Maldives 2027
March 8th - 17th, 2027
Drift with manta rays, glide over vibrant reefs, and come home each night to relaxed comfort on a boutique liveaboard built just for divers.
Availability: Contact us for booking information
Trip Snapshot
Quick Trip Overview
Trip Basics
- Destination: Maldives
- Liveaboard: M/V Manthiri
- Trip Length: 10 days /9 Nights
- Group Size: Max 12 divers
Diving Details
- Experience: AOW recommended (or 50+ dives)
- Dives: Up to 3–4 per day (conditions permitting)
- Nitrox: FREE!
- Style: Drift diving, channels, pinnacles & reefs
Travel
- Airport: Malé (MLE)
- Port: Malé, Maldives
- Transfers: Included on official trip dates
- Trip Leader: Undersea Divers Group Leader
Why the Maldives with Manthiri?
Imagine starting your day with a gentle drift dive alongside manta rays, reef sharks, and clouds of schooling fish, then surfacing to a warm breakfast, turquoise water all around, and a crew that knows your name and how you take your coffee. That’s life aboard Manthiri.
This Undersea Divers group trip combines big-animal encounters, colorful reefs, and the ease of liveaboard diving: no long rides back to shore, no repacking gear—just dive, eat, relax, repeat. With only 12 guests on board and an 11-person crew, you’ll enjoy an intimate, uncrowded experience in one of the world’s most iconic dive destinations.
Your Home at Sea: Manthiri
The Manthiri is a beautifully crafted 85-foot liveaboard built from fine tropical timber and designed specifically for dive expeditions in the Maldives. Her wide 25-foot beam provides excellent stability and room for spacious cabins. With a maximum of just 12 guests onboard and an attentive 11-member crew, the atmosphere is relaxed, personal, and highly service-focused.
A key feature is Manthiri’s specially outfitted dive tender, known as the dhoni, which carries the compressors, Nitrox, and all dive gear. By moving operations onto the dhoni, the main vessel feels more like a 106-foot yacht with only six guest cabins and a generous dive deck—meaning more space and comfort for you between dives.
Fastidiously maintained and operating successfully for over two decades, the Manthiri is widely regarded as one of the finest dive liveaboards in the world, blending thoughtful design, a superb crew, and warm Maldivian hospitality.
Cabins & Onboard Comfort
- Only 6 guest cabins – a mix of twin and queen-bedded rooms
- All cabins ensuite with hot-water showers
- Individually controlled air-conditioning
- Hairdryers and minibars in each cabin
- Ample storage thanks to dive gear being kept on the dhoni
Between dives, unwind in the teak-paneled salon, furnished with large sofas, a music system, TV/DVD, and a camera workstation designed with underwater photographers in mind. When sea breezes call, the top deck is set up with loungers for sunbathing, relaxing in the shade with a cold drink, or stargazing under the Maldivian sky.
Dining Aboard the Manthiri
Dining on the Manthiri is a delicious part of the experience—fresh, flavorful, and tailored to hungry divers. Chefs Bodey and Hema, trained at a top Maldivian resort and with over a decade of service onboard, create dishes that blend Maldivian favorites with global cuisine.
- The freshest seafood and aromatic local specialties
- A variety of international dishes to suit all palates
- Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Pre-dive mini breakfast early each morning
- Full hot breakfast after the first dive
- Lunch, dinner, and snacks available between dives
Have a special occasion? They’ve even been known to bake a cake for onboard birthdays. One thing is certain: you won’t go hungry.
The Diving Experience
Diving in the Maldives is pure joy: warm water, excellent visibility, and incredible marine life. You’ll explore channels, pinnacles, and coral-covered reefs where the Indian Ocean is alive with movement and color.
- Graceful manta rays sweeping over cleaning stations
- Reef sharks cruising the blue
- Clouds of fusiliers, snappers, and jacks schooling in the current
- Vibrant coral gardens and dramatic underwater topography
- Night dives revealing a different side of the reef
Depending on conditions, the itinerary may take you through current-swept channels (kandus), sheltered lagoons, and seamounts where big animals come to feed. You’ll typically enjoy up to 3–4 dives per day, including some unforgettable sunrise or night dives when conditions allow.
A Typical Day on Manthiri
Timings approximate and subject to change
- 6:00 am – Light pre-dive breakfast (coffee/tea, fruit, toast)
- 6:30 am – First dive
- 8:00 am – Full hot breakfast
- 10:30 am – Second dive
- 12:00 pm – Lunch & surface interval
- 2:30 pm – Third dive
- 4:00–5:00 pm – Snacks; relax on the sundeck or review photos
- 6:30 pm – Optional night dive (select days & conditions)
- 7:30 pm – Dinner
- Evening – Socialize, stargaze, or turn in early
PRICING
$5,175 PER DIVER
What’s Included
- 9 nights aboard the M/V Manthiri
- Nitrox (must be certified)
- Up to 3–4 dives per day (weather & conditions permitting)
- Tanks, weights, and weight belts
- Divemaster-led dives and detailed dive briefings
- All meals and snacks onboard
- Coffee, Tea, Water
- Roundtrip airport–boat transfers in Malé on official dates
- Accommodation in ensuite cabin with A/C
- Services of your Undersea Divers group leader
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from Malé (MLE)
- Alcoholic beverages & Soft Drinks
- Dive Equipment
- Crew gratuities (recommended amount will be provided)
- Trip insurance and dive accident insurance
- Any hotel nights or meals before/after the cruise
Getting There & Requirements
Getting There
You’ll fly into Velana International Airport (Malé – MLE). We’ll provide recommended flights and arrival times to coordinate smooth transfers.
- Arrival: Plan to arrive in Malé on Day 1 of the trip. A Manthiri representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to the vessel.
- Departure: You will disembark the morning of the final day; schedule onward flights accordingly.
We strongly recommend arriving a day early if possible, to allow for travel delays and to rest before boarding.
Diver Requirements
To get the most from this itinerary, we recommend:
- Advanced Open Water certification or Minimum of 30-50 logged dives
- Recent dive experience and comfort in currents
Some dives may feature moderate to strong currents, negative entries, and blue-water ascents. Our team and the Manthiri crew will help match dive profiles to comfort and experience levels, but this trip is best for divers who are confident in open water with current.
Reserve Your Spot on Manthiri
Spots on the Manthiri fill quickly due to the small group size. If the Maldives has been on your bucket list, this is your chance to experience it with a fun, supportive Undersea Divers group.
- Complete Travel Agreement
- Call us to pay your deposit
Phone: 978-927-9551
Email: dive@underseadivers.com
Payment Schedule
$5,175 per diver
Deposit $750
Payment 2: $1500 due on August 1st, 2026
Payment 3: $1500 due on october 1st, 2026
Final Balance: $1425 due on December 1st, 2026
Cancellation Policy: All payments made toward group travel are non-refundable. If you need to cancel, a refund may only be issued if your spot is successfullt fuilled by another participant. In that case, the refund will be processed less a 7% service fee to cover administrative and processing costs. Because unforeseen circumstances can arise, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. Travel insurance is the only way to safeguard against unexpected cancellations, medical issues, or travel disruptions. By signing up for a group trip, you acknowledge and agree to this cancellation policy.
