Emperor Virgo · Maldives · 15 Days / 14 Nights
A 14-night shark-focused expedition from Male to Addu (or reverse) through the rarely visited southern atolls of the Maldives — South Male, Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu. December to March, when incoming currents from the east power the channel (kandu) dives, fewer boats are around and uninhabited atolls open up. Expect tiger sharks, oceanic mantas and threshers at Fuvahmulah, whale sharks at night and silver tips in Huvadhoo, hammerheads in Thaa, the WWII wreck HMS British Loyalty and manta cleaning station at Addu, plus the classic Alimatha nurse-shark night dive in Vaavu. Emperor does not bait or chum sharks — encounters are wild and natural. AOW + 50 logged dives required; comfort in currents is essential.
Male, North Male Atoll
Welcome at Male International Airport, transfer to Emperor Serenity, boat briefing and welcome dinner on board.
South Male Atoll
Easy check dive, then channel diving in South Male — Cocoa Corner and the spectacular Kandooma Thila for grey reef sharks, eagle rays, big-eye jacks and dog tooth tuna in the current.
Dive sites: Cocoa Corner, Kandooma Thila
Vaavu (Felidhoo) Atoll
Drift the great Vaavu channels — Miyaru Kandu (hook in for grey reef sharks, white tips and barracuda), Fotteyo Kandu with yellow-soft-coral overhangs, Golden Wall — and finish with the iconic sunset/night dive at Alimatha among resident nurse sharks.
Dive sites: Miyaru Kandu, Fotteyo Kandu, Golden Wall, Alimatha Night Dive
Meemu (Mulaku) Atoll
Enchanting channels with pelagic action — Vanhuravalhi for hook-in shark dives, Muli Corner for white tips and possible mantas at the cleaning station, and Kurali Kandu for manta encounters on outgoing current.
Dive sites: Vanhuravalhi, Muli Corner, Kurali Kandu
Thaa (Kolhumadulu) Atoll
Rarely dived atoll with deep channels and steep walls. Blue-water dives at Dhiyamigili for hammerheads, wahoo and sailfish, drift Dhifushi channel for reef sharks, and a night dive with whale sharks possible behind the boat.
Dive sites: Dhifushi, Dhiyamigili
Laamu (Haddhunmathi) Atoll
Fish-filled channels in one of the Maldives' great shark atolls. Dive Fushi Kandu and Maabaidhoo Kandu for grey reef sharks, schooling snappers, trevally and Napoleon wrasse. (Male-to-Addu direction only.)
Dive sites: Fushi Kandu, Maabaidhoo Kandu
Huvadhoo Atoll
One of the deepest lagoons in the Maldives. Vilingilli Kandu and the not-to-be-missed Mareehaa Kandu for silver tips and grey reef sharks. Possible whale-shark night encounter at the boat.
Dive sites: Vilingilli Kandu, Mareehaa Kandu
Huvadhoo Atoll
Continue exploring Huvadhoo's world-class kandus — Koodoo Kandu and Nilandhoo Kandu — for shark action, schooling fish and pristine reef.
Dive sites: Koodoo Kandu, Nilandhoo Kandu
Fuvahmulah
Single-island oceanic atoll with incredible visibility. Dive the south plateaus for chances of tiger, thresher, silvertip and silky sharks plus oceanic mantas. (No baited dives — Emperor does not promote the Tiger Zoo experience.)
Dive sites: Fuvahmulah South Plateau, Farikede
Fuvahmulah
Second day at Fuvahmulah's plateaus for more chances with tiger sharks, threshers and oceanic mantas in blue water.
Dive sites: Fuvahmulah South Plateau, Fuvahmulah North
Addu Atoll
Cross the equator to Addu. Relaxed first dive at Demon Corner, drifting the northern reef of Hithadhoo with chances of mantas, grey reef sharks and silver tips in the blue.
Dive sites: Demon Corner
Addu Atoll
Hook in at the Maa Kandu manta cleaning station and dive the WWII wreck of HMS British Loyalty, a 140m tanker resting on its starboard side at 33m inside the atoll.
Dive sites: Maa Kandu, British Loyalty Wreck
Addu Atoll
Final full diving day in Addu — repeat the best of Maa Kandu and Demon Corner depending on conditions, plus quieter reef dives chosen by the cruise director.
Dive sites: Maa Kandu, Demon Corner
Addu or Male
Two morning dives and 18-hour surface interval before flying. Depending on direction, sail back toward Male or stay in Addu for disembarkation the next morning.
Addu (Gan) or Male
Breakfast on board, then transfer to Gan or Male International Airport for your onward flight.