Ring reefs of the central atolls. Photo: whereisthis / Pearl Fleet.

Our picks · Updated 12 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh

The Best Maldives Liveaboards: Our 12 Picks for 2026/27

The best Maldives liveaboard for most divers is Princess Maani: launched in 2024, 42 metres long, with 14 cabins, two jacuzzis, free nitrox and seven routes, from US$2,688 for 7 nights. The best boat for you depends on the trip. Conte Max is the best value at about US$2,324 for a real week, White Pearl has the most space, Dune Black Manta makes the easiest first liveaboard and NOAH suits snorkellers. Below are 12 picks from the 22 boats we book, with the catch on each and what a week really costs.

Help me choose See the 12 picks

The best liveaboard for each kind of trip

The short answer, if you already know what matters most to you. Every boat links to its full profile with deck plans, cabins and dates.

Our pick of the best Maldives liveaboard for each kind of trip. “Real week” is the lowest published 7-night price plus the fixed charges paid on board; oil-linked fuel surcharges are not included. Checked 12 November 2026.
Best for	Our pick	Real week, per person
Best overall	Princess Maani	about US$2,922
Best first liveaboard	Dune Black Manta	about US$2,795
Best value	Conte Max	about US$2,324
Best for luxury and space	White Pearl	about US$4,069
Best for underwater photographers	Solitude Gaia Maldives	about US$4,949
Best for manta rays	Maldives Blue Force One	about US$3,169
Best for sharks and the Deep South	Emperor Explorer II	about US$3,332
Best for a diver with a non-diving partner	Duke of York	about US$2,534
Best for snorkellers and families	NOAH	about US$1,661
Best for long trips	Amba	EUR 2,409 for 11 nights
Best for mixed dive, snorkel and surf groups	Flying Fish	US$2,135
Best for a private charter	MV Explorer	Price on request

22boats compared

13operators

US$2,324cheapest real dive week

56 mlargest boat (White Pearl)

US$669most paid on board in a week

12 Novemberprices checked

Our 12 picks, with the catch on each

“Real week” means the lowest published 7-night price plus the charges every guest pays on board. It is the fairest way to compare boats that price all-inclusive with boats that add fees at the end.

“Compare the week, not the headline price. A US$2,590 boat that adds US$579 on board costs more than a US$2,840 boat with everything included.”
Abdulla Maseeh, CEO, HolidayVibe Maldives

01Best overall

Princess Maani

42 m · 14 cabins · 28 guests · built 2024 · Top Class Cruising / First Class Cruising

The newest of the big Maldivian-built boats, launched in 2024: four decks, 14 cabins, two jacuzzis and a 19-metre dive dhoni called Ruby. Nitrox is free, and she has the widest choice of routes of any boat we book, seven in all, from the central atolls to Hanifaru, the Deep South and the 11-night 10 Atolls trip across the equator. We read her cabin availability every day, so the dates on her page are live.

The catch: With 28 guests she is a full boat in peak weeks, and the service fee and Green Tax (US$234 for a week) are paid on board on top of the cruise price.

7 nights from: US$2,688 published · about US$2,922 for a real week
Paid on board: Service fee US$150 and Green Tax US$84.

Also consider: Emperor Serenity, rebuilt in 2024 with four suites and all-inclusive pricing, if you would rather pay nothing on board.

See Princess Maani Ask us about dates

02Best first liveaboard

Dune Black Manta

42 m · 15 cabins · 28 guests · built 2024 · Dune Liveaboards

A 42-metre steel boat from 2024 with two dive boats: a 20-metre dhoni and an 8-metre speedboat for eight. That second boat is the reason she suits first-timers and mixed groups, because the cruise director can send the drift-hungry divers to a channel and a gentler group to a sheltered thila at the same time. Green Tax, service, transfers and Wi-Fi are in the rate, and there is a jacuzzi and a massage room.

The catch: Dune adds a fuel surcharge of US$20 to US$40 a night when Brent crude averages over US$70 a barrel, confirmed the day you board. She also takes 28 guests.

7 nights from: US$2,795 published · about US$2,795 for a real week
Paid on board: All-inclusive; fuel surcharge of US$20 to US$40 a night when Brent crude is over US$70.

Also consider: Evolution Eclipse from November 2027, which caps each dive group at six divers per guide.

See Dune Black Manta Ask us about dates

03Best value

Conte Max

33 m · 9 cabins · 17 guests · built 2004 · Luxury Yacht Maldives

Her 2027 rack rate starts at US$2,240 for 7 nights with the 17% GST and the service charge already in it. Add the Green Tax and a week costs about US$2,324, the lowest of any dive liveaboard we book. You still get free nitrox, an Italian kitchen, 17 guests on a 33-metre boat and one true single cabin, which is rare in the Maldives.

The catch: She was launched in 2004, so she is simpler than the 2024 boats, and her 2026 weeks are priced on request because the rack sheet starts on 10 January 2027.

7 nights from: US$2,240 published · about US$2,324 for a real week
Paid on board: Green Tax US$84; GST and service charge in the rate.

Also consider: Emperor Voyager at US$2,560 all-inclusive, with nothing to pay on board but drinks, rental kit and tips.

See Conte Max Ask us about dates

04Best for luxury and space

White Pearl

56 m · 13 cabins · 26 guests · built 2020 · Pearl Fleet

At 56 metres she is the largest dive liveaboard in the Maldives, with 13 cabins for 26 guests, a long jacuzzi pool, a spa, a gym and a sky bar. Nitrox and Starlink are free, and she runs Fuvahmulah’s tiger sharks in February and March and Hanifaru’s mantas from August to October.

The catch: The cabin rate is only the start: a 10% service charge, Green Tax and a fuel surcharge are added on board, so the cheapest week is about US$4,069.

7 nights from: US$3,400 published · about US$4,069 for a real week
Paid on board: 10% service US$340, Green Tax US$84, fuel US$245.

Also consider: Maldives Blue Force One, with four sea-view suites and two jacuzzis for about US$3,169 a week including the on-board charges.

See White Pearl Ask us about dates

05Best for underwater photographers

Solitude Gaia Maldives

40 m · 10 cabins · 20 guests · built 2027 · Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts

A new 40-metre steel boat built to RINA class, with a dedicated camera room, two dive boats, Starlink and a spa on the sundeck, for 20 guests in 10 cabins. Her first trip is on 31 July 2027 and the published rate includes the GST and the service charge.

The catch: She is brand new, so there is no guest track record yet and the photos are renders. Green Tax and nitrox (US$8 a dive) are extra, and she is the most expensive boat on this list.

7 nights from: US$4,865 published · about US$4,949 for a real week
Paid on board: Green Tax US$84; nitrox US$8 a dive; fuel surcharge when Brent crude is over US$70.

Also consider: Maldives Aggressor II, which has a camera table in the open-air lounge and fixed Sunday-to-Sunday weeks, if you need to travel sooner.

See Solitude Gaia Maldives Ask us about dates

Snorkeller among dozens of feeding manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, Maldives — Feeding mantas in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll. Photo: Rafa Fernández / Blue Force Fleet.

06Best for manta rays

Maldives Blue Force One

42 m · 12 cabins · 24 guests · Blue Force Fleet

Blue Force One runs Hanifaru weeks from July to October, leaving Malé every Saturday, and she is a comfortable place to wait out the plankton: four sea-view suites, two jacuzzis and an outdoor restaurant. The Liveaboard Association of Maldives has twice named her the best boat built in the Maldives.

The catch: Nitrox is extra and US$579 is paid on board for a 7-night trip. At Hanifaru Bay itself you snorkel with the mantas: scuba is not allowed there.

7 nights from: US$2,590 published · about US$3,169 for a real week
Paid on board: Taxes, service, Green Tax and fuel, US$579.

Also consider: Amba, whose 8-night Hanifaru tour starts at EUR 1,560 for experienced divers. Our Baa Atoll route guide lists every manta-season departure.

See Maldives Blue Force One Ask us about dates

07Best for sharks and the Deep South

Emperor Explorer II

44 m · 13 cabins · 26 guests · Emperor Maldives

Emperor’s 44-metre flagship started sailing in August 2026 with six suites and three to four dives a day, more than the rest of the fleet. In January to March she runs the Deep South from Gan, a Sharktastic week and a 14-night Southern Shark Adventure, and every price includes Green Tax, fees, fuel and nitrox.

The catch: The southern trips need Advanced Open Water and 100 logged dives, and there are only a handful of them each season, so they sell out first.

7 nights from: US$3,332 published · about US$3,332 for a real week
Paid on board: All-inclusive: taxes, fees, fuel and nitrox.

Also consider: Maldives Blue Force 3, with Deep South and Southern Hemisphere weeks from US$2,290 plus US$579 on board.

See Emperor Explorer II Ask us about dates

08Best for a diver with a non-diving partner

Duke of York

36 m · 11 cabins · 22 guests · built 2010 · Luxury Yacht Maldives

An Italian-run 36-metre yacht from 2010 with 11 cabins, a massage room and free nitrox. Non-divers get guided snorkelling and sandbank time while the divers are out, which is not something every boat bothers with. The 2027 rack rate includes GST and service, so only the Green Tax is added.

The catch: She is a wooden boat with no jacuzzi, and like Conte Max her 2026 weeks are priced on request.

7 nights from: US$2,450 published · about US$2,534 for a real week
Paid on board: Green Tax US$84; GST and service charge in the rate.

Also consider: Flying Fish, whose snorkelling and adventure weeks cost US$1,859, if the non-diver is the one choosing.

See Duke of York Ask us about dates

Snorkeller with mask and fins floating face down in clear blue Maldives water — Daily snorkelling, no experience needed. Photo: NOAH Safari Boat.

09Best for snorkellers and families

NOAH

23 m · 6 cabins · 18 guests · built 2004, refit 2026 · NOAH Safari Boat

A 23-metre Maldivian safari boat, refitted in 2026, with six en-suite cabins for 18 guests. Her Saturday weeks go from Malé to Goidhoo and Baa with sandbanks, village visits, a beach barbecue and, in season, a snorkel at Hanifaru Bay, for US$1,661 per person sharing with every tax included.

The catch: She is not a dive boat, and the cabins are simple. Book the whole boat and a group of 18 pays about US$1,210 each.

7 nights from: US$1,661 published · about US$1,661 for a real week
Paid on board: All taxes included.

Also consider: Our snorkelling liveaboard guide, which compares every boat that works for non-divers.

See NOAH Ask us about dates

10Best for long trips

Amba

32 m · 11 cabins · 22 guests · built 2004 · Amba Dive Maldives

Owner-managed by a German skipper who lives on board, Amba runs 11-night central trips, 8-night Hanifaru tours and Deep South weeks of up to 14 nights, with briefings in English, German, Italian and Spanish. Nitrox is included.

The catch: She is sold in euros (11 nights from EUR 2,409), dates from 2004, and asks for Advanced Open Water, a nitrox card and 30 logged dives.

7 nights from: EUR 2,409 for 11 nights
Paid on board: Priced in euros: 11 nights from EUR 2,409; Green Tax extra.

Also consider: Maldives Aggressor II, whose 10-night trips go south to Meemu or north to Lhaviyani.

See Amba Ask us about dates

11Best for mixed dive, snorkel and surf groups

Flying Fish

31 m · 8 cabins · 22 guests · refit 2023 · Flying Fish Maldives

Renovated in December 2023, Flying Fish takes 22 guests in eight rooms, six of them triples, with a dive school on board. Diving weeks start at US$2,135 and snorkelling and adventure weeks at US$1,859, surf trips run on request, and Wi-Fi is included.

The catch: Triple rooms suit friends better than couples who want privacy, and only a few 2026 dates are published so far.

7 nights from: US$2,135
Paid on board: Ask us which taxes apply to your week.

Also consider: Dune Theia, which runs surf safaris in the off-season.

See Flying Fish Ask us about dates

12Best for a private charter

MV Explorer

29 m · 8 cabins · 20 guests · built 2016, refit 2025 · Maldives Explorer (Capital Travel)

She is chartered as a whole boat only: 8 cabins for up to 20 guests, as a dive trip with about 17 dives a week, a surf trip in Malé Atoll from eight surfers, or a cruise with snorkelling, fishing and a beach barbecue. Her page shows which 2027 weeks are still open, refreshed every day.

The catch: There is no per-person price: the operator quotes each charter, and nitrox is on request at extra cost.

7 nights from: Price on request
Paid on board: Whole-boat charter; price on request.

Also consider: Our private liveaboard charter guide, which compares four boats you can take over.

See MV Explorer Ask us about dates

Compare any two Maldives liveaboards

Pick two boats to see them side by side: size, age, nitrox, routes and the real cost of a week. It starts with our two picks from 2024.

First boat

Second boat

Side-by-side comparison from published operator facts, checked 12 November 2026.
	Princess Maani	Dune Black Manta
Best for	Best overall	First liveaboard, mixed-ability groups
Operator	Top Class Cruising / First Class Cruising	Dune Liveaboards
Length	42 m	42 m
Built	2024	2024
Cabins / guests	14 / 28	15 / 28
Nitrox	Free	Yes
Routes	Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Manta Madness, Northern Highlights, Wild Deep South, South Atolls, 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres	Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Wild Deep South, South Atolls, Northern Highlights
Trip lengths (nights)	7/8/9/10/11	7/10/14
Published from, 7 nights	US$2,688	US$2,795
Paid on board	Service fee US$150 and Green Tax US$84	All-inclusive; fuel surcharge of US$20 to US$40 a night when Brent crude is over US$70
Real week	US$2,922	US$2,795

Every boat we book, by the real cost of a week

All 22 liveaboards with a full profile on our site, cheapest real week first. Prices are per person sharing the lowest cabin; most boats cost more at Christmas and less on low-season offers. Live dates are on our departures calendar.

Every liveaboard HolidayVibe books in the Maldives, sorted by the real cost of the cheapest 7-night week per person. Published operator retail prices, lowest cabin; on-board charges from each operator’s terms. HolidayVibe quotes are often lower. Checked 12 November 2026.
Boat	Best for	Length / guests	Nitrox	Published from (7 n)	Paid on board, 7 nights	Real week
NOAH	Snorkellers and families on a budget	23 m / 18	No diving	US$1,661	All taxes included	US$1,661
Conte Max	Best value; solo travellers	33 m / 17	Free	US$2,240	Green Tax US$84; GST and service charge in the rate	US$2,324
Duke of York	A diver with a non-diving partner	36 m / 22	Free	US$2,450	Green Tax US$84; GST and service charge in the rate	US$2,534
Emperor Voyager	Lowest all-inclusive price	30 m / 20	Free	US$2,560	All-inclusive: taxes, fees, fuel and nitrox	US$2,560
Dune Theia	20 guests, all-inclusive, surf in the off-season	32 m / 20	Yes	US$2,695	All-inclusive; fuel surcharge of US$20 to US$40 a night when Brent crude is over US$70	US$2,695
Sachika	Budget weeks until May 2027	33 m / 22	Free	US$2,500	Service fee US$150 and Green Tax US$84	US$2,734
Dune Black Manta	First liveaboard, mixed-ability groups	42 m / 28	Yes	US$2,795	All-inclusive; fuel surcharge of US$20 to US$40 a night when Brent crude is over US$70	US$2,795
Emperor Leo	Good-value all-inclusive weeks	35 m / 24	Free	US$2,840	All-inclusive: taxes, fees, fuel and nitrox	US$2,840
Emperor Virgo	18 guests, a family cabin (until Oct 2027)	35 m / 18	Free	US$2,840	All-inclusive: taxes, fees, fuel and nitrox	US$2,840
Maldives Blue Force 3	Groups of friends, long southern trips	42 m / 26	Extra	US$2,290	Taxes, service, Green Tax and fuel, US$579	US$2,869
Princess Maani	Best overall	42 m / 28	Free	US$2,688	Service fee US$150 and Green Tax US$84	US$2,922
Evolution Eclipse	Small groups, six divers per guide (from Nov 2027)	35 m / 18	Free	US$2,998	All taxes and port fees included	US$2,998
Princess Haseena	Same routes as Maani, for less in most weeks	32 m / 26	Free	US$2,813	Service fee US$150 and Green Tax US$84	US$3,047
Maldives Blue Force One	Manta rays, sea-view suites	42 m / 24	Extra	US$2,590	Taxes, service, Green Tax and fuel, US$579	US$3,169
Emperor Serenity	All-inclusive suites, Hanifaru in summer	40 m / 26	Free	US$3,175	All-inclusive: taxes, fees, fuel and nitrox	US$3,175
Emperor Explorer II	Sharks and the Deep South	44 m / 26	Free	US$3,332	All-inclusive: taxes, fees, fuel and nitrox	US$3,332
White Pearl	Luxury and the most space	56 m / 26	Free	US$3,400	10% service US$340, Green Tax US$84, fuel US$245	US$4,069
Maldives Aggressor II	An international brand, fixed Sunday weeks	41 m / 22	US$100 a week	US$3,985	Port fee US$340 (incl. Green Tax) and fuel US$200	US$4,525
Solitude Gaia Maldives	Underwater photographers (from Aug 2027)	40 m / 20	Paid	US$4,865	Green Tax US$84; nitrox US$8 a dive; fuel surcharge when Brent crude is over US$70	US$4,949
Amba	Long trips for experienced divers	32 m / 22	Included (required)	EUR 2,409 (11 n)	Priced in euros: 11 nights from EUR 2,409; Green Tax extra	–
Flying Fish	Mixed dive, snorkel and surf groups	31 m / 22	No diving	US$2,135	Ask us which taxes apply to your week	–
MV Explorer	Whole-boat private charter	29 m / 20	On request, extra	On request	Whole-boat charter; price on request	–

How we chose the best Maldives liveaboards

Duke of York liveaboard and her diving dhoni anchored beside a white sandbank, Maldives — Anchored by a sandbank with the dhoni. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

We are a Malé-based agency and we book every boat on this page, so the list only includes boats we have profiled in full: their deck plans, cabins, routes, published prices and inclusions, each with the date we checked it. That rules out boats whose schedules we cannot verify, however often they appear on other lists.

Each pick had to win on something you can check: the age and size of the boat, the number of guests, how many dive boats and guides there are, the routes and when they run, whether nitrox is free, and the real cost of a week once the on-board charges are added. Where a boat is new or has a catch, we say so.

“The first thing I ask isn’t the budget, it’s how many logged dives you have. That decides the route, and the route decides the boat.”
Abdulla Maseeh, CEO, HolidayVibe Maldives

Prices move every week. We read Top Class Cruising, Dune, MV Explorer and Blue Force availability automatically and check the others by hand, and our quotes are often below the published rates shown here.

Eight questions to ask before you book any liveaboard

What is paid on board?Service fees, Green Tax, fuel surcharges and park fees can add nothing or up to US$669 to a week.
What is the minimum for my route?Central weeks take Open Water; southern trips can ask for 100 logged dives.
How many divers per guide?Six is good; ask for the number on your departure, not the brochure.
Is nitrox included?Free on many boats, US$8 a dive or US$100 a week on others.
How full is my week?A 28-guest boat with 10 aboard feels very different from a full one.
Which deck is my cabin on?Lower decks move less on a crossing; upper decks have the windows and the price.
What if the fuel price changes?Some operators add a surcharge set on the day you board.
What are the cancellation terms?Inside 60 days the full price is often lost, so buy cancellation cover.

Not sure about the season? Our month-by-month liveaboard guide shows which routes run when, and what a liveaboard costs breaks down every fee with a calculator. If you are still deciding between a boat and an island, read liveaboard or resort.

Best Maldives liveaboard: questions we get asked

What is the best liveaboard in the Maldives?

For most divers, Princess Maani: launched in 2024, 42 metres, 14 cabins, two jacuzzis, free nitrox and seven routes, from US$2,688 for 7 nights plus US$234 paid on board. The right boat depends on your trip, though: Conte Max is the best value, White Pearl the most comfortable, Dune Black Manta the easiest first liveaboard and NOAH the pick for snorkellers.

Which Maldives liveaboard is best for beginners?

Pick a central-atolls week on a boat that can split the group. Dune Black Manta has two dive boats, so newer divers can dive a sheltered site while others drift a channel. Open Water with a handful of logged dives is enough for most central routes; the Deep South and 10 Atolls trips need Advanced Open Water. Our liveaboard diving guide lists the level for each route.

What is the cheapest good liveaboard in the Maldives?

Among the dive boats we book, Conte Max costs the least for a real week: US$2,240 on her 2027 rack rate plus US$84 Green Tax. Emperor Voyager is US$2,560 with everything included, and Maldives Blue Force 3 is US$2,290 plus US$579 on board. For snorkellers, NOAH is US$1,661 with all taxes.

Which is the most luxurious liveaboard in the Maldives?

White Pearl, at 56 metres the largest dive liveaboard in the country, with a jacuzzi pool, spa, gym and sky bar. Maldives Blue Force One has four sea-view suites and two jacuzzis for less, and Solitude Gaia Maldives joins the fleet in July 2027 as a boutique 20-guest boat.

Which liveaboard is best for non-divers?

NOAH if nobody dives: she is a snorkelling and island cruise. If one of you dives, Duke of York offers guided snorkelling and a massage room, and Flying Fish sells snorkelling and adventure weeks. Our snorkelling liveaboard guide covers the rest.

What is the newest liveaboard in the Maldives?

Of the boats we book, Emperor Explorer II started sailing in August 2026, and Princess Maani and Dune Black Manta were launched in 2024. Solitude Gaia Maldives is due to start on 31 July 2027 and Evolution Eclipse, the renamed Emperor Virgo, in November 2027.

Is nitrox free on Maldives liveaboards?

On many boats, yes: Top Class Cruising, Emperor, Luxury Yacht Maldives, White Pearl and Evolution all include it. Blue Force charges for it, Maldives Aggressor II charges US$100 a week, Solitude Gaia US$8 a dive, and Amba includes it but requires the certificate. Check before you compare prices.

Why are boats like Scubaspa or Carpe Diem not on this list?

We only rank boats we book and have profiled in full, because we can check their published prices, inclusions and dates. That is 22 boats today, and we add more as operators share their schedules with us. If you have another boat in mind, ask us and we will tell you honestly how it compares.

Why book your Maldives 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. Boat facts, prices and inclusions from each operator’s published rate sheets, brochures and booking systems, checked 12 November 2026. Photos: the operators named in each caption.