Best of Maldives — Central Atolls (Malé – Malé)

Emperor Virgo · Maldives · 8 Days / 7 Nights

Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Embarkation
Malé
Disembarkation
Malé

About this route

The signature central-atolls route that delivers the very best of Maldivian diving in a single week. Drift the dramatic channels of North and South Malé, dive the legendary manta cleaning stations of Ari Atoll, snorkel with whale sharks in South Ari, and explore the rarely-visited reefs of Vaavu. Expect grey reef sharks at every channel, mantas at cleaning stations and stingrays gathering at sunset.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Embarkation in Malé

    Malé

    Marina pick-up in Malé. Welcome briefing and first dinner onboard.

  2. Day 2: North Malé Atoll

    North Malé

    Check dive followed by classic North Malé sites with soft corals, schooling fish and a chance of mantas at Lankan.

    Dive sites: HP Reef, Nassimo Thila, Manta Point

  3. Day 3: South Malé & Vaavu

    South Malé / Vaavu

    Drift Vaavu's shark channels and finish with the famous nurse shark night dive at Alimathaa Jetty.

    Dive sites: Kuda Giri Wreck, Miyaru Kandu, Alimathaa Jetty

  4. Day 4: Ari Atoll East — Mantas

    Ari

    A full day at Ari's legendary manta cleaning stations, with chances of multiple animals on each dive.

    Dive sites: Madivaru Manta Point, Panettone, Donkalo Thila

  5. Day 5: South Ari — Whale Sharks

    South Ari

    Snorkel with whale sharks on the South Ari plateau and dive some of the atoll's most colourful thilas.

    Dive sites: Maamigili, Kudarah Thila, Five Rocks

    Good to know: Whale shark encounters are snorkel-only and weather dependent.

  6. Day 6: Rasdhoo & Northern Ari

    Rasdhoo

    Dawn dive at Hammerhead Point in search of schooling scalloped hammerheads, followed by drift dives along the atoll's outer walls.

    Dive sites: Madivaru Corner, Hammerhead Point, Rasdhoo Madivaru

    Good to know: Early start for hammerheads.

  7. Day 7: Final Dives & Stingray Sunset

    North Malé

    Two final dives at top North Malé sites, followed by a sunset stingray encounter near the marina. Captain's farewell dinner.

    Dive sites: Bodu Hithi Thila, Lankan Manta

    Good to know: No diving after the last dive due to flying rules.

  8. Day 8: Disembarkation

    Malé

    Day 8 on Emperor Virgo is for disembarkation in Malé. After breakfast, guests check out and transfer to the airport, bringing their scuba-diving trip to a close.

Upcoming departures

  • 2026-10-03 – 2026-10-10from 2,772.89 USDBook
  • 2026-10-10 – 2026-10-17from 2,139.9 USDBook
  • 2026-10-17 – 2026-10-24from 2,772.89 USDBook
  • 2026-10-24 – 2026-10-31from 1,941.03 USDBook
  • 2026-10-31 – 2026-11-07from 3,227.47 USDBook
  • 2026-11-07 – 2026-11-14from 2,943.36 USDBook
  • 2026-11-28 – 2026-12-05from 2,943.36 USDBook
  • 2026-12-12 – 2026-12-19from 2,943.36 USDBook
  • 2026-12-19 – 2026-12-26from 3,057 USDBook
  • 2026-12-26 – 2027-01-02from 3,057 USDBook
  • 2027-01-02 – 2027-01-09from 3,113.82 USDBook
  • 2027-01-23 – 2027-01-30from 3,113.82 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

Back to vessel: Emperor Virgo