Maldives liveaboard · Prices and costs · Checked 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh
Maldives Liveaboard Prices 2026/27: What a Dive Safari Really Costs
A 7-night Maldives liveaboard costs about US$2,500 to US$3,100 per person in published 2026/27 rates on a good mid-range boat, from under US$2,000 on August and September promotions, and US$3,500 to US$5,500 for 10 to 11-night southern routes. On top of that come US$250 to US$400 of fees and extras, depending on whether the operator prices all-inclusive or adds them on board. This page shows the real numbers for the boats we book, every extra, and a calculator for your own trip.
The short answer
- 7 nights, central atolls: US$2,500 to US$3,100 per person published, sharing; US$1,700 to US$2,000 on low-season deals.
- 10 nights: US$2,600 (northern, low season) to US$4,500 (central XL and Deep South).
- 8 to 12 nights, South Atolls and 10 Atolls: US$3,500 to US$5,500.
- Extras: US$250 to US$400 a week on top before rental kit and drinks: service fee and Green Tax (unless included), fuel surcharge, tips, Wi-Fi, park fees.
- Per night, all-in: about US$390 to US$480 on mid-range boats in season, nearer US$315 on low-season deals. Per dive: about US$170 to US$210 including bed, meals and the dive boat.
- Cheapest months: June to September. Dearest: February to April and the Christmas weeks.
Liveaboard cost calculator
Pick a boat and route; the base rate fills in with a typical published 2026/27 rate, which you can overwrite with a quote. The calculator adds the fees each operator actually charges.
The calculator uses each operator’s 2026 terms. Rental kit on Top Class boats is our estimate until quoted; dive counts follow the operators’ 16 dives a week. Your written quote from us replaces every estimate here.
Published prices by boat and route
These are the operators’ own retail rates for departures from November 2026, per person sharing a cabin, taken from Dune’s 2026/27 price lists and the Top Class Cruising cabin sheets we mirror daily. “Lowest” is the cheapest upcoming departure, usually a low-season promotion; “typical” is the middle of the range for that route.
| Boat | Route | Nights | Lowest published | Typical published | Pricing model | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachika | Best of Central Atolls | 7 | US$2,500 | US$2,500 to US$2,688 | Rate + fees | Sails to May 2027 |
| Princess Haseena | Best of Central Atolls | 7 | US$1,688 | US$2,813 | Rate + fees | 30% off on Aug to Sep 2027 weeks |
| Princess Haseena | Manta Madness | 7 | US$1,688 | US$1,969 | Rate + fees | Baa park fee US$20 |
| Dune Theia | Central Atolls | 7 | US$2,695 | US$2,695 | All-inclusive | 2027 dates published |
| Princess Maani | Best of Central Atolls | 7 | US$2,688 | US$3,125 | Rate + fees | Suites up to US$3,500 |
| Dune Black Manta | Central Atolls | 7 | US$2,395 | US$2,795 | All-inclusive | US$2,395 in Jul to Sep 2026 |
| Princess Haseena | Northern Highlights | 10 | US$2,408 | US$2,608 | Rate + fees | Baa park fee US$20 |
| Dune Theia | Central and South Atolls | 10 | US$3,495 | US$3,795 | All-inclusive | 50 logged dives |
| Dune Black Manta | Deep South | 10 | US$3,985 | US$3,985 | All-inclusive | Domestic flight extra |
| Dune Theia | Deep South | 10 | US$3,995 | US$3,995 | All-inclusive | Feb and Mar 2027 |
| Princess Maani | Wild Deep South | 9 to 11 | US$3,856 | US$4,285 | Rate + fees | Gan flight extra |
| Princess Haseena | Best of Central XL | 10 | US$4,013 | US$4,013 | Rate + fees | |
| Princess Maani | 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres | 10 to 11 | US$4,713 | US$5,500 | Rate + fees | Crosses the equator |
| NOAH | Goidhoo and Baa snorkel safari | 7 | US$1,661 | US$1,661 | All taxes included | Snorkelling, no scuba |
| Solitude Gaia Maldives | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$4,865 | US$4,865 | Rate incl. GST and service | New boat, from August 2027 |
Each boat has its own page with the cabin plan and dates: Princess Maani and Princess Haseena show live cabin availability updated daily, Dune Theia lists every published date to December 2027, and Dune Black Manta covers the 2026 season. The boat directory compares every boat we book.
Two ways operators price, and why it matters
Rate plus fees
Most Maldivian-owned fleets, including Top Class Cruising with Princess Maani, Princess Haseena and Sachika, publish a cabin rate that already includes the 17 percent tourism GST, meals, diving, tanks, weights and nitrox. Then, on the last evening, you pay a service fee (US$150 per person for 7 nights), Green Tax at US$12 a night, any park fees and your bar bill, usually in US dollar cash. The headline number looks lower; the real number is about US$234 higher per person per week before tips.
All-inclusive
Dune Liveaboards prices Black Manta and Theia with Green Tax, GST, service charge, park fees and airport transfers already in. The only government or operator charge left is a fuel surcharge introduced on 1 September 2026 and tied to the 30-day average Brent crude price on the day you board: nothing below US$70 a barrel, then US$20, US$30 or US$40 per person per night. The headline number looks higher; the gap to the real number is smaller and easier to predict.
| Princess Haseena, rate plus fees | Dune Theia, all-inclusive | |
|---|---|---|
| Published rate, 7 nights, sharing | US$2,813 | US$2,695 |
| Service fee | US$150, cash on board | Included |
| Green Tax, US$12 x 7 | US$84, cash on board | Included |
| Tourism GST (17%) | Included in rate | Included in rate |
| Nitrox | Free | Free |
| Fuel surcharge | Only if unavoidable | US$140 at the US$20 level |
| Wi-Fi | US$50 if wanted | Free, messages only |
| Real cost before tips | US$3,047 (US$3,097 with Wi-Fi) | US$2,835 |
| Cost per dive (16 dives) | about US$190 | about US$177 |
Neither model is cheaper by definition. In this example the boat with the higher headline rate ends up about US$200 cheaper once everything is added, and on another week the order can flip. Compare the totals, never the headline rates.
Every extra, explained
Two of these are set by law. Green Tax for safari vessels has been US$12 per person per night since 1 January 2025, collected for the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority, and the tourism goods and services tax rose from 16 to 17 percent on 1 July 2025. Everything else is set by the operator and varies boat by boat.
| Extra | Typical amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| Green Tax | US$12 per person per night | Every boat; included by Dune, cash on board with Top Class |
| Tourism GST | 17% since 1 July 2025 | Always built into the published rate |
| Service fee | US$150 (7 nights) to US$255 (12 nights) | Top Class Cruising boats; included by Dune |
| Fuel surcharge | US$0 to US$40 per person per night, linked to Brent crude | Dune from 1 September 2026; others only if unavoidable |
| Baa Atoll park fee | About US$20 per person | Manta Madness and Northern Highlights routes |
| Nitrox | Free | All boats on this page; courses US$190 with Dune |
| Rental kit | US$10 a piece or US$20 a set per day with Dune | Everyone; bring your own to save |
| 15-litre tank | US$7 a day with Dune | Most boats offer them for a fee |
| Wi-Fi | Free and limited, or US$50 a week | Free on Dune; paid on Top Class boats |
| Dive insurance | US$30 (7 days) or US$40 (10 days) DAN cover | Compulsory everywhere; can be bought on board |
| Crew tips | US$10 to US$15 per person per day | Optional; Dune suggests US$15 |
| Domestic flight | Quoted per booking | Southern routes from Gan or Kooddoo |
| Drinks | Beer from US$4, wine from US$5 a glass | Soft drinks, tea and coffee free on most boats |
Ways to cut the extras: bring your own regulator, BCD and computer (a full rental set for a week costs about US$120 to US$180 at the rates above); buy annual dive insurance before you travel if you dive more than once a year; and skip the paid Wi-Fi, since most boats find a phone signal near inhabited islands. Nitrox is free on every boat here, so take the course at home or on board for US$190 and use it from day one.
When prices are high and low
Maldivian liveaboard pricing follows the monsoons. The northeast monsoon from December to April brings calm water, the best visibility and the highest rates; the southwest monsoon from June to September brings rougher crossings, plankton, mantas, and the year’s best deals. Many boats take their annual dry dock in that window, so fewer departures compete for the divers who do come.
| Months | Conditions | 7 nights, mid-range boat | Price pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| November to January | Northeast monsoon begins, calm seas, mantas on the eastern sides of the atolls | US$2,500 to US$3,000 | Christmas and New Year weeks sell first |
| February to April | Peak dive season, best visibility, Deep South open | US$2,500 to US$3,500 | Highest prices and fullest boats; book 6 to 12 months out |
| May | Transition month, seas start to pick up | US$2,500 to US$2,750 | Shoulder pricing; some promotions |
| June to September | Southwest monsoon, Baa manta season, many boats in dry dock | US$1,700 to US$3,100 | Lowest prices of the year, promotions up to 30% off |
| October | Transition back, plankton still high | US$2,250 to US$3,100 | Good value early in the month |
The southwest monsoon is not a write-off. It is peak manta season in Baa Atoll, where Hanifaru Bay draws one of the largest manta feeding aggregations anywhere (snorkel only, by law). A Manta Madness week on Princess Haseena is published from US$1,969 for 2027, against US$2,813 for her central route in high season. See the best time to visit the Maldives for the weather side.
Cost per dive: liveaboard against resort
A liveaboard looks expensive until you divide it. US$3,047 for a Princess Haseena week, all fees included, buys seven nights’ accommodation, every meal and snack, airport transfers and 16 guided dives with tanks, weights and nitrox. That is about US$435 a night, or US$190 a dive with everything else thrown in. On Dune Theia, all-inclusive at the US$20 fuel level, it is US$405 a night and about US$177 a dive.
At a resort you pay for the room first, then each dive on top, typically with a boat fee and equipment per dive, and two dives a day is the usual rhythm. You will dive fewer sites, closer to home, and spend more per dive in most cases. A local-island guesthouse with a dive centre is the cheapest option of all, at the cost of liveaboard range. Our Maldives diving costs guide and dive resorts guide cover that side in detail.
Seven ways to pay less
- Sail June to September. The deepest published discounts of the year, up to 30 percent, fall here.
- Book a year ahead with Dune. Bookings made 12 months or more in advance get 10 percent off.
- Share a cabin. Solo travellers are matched with a same-gender buddy at no extra cost; a cabin to yourself is 75 percent extra with Dune.
- Take the lower deck. Standard twins below the waterline cost hundreds less than suites on the same boat and the same dives.
- Ask for the extra discounts. Dune gives 10 percent to non-divers and to repeat guests, and 30 percent for children aged 8 to 11.
- Bring a group. Six paying divers earn one free place; 15 earn three on Dune boats.
- Book through a local agent. We book at agent rates and see promotions the day they are released. Our quotes are often below the published rate, in writing, in US dollars.
Deposits, payment and cancellation
Expect a deposit at booking and the balance about two months before departure. Dune takes 10 percent within 14 days of booking, a further 20 percent at 180 days for groups of six or more, and the balance 60 days out; cancel inside 60 days and the full amount is lost, so cancellation cover matters. Fees, extras and the bar are settled on the last evening, mostly in US dollars cash, with card payment on some boats. Prices are always quoted in US dollars; your bank sets the conversion if you pay in pounds, euros or Australian dollars.
Remember the costs outside the boat: international flights to Velana International Airport in Malé, a domestic flight to Gan or Kooddoo on southern routes, a night in Malé or Hulhumalé if your flight lands after the 3 pm boarding time, and a buffer day before flying home, since you should not dive in the 24 hours before a flight. Our getting to the Maldives guide covers the flights.
Maldives liveaboard prices: questions we get asked
How much does a Maldives liveaboard cost?
For 2026/27, a 7-night dive liveaboard on a good mid-range boat is published at about US$2,500 to US$3,100 per person, sharing a cabin. Low-season promotions in August and September bring some boats under US$2,000, and 10 to 11-night southern routes run US$3,500 to US$5,500. Add about US$250 to US$400 per person for the fees and extras paid on board, and your flight to Malé.
How much is a Maldives liveaboard per day?
Divide the weekly total by seven: the mid-range boats we book work out at about US$390 to US$480 per person per night once fees are added, covering the cabin, all meals, up to three dives a day and the dive boat. Low-season promotions bring that nearer US$315.
Is Green Tax included in the price?
It depends on the operator. Dune Liveaboards includes it in the rate; Top Class Cruising boats such as Princess Maani and Princess Haseena collect it on board in cash. The rate for safari vessels is US$12 per person per night, set by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority from January 2025, so it adds US$84 to a 7-night trip.
What extras will I pay on board?
On rate-plus-fees boats: a service fee (US$150 per person for 7 nights on Top Class boats), Green Tax, park fees in Baa Atoll, Wi-Fi if you want it, rental kit, drinks and tips. On all-inclusive boats only the fuel surcharge, rental kit, drinks and tips remain. Nitrox is free on every boat we list.
Which month is cheapest for a Maldives liveaboard?
August and September. It is the southwest monsoon, many boats go into dry dock, and those that sail cut prices: some Princess Haseena weeks in August and September 2027 are published at 30 percent off. It is also manta season in Baa Atoll, so the diving is far from second-rate.
Why are Deep South trips more expensive?
See our Deep South liveaboard guide for the route itself. Southern trips are longer (9 to 11 nights), burn more fuel crossing open channels, and usually start or end at Gan or Kooddoo, which adds a domestic flight. Expect US$3,800 to US$4,500 per person on the boat plus that flight.
Do I pay a single supplement as a solo traveller?
Usually not. Most boats, Dune included, guarantee a same-gender share in a twin cabin at the normal rate. If you want a cabin to yourself, Dune charges 75 percent extra; other operators quote it per departure, and a few boats have single cabins.
Is a liveaboard cheaper than diving from a resort?
Per dive, usually yes. A typical week at about US$3,000 all-in buys 16 dives plus bed, meals and transfers, around US$190 a dive. At a resort the room alone often costs more than that per night before a single dive. See our guide to Maldives diving costs for the resort side.
How do I pay, and when?
Operators take a deposit at booking, typically 10 percent with Dune, and the balance about 60 days before departure. Fees and extras on board are settled at the end of the trip, mostly in US dollars cash, though some boats take cards. Cancellation inside 60 days usually costs the full amount, so travel insurance with cancellation cover matters.
Are your prices lower than the published rates?
Often, yes. As a licensed Maldivian agency we book at agent rates and pass part of the margin back, and we see promotions as soon as operators release them. Every quote is in writing, in US dollars, before you pay anything.
Why book your liveaboard with HolidayVibe
- Trusted brandHolidayVibe is a trusted brand in the Maldives travel industry, licensed by the Ministry of Tourism (MOT.O1.RS.TA.25.RD9933) and based in Malé.
- We know the boatsWe work directly with the operators, hold their cabin-by-cabin availability and have walked the decks. No call centre in another time zone.
- Full-cost quotesEvery quote lists the cruise, service fee, Green Tax, park fees, nitrox, gear and transfers, so the price you see is the price you pay.
- Often better value than booking sitesOperators give local agents their best rates. We pass that on and still answer on WhatsApp within the hour.
- Fishing, surf and dive on one deskNeed a fishing charter before the dive week, or a resort night after? One team books all of it.
Keep planning
- All Maldives liveaboardsFinder, routes, seasons and how booking works
- Boat directoryEvery boat we book in one table
- Princess Haseena guideBest low-season value, live cabins
- Dune Theia guideAll-inclusive, 2027 dates published
- Maldives diving costsResort and local-island diving prices
- Fuvahmulah shark divingWhat the Deep South premium buys
Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Rates from Dune Liveaboards’ 2026 and 2026/27 public price lists and terms, and Top Class Cruising cabin sheets mirrored daily, checked 8 November 2026. Green Tax and GST rates from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority. Prices are per person in US dollars and change; we confirm every figure in writing.