Maldives safari boat · Snorkelling cruise · Updated 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh
NOAH Safari Boat, Maldives
NOAH is a 23-metre Maldivian safari boat, built in 2004 and fully refitted in fibreglass in 2026, with six en-suite cabins for up to 18 guests. She runs weekly Saturday-to-Saturday snorkelling and island cruises from Malé to Goidhoo and Baa atolls, with sandbanks, village visits, a beach barbecue and, in season, a snorkel at Hanifaru Bay. A week costs US$1,660.58 per person sharing with every tax included, which makes her one of the cheapest ways to spend seven nights at sea in the Maldives. She is not a dive boat.
NOAH at a glance
Who NOAH suits
Snorkellers, non-divers, families and friends who want to live on the water for a week without paying dive-liveaboard prices. The rhythm is gentle: a snorkel or two a day on reefs, lagoons and sandbanks, island and village visits, fishing at sunset, and simple Maldivian cooking. Small groups often charter the whole boat, and children aged 2 to 11 pay half.
Who should look elsewhere
Scuba divers: NOAH carries no compressor or dive guides, so book a dive liveaboard instead. Guests who want suites, a jacuzzi or a large sundeck will find the boat plain; it is a working safari boat with air-conditioned cabins, private bathrooms, a saloon and a shaded deck. The two open-sea crossings can be bumpy in the southwest monsoon.
Cabins and the boat
Six cabins: two on the main deck (rooms 1 and 2) and four below (rooms 3 to 6). Each has a king-size bed and a day bed that converts into a single, adjustable air conditioning, a fan, linen and towels, and a private bathroom with a hot shower, toilet and basin. One infant under two can share a cabin. The main deck has the saloon with a dining table, bar, TV and hi-fi; above it are an open sun deck with mats and a shaded deck.
NOAH holds a Ministry of Tourism operating licence (MOT.O1.RS.TV.26.HI0610) and a Ministry of Transport safari vessel registration. The crew is a full-time Maldivian team with captain, cook and deck hands.
The route, day by day
The standard week heads west to Goidhoo, a small and isolated atoll with only three inhabited islands, then north into Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2011, and back east via the Gaafaru wrecks to North Malé.
| Day | Overnight anchorage | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Sat) | Himmiya Faru, North Malé | Airport welcome, afternoon boarding, safety briefing, first easy snorkel, sunset and fishing off the stern |
| 2 | Innafushi, Goidhoo | Open-sea crossing west to Goidhoo (Horsburgh) atoll, lagoon snorkel, walk on an uninhabited island |
| 3 | Innafushi, Goidhoo | Sandbanks by dinghy, the Fulhadhoo “rose garden” of Montipora corals, Fulhadhoo village, beach barbecue |
| 4 | Thulhadhoo, Baa | The Reefuge coral propagation site, Goidhoo village, then Baa Atoll and Thulhadhoo’s lacquer workshops |
| 5 | Dharavandhoo, Baa | One snorkelling attempt at Hanifaru Bay in season (May to December), otherwise Baa reefs and thilas |
| 6 | Gaafaru, North Malé | Crossing back east, dolphins and flying fish on the way, snorkel over the 1894 Erlangen wreck at 5 to 15 metres |
| 7 | Himmafushi, North Malé | Morning snorkel at Gaafaru, afternoon reef snorkel, farewell dinner on board |
| 8 (Sat) | Malé | Breakfast, short sail to Malé, airport transfer |
Two stops stand out. In Goidhoo, the Fulhadhoo “rose garden” is a patch of reef about 60 metres across and only one to two metres deep, almost entirely covered with rose-shaped Montipora corals, with morays, sea stars and sometimes nurse or blacktip reef sharks. At Gaafaru, the iron wreck of the Erlangen, lost in 1894, lies close enough to the surface to see from a snorkel. The Reefuge in Goidhoo lets guests help with coral fragments in its nursery.
Hanifaru Bay on NOAH
In season the boat spends day five at Dharavandhoo, where the Baa Biosphere Reserve office sells Hanifaru tickets, and guests go to the bay by local boat with a certified guide. Hanifaru is a shallow reef bay where the tide traps plankton and can draw dozens of feeding manta rays and sometimes whale sharks. The season runs from May to December, best from late July to early October around full and new moon.
The rules are strict: snorkelling only (scuba is not allowed in the bay), 45 minutes per ticket, no more than 45 swimmers and five boats at a time, and up to 10 people per guide. Tickets cost about US$20 to US$30 and are paid on the day. NOAH keeps one attempt in the plan and a Baa reef day as the fallback. Read our manta ray guide for the wider picture.
Life on board
Meals are cooked on board: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, built around fish or chicken with rice or noodles and vegetables, with dietary needs catered for on request. Tea, coffee and filtered water are free; soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits are sold at the bar. There is a beach barbecue on an uninhabited island, hand-line fishing with the crew at sunset, and Wi-Fi on board. In island villages, which are Muslim communities, shoulders and knees are covered and alcohol stays on the boat.
Themed weeks. Fishing weeks use hand lines and bait with the crew; serious anglers bring their own gear or add a faster fishing boat, see our fishing liveaboard packages. Surf weeks time the route to swell and tide, with the dinghy shuttling to the line-up; guests usually bring their own boards.
Prices and terms
| Booking | Per person | Total, 7 nights |
|---|---|---|
| 2 adults sharing a cabin, shared trip | US$1,660.58 each | US$3,321.15 |
| 1 adult alone in a cabin | US$2,111.02 | US$2,111.02 |
| 2 adults and 1 child aged 2 to 11 in one cabin | US$4,193.44 | |
| Whole boat, 4 guests (private charter) | US$2,786.70 | US$11,146.80 |
| Whole boat, 18 guests (private charter) | US$1,210.13 | US$21,782.25 |
The published rates before taxes are US$175 per guest per night sharing a cabin, US$225 for a guest alone in a cabin, US$125 for a third adult on the day bed and US$87.50 for a child aged 2 to 11. Added on top: a 10 percent service charge, 17 percent tourism GST on the rate plus service charge, and Green Tax of US$12 per guest aged two and over per night. The figures in the table already include all three. A private charter is US$1,200 a night for up to four guests plus US$75 a night per extra adult or US$37.50 per extra child aged 2 to 11, before the same taxes.
NOAH departures
Every NOAH trip leaves Malé on a Saturday. A week shown as an open week has the whole boat free: a group of four or more can take it and pick the theme (snorkelling, surf or fishing), or charter the boat. Once a group opens a week, the free cabins are sold to other guests on the same dates. Trips can also run 3 to 14 nights. The table below updates daily from NOAH’s own booking calendar.
| Departs | Trip | Nights | From, all taxes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 21 Nov 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 28 Nov 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 5 Dec 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 12 Dec 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 19 Dec 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 2 Jan 2027 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 9 Jan 2027 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 16 Jan 2027 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 23 Jan 2027 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
| 30 Jan 2027 | Open week, theme chosen by the first group | 7 | US$1,661 | Open week, whole boat free |
Included
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Twin-share en-suite cabin, all meals, tea, coffee and filtered water
- Dinghy outings, island visits, beach barbecue, sunset fishing
- Wi-Fi on board, all taxes on the cruise rate
Not included
- International flights and travel insurance (essential)
- Soft drinks, bottled water and alcohol from the bar
- Snorkel gear rental (US$5 a day) and the Hanifaru ticket (about US$20 to US$30)
- Lunch in Hulhumalé if flight times need it
Terms. 30 percent deposit to confirm; balance 60 days before departure, or in full if booking within 60 days. Payment by US dollar bank transfer or by card through the Bank of Maldives with no card fee. Cancel more than 60 days out and the deposit is kept or moved once within 12 months; 60 to 30 days, 50 percent; under 30 days or no-show, 100 percent. There are no seasonal rates: the price is the same every week of the year, and once the deposit is paid it is fixed, with no fuel surcharge added afterwards.
| NOAH | Dune snorkelling cruise | Princess Haseena | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Snorkel, island and fishing safari | Snorkel route on a dive boat | Dive liveaboard |
| Length / guests | 23 m / 18 | 30 to 42 m / 20 to 28 | 32 m / 26 |
| 7 nights, per person sharing | US$1,661 all taxes in | Ask us; non-divers pay 10% less than the Dune dive rate | From US$1,688 plus fees, more in high season |
| Scuba diving | No | Available for divers on board | Yes, free nitrox |
| Best for | Budget, families, non-divers | Mixed divers and snorkellers | Divers on a budget |
NOAH: questions we get asked
How much does a week on NOAH cost?
A 7-night shared trip costs US$1,660.58 per person sharing a cabin, with the 10 percent service charge, 17 percent tourism GST and US$12-a-night Green Tax all included. A guest alone in a cabin pays US$2,111.02, a third adult on the day bed US$125 a night before taxes, and children aged 2 to 11 half the sharing rate. It is one of the lowest-priced liveaboard weeks in the Maldives.
Is NOAH a dive boat?
No. NOAH runs snorkelling, island, fishing and surf cruises; the operator lists no scuba diving, compressor or dive guides. For a dive liveaboard on a budget, see Princess Haseena or our liveaboard prices page. NOAH suits non-divers, snorkellers, families and groups who want a small, simple boat. See how she compares on our snorkelling liveaboard page.
What is included?
Airport transfers, a twin-share en-suite cabin, all meals cooked on board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner), tea, coffee and filtered water, dinghy outings, island visits, a beach barbecue, sunset hand-line fishing with the crew and Wi-Fi. Soft drinks, bottled water and alcohol are sold at the bar; snorkel gear rents for US$5 a day; the Hanifaru Bay ticket is extra.
Where does the boat go?
The sample week sails west from Malé to Goidhoo atoll for two nights, north into Baa Atoll for two, then back east to Gaafaru and North Malé. The captain may reverse or shorten the Baa leg in the southwest monsoon from May to October, when the open-sea crossings can be rough.
Can we see the mantas at Hanifaru Bay?
In season, from May to December and best from late July to early October, the route includes one snorkelling attempt at Hanifaru Bay with a certified local guide. Tickets cost about US$20 to US$30 and allow 45 minutes in the water; nothing is guaranteed, and if the mantas are not there the day moves to other Baa reefs.
How does a shared trip work?
A week opens when a group of at least four guests books it; other guests can then join in whole cabins on the same dates. If the opening group cancels, the trip still runs for those who joined. Trips are Saturday to Saturday, 7 nights, and every guest boards and leaves in Malé.
Can we charter the whole boat?
Yes, for 3 to 14 nights and up to 18 guests. The published charter rate is US$1,200 a night for up to four guests plus US$75 a night for each extra adult (US$37.50 for a child aged 2 to 11), before the service charge, TGST and Green Tax. A full week works out at US$11,146.80 for four guests or US$21,782.25 for eighteen with all taxes, which is about US$1,210 per person and cheaper than joining a shared week. The route is built around snorkelling, fishing or surf. Compare NOAH with three other boats on our private charter page.
What are the payment and cancellation terms?
A 30 percent deposit confirms the booking, with the balance due 60 days before departure; bookings within 60 days pay in full. Cancel more than 60 days ahead and the deposit is kept or can be moved once to another date within 12 months; 60 to 30 days costs 50 percent; under 30 days, 100 percent.
Why book NOAH 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 and how booking works
- Boat directoryEvery boat we book in one table
- Liveaboard pricesReal costs and a calculator
- Maldives snorkelling guideReefs, seasons and safety
- Manta ray encountersHanifaru and the cleaning stations
- Fishing liveaboardsBoats and packages for anglers
Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Boat facts, route, rates and terms from NOAH’s fact sheet and sample itinerary of October 2026, checked 8 November 2026. Photos and deck plan: NOAH Safari Boat.