Maldives liveaboard · Boat directory · Updated 8 November 2026
Every liveaboard we book in the Maldives for 2026/27 in one table: cabins and guests, year built, nitrox, the routes each boat runs and the lowest published 7-night rate. Boats with a full guide show cabin-by-cabin availability on their page; the rest are bookable on request while their guides are written. Want a shortlist first? See the best liveaboard for your kind of trip, with the catch on each.
| Boat | Operator brand | Cabins / guests | Built | Nitrox | Routes | 7-night retail from | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Maani | Top Class Cruising / First Class Cruising | 14 / 28 | 2024 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Manta Madness, Northern Highlights, Wild Deep South, South Atolls, 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres | US$2,688 | Full guide |
| Princess Haseena | Top Class Cruising | 12 / 26 | 2016, refit 2026 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Manta Madness, Northern Highlights, South Atolls, 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres | US$2,813 | Full guide |
| Sachika | Top Class Cruising (to May 2027) | 10 / 22 | 2007 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Wild Deep South, 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres | US$2,500 | Full guide |
| Dune Black Manta | Dune Liveaboards | 15 / 28 | 2024 | Yes | Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Wild Deep South, South Atolls, Northern Highlights | US$2,795 | Full guide |
| Dune Theia | Dune Liveaboards | 10 / 20 | Ask | Yes | Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Wild Deep South, Northern Highlights | US$2,695 | Full guide |
| Solitude Gaia Maldives | Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts | 10 / 20 | 2027 | Paid | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | US$4,865 | Full guide |
| Emperor Serenity | Emperor Maldives | 13 / 26 | 2024 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | US$3,175 | Full guide |
| Emperor Explorer II | Emperor Maldives | 13 / 26 | Ask | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Wild Deep South | US$3,332 | Full guide |
| Emperor Leo | Emperor Maldives | 12 / 24 | Ask | Free | Best of Central Atolls | US$2,840 | Full guide |
| Emperor Voyager | Emperor Maldives | 10 / 20 | Ask | Free | Best of Central Atolls | US$2,560 | Full guide |
| Emperor Virgo | Emperor Maldives | 9 / 18 | Ask | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Wild Deep South | US$2,840 | Full guide |
| Amba | Amba Dive Maldives | 11 / 22 | 2004 | Included (required) | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | On request | Full guide |
| NOAH | NOAH Safari Boat | 6 / 18 | 2004, refit 2026 | Ask | Goidhoo and Baa snorkel safari | US$1,661 | Full guide |
| Flying Fish | Flying Fish Maldives | 8 / 22 | Ask, refit 2023 | Ask | Best of Central Atolls | US$2,135 | Full guide |
| Duke of York | Luxury Yacht Maldives | 11 / 22 | 2010 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | US$2,450 | Full guide |
| Conte Max | Luxury Yacht Maldives | 9 / 17 | 2004 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | US$2,240 | Full guide |
| Evolution Eclipse | Evolution Liveaboards (ex Emperor Virgo) | 9 / 18 | Ask, refit 2027 | Free | Best of Central Atolls | US$2,998 | Full guide |
| White Pearl | Pearl Fleet | 13 / 26 | 2020 | Free | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | US$3,400 | Full guide |
| Maldives Aggressor II | Aggressor Adventures | 11 / 22 | 2006, refit 2017 | US$100 a week | Best of Central Atolls, Best of Central Atolls XL, Northern Highlights | US$3,985 | Full guide |
| MV Explorer | Maldives Explorer (Capital Travel) | 8 / 20 | 2016, refit 2025 | On request, extra | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness | On request | Full guide |
| Maldives Blue Force One | Blue Force Fleet | 12 / 24 | Ask | Extra | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Wild Deep South | US$2,590 | Full guide |
| Maldives Blue Force 3 | Blue Force Fleet | 12 / 26 | 2018 | Extra | Best of Central Atolls, Manta Madness, Northern Highlights, Wild Deep South, 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres | US$2,290 | Full guide |
Tiers are ours, not star ratings: standard is a well-run older hull, standard plus a newer boat with suites or extra space, small group a boat of six to eight cabins that is usually chartered whole; see our private liveaboard charter guide for whole-boat options. Fleet-wide details for Emperor are on our Emperor Maldives page. Nobody on this page pays us to be listed.
Top Class Cruising / First Class Cruising
Divers who want a new boat with suite-sized cabins, two jacuzzis and a big dive dhoni; non-diving partners; small groups who want a full charter of up to 28.
Top Class Cruising
Value-minded divers who want the same routes and crew standard at a lower rate; the 2026 solar refit cut generator hours and noise.
Top Class Cruising (to May 2027)
Divers on a budget who still want free nitrox and Italian-run service; sailing until the end of May 2027 only, so book the open Dec 2026 to Apr 2027 dates while they last.
Dune Liveaboards
Divers who want a new steel boat with two dive boats, all-inclusive pricing, a jacuzzi and a spa room; groups splitting by experience level.
Dune Liveaboards
Small groups who want a 20-guest boat with all-inclusive pricing, a published 2027 schedule, sea-view suites and surf safaris in the off-season.
Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts
Photographers and small groups who want a brand-new boutique boat from August 2027, with a camera room, Starlink and a spa.
Emperor Maldives
Divers who want a roomy, rebuilt all-inclusive boat with four suites, Hanifaru in summer and Deep South shark trips in February and March.
Emperor Maldives
Emperor’s flagship: six suites, three to four dives a day, Sharktastic and Deep South shark routes.
Emperor Maldives
Good-value all-inclusive Best of Maldives weeks, with a jacuzzi on the main deck.
Emperor Maldives
Divers who put the diving first: Emperor’s lowest-priced boat, Best of Maldives and Sharktastic weeks.
Emperor Maldives
Small groups: 18 guests at most, Best of Maldives weeks, a family cabin and one Deep South trip; sails as Emperor Virgo until October 2027, then as Evolution Eclipse.
Amba Dive Maldives
Experienced divers with nitrox who want long 11-night central trips, Hanifaru in season or the Deep South; owner-managed, briefings in English, German, Italian and Spanish.
NOAH Safari Boat
Snorkellers, families and non-divers on a budget; a simple Maldivian safari boat with island and sandbank stops, or a private charter.
Flying Fish Maldives
Mixed groups of divers, snorkellers and surfers; families and friends sharing triple rooms; group charters.
Luxury Yacht Maldives
Divers and mixed couples who want an Italian-run yacht with a massage room, free nitrox, guided snorkelling, Deep South legs from January to April and a manta expedition with a biologist in October.
Luxury Yacht Maldives
Small groups, couples and solo travellers (a true single cabin) who want an Italian table, free nitrox and a quieter 17-guest boat.
Evolution Liveaboards (ex Emperor Virgo)
Divers who want the Best of Maldives with fewer boats around: Wednesday departures, 18 guests, at most six divers per guide; the former Emperor Virgo, sailing from November 2027.
Pearl Fleet
Divers and mixed couples who want the most space afloat: the largest dive liveaboard in the Maldives at 56 m, with a jacuzzi pool, spa, gym and sky bar, free nitrox and Starlink, Deep South trips in February and March and Hanifaru weeks from August to October.
Aggressor Adventures
Divers who want a predictable Sunday-to-Sunday week with an international brand: 22 guests, a hot tub, local beer and wine included, an 18 m dhoni and 10-night trips to Meemu or north to Lhaviyani and Baa.
Maldives Explorer (Capital Travel)
Groups of up to 20 who want the whole boat: dive clubs (17 dives a week), surf crews from eight surfers in Malé Atoll, and families or friends on a cruise with snorkelling, fishing and a beach barbecue.
Blue Force Fleet
Divers and couples who want a suite: four sea-view suites, two jacuzzis, an outdoor restaurant and Saturday departures from Malé, with Hanifaru weeks from July to October and the Southern Hemisphere from late January to March.
Blue Force Fleet
Value-minded divers and groups of friends: guaranteed Saturday departures from Malé, cabins for up to four, the same diving as Blue Force One for less, and long 10 and 11-night Best of the Maldives and Extended North trips.
Tell us your dates, budget and how many dives you have logged, and we will shortlist two or three boats with live availability, usually within the hour.
Groups of 8 to 28 can take a whole boat and choose the route, the dates and the pace. Small boats such as NOAH and Conte Max are the easiest to fill.
The Ministry of Tourism register lists more than 160 safari vessels, but many are fishing boats, resort yachts or no longer operating. We list a boat once the operator has confirmed 2026/27 operation and sent us its photos, deck plans and rate sheet. New hulls are added as kits arrive.
We book the boat and can quote it today, but its full vessel guide with cabin-level availability is still being written. Ask for dates and we check the operator sheet by hand.
They are the lowest published operator retail rates for a 7-night cruise in the cheapest cabin, before the on-board service fee, Green Tax and park fees. They are a guide for comparing boats, not a HolidayVibe quote; ours is often lower.
Any of the central-atoll boats. Pick on budget and cabin: Sachika or Princess Haseena for value, Princess Maani if you want a new boat with suites and jacuzzis, Emperor Voyager or Virgo for a smaller group.
Compiled by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé, from the Ministry of Tourism vessel register and operator kits, 8 November 2026.
