Join the adventure
Join the Adventure
Maldives Liveaboard 2024
Please join us for this once in a lifetime, epic experience onboard the Maldives Aggressor II of the Aggressor Adventures Liveaboard fleet to dive the majestic and mysterious islands of the Maldives; with the Best of the Maldives itinerary.
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Experience 8 days and 7 nights diving one of the most spectacular and sought after dive locations in the world. January 14- 21, 2024
Package includes:
Trip (double occupancy)-
For ONLY:
Master Suite- $4180 - SOLD OUT
Deluxe Suite- $3480 - SOLD OUT
Twin Room- $3330
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3 meals daily, (Only breakfast will be served on the final day); between-dive snacks; towels, linens, etc.; use of tanks, weights and weight belts; all air fills; transfers within Male for same day arrivals & departures; alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages (premium alcoholic beverages must be brough t with you).
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Does not include: *Local Fees/ Taxes, Fuel Surcharge, Port Fees; Airfare to Male as well as land options before/after cruise which are available at additional cost (look at our Sri Lanka trip); hotel accommodations before/ after the cruise, tips, personal expenses, or premium alcoholic drinks.
*National Park Fee, Local Fees, Port fee and fuel surcharge may change up to 30 days before the trip.
*Nitrox on ALL dives for only $120 per person.
Itinerary:
Best of Maldives
Malé/Malé (7 nights)
MALE ATOLL
Lankan Beyru (Manta Point)
The main attraction of the site are manta rays coming to the cleaning station during the southwest monsoon. The dive site is relatively easy to access, with small currents and is very often considered as a good dive to start the week. The cleaning station itself is a large coral block covered with anemones and full of fish life. It is also very common to come across whitetip reef sharks, turtles and napoleons.
Rasfari Corner
Large and shallow plateaus (10 - 20 ft) on the west side of the atoll, right next to the wide lagoon of Rasfari. It is covered with hard corals and hosts a cleaning station during the northeast monsoon. The most common way to do the dive here is to start on top of the reef, which is protected from the currents and after spending some time with the mantas continue the dive towards the wall that drops down to about 75 feet. The wall is nicely covered with hard corals, rich with fish life and popular with turtles.
SOUTH MALE ATOLL
Kandooma Thila
Definitely number one in the ranking of the best dive sites in South Male atoll. Long thila, located in the middle of the channel, offers spectacular conditions to observe grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, big schools of jacks and snappers both with incoming and outgoing current. North side of the pinnacle is nicely covered with soft corals with the top of the reef being home to many reef fish and green turtles. This area can have lots of current.
Rasdhoo Madivaru
Channel dive between Rasdhoo island and Madivaru offering a spectacular ridge facing the ocean to observe grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays and large dogtooth tunas. More pelagics are visible during strong incoming currents, the use of current hooks is advisable. The ridge dropping down to 150 feet on the outside, expands to a sandy bottom inside the channel where it is common to see stingrays.
If dived during the first rays of the sun, with incoming current and a bit of luck it is possible to encounter hammerhead sharks. In this case the dive starts in the blue. Depending on the air consumption guests will dive on the ridge and then drift into the channel.
NORTH ARI ATOLL
Maaya Thila
The thila (a pinnacle) is about 240 ft wide in diameter and is considered one of the best night dives in the Maldives. Top reef at 15 feet makes it easy to access even with current. The upcurrent side is always very active and busy with fusiliers and snappers. Big jack fish, whitetip reef sharks, stingrays and moray eels can be spotted easily. Some overhangs around the thila provide shelter for turtles. Even though it has a reputation for a night dive it is also quite popular during the day. A few separated coral blocks south of the thila create a tunnel and are full of beautiful coral bushes. With the right current this is a place to spot grey reef sharks. Due to its exposure to the currents it offers rich presence of fauna and flora. Big schools of jacks and fusiliers on the upcurrent side as well as difficult to count amount of blue striped snappers hiding from strong currents inside the overhangs all around the thila are the highlights of the place. It is also popular with grey reef sharks, schools of barracudas and dogtooth tunas in the blue as well as turtles and moray eels on the top reef. With strong currents negative entry is recommended and current hooks should be ready to use.
Bathalaamaagaa Kanthila
Long coral ridge in the middle of a channel, extended from the outer reef and sloping gradually down to 25 meters and deeper offering good conditions for observing grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays and napoleons as well as schools of jacks and fusiliers. The dive site is active during both incoming and outgoing currents but might be more challenging during outgoing currents of northeast monsoon. Negative entry required and divers are recommended to hide below the depth of the top reef to protect from the current. Current hooks strongly recommended.
SOUTH ARI ATOLL
Moofushi Kandu (Manta Point)
Drift dive with a chance to see manta rays hovering over the cleaning stations at a depth of around 40-75 feet. If mantas are spotted it is recommended to use current hooks and stay around the cleaning station for a longer time. The dive site is quite popular during the northeast monsoon. Whitetip reef sharks are common visitors around the deeper part of the cleaning station with blue striped snappers and fusiliers being permanent residents.
Kudarah Thila
The thila is a part of the Marine Protected Area and is often considered the most beautiful site of the atoll with exceptional diving conditions. Overhangs rich in sea fans and the top reef nicely covered with healthy soft corals are the highlights. It is also known for big schools of blue striped and midnight snappers, fusiliers and jacks. It is worth it to have a dive light and look inside small caves where often you will find large grouper hiding.
Kudhimaa Wreck
The Kudhimaa Wreck is a 150 feet long cargo ship lying on a sandy bottom at around 90 feet. It was sunk in 1998 and already offers beautiful coral growth and a large variety of species living on it. Nurse sharks, batfish, stone fish, lion fish and moray eels are permanent residents and can be spotted around the wreck. There are a few entrances allowing to penetrate the cargo hall as well as the wheelhouse. The site is nicely protected from the current.
Maamigili Beyru (Whaleshark search)
Located on the southern tip of Ari atoll within the Marine Protected Area of South Ari atoll. Shallow and very easy dive which might turn into a very exciting one as it is known as the best location in the Maldives for spotting Whale Sharks. Whale Sharks can be seen cruising along the reef all year round. Once spotted from the surface, divers enter the water, go down and start swimming along with them.
VAAVU ATOLL
Miyaru Kandu
One of the channel dives that you don’t want to miss. With strong incoming current the list of possible encounters is impressive. Mainly grey reef sharks but also whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleons and tunas are quite common and with the visibility reaching 120 feet during the northeast monsoon it can be the highlight of the trip.
Alimatha House Reef
This is considered one of the best night dives in the Maldives. Every night there is a show performed by a big number of nurse sharks, stingrays and massive jacks. Definitely not to be missed.
Sample itineraries and maps are for illustrative purposes only. The exact route and sites visited are subject to change based on local regulations, guest experience, weather and logistics, and is at the Captain’s discretion.
We recommend trip cancellation/interruption insurance
(don’t forget to include airfare as well as sleeping accommodations pre and post cruise) and we require dive accident insurance on this
itinerary.
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The Yacht
Port: Male, Maldives
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Built and maintained to the specifications of the local regulatory agencies and the regulations of the country of the flag.
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Built and maintained to the specifications of the local regulatory agencies and the regulations of the country of the flag.
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Length: 135 ft
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Beam: 28
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Passengers: 22
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Staterooms: 11
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Boarding: Sunday 4 p.m. Weekdays on some itineraries
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Check out: Sunday 8 a.m.
The Maldives Aggressor II is built and powered for comfort, safety and stability. She is diesel powered and cruises at 12 knots, has a beautiful spacious salon, sundeck, chaise lounges, deck chairs, bar, and grill.
She accommodates 22 passengers in 11 staterooms. Lower deck staterooms have portholes in the cabin and bathrooms. Upper deck staterooms have picture windows and portholes in bathrooms. The suite stateroom is located on the main deck with panoramic windows. All staterooms have a private bathroom with shower, closet, porthole, hairdryers and individual AC climate controls. The yacht has 110 volt and 220 volt at the camera charging and computer stations. For use of 110 in other areas, we suggest guests bring USA 110 to 220 twin pin socket adaptors. The cruise director has a safe to keep valuables such as passports, cash, credit cards or anything else you would like to store.
All dives are conducted from a spacious and fully equipped 60 ft, 28 passenger dive Dhoni (Skiff).
There is a variety of nightly entertainment, including diving, fish identification presentations, movies, games and more. If you have a favorite movie or digital presentation to share, we encourage you to bring it along. The staff especially loves new releases of movies, recent magazines and books. A small library of books for exchange is maintained onboard as well as fish identification books for reference.
All meals, snacks and beverages are provided.
Payment Plan:
$500 deposit
$320 a month until 1 June 2023 upon which time balance will be due
OR
1 January 2023 - $750
1 March 2023 - $750
1 May 2023 - $750
1 June 2023 - $750 or balance will be due.
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*A $300 Discount will be given to anyone that completes their payment balance by
January 1, 2023
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*can not be combined with any other discounts or promotions*
Getting There, Passports & Visa Documentation:
The Maldives lie 370 miles southwest of Sri Lanka scattered across the equator in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The Male (MLE) International Airport is located on Hulhule Island.
Many major airlines fly into Malé (MLE): Singapore, Emirates, Sri Lankan, Delta and Qatar Airways. There are many connecting flights from the US, the UK and Europe.
Recommended Hotels in Malé or nearby:
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Bandos Island Resort - beautiful beach resort that is a short boat ride from the Malé International Airport.
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Kurumba Island Resort - a private island resort located 10 minutes by speedboat from the Malé Airport. Offers multiple spas, 8 restaurants, swimming pool and beautiful setting.
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The Newtown Inn - Offers a great option for a day room while waiting for your outbound flight. Has a delicious Indian Restaurant, Bombay Darbar as well as roof terrace, located 10 minutes from the Malé International Airport.
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Sala Boutique Hotel - Is a quaint boutique hotel beautifully decorated in a Thai theme. Located 10 minutes from the Malé International Airport.
Arrival/Boarding/Departure:
Each itinerary has a different embark/disembark island/port/atoll depending on the itinerary you are traveling on. Domestic flights may be involved prior and post your charter week. You may view your invoice or visit the schedules page for this information. Guests will be met at the airport by a crewmember of the Maldives Aggressor II wearing an Aggressor polo shirt and hat at 3:30 pm and then transferred by water taxi (complimentary) to the yacht at 4 pm.
We strongly recommend to arrive at least one day prior to the charter start date and to stay in either a hotel or resort in the Malé area or, our Aggressor Adventure department has many other wonderful choices of places to stay on other islands for extended stays.
All guests must be onboard by 5 pm on all itineraries so the yacht can depart for its first night anchorage with the first dive the following morning.
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Malé International Airport: If your trip embarks from Malé and you arrive early in the morning, you are encouraged to either get a day room at one of the local hotels or wait at the Coffee Club located just outside the arrivals hall, where the staff will greet you at 3:30 pm and transfer you by water taxi to the yacht at 4 pm. The Maldives Aggressor II anchors in the Hulhumale Lagoon, which is a 15-minute boat ride from the airport.
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All Other Domestic Airports: Flights are not included. It is reccommended that all guests arrive on flights after 12 pm noon. Guests will be met at the domestic airport by an Aggressor representative for transfer at 3:30 pm. All guests will be transferred by water taxi and must be onboard the yacht by 5pm.
Following are the different areas the Maldives Aggressor II® offers and the different itineraries. There are multiple maps on our website that describe each of these areas:
Last Day of Charter:
If your itinerary ends in Malé, (last diving day), a complimentary walking tour will be offered in Malé. This will include a visit to the Presidents Office and Residence, the Old Mosque, the New Mosque, the local vegetable and spice market and a local gift shop. Dinner is ashore at a waterfront restaurant and is approximately $35 pp. This is the only meal not included in the price of your trip.
Check-Out:
Checkout time starts at 8 a.m. Transportation is provided to the airport after breakfast. If you are traveling later in the day from Malé, you may consider a day room/pass at a local hotel , there are several close to the airport and can be booked in advance by our travel department
Medical/ Safe Travel Requirements:
All travelers are required to ensure that they individually meet the safety/ medical travel requirements into the host country.
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Local Fees/Taxes:
Each guest must pay:
-Port Fee of USD $340 for a 7-night cruise and $425 for a 10-night cruise
-A fuel surcharge of $270 (7-nights) or $360 (10-nights)
These fees must be paid at the end of the charter when settling your bill. This fee includes the Green Tax, GST, park and other local usage fees. All items purchased on board are subject to a 22% Maldives tax. Guests may settle their onboard bill by paying with Visa, MasterCard, US Dollars or Rufiyya. There is a 3.5% fee on payments made using credit cards. The yacht does not accept personal checks or traveler checks.