Dune Black Manta, 42 metres, launched 2024. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Operator guide · 2 boats · All-inclusive · Updated 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh

Dune Liveaboards Maldives

Dune Liveaboards runs two Maldives dive boats: Dune Black Manta, a 42-metre steel liveaboard launched in 2024 for 28 guests, and Dune Theia, a 32-metre boat for 20. Prices include the Green Tax, service charge, transfers and Wi-Fi, with only a fuel surcharge linked to the oil price added, and 7-night Central Atolls trips start at US$2,695 per person.

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Black Manta and Theia

Full boat guide

Dune Black Manta

The flagship: 42 metres of steel, 15 cabins for 28 guests, a sundeck jacuzzi, a massage room, a 20-metre dive dhoni and an 8-metre speedboat.

Full boat guide

Dune Theia

The smaller boat: 32 metres, 10 cabins for 20 guests, sea-view cabins on the upper deck, and surf safaris when the diving season is quiet.

Dune’s two Maldives boats side by side, from Dune’s booklets, layouts and published 2026/27 price lists, checked 8 November 2026.
	Dune Black Manta	Dune Theia
Length, hull	42 m, steel, launched 2024	32 m
Cabins / guests	15 / 28	10 / 20
Cabin types	Standard, Premium, Superior, Deluxe	Standard, Deluxe, Premium, Superior
Extras on board	Jacuzzi, massage room, 8 m speedboat	Surf safaris in the off-season
Wi-Fi	Free	Free, messages only
7 nights Central Atolls from	US$2,795	US$2,695
Routes	Central, Central South, Deep South, North	Central, Central XL, Deep South, North

What the price includes

Included

Green Tax and service charge
Full board and diving with nitrox
Airport transfers
Wi-Fi

Added

Fuel surcharge, by oil price
Drinks from the bar
Crew tips
Rental gear and courses

Dune discounts and supplements from its public 2026 terms. Ask us which ones combine on your dates.
Discount or supplement	Amount
Non-diver	10 percent off
Repeat guest	10 percent off
Early booking	10 percent off
Children aged 8 to 11	30 percent off
Single use of a cabin	+75 percent
Crew tips (suggested)	US$15 a day

Jacuzzi on the sundeck of Dune Black Manta with sun loungers and a sunset behind — Sundeck jacuzzi at the end of the dive day. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Dune’s fuel surcharge from 1 September 2026, set on the day you board; the only charge Dune adds to its published price.
Brent crude on boarding day	Fuel surcharge per guest per night
Under US$70	None
US$70 to 99	US$20
US$100 to 129	US$30
US$130 and over	US$40

With Emperor, Dune is one of the two all-inclusive operators we book. For a like-for-like comparison with rate-plus-fees boats such as Top Class Cruising, use our price calculator.

Diving with Dune

Both boats dive from a separate dhoni that carries the compressors, nitrox and everyone’s kit for the week. On Black Manta a second, faster boat lets the guides split the group, so experienced divers can go to a channel while newer divers take a gentler reef. Central Atolls weeks bring manta cleaning stations in Ari, whale sharks in South Ari and the channel dives of Vaavu; the Deep South trips go for the tiger sharks of Fuvahmulah. Read our Deep South guide and liveaboard diving guide.

White diving dhoni of Dune Black Manta under way on blue water, Maldives — The 20-metre dive dhoni. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Manta ray gliding overhead in blue water on a Maldives dive — Manta at a North Ari cleaning station. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

School of grey reef sharks over a reef in the Maldives — Grey reef sharks in a channel. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Dive deck of the Dune Black Manta dhoni with kit set up on benches either side — Kit stays on the dhoni all week. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Massage room on the high deck of Dune Black Manta with a treatment bed and sea view — Massage room on the high deck. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Guest on a stand-up paddleboard on flat calm water near Dune Black Manta — Paddleboards and kayaks for surface intervals. Photo: Dune Black Manta / Dune Liveaboards.

Dune Liveaboards: questions we get asked

Who are Dune Liveaboards?

A Maldives liveaboard company running two boats: Dune Black Manta, a 42-metre steel boat launched in 2024 for 28 guests, and Dune Theia, a 32-metre boat for 20 guests. Briefings are in English and French.

Is Dune really all-inclusive?

Almost. Green Tax, service charge, airport transfers and Wi-Fi are in the published price. The one addition is a fuel surcharge linked to the Brent oil price on your boarding day: nothing below US$70 a barrel, then US$20 to US$40 per guest per night.

Black Manta or Theia?

Black Manta if you want the bigger, newer boat with a jacuzzi, a massage room and two dive boats, so groups can split by experience. Theia if you prefer a 20-guest boat and a slightly lower price, or want a surf safari in the off-season.

How much does a Dune liveaboard cost?

Published 7-night Central Atolls prices start at US$2,695 on Dune Theia and US$2,795 on Dune Black Manta. Ten-night Central South and Deep South trips on Black Manta cost US$3,995 to US$4,295. Non-divers, repeat guests and early bookers get 10 percent off.

Do I need experience to dive with Dune?

Central Atolls weeks suit Open Water divers comfortable in current, with Advanced recommended. Dune asks for about 30 logged dives on Theia’s longer routes and more for the Deep South; check the route before you book.

Does Dune publish a live schedule?

Dune publishes yearly price lists with dates rather than a live feed, so our Theia page lists every public departure to December 2027 and Black Manta dates are on request. We confirm cabins with Dune before you pay.

Why book Dune Liveaboards 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. Fleet, prices and terms from Dune’s booklets, layouts, 2026/27 price lists and 2026 terms, checked 8 November 2026.