Built in 2011, the 38-metre long Carpe Vita liveaboard is a stylish, stable motor yacht, designed to take you deep into the heart of the Maldives over 7 or 10-night diving cruises. The atolls trace a watery labyrinth across the equator, sheltering channels thrumming with life, cleaner stations where mantas circle, and sheer drop-offs that fade into indigo.
3 dives are scheduled each standard day with the Carpe Vita, with night dives on offer when trips and conditions allow. The ethos here is to maximise your time underwater without any sense of rush. All diving is conducted from a dedicated dhoni-the traditional Maldivian support vessel that accompanies the mothership. This means the main liveaboard yacht remains a serene, uncluttered space, while the dhoni is set up for efficiency, carrying an array of aluminium tanks (11.5 and 13.5-litre, DIN/INT) and a nitrox compressor. For those qualified, complimentary nitrox is a welcome inclusion, extending bottom times across the abundant reefs.
Accommodation aboard the Carpe Vita liveaboard defies the usual confines of a boat. 20 guests are spread across 10 cabins on 3 decks, and the word 'cabin' feels almost too modest. They are genuinely spacious, with the 2 Upper Deck Suites and 2 Main Deck Superior cabins offering queen or king configurations, while the 6 Lower Deck cabins cleverly add a single bed to the queen - ideal for small groups or those who appreciate extra space to spread out. Each cabin is en-suite, climate-controlled, and equipped with a TV and safe, creating a private retreat that feels closer to a hotel room than a berth.
Life between dives unfolds across several well-defined decks. The air-conditioned saloon on the main deck of Carpe Vita serves as the relaxed hub for dive briefings, complete with a library and games. Upstairs, the open-air restaurant and bar on the upper deck become the social heart of the liveaboard, where meals prepared by the onboard chef are enjoyed with a view. Above it all, the sun deck is fitted with loungers and shaded seating - a perfect spot to review the day's sightings with a cold drink as the sun dips below the Indian Ocean horizon.
What truly sets a liveaboard diving cruise here apart is the crew. The team, led by some of the Maldives' most experienced divers, brings an intimate knowledge of the archipelago's shifting moods and marine hotspots. Their professionalism instils confidence, whether they're guiding you through a current-swept channel or pointing out the cryptic leaf fish hiding in plain sight. The Carpe Vita liveaboard is operated by a company with a long-standing reputation for well-maintained vessels and seamless service, from the welcome drink at the airport to the final checkout.
With Carpe Vita, this is liveaboard diving distilled to its essence: comfortable surroundings, proven itineraries, and a crew that knows these waters intimately. For certified divers looking to cover ground - from the famous mantas of Hanifaru Bay to the pristine reefs of the deep south - without compromising on space or relaxation, the Carpe Vita presents an attractive choice. It’s about waking up in a new atoll, kitting up on the dhoni, and slipping over the side to see what the Indian Ocean has brought in with the tide.
Maldives Central & Northern Atolls (Express)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Baa, Raa, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo, North Male and South Male atolls
Day 1
This premier itinerary with the MV Carpe Vita liveaboard explores the most nutrient-rich diving grounds of the Maldives Central and Northern Atolls, encompassing Baa, Raa, Ari, Rasdhoo, Felidhoo, North Male, and South Male. The underwater adventure begins with an initial check dive in Male, ensuring comfort and familiarity with the buoyant Maldivian waters before the main cruise commences.
Core Days
The northern limit of the voyage features Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, renowned for its dramatic seasonal gatherings of reef manta rays at Hanifaru Bay. Guests can snorkel this protected area (typically May to November) for an unparalleled opportunity to witness these massive filter feeders engaging in their spectacular plankton-feeding activity. Surrounding dive sites in Baa and Raa atolls present a network of thilas, pinnacles, and overhangs, supporting vibrant communities of hard and soft corals where you might spot hawksbill sea turtles and large schools of fusiliers.
Heading south, the Carpe Vita positions divers for adrenaline-pumping channel crossings and blue-water opportunities. Rasdhoo Atoll offers pre-dawn deep dives where the team frequently seeks out schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks. Ari Atoll is famous for its consistent whale shark sightings in its protected areas, alongside signature pinnacles like Maaya Thila, known for resident grey reef sharks and cruising white-tip reef sharks.
The expedition continues through the powerful channels of Felidhoo Atoll, where strong currents draw in large predators; sites are alive with hunting dogtooth tuna and patrolling eagle rays. Felidhoo also features a unique, memorable night dive that brings divers close to dozens of tawny nurse sharks and massive oceanic stingrays. Final dives focus on the diverse topography of North and South Male Atolls, from nutrient-rich drop-offs attracting Napoleon wrasse and barracudas, to an accessible wreck site. This comprehensive route aboard the Carpe Vita liveaboard provides a great sample of Maldivian megafauna and reef life.
Please note that only 2 dives are scheduled on the final full day to allow for safe post-diving travel protocols before the Carpe Vita heads to port.
Final Day
The cruise concludes with an early light breakfast and transfer to Dharavandhoo Airport and your flight back to Male.
Please note that these cruises sometimes run in reverse or use different ports - check specific details for your trip.
Maldives Central Atolls
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, Ari, Rasdhoo, South Male, Felidhoo and South Male atolls
Day 1
This premier diving expedition onboard the spacious 38-meter MV Carpe Vita liveaboard is concentrated on the high-energy environments of the Maldives' Central Atolls: North Male, South Male, Ari, Rasdhoo, and Felidhoo. The adventure begins with your transfer from Male International Airport directly to the vessel for boarding and a mandatory check dive before the Carpe Vita sets sail at dawn.
Core Days
The itinerary is structured around capitalizing on seasonal megafauna movements. Ari Atoll is internationally celebrated for its commitment to marine protection, making frequent sightings of the majestic whale shark a high possibility. Its signature pinnacles, such as Fish Head, attract schools of fusiliers and resident grey reef sharks, while Rasdhoo Atoll offers specialised pre-dawn dives aimed at viewing schooling hammerhead sharks in the blue.
Further south, the strong currents defining Felidhoo Atoll create thrilling drift dives. At sites like Fotteyo Kandu, you can hook into the reef to observe hunting packs of dogtooth tuna, impressive eagle rays, and numerous grey reef sharks patrolling the channel mouth. A unique highlight is the celebrated night dive at Alimatha Jetty, where dozens of massive nurse sharks and oceanic stingrays congregate under the dive lights for an unforgettable spectacle.
Completing the route, South Male Atoll offers varied topography, including a notable wreck and the famed Miyaru Faru (Shark Reef), where consistent currents draw in large barracuda and patrolling grey reef sharks. North Male Atoll provides a final flourish of colour and life on its submerged thilas and nutrient-rich drop-offs, frequented by Napoleon wrasse and seasonal reef manta rays. The Carpe Vita is your trusted platform for accessing the region's best big fish action.
Final Day
To comply with safe travel protocols, only 2 dives are scheduled on the final full day, and the cruise concludes the morning after with disembarkation at Male International Airport.
Maldives Central, Southern & Deep South Atolls
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: North Male, South Male, Felidhoo, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah, Addu atolls
Day 1
The Carpe Vita lliveaboard presents an exceptional expedition for certified divers, traversing the Maldives from the bustling Central Atolls down to the remote Southern and Deep South regions. This extended route promises an unparalleled spectrum of marine life encounters. The expedition begins when you board the MV Carpe Vita near Malé International Airport (MLE). Following your arrival and cabin check-in, the crew will conduct a thorough welcome briefing, reviewing safety protocols and completing essential paperwork. The afternoon is reserved for a crucial check dive, allowing you to fine-tune your weighting and get comfortable in the water. Dinner is served as the sun sets over the atolls, providing a relaxing setting to meet your fellow divers before the Carpe Vita begins its overnight transit toward the dive sites.
Core Days
The initial phase focuses on the Central Atolls, where the topography of North and South Malé, defined by nutrient-rich channels and underwater pinnacles, concentrates marine activity. Divers will encounter large schools of midnight snappers, patrolling grey reef sharks, and impressive giant trevallies. Sites like Miyaru Faru are famed viewing spots for these pelagic spectacles. Further south, Felidhoo Atoll offers exhilarating high-current diving through deep channels, attracting diverse shark species and hunting schools of tuna. A major highlight here is the famed night dive at Alimatha House Reef, where dozens of nurse sharks, stingrays, and massive marble rays gather.
Pushing into the Southern Atolls, the focus shifts to pelagic viewing. Meemu Atoll is a reliable location for witnessing the immense whale shark, often seen cruising or feeding near the surface on plankton. Thaa Atoll provides fast-paced drift diving, where you can watch whitetip reef sharks and graceful eagle rays glide effortlessly past vibrant corals. The less-visited Laamu Atoll provides a mix of protected inner reefs and exciting channel dives, such as Fushi Kandu, known for frequent sightings of blacktip reef sharks and schooling jackfish.
The Deep South is the destination's high-octane finale, covering the isolated atolls of Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah, and Addu. Huvadhoo Atoll, with its vast channels, offers some of the most dynamic drift dives globally, frequently delivering encounters with hammerhead sharks and huge schools of reef sharks. Foammulah Atoll (Fuvahmulah), known for its exposed open-ocean location, is a haven for apex predators. Experienced guides lead dives seeking up to 10 shark species, including rare oceanic manta rays, sleek silky sharks, thresher sharks, and the majestic tiger shark. Finally, Addu Atoll presents a unique historical site with the wreck of the 143-metre British Loyalty, alongside opportunities to spot dogtooth tuna and silvertip sharks along the outer walls.
Please note that the final full day of diving includes 2 dives before the Carpe Vita liveaboard returns to port.
Final Day
Following a final breakfast onboard, your incredible Maldives diving adventure concludes. Disembarkation typically occurs at Koddhoo Airport, where you will catch a domestic flight connection back to Malé International Airport (MLE).
Please note that these trips sometimes run in reverse or use differing ports - check your trip for details.
Maldives Deep South Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Huvadhoo, Foammulah, Addu atolls
Day 1
This specialised expedition aboard the sleek 38-meter Carpe Vita liveaboard is tailored for certified divers seeking the Maldives' most intense and rewarding action across the remote Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah, and Addu Atolls. The adventure begins with your transfer to the vessel following arrival at Gan International Airport. After a necessary orientation and an afternoon check dive to confirm equipment readiness, the Carpe Vita commences its deep-water passage.
Core Days
The itinerary's initial focus is the vast Huvadhoo Atoll. As one of the world's largest atolls, Huvadhoo is defined by powerful channel dives across pristine, expansive reef systems. Divers utilise reef hooks to position themselves against the current, observing an astonishing biomass of marine life. Encounters are frequent with schools of blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, large groups of jacks and snappers, and the occasional hammerhead. The diving here is structured to provide the most rewarding experiences from the Carpe Vita.
The pinnacle of the cruise is Fuvahmulah, a unique open-ocean island renowned for its large apex predators. Diving around this solitary reef system places you in the path of formidable tiger sharks and oceanic whitetips. Beyond the shark action, Fuvahmulah attracts rare pelagics like mola mola (ocean sunfish), sailfish, and oceanic manta rays. This high-adrenaline diving offers unmatched encounters with open-water megafauna.
The final segment of this Carpe Vita dive cruise explores Addu Atoll, which provides a fascinating combination of wreck and reef history. Addu is home to the British Loyalty, the largest shipwreck in the Maldives, now a vibrant artificial reef colonised by soft corals and schools of batfish. The atoll is also famous for cleaning stations that service enormous oceanic manta rays, some measuring over 5 metres across, alongside patrolling silvertip sharks and dogtooth tuna along the outer channels. Throughout the trip, the reliable Carpe Vita platform ensures comfortable access to these far-flung dive sites.
To comply with safe no-fly protocols, only 2 dives are scheduled on the final full day before the Carpe Vita navigates toward the final port.
Day 8
Disembarkation follows an early light breakfast, with transfers provided to Kadhdhoo or Kooddoo Airport for the return flight back to Male.
Please note that the direction of the cruise and specific departure/arrival ports may vary.
Maldives Northern Atolls (6 Days / 5 Nights - 12 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Baa, Raa, North Male atolls
Day 1
Your introduction to the Carpe Vita liveaboard begins at Male International Airport, where a representative transfers you to the vessel. The crew meets you at the gangway, helps with your luggage, and shows you to your cabin. Once everyone has settled in, you will assemble in the saloon for a welcome briefing. This covers the layout of the boat, safety procedures, and the week ahead. With that done, there's time to complete dive paperwork and set up your equipment, arranging everything just how you like it.
In the late afternoon, you ease into the water for a check dive. This is a low-pressure opportunity to test your buoyancy, ensure your regulator breathes smoothly, and get comfortable in your gear before the real diving begins. Back on board, dinner is served as dusk settles over the harbour. After dark, the engines rumble to life, and we slip away from Male, heading north toward the atolls that lie beyond the usual routes.
Core Days
You wake to find the boat already underway, a gentle reminder that while you slept, the Carpe Novo liveaboard was carrying you toward the day's first dive site. Over the coming days, the liveaboard moves through a sequence of atolls, each with its own character.
The first destination is Baa Atoll, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its rich marine habitats. Here, the guides introduce you to sites shaped by tides and currents. At Nelivaru Thila, you descend onto a pinnacle draped in soft corals, where schools of bannerfish part to reveal moray eels peering from crevices. If conditions allow, you will visit Hani Kandu, a channel where grey reef sharks gather in the current and eagle rays sometimes cruise past at the edge of visibility. Between May and November, when plankton draws manta rays into Hanifaru Bay, the liveaboard anchors nearby, offering chances to observe these rays cleaning at reef stations or circling just beyond the channel entrance.
Continuing north into Raa Atoll, the dives take on a different character. At Kottefaru Kandu, the reef drops steeply into deeper water, with overhangs that shelter schools of glassfish. Napoleon wrasse patrol these slopes, their bulk moving with surprising grace. Further north, at Maamigili Beyru, you can explore a series of caves and crevices where lobsters wave their antennae from the shadows and white tip reef sharks rest on sandy ledges. The guides keep watch for passing pelagics such as dogtooth tuna, barracuda, and on rare occasions, hammerheads in the blue.
As the Carpe Vita loop back through North Male Atoll, the trip draws on dive sites that have earned their reputation over decades. At Lankan Manta Point, if the season aligns, you might spend a dive kneeling on the sand as manta rays glide in to be cleaned by smaller fish. Perhaps at Kuda Giri Wreck, a deliberately scuttled vessel now hosts batfish, pufferfish, and clouds of anthias that shimmer in the light. The guides know the wreck's layout well, leading you through holds and passageways where visibility shifts from open water to enclosed spaces.
On the final full day, 2 dives are scheduled as the boat will return to port. This creates space for a more relaxed pace—time to linger over breakfast, sort through underwater photos, or simply sit on the deck and watch the atolls slide by.
Day 6
An early breakfast is served in Dharavandhoo on the Carpe Vita liveaboard. After a final coffee and a chance to say goodbye to the crew, you transfer back to Male International Airport.
Please note: this route operates in either direction. Your trip confirmation will outline the specific details for your departure.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
The day typically begins as the sun clears the horizon. Breakfast is served from 8 am, a chance to fuel up before the first dive. You can expect 3 dives on most days, with the Carpe Vita trip schedule designed to offer a mix of site types: channels, thilas (underwater pinnacles), and reefs-depending on tides and currents. Between dives, the pattern is yours to set. Some guests stretch out on the sun deck with a book. Others gather in the air-conditioned saloon to review photos or watch a movie. There is always time for a coffee or tea, and the 4 o’clock snack arrives just as energy levels begin to dip. Evenings are unhurried. After the third dive and as the light softens, the liveaboard finds a quiet anchorage for the night. Dinner is served at 7 pm, and afterwards, people linger over conversation or sit out on deck under the stars.
Meals on the Carpe Vita liveaboard are served buffet-style in the open-air dining area on the upper deck. There is something about eating in the open, with a breeze coming off the Indian Ocean, that makes even a simple meal feel like an occasion. The kitchen team, led by 2 cooks, prepares a mix of international dishes and local specialties, with plenty of variety across the week.
* Breakfast (8-8.30 am) is cooked to order for eggs-boiled, fried, scrambled, or as an omelette. These come with a spread of freshly baked breads, cereals, yoghurts, and pastries. Cold meats like salami sit alongside warm options such as sausages or macon. Most mornings there is a local twist too: perhaps roshi (Maldivian flatbread) with mashuni (a tuna and coconut blend), or baked beans and hash browns for those wanting something more familiar.
* Lunch (12 pm) is a proper buffer-zone meal. The buffet includes fresh salads, hot vegetable dishes, and a choice of proteins-chicken, beef, lamb, and locally caught fish. Rice, pasta, and potato sides are standard, but the highlight is often the traditional Maldivian curries, rich with coconut and spice. A light dessert or a scoop of ice cream rounds things off.
* Afternoon Snack (4 pm) arrives like clockwork. This might be a plate of sandwiches, spring rolls, or samosas, often with a bowl of French fries. There is nearly always something freshly baked too-a cake or pastry to go with an afternoon coffee.
* Dinner (7 pm) is the main event. The buffet offers a mix of salads, meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes, with accompaniments like pasta, rice, potatoes, and those spiced curries again. Desserts are homemade and change nightly.
A couple of times during the cruise, the kitchen mixes it up with themed evenings: sushi one night, pizza another.
Tea, coffee, and filtered drinking water are available all day at no charge. Fruit juice is served at breakfast. For anything else-soft drinks, local and imported beers, wine by the glass, cocktails, spirits, or fresh smoothies and milkshakes-there is a bar list available for purchase.
One thing to note: every Carpe Vita liveaboard cruise includes a complimentary beach BBQ. The crew finds a sandbank or a quiet stretch of island, fires up the grill, and dinner becomes an evening on the beach. It is a simple pleasure, and one that tends to stick in the memory long after the trip is over.
"
The crew and dive leaders were great.The customer service was great.
But the boat was leaking in our cabin step on the floor and water came up which was foul smelling. The twin bed sat higher and we had water coming out the bottom onto the floor. We informed the staff but are unsure if anything was done as it continued to leak.
[Operator comment: the boat is in dry dock and are are having the worse monsoon season - non-stop rain for 2 weeks. The crew will look into this.]" -
Cheryl Minutillo, USA, 29 May 2024 ...
"
The boat needs a renovation to put it mildly. The rooms need a complete makeover - dehumidifier within the aircon (everything was humid and kind of moldy, smelly). doors were not closing (bathroom) or couldn't be opened (some drawers), everything was old and worn out.
Room service was very poor. nothing got cleaned. The saddest thing though were the divemasters - i think we didn't seen them smiling once in the whole week, they just did the absolute minimum necessary. and they vanished after the dives into thin air. The most annoying thing was that there was a night dive announced with manta rays, but there was no dive for some reason. the dive guides were not there to ask. There seemed to be quite a tension between the crew and the guides, they didn't get along too well. Also the 1st dive on Day 1 was planned after arrival in the afternoon but that one was cancelled - allegedly the crew hadn't finished the tanks refill yet.- the communication from the guides with the guests was very poor.
To mention something good also - the food was great! The chef did an excellent job. All different kind of tasty meals, a lot of variety and fresh food throughout the trip. Also the dhoni crew was very nice and helpful throughout the whole week.
Dive The World was always reachable, quick information, and reliable." -
Name withheld on request, Germany, 7 August 2023 ...
"
We loved the Carpe Vita. Best cabin we have had on a dive boat . It had a bath too! Not that we used it. Diving was excellent. Tiger sharks , mantas and whale sharks. Great food too. Would definitely go back." -
Susan Davenport, USA, 29 March 2022...
"
The staff was very good from the moment we were met at the airport to the time we parted company at the end of our trip. They were very accommodating and added to our experience. The dive dhoni was great and the routines work. The boat itself was very spacious and we were comfortable." -
Galen Tate, USA, 31 January 2019...
"
Excellent. Everyone was very positive and helpful - nothing was too much trouble - the cook even cooked my partner a cake to celebrate her birthday." -
Jeremy Philpott, UK, 30 November 2017...
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Both the staff and the crew were very good. My rental gear (BCD, wet suit, mask, fins and snorkel) was good and well looked after." -
Ha Phuong Thanh, Vietnam, 19 September 2014...
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Staff/crew was very good. They took care of the rooms/food/diving and all was excellent. I rented fins and snorkel which were decent quality and in good repair." -
Charles Levergood, USA, 12 August 2014 ...
"
It is listed as a 5* boat and is exactly that 5 stars! Great service by the dive crew who were low key but very professional and friendly. The boat crew were great and very attentive and treated all passengers with courteous service. Polite attentive and great food and drinks. The other divers on this trip were absolutely great company and fun to dive." -
Henry Wild, Switzerland, 6 August 2014 ...
"
Wonderful boat, crew and well planned and executed trip. well maintained tanks, and new equipment available to rent/buy. Friendly, helpful, competent and knowledgeable staff." -
Amanda Rhynehart, Ireland, 4 August 2014 ...
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Service overall was excellent from start to finish. The boat crew were helpful, food was excellent and the dive guides really went out of their way to make sure we were all well taken care of and their enthusiasm was evident." -
Claire Quinn, UK, 18 August 2013 ...
"
Service on the whole was very good. The dive staff helped me with an o-ring problem. Dives were conducted on schedule and were varied and generally good quality. Divemasters were experienced and helped me with some skills, like using a reef hook. The rooms were very spacious and clean, food was good & plentiful." -
Drew Rose, USA, 10 April 2013 ...
"
Excellent liveaboard service. Nice, clean boat, superb food, high safety standards for diving, crew open for individual requests, attention to detail, outstanding friendly and helpful staff. Best part was the perfectly organized diving (briefings, dive sites check out, grouping and entry, highlighting marine life through dive guides). We had an outstanding good time with Carpe Vita." -
Thomas Heeger, Philippines, 21 March 2013 ...
