Emperor Maldives · Dive liveaboard with jacuzzi · Updated 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh
Emperor Leo Liveaboard, Maldives
Emperor Leo is a 35-metre, wooden-hulled dive liveaboard taking 24 divers in 12 air-conditioned, en-suite cabins, with an outdoor jacuzzi on the main deck and a separate 20-metre diving dhoni. She runs Emperor’s Best of Maldives week from Malé almost all year, from US$2,840 to US$3,175 per person for 7 nights, with Green Tax, fees, fuel and nitrox included. Guests on liveaboard.com rate her 9.1 out of 10, with the food scored highest.
Emperor Leo at a glance
Choose Leo if
you want Emperor’s all-inclusive pricing on a mid-priced boat, like the idea of a hot tub after the night dive, or are booking a group: with 24 places Leo is a good size for a dive club, and the saloon seats everyone at once.
Look elsewhere if
you want new-build finishes and big windows (Emperor Serenity and Explorer II are newer fibreglass boats), the smallest possible group (Emperor Virgo takes 18) or a southern shark route, which Leo does not run in 2026/27.
What guests say
Independent review scores are a fair way to compare boats from the same operator. Leo leads Emperor’s three wooden boats on overall score and food.
| On liveaboard.com | Emperor Leo | Emperor Voyager | Emperor Virgo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall guest score | 9.1 / 10 | 8.9 to 9.0 | 9.0 to 9.1 |
| Food | 9.6 to 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.6 |
| Diving | 9.2 to 9.3 | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Vessel | 8.6 to 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.5 |
Cabins and deck plan
| Deck | Cabins | Beds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper deck | 9 | Double (suite) | The only suite on Leo |
| Upper deck | 10, 11, 12 | Twin | Two can be made up as doubles; windows |
| Lower deck | 4, 5 | Double | Portholes |
| Lower deck | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 | Twin | About 9 m² plus a 3 m² shower room; 1 and 8 convert to doubles |
Light sleepers and couples should ask for the upper deck: the suite and cabins 10 to 12 have windows and sit away from the engine room. Lower-deck twins are compact at about 9 square metres but have their own 3-square-metre shower room. Solo travellers get a guaranteed same-sex share or the cabin to themselves at no supplement.
Emperor Leo dates and prices
Leo sails every Saturday from Malé for most of the year. Below are the next departures on sale; sold-out weeks are hidden.
| Departs | Route | Nights | From | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 2026 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,007 | Cabins available |
| 5 Dec 2026 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,007 | Cabins available |
| 19 Dec 2026 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,119 | Cabins available |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,119 | Cabins available |
| 2 Jan 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 9 Jan 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 16 Jan 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Shared places only |
| 23 Jan 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 30 Jan 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 6 Feb 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 13 Feb 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 20 Feb 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 27 Feb 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
| 13 Mar 2027 | Best of Maldives | 7 | US$3,175 | Cabins available |
On board and in the water
The main deck is one long air-conditioned saloon with sofas, a TV, a book, music and film library, board games, the dining tables and the bar; the jacuzzi is outside. The upper deck has an outdoor terrace with tables, and the sun deck has deckchairs, sunbeds and bean bags. Data packages for Wi-Fi are sold on board.
Diving is from a 20-metre dhoni with three crew, compressors, oxygen, first aid and an AED. Emperor lists three to four guides on Leo. Tanks are 11.1-litre aluminium, 13.2-litre on request, and nitrox is free. Advanced Open Water, Adventure Dives and Specialties can be done on board.
Leo, Voyager or Virgo?
| Emperor Leo | Emperor Voyager | Emperor Virgo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length / hull | 35 m, wood | 30 m, wood | 35 m, wood |
| Cabins / guests | 12 / 24 | 10 / 20 | 9 / 18 |
| Jacuzzi | Yes, main deck | No | No |
| Dhoni | 20 m | 20 m | 17 m |
| 7 nights from | US$2,840 | US$2,560 | US$2,840 |
| Best for | Value with a jacuzzi | Lowest price | Smallest group |
In the price
- Green Tax, bed taxes, port and marine park fees, fuel surcharges
- Free nitrox up to 32 percent, 11.1-litre aluminium tanks and weights
- All meals, water, tea and coffee, and wine with dinner
- Guided dives from the diving dhoni
- Airport transfer to the boat on boarding day
Paid on board
- Wi-Fi data (sold on board) and drinks beyond dinner wine; beer about US$5
- Rental equipment (book before arrival), 13.2-litre tanks, PADI courses
- 16 percent sales tax on rentals and onboard purchases
- Crew tips, flights and dive insurance (required)
Emperor Leo: questions we get asked
How much does Emperor Leo cost?
Emperor’s published 7-night Best of Maldives price for Leo is US$2,840 per person on most weeks from May to October and US$3,175 in January, with the Christmas weeks at US$3,119. Green Tax, port and park fees, fuel and nitrox are included. A women-only week on 17 July 2027 is published at US$2,616.
Does Emperor Leo have a jacuzzi?
Yes, an outdoor jacuzzi on the main deck. Leo is the only boat in Emperor’s Maldives fleet with one, which is a big part of her appeal against the similarly priced Emperor Virgo.
How many cabins does Emperor Leo have?
12 en-suite cabins for 24 divers: the upper-deck suite (cabin 9), three upper-deck twins (10 to 12), two lower-deck doubles (4 and 5) and six lower-deck twins. Several twins can be made up as doubles on request.
Where does Leo go?
Emperor Leo runs the Best of Maldives route from Malé almost all year: Rasdhoo, North and South Ari, Vaavu and the Malé atolls, with whale sharks in South Ari, manta cleaning stations and channel dives. In the November 2026 to October 2027 schedule she does not run southern routes.
Is Emperor Leo good for beginners?
Best of Maldives has no minimum dive count, but Emperor recommends Advanced Open Water because many dives go below 18 metres and currents can be strong. Newly qualified divers can take the Advanced course on board, and the cruise director may ask less experienced divers to skip the hardest dives.
What do guests say about Leo?
On liveaboard.com Leo averages 9.1 out of 10 across more than a hundred reviews, with the food scored highest at 9.6 to 9.7 and the boat itself lowest at about 8.7. Reviewers praise the crew, the briefings and the manta night dive; a minority find the boat dated compared with Emperor’s newer fibreglass boats.
Is there a women-only trip?
Yes: Emperor has published a women-only Best of Maldives week on Emperor Leo departing 17 July 2027, at US$2,616 per person. Ask us for availability.
Why book Emperor Leo 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
- Emperor Maldives fleetAll five Emperor boats compared
- Emperor SerenityEmperor’s rebuilt 26-guest boat
- All Maldives liveaboardsFinder, routes and how booking works
- Boat directoryEvery boat we book in one table
- Liveaboard diving guideRoutes, seasons and experience
- Liveaboard pricesReal costs and a calculator
Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Boat facts from Emperor’s Leo page, Maldives FAQ and diving guidelines; review scores from liveaboard.com. Dates and prices from Emperor’s published schedule, checked 8 November 2026. Photos and deck plan: Emperor Divers.