Most routes start and end at Malé; the southern ones fly you to Gan or Kooddoo. Photo: Princess Maani / First Class Cruising.

Maldives liveaboard · Routes · Updated 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh

Maldives Liveaboard Routes Compared

Maldives liveaboards run a handful of routes that follow the monsoons: the Central Atolls week from Malé most of the year, manta routes to Baa from July to November, and the Deep South for sharks from January to April, with 10 to 12-night crossings at either end of that season. The route matters more than the boat: it decides what you see, how experienced you need to be and whether you fly within the Maldives. Here is every route we book, side by side.

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Every route, side by side

Maldives liveaboard routes on the boats we book: Princess Maani, Princess Haseena, Sachika, Dune Theia, Dune Black Manta, Solitude Gaia Maldives and NOAH. Lowest published retail rates per person sharing, checked 8 November 2026.
Route	Nights	Season	Atolls	Level	Published from pp	Boats we book
Central Atolls (Best of Central Atolls)	7	Most of the year	North and South Malé, Vaavu, South and North Ari	Any certified diver	US$1,688	Maani, Haseena, Sachika, Theia, Black Manta, Solitude Gaia (from Aug 2027)
Central Atolls XL / Central and South	10	November to May	Adds Faafu, Rasdhoo or Meemu and Thaa	Advanced, 30 to 50 dives	US$3,495	Maani, Haseena, Sachika, Theia, Black Manta
Manta Madness / Baa Atoll	7 to 10	July to November	North Malé, Baa (Hanifaru is snorkel only), Raa, North Ari	Any certified diver	US$1,688	Maani, Haseena, Black Manta, Solitude Gaia
Northern Highlights	10 to 11	August, October	North Malé, Baa, Raa, North Ari	Advanced recommended	US$2,408	Maani, Haseena
Deep South	7 to 11	January to April	Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah, Addu	Advanced, 50+ dives	US$3,455	Maani, Sachika, Theia, Black Manta, Solitude Gaia (2028)
South Atolls one-way	8	February to April	Addu, Fuvahmulah, Huvadhoo	Advanced, 50+ dives	US$3,571	Haseena, Maani
10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres	10 to 12	February to April	Malé to Addu across the equator, or back	Advanced, 50+ dives	US$4,219	Maani, Haseena, Sachika
Snorkelling cruise	7	All year	North Malé, Vaavu, South Ari; or Goidhoo and Baa on NOAH	Non-divers and families	US$1,661 (NOAH)	NOAH, Theia, Black Manta
Surf safari	7	July to September	Meemu, Thaa, Laamu breaks	Intermediate surfers	Ask us	Theia

Sites inside each route change week to week with weather, current and what the guides have seen. Prices are the lowest published for upcoming departures; see the prices page for typical rates and every extra.

How to choose

By month

December to April is the northeast monsoon: calm seas, the best visibility, central routes at their best and the only time the southern routes run. From about May to November the southwest monsoon brings rougher crossings and plankton, which is when Baa Atoll’s mantas peak and prices drop. October and November are transition months that suit both the central and northern routes.

By experience

With Open Water and a few logged dives, take a 7-night Central Atolls or Manta Madness week. With Advanced Open Water and around 30 dives, the 10-night central and northern trips open up. With 50 or more dives and recent current experience, the Deep South, the South Atolls and the 10 Atolls crossings are where the biggest animals are. Our liveaboard diving guide explains the dive days, rules and kit.

Whale shark swimming in open blue water in the Maldives — South Ari's whale sharks are the draw of the central week. Photo: Dune Theia / Dune Liveaboards.

Manta ray gliding overhead in blue water on a Maldives dive — Mantas set the timing of the northern routes. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

School of grey reef sharks over a reef in the Maldives — Grey reef sharks in the channels, central and southern. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Route guides

Three routes now have their own guide. The Central Atolls guide covers the classic week from Malé, atoll by atoll, with prices by month on every boat. The Baa Atoll and Hanifaru guide lists every 2027 manta departure, the snorkel rules and the moon timing. The Deep South guide has the southern route options, departures and flights. For the other routes, each boat page lists its own dates: Princess Maani, Princess Haseena, Dune Theia and Dune Black Manta, or use the finder on the liveaboard hub.

Liveaboard routes: questions we get asked

Which Maldives liveaboard route is best for a first trip?

The 7-night Central Atolls route from Malé. It covers North and South Malé, Vaavu and Ari, with mantas, South Ari’s whale sharks, the Vaavu nurse-shark night dive and channels that suit every level, and it runs most weeks of the year.

Which route has the most sharks?

The Deep South: grey reef and silvertip sharks in Huvadhoo’s channels, tiger and thresher sharks at Fuvahmulah, and hammerheads on the way down. It runs January to April and needs Advanced Open Water with about 50 logged dives.

When can I see the most mantas?

From about July to November on the northern routes, when plankton gathers in Baa Atoll and Hanifaru Bay hosts its feeding aggregations. Hanifaru itself is snorkel only by law; the diving is at nearby cleaning stations. Central routes see mantas at cleaning stations through the year.

Do all routes start in Malé?

Central and northern routes start and end in Malé with airport transfers. Most southern routes start or end at Gan or Kooddoo, which means a domestic flight, and the 10 Atolls crossings run one way between Malé and Addu.

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.

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Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Routes and seasons from operator itineraries and price lists, checked 8 November 2026.