Prices are per person per week and in Euros based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.
Exact pricing is available on the schedule here as prices vary dependant on the time year and the length of the trip and sometimes special offers are available.

Upper deck: €200 per person per week supplement (as shown in the prices above).

Included in the trip price is

Shared cabin; 7 nights; 6 days diving, 3 meals a day; afternoon snacks; 1 BBQ dinner on local island (weather allowing); unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee; total of 17 dives (inc 1 night dive); guide, tanks, weights. Free Nitrox; return airport transfer; Government taxes and bed tax; Male city tour (on request); separate diving dhoni.

Not included in the trip price is

Flight, diving equipment, alcohol, soft drinks, juices. Other services which are not listed here or above and which might be requested by the guest Anything not in the “included in the price is” segment above.

Terms and conditions:

Individual bookings:
Booking deposit:
30% of booking is required within 7 days of booking - non refundable
70 % is due to 90 days prior to departure - non refundable.
Balance due 90 days before your trip departure date - non-refundable.
Individual booking made less than 90 days before the departured ate are payable in full at the time of booking.
Cancellation at any stage involves forfeit of monies already payed.

Group charter:

Booking deposit:
10% - within 7 days of booking - non-refundable
Second deposit:
20% 180 days prior to departure - non-refundable
Balance due
90 days before departure - non-refundable

Emperor Leo has 11 cabins made up of 4 lower deck double and 4 lower deck twin Cabins, 2 upper deck (1 double and 1 double or twin) cabin and 1 Executive Suite for double occupancy with jacuzzi on the main deck. Lower Deck: 4 x Double Rooms, each with a Queen sized bed. 4 x Twin / Double Rooms.

Main Deck: 1 Large jacuzzi, internationally stocked Bar, luxurious Dining Area, spacious Lounge Area.

Upper Deck: 2 x Double and double twin Room with a Queen sized bed and 1 x Executive Suite with Bathtub / jacuzzi.

• 
  

  Executive Suite

• 
  

  Executive Suite bathroom

• 
  

  Standard lower deck double

• 
  

  Standard lower deck double

• 
  

  Standard lower deck twin

• 
  

  Standard lower deck twin

• 
  

  Jacuzzi

• 
  

  Jacuzzi

• 
  

  Salon

• 
  

  Salon

Emperor Leo leaves from and returns to Male but doesn’t follow a set itinerary as it’s all about the giving you the best diving possible. As you may know the Maldives has 2 very distinct currents running at different times of the year and this effects which side of the Maldives all the marine life is on at any particular time. Basically, dependant on the currents and the winds, we will select the route and dive sites.

Our divemasters are very experienced in the hunt for whale sharks, Don’t worry that you might miss the other stuff though; Mv Leo visits the best dive sites in the area to see sharks, mantas and all the schools of fishes and stunning reefs that the Maldives are famous for just like any other boat but we will also try really hard, and normally succeed, to find you a whale shark. It is the experience of a lifetime to swim with one of these gentle giants - don’t forget to bring your snorkel as you never know when we may run across one of these giants.

The Best of the Maldives route covers dive sites in the areas of North Male - Rasdhoo - North Ari - South Ari - South Male However we reserve the right to change it dependant on the conditions and prevaling currents. On the last day there is a free trip around Male to experience a little of the culture and life that makes this oasis in the Indian Ocean so unique.

The Best of the Maldives does just what it says on the tin - you dive the best and most famous dive sites of the Maldives in a single week of sublime liveaboard diving. This is a dive holiday in the Maldives to remember that hits all the seasonal hot spots of North Male, South Male and Ari Atoll. Dive the many channels, drifts and pinnacles, encountering the manta, whalesharks and reef residents as you go. The exact order of things is left deliberately flexible to ensure that no matter what time of year your holiday to the Maldives is, the breathtaking world underwater is unveiled in all its perfection.

Best of the Maldives itinerary aims to mix up big fish manta and shark dives with scenic reefs dives, hunting out the smallest reef fish, morays and macro life that are so abundant. Cleaning stations allow you to get up close and personal with massive Maldivian manta, and dives at Manta Point, Dhonkalo Thila and Madivaru provide just such opportunities. Maaya Thila is one of the best known dive sites in the Maldives and for a good reason. This pinnacle is about 30m diameter that descends to reveal sharks and fish a plenty. Night diving here is hard to beat and should not be missed. Log yet more pelagic sightings as grey reef sharks patrol the Ari Atoll area. The boat will also take some time out along the route to look for whalesharks you can snorkel with - grab your fins as these gentle giants can move fast!

Best of Maldives itinerary from Nov to May 7 nights

• Day 1 Arrive Male
• Day 2 North Male Check Out Dive / Ari North - Night Dive (3 Dive)
• Day 3 Ari North Fish Head (3 Dives)
• Day 4 Ari South - Whale Shark (3 Dives)
• Day 5 Ari South Thila Dives - Night Dive (3 Dives)
• Day 6 South Male - Grey Sharks - BBQ Island Party (3 Dives)
• Day 7 North Male - Manta Point - Last night Party (2 Dives)
• Day 8 Depart Male

For your flight times for this trip ideally you should aim to arrive around mid-afternoon on the day of departure as due to a same day turn around of the boat the guests from the trip before will be departing in the morning. The rest of the morning the boat will be being cleaned and prepared for your arrival around lunchtime. There are 3 complimentary transfer times from the airport to the boat on embarking day at 11:00am, 16:00pm and 22:30pm.

Guests taking the 11:00am transfer from the airport to the boat have to accept that the boat may not be fully cleaned or ready for boarding until 13:00pm. A light sandwich style snack will be provided for lunch. Any other transfers required on embarking day, other than the 3 stated above, can be arranged at a charge of 5 EUR per person, this charge will be added to your booking invoice.

If you stay on the aiport island your hotel will then deliver you back to the airport the following day (the day of departure) where you will be met by the boats If you would like to arrive the day before it is possible to stay in the airport hotel - //www.hih.com.mv/ which is on the same island as the airport (Hulhule island) or Google HulhuMale hotels and guesthouses for other options - Please note that the airport island is not Male but Hulhumale and to get to Male involves a ferry ride there and back so we recommend staying on the airport island. representatives and taken directly to the ship.You will be met by the Representative. The Meeting Point is near the Airport Help Desk.

On the departure day checkout time is 7:00 on the final day. The crew will transport you back to the Airport arriving at about 7.30. If you are travelling later in the day you may consider a day room pass at a local hotel such as the Hulhule Island Hotel which is the closest to the airport. Normal day passes are for 12 hours and include use of the swimming pool, shower, towels, luggage storage etc., depending on which package you choose.

The ship has a sturdy mahogany wood hull, teak decks, custom built furnishings, ten spacious cabins and one deluxe king suite with adjoining spa. Each individual cabin has private bath, private climate control, and daily fresh towels in cabins. High-tech amenities include high definition wide-screen LCD monitor, DVD and CD player, mini bar, electronic safe, telephone, and Wi-Fi. Bose sound system provides surround sound in a huge comfortably appointed salon, and on the spacious exterior decks.

• Year built: 2007/2008 - refit 2012
• Boat length: 115 foot / 35 meters
• Beam: 31 foot / 9,30meters
• Draft: 2,7 meters
• Engine: 500hp, Cummins - Turbo diesel
• Speed: Cruising speed: 12 knots
• Electricity: 2 x 40 kW Onan quit generators, 230V, 24 hr electricity Water: two water makers each producing 12,000 litres/day, and storage 9500 liters Nautical equipment: Radio, GPS, * Sonar
• Safety equipment: Oxygen, fire alarms, fire extinguisher, life preservers, life boats, eight- person Zodiac
• Crew: 12 people on main ship, two people on diving dhoni
• Decks: cabins in the lower deck, suite on top deck and sun deck. Parlour: restaurant, bar, TV, video, DVD, Hi-Fi internet Wi-Fi, rechargeable battery station for cameras other * personal gadgets Cabins: Ten spacious double cabins (eight deluxe cabins, one upper deck double and one suite) can be booked as double, twin accommodations, each with private bathroom containing toilet, vanity and private climate control, * LCD TV, DVD and CD player, a private mini bar, electronic safe, telephone, Wi-Fi, and daily fresh towels. Kitchen: dine on contemporary flavors from the Maldives, the east and the west prepared by our chefs. The finest * crustaceans cooked in various aromatic styles are guaranteed to suit palates of all nationalities
• Bar: all types of beers, various wines, champagne, cocktails, spirits, mineral water and soft drinks.
• Diving dhoni: length 20 meters, width 7 meters
• Tanks: 12 L Alu/DIN/INT
• Compressor: two dive compressors
• Nitrox: NRC membrane system
• Weights: weight belts and weights available free for usage Rental equipment: regulator complete, BCD complete, dive lamp, dive computer, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, * snorkel set, weight and belt.

Maldives dive sites

Some useful translations of commonly used Maldivian terminology…

• Atoll: A group of islands surrounded by a common reef formation
• therevari: Sheltered area inside an Atoll
• Falhu: Lagoon encircled by a reef sometimes with one or more islands inside
• Faru: Large reef partially exposed at low tide
• Finolhu: Island with few or no coconut trees
• Futtaru: Reef where waves break
• Giri: Small patch of coral a couple of meters below the surface
• Kandhu: Sea inside Atoll Kandu
• Kandu Olhi: Channel
• Maa Kandu: Sea outside Atoll
• Thila: Coral reef a few meters below the surface

Ari Atoll - Some of the popular dive sites

Kudarah Thila

Type of dive: Reef dive
Description: One of the best dive sites for soft coral and fish life.
The marine life here is so abundant, that the divers have named it ‘fish soup’. The thila is in a circular shape and can be covered in a single dive at different depths, if the current is not very strong.

Maaysa Thila

Type of dive: Reef dive / Night dive
Description: The thila is about 80mters in diameter.

The whole thila can be done at different depths in a single dive. There are manycaves and overhangs around the thila. The large rocks on the north eastern side have large black coral trees growing on them. The site is famous for the sharks and a great barracuda which reside here. The site can be dived at any time of the day, each with different activity going on the reef. The best chance to get close to these creatures is at night time, when they are hunting. You will see sharks, barracudas, rays and eels trying to grab a morsel.

Bathala Maaga Kanthila

Type of dive: Drift dive
Description: The northern tip of Magaa reef extends into Bathalaa Kandu and is home to a number of grey reef sharks and white-tip reef sharks. They can be seen patrolling along the reef looking for food.

Maalhos Thila (Blue Curves)

Type of dive: Drift dive / Reef dive
Description: The thila is known for the abundance of soft coral growth on the thila, particularly the blue/violet colored variety that grows on the ceiling of the caves and overhangs, thus the name ‘blue caves’. In addition a large variety of fish life can be observed here.

Rasdhoo Madivaru

Type of dive: Drift dive / Channel dive
Description: The reef on the southern side of Rasdhoo drops vertically to the ocean depths. The site is home to a school of Scalloped Hammerhead sharks (sphyrna lewini). In the early hours of the morning they rise from the deep waters off the atoll into the shallower depths, accessible to divers.

South Male Atoll - some of the more popular dive sites

Guraidhoo Kandu South

Type of dive: Drift dive / channel dive
Description: Since the eastern side of the channel is Open Ocean, large predatory fish can regularly be spotted here. This site is famous for sightings of sharks, schools of eagle rays and the occasional Sail fish and Hammerheads. The best condition to do the dive is when the current is flowing into the Atoll. The dive begins on the outer reef following the current into the atoll. Most of the pelagic species can be observed on the eastern side, where the reef drops off into the deep ocean. At the end of the dive in the channel, along the reef you can find overhangs with plenty of soft coral growth and small fish.

Kandooma Thila

Type of dive: Drift dive / reef dive
Description: Located in a channel, the reef is subject to strong currents at times. The ocean currents carry lot of nutrients to the reef, supporting an abundance of sea life. The site is well renowned for the soft coral growth, turtles, diverse fish life and invertebrates found on the reef. At the reef slope you may find sharks and eagle rays.

Embudu Kandu (Express)

Type of dive: Drift dive / channel dive.
Description: Similar to Guraidhoo Kandu, but more sharks are likely to be spotted here. The currents can be very strong at times. The stronger the current however the better chance of seeing sharks. Under the guidance of an experienced dive guide, the dive can be managed done easily.