The Maldives in the Indian Ocean is located right on the equator and is a wonderful destination for a liveaboard. The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia by area.

Malé, the capital of the Maldives, has a population of over 250,000. This makes Malé one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with a population density of nearly 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. In total, over 40% of the total population of the Maldives lives here.

The Maldives consists of a total of 1,192 coral and sandy islands grouped in a “double chain” spread over 26 atolls. The country and the atolls stretch from north to south, nearly 900 km long and about 130 kilometers from east to west. Only 0,3% of the country’s total area is dry land, making the Maldives one of the most widely spread countries in the world.

The Maldives is also the lowest-lying country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2,4 meters above sea level. The average elevation does not even reach 1,5 meters above sea level.
The Maldives is today one of the true dream destinations of many divers. It is also one of the most popular destinations for diving trips.

How much does a liveaboard to the Maldives cost?

A liveaboard diving trip to the Maldives normally costs from around 40 – 45 000 SEK and includes flights, accommodation, transfers and diving. It is incredibly difficult to answer such a general question as how much a diving trip costs, it has to be more info as many factors influenceThe best thing to do is to contact us at Scuba Travel and ask for a free proposal for more details and a more accurate price for your diving trip to the Maldives.

Several factors influence, for exampleandard, cabin choices and prices vary enormously as it depends on how much where and when you wish to dive and travel and for how long. The best thing is to contact us at Scuba Travel and ask for a free proposal for more details and a more accurate price for your diving trip to the Maldives.

When is the best time to go to the Maldives?

It is possible to go to the Maldives all year round although according to many the best time to visit the Maldives is generally November to April. The weather is good then, especially for diving with clear visibility and calmer seas. However, if your priority is to see manta rays and whale sharks, the rainy season from May to November is better even though they are found in the Maldives all year round. Higher concentrations of plankton in the water attract these large animals during these months of the year and especially to Hanifaru Bay. It is a bay that has attracted a lot of interest in recent years. The normally rainiest months of July to September are also the best time to experience this place for a few days each month. Otherwise, diving is good all year round in the Maldives

o Dry season, December – April/May
o Rainy season, May/June – November

Note that since it is a tropical monsoon climate, it can rain at any time of the year, every day. However, the amount of rain is generally greater and lasts a couple or a few hours more per day on average during the rainy season.

What can I see when diving in the Maldives?

The most popular marine species in the Maldives that most people want to see are whale sharks, manta rays and sharks. Diving can sometimes take place in rough waters out at sea and visibility can vary, as can the marine life. Some locations can feel quite deserted, while others are teeming with marine life and a multitude of species of coral, invertebrates and fish. Large animals are often seen during the right season and sometimes it is easiest to snorkel to get close to them.

Where is the best diving in the Maldives?

Where is the best diving in the Maldives is probably very subjective and also depends on the time of year and some luck. Some areas are known for manta rays, whale sharks or tiger sharks. Some places have an intense marine life of larger pelagic species while others offer beautiful reefs and lots of fish. Depending on what you want to experience and what time of year, different places may be suitable for different things. 

The southern parts of the Maldives are probably where you have the best chance of seeing a wide variety of large animals. However, it is mainly during a short period of the year that there is real action normally. At other times of the year other places may be better options.

When and where are liveaboards and safaris available in the Maldives?

Yes, there are plenty of liveaboards in the Maldives. What sets them apart is often theandard and size. A new trend is big and quite fancy. This follows the development for many resorts where they have also focused a lot on luxury and high standard there too in recent years.

If you want to focus on your diving and get to the best dive sites where the resort boats don't go, we recommend choosing a liveaboard. It's a completely different experience and a bit of a specialty of the Maldives. Two-three dives per day for a week is quite standard and you live on board the boat. Of course you have full board on board and can enjoy and relax. There are several different routes that run and they often have different names even though the content is similar. Safaris are usually done once a week, i.e. seven nights but sometimes also ten or even 14 nights. Liveaboarders are offered all year round in the Maldives.

Read more about our options. Of course you can combine your diving with liveaboard with any number of days at a hotel or dive resort. Contact us with your wishes on tel: 0301-22100.

Extra nights on site

It is not always the case that flights and liveaboards match each other perfectly. In that case it can be a good idea to have an extra night before your liveaboard departs and sometimes even after or possibly during the day. It may also be the case that if you want to minimize travel days, there may be a wait of one or a few hours at the airport in Malé between the flight and the transfer to or from your liveaboard.