Conte Max

Launched back in 2004, Conte Max was the pioneer liveaboard yacht in the Maldives to combine diving with the wellbeing facilities of an onboard Ayurveda centre. Over the years it has refined its guest service and facilities, and enhanced its cuisine offerings to remain as popular as ever among its growing throng of admiring guests.

Conte Max now has a wealth of experience in the concept of dive cruises which combine a small spa specialised in regenerative Ayurveda treatments; ideal in such an awe-inspiring location as the Maldives. For those not familiar with Ayurveda, it is an ancient therapy dating back 6,000 years. Ayurvedic treatments and massages use freshly prepared natural oils and herbs. Such beauty treatments are aimed at relaxing both body and mind and are considered vital to one's overall wellness. A masseur is always on board.

All the cruise routes are carefully selected based on the operator’s long experience in cruising the Maldives since 1990. The schedules are organised according to the weather, the seasons, and currents, as well as the water visibility, in order to maximise the chances of great underwater encounters at all the dive sites visited. Dives are conducted from an accompanying 18m traditional Maldivian boat called a dhoni. This boat is equipped with 2 compressors and a generator, underwater scooters, and a guest bathroom. As well as being a dedicated diving vessel, the dhoni also frees up space on the Conte Max for guest use, such as a dedicated photography area. The boat is rebreather-friendly, and nitrox is free for EANx-certified divers! If you're a non-diver, a free try dive can be arranged during the cruise! For guest safety, Nautilus Lifelines are available, as well as a defibrillator and spinal barrel for emergencies.

The Conte Max liveaboard can accommodate up to 21 guests in 9 cabins, but usually there are no more than 17. Cabins feature stand-alone beds (no bunk beds), and each has its own ensuite bathroom, with separate shower cubicle. One great feature of Conte Max is that it has a single cabin - a rare find on Maldives liveaboards!

There is an outdoor and an indoor saloon/ dining area (used in case of rain). Meals are served at the table and the menu includes Italian, international and Maldivian cuisines, often using fresh fish, although the chefs are always ready to satisfy any specific guest needs. Once a week there is a buffet of traditional Maldivian dishes, and a beach dinner. The indoor saloon also has a bar offering a wide choice of soft drinks and spirits, and a TV-DVD area furnished with comfortable sofas.

There are social open-air areas on 3 decks, furnished with sun loungers, sun mats and deck chairs. The decks allow guests to enjoy the breath-taking Maldivian scenery, both when sailing and while relaxing when the yacht is moored in the lagoons for the night.

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Notes: Child policy: (non-divers from 2 to 11 years old) sharing cabin with 2 adults - 75% discount on individual rates.

Dive experience: All certified divers are welcome onboard. Due to restricted depth limit, Junior Open Water Divers must hire a private guide.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, tea, drinking water, fishing, local airport transfers, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, dives (as detailed in the trips above), 3 English speaking divemasters, snorkelling guide, Nautilus Lifeline, 11 and 13.6 litre tanks (DIN and Int.), weights and weight belts, 16% GST on cruise price. Free Discover Scuba Scuba Diving experience for non-divers.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (incl dive computer US$ 35 per day), diving insurance (can purchase onboard), Green Tax (US$ 12 per person per night), service charge (i.e. tips: US$ 130 per week, paid in advance). Unless otherwise stated, all listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, beach dinner (US$ 18), 15 litre tank (US$ 10 per day), extra dives (US$ 40 each), torch (US$ 15 per dive), underwater scooters, private dive guide, Ayurveda and wellness treatments. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Most Conte Max's liveaboard trips depart from Male. Boarding starts at 11 am and guests are transported from the airport to the yacht by dhoni. Once everyone is onboard, the yacht will depart from the port. The last dive of the trip is in the morning on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. Disembarkation is at 8 am. For more details, including airlines, see our How to Get to the Maldives section.
For trips that use ports in the Outer Atolls, the operator prefers to arrange the necessary domestic morning flights for clients. This is so that they can arrange for all guests to arrive at the same time and so the cruise can start at the earliest opportunity.

Non-diver rate: None. Conte Max organizes a guided snorkeling program.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): There is one cabin (cabin nr 4 on the lower deck) which can be reserved as a single cabin. Otherwise, this is optional - solo travellers may choose to share a cabin and pay the regular fare, or pay a supplement of 80% of the published price for their own cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Third person sharing a cabin with 2 friends - 20% discount.
Pay for 9 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise free of charge (total 10+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 15 guests and 2 additional persons can join free of charge (max. 21 guests).

Maldives Atolls (6 Days / 5 Nights - 11 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: ABC

Day 1
A representative of Conte Max will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this fantastic 33m motor yacht and its crew of 10. The boat will leave port, usually by 2 pm, and guests will do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day, depending on your arrival time. You will be able to get to know the crew and the boat better during the introductory briefing that the tour leader will give once all the guests are on board. You are about to have a great few days of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!

Days 2-5
The Maldives are known for the stunning beaches and azure waters, but it's the life beneath the water's surface that will leave you speechless. Conte Max will take you to see amazing coral reefs and an abundance of marine life all year round on 3 dives a day. Whale sharks are seen very often, while diving or snorkelling. Felidhoo Atoll will surprise you with its huge schools of fish and larger marine life such as large schools of grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, tuna, Napoleon wrasse and many colourful reef fish. Hanifaru Bay at Baa Atoll is where you could experience a whirling feeding frenzy of manta rays. Mantas arrive in their hundreds to gorge on the nutrient rich soup during the southwest monsoon when the plankton blooms, a spectacle to behold! Be prepared for awesome apex predator encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah Island. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. The Maldives has the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays - up to 9 in a single dive during dives at Meemu Atoll!
3 main meals a day will fuel you for the diving of the safari, while the snacks served each day are aimed for energy boosts and to simply spoil you! The yacht is very proud of the quality of its meal offerings. A typical day begins with a first dive of the day after coffee. Breakfast follows then a second dive. Lunch is served around 1 pm before a 3rd dive around 3 pm. Snacks are next then dinner is served at 7:30 pm. Meals are served at your table in the open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con saloon. Fresh fish and vegetables are the speciality of the cruise, and cooked according to Italian and international recipes. There will be 1 Maldivian cuisine evening and 1 beach BBQ during the safari.

Day 6
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour in the early morning. Say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport.
Please note that these cruises use different ports - check above for details.

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Maldives Atolls (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: ABC

Day 1
A representative of Conte Max will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this fantastic 33m motor yacht and its crew of 10. The boat will leave port, usually by 2 pm, and guests will do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day, depending on your arrival time. You will be able to get to know the crew and the boat better during the introductory briefing that the tour leader will give once all the guests are on board. You are about to have a great few days of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!

Days 2-7
The Maldives are known for the stunning beaches and azure waters, but it's the life beneath the water's surface that will leave you speechless. Conte Max will take you to see amazing coral reefs and an abundance of marine life all year round on 3 dives a day. Whale sharks are seen very often, while diving or snorkelling. Felidhoo Atoll will surprise you with its huge schools of fish and larger marine life such as large schools of grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, tuna, Napoleon wrasse and many colourful reef fish. Hanifaru Bay at Baa Atoll is where you could experience a whirling feeding frenzy of manta rays. Mantas arrive in their hundreds to gorge on the nutrient rich soup during the southwest monsoon when the plankton blooms, a spectacle to behold! Be prepared for awesome apex predator encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah Island. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. The Maldives has the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays - up to 9 in a single dive during dives at Meemu Atoll!
3 main meals a day will fuel you for the diving of the safari, while the snacks served each day are aimed for energy boosts and to simply spoil you! The yacht is very proud of the quality of its meal offerings. A typical day begins with a first dive of the day after coffee. Breakfast follows then a second dive. Lunch is served around 1 pm before a 3rd dive around 3 pm. Snacks are next then dinner is served at 7:30 pm. Meals are served at your table in the open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con saloon. Fresh fish and vegetables are the speciality of the cruise, and cooked according to Italian and international recipes. There will be 1 Maldivian cuisine evening and 1 beach BBQ during the safari.

Day 8
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour in the early morning. Say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport.
Please note that these cruises use different ports - check above for details.

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Maldives Atolls (10 Days / 9 Nights - 23 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: ABC

Day 1
A representative of Conte Max will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this fantastic 33m motor yacht and its crew of 10. The boat will leave port, usually by 2 pm, and guests will do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day, depending on your arrival time. You will be able to get to know the crew and the boat better during the introductory briefing that the tour leader will give once all the guests are on board. You are about to have a great few days of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!

Days 2-9
The Maldives are known for the stunning beaches and azure waters, but it's the life beneath the water's surface that will leave you speechless. Conte Max will take you to see amazing coral reefs and an abundance of marine life all year round on 3 dives a day. Whale sharks are seen very often, while diving or snorkelling. Felidhoo Atoll will surprise you with its huge schools of fish and larger marine life such as large schools of grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, tuna, Napoleon wrasse and many colourful reef fish. Hanifaru Bay at Baa Atoll is where you could experience a whirling feeding frenzy of manta rays. Mantas arrive in their hundreds to gorge on the nutrient rich soup during the southwest monsoon when the plankton blooms, a spectacle to behold! Be prepared for awesome apex predator encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah Island. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. The Maldives has the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays - up to 9 in a single dive during dives at Meemu Atoll!
3 main meals a day will fuel you for the diving of the safari, while the snacks served each day are aimed for energy boosts and to simply spoil you! The yacht is very proud of the quality of its meal offerings. A typical day begins with a first dive of the day after coffee. Breakfast follows then a second dive. Lunch is served around 1 pm before a 3rd dive around 3 pm. Snacks are next then dinner is served at 7:30 pm. Meals are served at your table in the open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con saloon. Fresh fish and vegetables are the speciality of the cruise, and cooked according to Italian and international recipes. There will be 1 Maldivian cuisine evening and 1 beach BBQ during the safari.

Day 10
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour in the early morning. Say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport.
Please note that these cruises use different ports - check above for details.

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Maldives Atolls (11 Days / 10 Nights - 26 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: ABC

Day 1
A representative of Conte Max will meet you at Male International Airport and take you to the dhoni that will take you on board this fantastic 33m motor yacht and its crew of 10. The boat will leave port, usually by 2 pm, and guests will do their check dive. Lunch and dinner will be served during the day, depending on your arrival time. You will be able to get to know the crew and the boat better during the introductory briefing that the tour leader will give once all the guests are on board. You are about to have a great few days of diving, fun, pampering and relaxation!

Days 2-10
The Maldives are known for the stunning beaches and azure waters, but it's the life beneath the water's surface that will leave you speechless. Conte Max will take you to see amazing coral reefs and an abundance of marine life all year round on 3 dives a day. Whale sharks are seen very often, while diving or snorkelling. Felidhoo Atoll will surprise you with its huge schools of fish and larger marine life such as large schools of grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, tuna, Napoleon wrasse and many colourful reef fish. Hanifaru Bay at Baa Atoll is where you could experience a whirling feeding frenzy of manta rays. Mantas arrive in their hundreds to gorge on the nutrient rich soup during the southwest monsoon when the plankton blooms, a spectacle to behold! Be prepared for awesome apex predator encounters with thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah Island. Here you’ll dive with a variety of large predators as they hunt the abundant smaller fish. The Maldives has the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays - up to 9 in a single dive during dives at Meemu Atoll!
3 main meals a day will fuel you for the diving of the safari, while the snacks served each day are aimed for energy boosts and to simply spoil you! The yacht is very proud of the quality of its meal offerings. A typical day begins with a first dive of the day after coffee. Breakfast follows then a second dive. Lunch is served around 1 pm before a 3rd dive around 3 pm. Snacks are next then dinner is served at 7:30 pm. Meals are served at your table in the open air if weather permits, otherwise in the air-con saloon. Fresh fish and vegetables are the speciality of the cruise, and cooked according to Italian and international recipes. There will be 1 Maldivian cuisine evening and 1 beach BBQ during the safari.

Day 11
Wake up to the smell of the last cooked breakfast of the tour in the early morning. Say your farewells and take your last group pictures before heading to Male airport.
Please note that these cruises use different ports - check above for details.

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ZZDUMP (3 Days / 2 Nights - Dives)

Trip highlights: non diving activities

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: zz

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[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].

There are 9 cabins onboard Conte Max, 1 on the upper deck with twin beds, 1 on the main deck with twin beds, and 7 on the lower deck. 2 of the lower deck cabins are twin bed, 4 can be used as double, twin or triple share, and 1 can be used for single occupancy. All cabins have private bathrooms.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 9 / 9 - hot water

Customer reviews:

"Old and shabby boat, without redeeming details. Itinerary guided mostly by need to repair the air-conditioning (which shouldn't be damaged in the first place), led to loss of some great dives, replaced by bad ones." - Jose Oliveira, Portugal, 16 March 2023 ...