards. If you want to go on a dive trip in a really personal setting, then the Emperor Atoll would be a great option.
This is not to say the boat is not comfortable. Each cabin is air-conditioned and features an en-suite bathroom. The boat is complete with flat-screen TVs, sun loungers on the shaded deck, a bar, dining area, and swim platform. As there are only six cabins on the Emperor Atoll, trips are a lot more intimate and laid back.
This liveaboard departs from Male, and it offers a number of amazing dive itineraries. With some incredibly knowledgeable and experienced dive guides on board, you will be sure to access many incredible scuba sites.
A trip on the Emperor Atoll includes nitrox, a full meal plan, a beach BBQ, land excursions, towels, transfers, toiletries, and more.
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Moonima
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/moonima
The Moonima is a recently renovated 30m liveaboard that offers access to some of the most spectacular dive sites in the Maldives. There are only eight cabins onboard the Moonima, accommodating a maximum of 16 guests. This allows you to enjoy a really personalized experience.
Every corner of this boat is kitted out to provide some of the highest standards and comforts available on the ocean. Between the modern cabins, the outdoor bar and entertainment deck, and the delicious food on offer – you will never want to leave this liveaboard.
The dive itineraries offer the chance to explore different areas of the Maldives. All diving takes place from the dedicated dive dhoni – giving guests more space to enjoy themselves on board.
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Seafari Explorer
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/seafari-explorer
The Seafari Explorer is one of the most modern and luxurious Maldives liveaboards. This has four impressive decks, six cabins, and can accommodate up to 22 guests. The cabins are spacious, and there are some really great relaxation and entertainment areas onboard.
You can choose between a number of different dive itineraries, ranging from 7 – 14 nights. These will take you to some of the best atolls across the Maldives, giving you a great general sense of the area. Expect to see plenty of eagle rays, reef sharks and fish.
There are plenty of activities available on the Seafari Explorer. These include kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, land excursions, a beach BBQ, and of course the full diving package. All meals and necessities are included in this liveaboard, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the ocean and beautiful surrounds.
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Blue Force One
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/blue-force-one
Blue Force One is basically a high-end resort housed inside a boat. There are 10 well-appointed cabins on board this luxury vessel, catering up to 20 guests. This is definitely one of the more spacious liveaboards available, offering plenty of space to just sit back and relax between diving sessions.
Some of the major highlights of the boat include the two jacuzzi decks, three sun decks, an upper deck bar, and a fully kitted out lounge. During downtime, guests can make use of the available kayaks, surfboards, stand up paddleboards, and snorkeling gear.
While it’s easy to lose yourself in the splendor of the accommodation here, the main focus is diving. Dive itineraries on the Blue Force One focus on a number of different areas in the Maldives, and they range in length. Whichever one you choose, the professional dive guides will be able to take you to some of the most beautiful and exciting spots to enjoy the bountiful marine life here.
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Sachika
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/sachika
Feel like a millionaire on board this 33m floating hotel. The Sachika liveaboard is perfect for those that want to enjoy amazing diving, but still, just kick back and relax in the beautiful Maldives. This boat has 10 cabins and can hold a maximum of 22 guests. Each cabin is equipped with an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar.
The Sachika offers some of the most comprehensive dive itineraries in the Maldives. You can choose between a number of different options, allowing you to experience a wide range of dive sites and Maldives marine life. Private dive guides and scuba diving courses are also offered from this liveaboard – making it a great choice for new scuba divers.
Beyond the diving, guests can spend their time fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, and enjoying the amazing food on offer. Every comfort is taken care of onboard the Sachika, allowing to enjoy the ultimate Maldives diving holiday.
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Nautilus Two
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/maldives/nautilus-two
The Nautilus Two is a spacious liveaboard offering a really fun experience. This 43m boat has 12 cabins and can hold up to 24 guests. This may be a fairly simple boat, but it is taken care of with great detail. The Nautilus Two is clean, comfortable, and well looked after.
Dive itineraries last between 7 – 10 nights, and they focus on a couple of different areas in the Maldives. All diving takes place from the dhoni. You will typically get to enjoy three exciting dives per day – allowing you to witness a wide range of different sites.
During downtime, the boat has a fun jacuzzi deck, entertainment area, and large sundeck. You could choose to go fishing, relax on a sunbed, or enjoy an ice-cold beer on tap. This is a really well-equipped boat, offering guests everything they need to enjoy a relaxing trip.
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Planning a Trip to the Maldives?
I actually spent an entire month in the Maldives, so be sure to read some of my articles here for some travel inspiration:
- The Westin Maldives Resort Review | Heavenly Luxurious in Every Way
- Top 14 Things to do on Thulusdhoo Island, Maldives
- Kurumba Maldives Resort Review | The first Maldives Resort!
- 67 Photos to Inspire You to Book a Visit at Kanuhura Maldives
Final Thoughts on Maldives Liveaboard Scuba Diving
Diving in the Maldives is truly spectacular, and joining a liveaboard has got to be the best way to experience it. These liveaboards offer complete luxury and hospitality that will ensure the most comfortable trip possible. These are so much more than just boats – they really are little resorts that can move around the ocean.
For anyone wanting to access the best range of diving that the area has to offer, while still enjoying quality accommodation, a liveaboard is the only way to go. Be sure to consider one of these fantastic options when booking your Maldives scuba holiday.
