Carpe Vita

Location: Maldives

Rating: 4.8/5 (100 reviews)

Carpe Vita

About Carpe Vita

The Carpe Vita provides access to the Maldives' diverse aquatic environments, offering exploration from a purpose-built liveaboard.

The Maldivian archipelago stretches across the Indian Ocean like a submerged mountain range, its peaks forming more than a thousand coral islands. This unique geography creates a complex network of channels, or kandus, that funnel nutrient-rich water from the open ocean into the atolls. This constant flow supports immense coral growth on underwater pinnacles, known as thilas, and attracts a high concentration of marine life, from small reef dwellers to large oceanic predators. The Carpe Vita is designed to navigate these waters, providing a stable platform for divers to explore this dynamic environment. Diving from the Carpe Vita is organized for efficiency and access to the region's best sites. A dedicated dive deck provides ample space for gearing up, with individual stations for gear storage. Divers are transported to specific sites via purpose-built dive tenders, ensuring short transit times and precise drop-offs at channel entrances or along reef walls. The experienced crew includes professional dive guides who lead small groups, pointing out area-specific species and managing dive profiles in currents. The setup also accommodates photographers with rinse tanks and a designated area for camera preparation. Onboard social life is balanced between comfortable private accommodation and spacious communal areas. The vessel’s ten cabins, available in Suite, Superior, and Standard configurations, are designed as quiet retreats, each featuring an en-suite bathroom and individual climate control. For time between dives, guests can gather in the air-conditioned indoor salon and lounge, a central hub for briefings and relaxation. Outdoors, multiple decks offer choices for socializing or solitude. A partially shaded sundeck provides loungers for enjoying the ocean scenery, while other open-air seating areas are ideal for evening conversations. The culinary program is a significant part of the onboard experience. An experienced chef and galley team prepare a varied menu that combines international dishes with local Maldivian flavors, using fresh ingredients. Meals are typically served buffet-style in the main dining area, offering a wide selection to suit different tastes. The crew is accustomed to accommodating a range of dietary requirements, including vegetarian and other special requests, with advance notification. A selection of snacks, fruits, and beverages like tea and coffee are available throughout the day. The vessel also includes a bar where guests can purchase soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Constructed in 2011 and undergoing its latest major refurbishment in 2025, the Carpe Vita is a modern motor yacht built for oceanic voyages. The vessel measures 38.71 meters in length with an exceptionally wide beam of 10.36 meters. This generous width-to-length ratio provides significant interior volume and contributes to a more stable experience on the water, particularly during open-ocean crossings between atolls. Powered by reliable Doosan Daewood Marine Diesel engines, the ship is engineered for durability and consistent performance. With a guest capacity limited to 20, the vessel maintains a high standard of comfort and personal space for everyone on board. The Carpe Vita operates year-round, following seasonal patterns to offer the best possible diving conditions. Itineraries typically focus on the classic Central Atolls routes, exploring North Male, South Male, and Ari Atoll, known for their channel dives and manta cleaning stations. During the northeast monsoon season, special extended trips may venture to the Southern Atolls for encounters with different shark species. Most trips begin and end in Male, providing convenient access for international travelers. This liveaboard is well-suited for certified divers of all levels, from those looking to experience their first Maldivian channel dives to experienced underwater photographers seeking a comfortable and well-organized platform.

Vessel Specifications

Cabins

Itineraries

Deep South: Huvadhoo - Fuvahmulah - Addu (GKK/GAN) 8 Days / 7 Nights

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Kooddoo

The reverse 7-night deep-south expedition from Kaadedhdhoo (Huvadhoo) to Gan (Addu): Huvadhoo (Gaafu) Atoll, Fuvahmulah and Addu (Seenu). Same shark and pelagic focus as the GAN→GKK direction; best January to April. Dive sites selected by the captain within each atoll based on currents and conditions.

Southern Sharks (Gan - Male)

Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights

Embarkation: Gan, Maldives

This southern sharks crossing begins in Gan and concludes in Malé, offering a unique opportunity to explore the Maldives' most shark-rich atolls. The itinerary is designed for divers seeking thrilling pelagic encounters, with a strong focus on various shark species. The route covers renowned locations like Fuvahmulah, Huvadhoo, and Vaavu, promising dynamic channel dives and diverse marine life. This journey is ideal for experienced divers comfortable with strong currents and deep diving.

The Best of Maldives

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Male

This 8-day cruise through the Maldives begins and ends in Male, offering around 18 dives for advanced divers with at least 50 logged dives. The journey is designed to showcase the region's most famous marine life, including manta rays, hammerheads, and seasonal whale sharks. Divers can also expect to see grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and large schools of barracuda and batfish. The specific route is determined by the captain based on weather and local conditions to ensure the best possible e

Best of Maldives + Meemu (10N's)

Duration: 10 nights

Embarkation: Male

Explore the central atolls of the Maldives, renowned for their vibrant thilas, channels, and rich pelagic encounters. This extended itinerary venturing south to Meemu Atoll offers excellent opportunities to encounter reef sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks, particularly during channel dives and cleaning stations. Expect moderate to strong currents in certain areas, ideal for drift diving alongside abundant fish life and healthy coral gardens. This journey showcases a diverse cross-section of M

Southern Sharks (MLE/GAN) 13 Days / 12 Nights

Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights

Embarkation: Malé

A 12-night southbound crossing from Malé to Addu through the Maldives' most pelagic-rich atolls: North & South Malé, Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu (Seenu). The trip focuses on shark encounters — grey reef, silvertip, hammerhead, tiger, thresher and oceanic mantas — combined with classic channel diving and the WWII-era British Loyalty wreck in Addu. Best between December and March. The captain may adjust the route based on conditions.

Private Charter (Swim & Snorkel) 8 Days / 7 Nights

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

A 7-night private charter focused on swimming, snorkeling and surface encounters with the Maldives' iconic megafauna — manta rays, whale sharks, nurse sharks, turtles and reef life. Carpe Vita operates these charters as a flexible custom programme: the route is built by the captain around current animal activity and weather, typically circling North Malé, Rasdhoo, Ari and Vaavu Atolls. No fixed daily plan is published by the operator.

Best of Maldives (Male - Male)

Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights

Embarkation: Male, Maldives

This 10-night Maldivian adventure focuses on the Male Atoll, promising diverse diving experiences. Guests can anticipate a mix of channel dives, thilas (underwater pinnacles), and reefs, with opportunities for both day and night dives. The itinerary emphasizes encounters with a variety of marine life, from pelagics such as sharks and mantas to vibrant reef ecosystems. Flexibility is key, as the daily plan adapts to local conditions to maximize diving opportunities.

Manta Madness 1 (Male - Male)

Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights

Embarkation: Male, Maldives

This 11-day diving cruise is tailored for advanced divers, exploring a variety of Maldivian atolls with a focus on large marine life. The journey requires a minimum of 50 logged dives and may include visits to North Male Atoll for its manta cleaning station, Baa Atoll's Hanifaru Bay for mantas and whale sharks in summer, and Rasdhoo Atoll for pelagic encounters. Other potential highlights are the underwater pinnacles of North Ari Atoll, year-round whale shark sightings in South Ari, the famous A

Reef, Rays & Hanifaru Bay (Male [MLE] - Dharavandhoo [DRV])

Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights

Embarkation: Male, Maldives

This Maldivian cruise explores vibrant coral reefs, pinnacles (thilas), and underwater islands (giris). The journey offers encounters with a variety of marine life including eagle rays, reef sharks, and sometimes whale sharks. A key feature is the visit to Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for its large seasonal gatherings of manta rays. The itinerary also incorporates topside activities such as local island visits, a beach barbecue, and night fishing, making it suitable for a wide

Manta Madness 2 (Dharavandhoo [DRV] - Male [MLE])

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Dharavandhoo

This 8-day diving cruise travels from Dharavandhoo to Male, requiring at least 50 logged dives. The journey is designed to maximize encounters with large marine life across a variety of Maldivian atolls. The route spans Baa, Raa, Rasdhoo, Ari, Vaavu, and South Male atolls, promising diverse underwater experiences. Highlights include potential manta ray and whale shark sightings, thrilling channel dives, and a famous night dive with nurse sharks. Max guests on this trip: 20.