Male - Baa - Male

Conte Max · Maldives · 7 nights

Duration
7 nights
Embarkation
Male, Maldives
Disembarkation
Male, Maldives
Dives
Approximately 27 dives in total

About this route

This unique liveaboard expedition is meticulously timed to align with the productive monsoon winds and lunar currents, optimizing chances for encountering reef manta ray feeding aggregations. Guests will delve into the northern atolls of Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani, exploring untouched reefs and seeking out both feeding and cleaning manta rays, with opportunities to spot whale sharks. The journey offers an immersive experience into the rich marine life and stunning underwater landscapes of the Maldives, guided by Manta Trust scientists to maximize encounters with these magnificent creatures.

Regions on this route

Baa AtollRaa AtollMale Atoll

Highlights

Baa Atoll

Baa Atoll is renowned for its exceptional marine biodiversity and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is particularly famous for its seasonal aggregations of reef manta rays and whale sharks, often seen feeding in Hanifaru Bay. The atoll features diverse reef structures, from vibrant coral gardens to dramatic thilas (underwater pinnacles), offering rich opportunities for pelagic encounters.

  • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • Manta ray feeding frenzies
  • Whale shark encounters
  • Diverse reef structures

Male Atoll

Male Atoll, encompassing both North and South Male Atoll, is a central hub for Maldivian diving, offering a variety of dive experiences from thrilling drift dives to serene reef explorations. It is characterized by its numerous channels, thilas, and giroos (round reefs), which attract a diverse range of marine life including sharks, eagle rays, and schools of pelagic fish. The area also features some prominent wrecks, adding another dimension to the diving.

  • Thilas and giroos
  • Channel drift dives
  • Shark encounters
  • Wreck diving opportunities

Raa Atoll

Located north of Baa Atoll, Raa Atoll is a less-frequented but equally spectacular diving destination in the Maldives. It is characterized by stunning dive sites that frequently feature manta rays and healthy coral ecosystems. The atoll is known for its vertical walls adorned with soft corals and vibrant anemone gardens, providing habitats for a wide array of reef fish and pelagic species.

  • Manta ray sightings
  • Vertical soft coral walls
  • Anemone gardens
  • Vibrant reef ecosystems

Requirements

  • CertificationOpen Water
  • Minimum logged dives1
  • ExperienceDivers must have a minimum of 1 logged dive.

Good to know

  • Divers are recommended to wait for 24 hours before flying after the last dive of the trip.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Embarkation – Male

    The trip commences in Male, where guests will be transferred from the airport to the liveaboard. Following a welcoming briefing from the Cruise Director, cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place. Guests can then settle in, familiarize themselves with the crew and vessel, and prepare their dive equipment.

  2. Day 2: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

  3. Day 3: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

  4. Day 4: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

  5. Day 5: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

  6. Day 6: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

  7. Day 7: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

  8. Day 8: North Atolls – Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani

    Days are dedicated to diving in the North Atolls, including Baa, Raa, and Lhaviyani. The itinerary focuses on exploring pristine reefs known for abundant marine life and unique underwater topographies. This region often features vertical walls draped in soft corals, anemone gardens, and cleaning stations, attracting various pelagic species. Divers can expect to encounter manta rays, schools of eagle rays, and tunas, with a possibility of a night dive.

Upcoming departures

  • 2027-09-12 – 2027-09-19from 2,100 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

Conte MaxConte MaxMaldives
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