Seafari Explorer II · Maldives · 11D/10N
Explore the vibrant Central Atolls of the Maldives on this 11-day liveaboard adventure. This itinerary promises diverse diving experiences, from channel dives teeming with pelagic life to thilas adorned with colorful corals. Encounter a rich array of marine species, including various sharks, rays, and schooling fish, in crystal-clear waters. The journey offers a blend of thrilling underwater explorations and relaxing topside activities.
Day one marks your embarkation in Male, the capital of the Maldives. Guests will check in and settle into their cabins, preparing for the exciting liveaboard journey ahead. Use this time to get acquainted with the vessel and your fellow divers.
Today's diving focuses on the renowned sites of South Male Atoll, starting with Guraidhoo Corner, a deep, staircase-shaped channel known for its abundant eagle rays and shark schools. You will also explore Cocoa Corner and Kandhooma Thila, where strong outgoing currents create excellent opportunities to observe grey sharks being cleaned. These sites are famous for their rich pelagic life and vibrant reef ecosystems.
Dive sites: Guraidhoo Corner, Cocoa Corner, Kandhooma Thila
Dive into the Vaavu Atoll, home to Miyaru Kandu, a channel famed for its resident school of thirty grey reef sharks, where eagle rays and Napoleon fish are also commonly sighted. The Golden Wall offers an impressive vertical wall covered in colorful soft corals, glowing with a golden hue, making for a picturesque dive. Conclude the day with an optional night dive at Alimatha House Reef, an exceptional site for black-tip sharks, stingrays, jacks, and numerous nurse sharks.
Dive sites: Miyaru Kandu, Golden Wall, Alimatha House Reef
Experience the exhilarating drift dives of Meemu Atoll, starting with Muli Kandu, a pass frequented by snappers, tuna, and kingfish, with occasional eagle ray sightings. Vanhuravalhi Kandu features wide passes and overhangs adorned with yellow soft corals, offering chances to spot silvertip sharks, grey sharks, barracuda, and trevally. Kurali Kandu is a renowned manta cleaning station, especially during outgoing currents, providing excellent opportunities for manta ray encounters in its shallow sandy pass. Muli Corner offers a diverse array of fish, including jacks, grey and white-tip sharks, and barracudas, with potential manta sightings during outgoing currents.
Dive sites: Muli Kandu, Vanhuravalhi Kandu, Kurali Kandu, Muli Corner
Today's main attraction in Meemu Atoll is Hakura Thila, an exceptional dive site spanning 75 meters and nearly reaching the surface, making it ideal for photographers. The northern tip provides caves and overhangs that create fascinating light effects. A large overhang forms a cave adorned with invertebrates at depths between 10 to 15 meters, offering diverse macro opportunities. This thila is known for its vibrant ecosystem and intricate coral formations.
Dive sites: Hakura Thila
The journey continues to South Ari Atoll, beginning with Rangali Madivaru, a must-see for manta rays during the northeast monsoon, also notable for its architectural reef features. Dhigga Thila, affectionately known as "Bollywood Thila," is a 200-meter-long thila featuring colorful soft coral caves and ending in a stunning plateau of Acropora tables. These sites offer a mixture of pelagic encounters and intricate reef topography.
Dive sites: Rangali Madivaru, Dhigga Thila
Today is dedicated to the ultimate encounter in South Ari Atoll at Maamigili Beyru, a dive site stretching over 3 kilometers. This location offers the best chance to spot the celebrated whale shark, especially around its bottom composition of Acropora tables and deeper thilas. Divers will spend time searching for these majestic gentle giants in their natural habitat while also exploring the diverse reef structures.
Dive sites: Maamigili Beyru
Today's diving focuses on the renowned sites of South Male Atoll, starting with Guraidhoo Corner, a deep, staircase-shaped channel known for its abundant eagle rays and shark schools. You will also explore Cocoa Corner and Kandhooma Thila, where strong outgoing currents create excellent opportunities to observe grey sharks being cleaned. These sites are famous for their rich pelagic life and vibrant reef ecosystems.
Dive sites: Guraidhoo Corner, Cocoa Corner, Kandhooma Thila
Dive into the Vaavu Atoll, home to Miyaru Kandu, a channel famed for its resident school of thirty grey reef sharks, where eagle rays and Napoleon fish are also commonly sighted. The Golden Wall offers an impressive vertical wall covered in colorful soft corals, glowing with a golden hue, making for a picturesque dive. Conclude the day with an optional night dive at Alimatha House Reef, an exceptional site for black-tip sharks, stingrays, jacks, and numerous nurse sharks.
Dive sites: Miyaru Kandu, Golden Wall, Alimatha House Reef
Enjoy your final diving day in the Central Atolls, revisiting some favorite sites or exploring new ones depending on conditions and group preferences. This day is a chance to soak in the last underwater moments of your Maldivian adventure, ensuring unforgettable dives before heading back towards Male for disembarkation preparations.
On the final day, you will return to the marina in Male and check out after breakfast. An optional program offers relaxation at the Hulhule hotel pool or a chance to explore the island capital of Male and its bustling fish market before your departure.