Big South 7 nights

Liveaboard in the Big South of the Maldives


With around 1,200 islands, the Maldives offer exceptional dives with a wide range of underwater flora and fauna. The North Route will take you to barely explored reefs, pelagic cleaning stations, colorful coral and anemone gardens in an exceptionally pristine ocean.Experience the memorable interactions with a broad variety of marine life from manta rays, guitar sharks, leopard sharks, down to schools of brilliant small fish in this dream circuit.The itinerary description of the liveaboard safari is only informative as these itineraries shall be adapted to weather conditions, currents and the divers' wishes and levels.  

Itinerary

  • Day 1 Hulhumalé

    Hulhumalé Dune staff will pick you up at Malé International Airport and bring you to the main boat. Enjoy a drink while listening to our Cruise Director welcome briefing. Dinner will be served in the evening and you will start your cruise to Vaavu Atoll

  • Day 2 North Malé Atoll > Vaavu Atoll

    North Malé Atoll > Vaavu Atoll Time for the first dives on the beautful reefs of Vaavu Atoll and Meemu !
    The excellent pristine channels of Meemu offer steep walls and overhangs coated with healthy hard and soft corals. You will have a chance of looking for hammerhead sharks and to observe grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleon wrasses, and hawksbill turtles.

  • Day 3 Vaavu Atoll > South Ari Atoll

    Vaavu Atoll > South Ari Atoll Travelling deeper to the south, you will discover a variety of impressive sites with submerged pinnacles, channels, corals gardens, overhangs, and swim throughs. You will also encounter white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, tunas, schools of jacks...

  • Day 4 South Ari Atoll

    South Ari Atoll Laamu Atoll offers drift dives and deep channels that attract sharks, rays, jacks, and tunas. Moreover you will dive in caves and swim throughs along colorful drop-off walls. The pristine central lagoon is also home to large schools of parrotfish, butterflyfish as well as turtles and triggerfishes.

  • Day 5 Gaaf Alif Atoll to Gaafu Atoll

    Gaaf Alif Atoll to Gaafu Atoll Besides the stunning underwater landscape, the untouched dive sites will also offer chances of meeting the spectacular thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, napoleon wrasses, and schools of reef fish.
    Amazing drift dives and deep channel are waiting for you !

  • Day 6 South Gaafu Atoll

    South Gaafu Atoll We will make a few more dives in the splendid region of Gaafu. Besides the stunning underwater landscape, the untouched dive sites will also offer chances of meeting the spectacular thresher sharks, bull sharks, eagle rays, napoleon wrasses, and schools of reef fish.

  • Day 7 South Gaafu Atoll to Fuvamulah Atoll

    South Gaafu Atoll to Fuvamulah Atoll At the most southern point of the trip, you will discover an impressive topography counting sloping reefs, drop-off walls and deep channels. There are only few named dive sites here as this part of Maldives is still relatively unknown. Get a chance to see spinner dolphins, manta rays, thresher sharks, and tiger sharks ...
    According to weather conditions, we will go to Fuvamulah Atoll, famous for the numerous sharks living there, especially tigers sharks !

  • Day 8 KOODOO

    The trip is arriving at the end. Our crew will arrange the transfer to the airport once you have had your breakfast on board. We are also glad to help you plan for the day and booking for accommodations.
    Time to come back home with fantastic memories!

Dates & prices

Departures for English-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Departures for French-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Departures for Chinese-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Trip code: 161

Included

  • Transfers from the airport to the boat and to and from the marina.
  • Double/twin shared cabin accommodation.
  • 2 to 4 on-board guides (dive master and instructors)
  • 12 liter aluminum cylinders + DIN/Int, and diving weights.
  • 8 to 10 professional and experienced crew members on­board
  • Meals and all soft drinks on board (excluding beer, spirits, wine, espresso coffee)
  • 15 dives minimum, extra ones according to weather conditions and flights schedule
  • Bath towels are changed at least once during the trip, depending on the duration of the cruise.
  • The selected sea route will take into consideration the passengers' wishes.
  • Dune reserves the right to limit dives frequency due to : weather conditions, dive level and physical conditions of passengers, and no refund would be applied.
  • Nitrox - package and fillings. Nitrox is a service offered by Dune and no refund will be applied in case of malfunctioning of the compressor
  • Wifi : subject to network availibility - some areas might not be covered
  • Maldivian Government Tourist Tax

Not included

  • International flights to and from Male.
  • The supplement for a superior or sea view cabin.
  • The supplement for a single cabin.
  • Drinks such as beer, wine, espresso
  • Transfers by speed boat, airplane or seaplane depending on special routes or unscheduled arrivals and departures.
  • Diving courses, rental equipment
  • Service charge $120 for the crew, to be given at the end of the stay before leaving by cash.
  • Fuel surcharge

Notes

*Surcharges: Dune Theia Liveaboard reserves the right to apply an appropriate surcharge to its prices should economic changes (such as exchange rates, fuel prices, etc) make a material difference to its pricing structure. - A minimum of 14 days' notice will be given before such a surcharge becomes effective. - No surcharge will be applied within 28 days of departure. - If the surcharge results in an increase of 10% or more to the price of the liveaboard, dive package/dive course, then cancellation with a full refund will be allowed. Notification of the intention to cancel must be made in writing within 14 days of the notification or the surcharge.

Practical info

Food

On board, both local cuisine and international menus will be served.

Accommodation

Accommodation is based on double shared cabin . Beds in some cabins can be moved to form a double bed or 2 single beds. A supplement is charged for single use of a cabin. Cabins categories (standard, superior or seaview) are subject to different tarification if pre-booked.

Transportation

Passengers are greeted at the airport by a DUNE Maldives representative, holding a "DUNE" sign and wearing an orange T-Shirt. The meeting point will generally be just outside the arrival hall after the baggage claim and customs clearance area. For cruises arriving and departing from Male, passengers are transferred to the boat via the diving Dhoni leaving from the marina of Male International Airport (duration: approximately 20 minutes). The first transfer including in the service is at 3pm from Male airport. The return transfer from the last day will be organized right after the breakfast.

Contact us for early check-in/late departures

Vital equipment

Compulsory equipment (per diver)
  • A dive computer. 
  • A surface marker buoy, SMB.
  • An emergency sound or visual signaling system.

You can also rent you equipment onsite (prior booking). 
Request a quote
Destination
Northern Cruises
Activity
Exclusive photo workshop
Duration
8 days
Group
9 to 20 people
Code
161
Price
From €2,585
Level
5/5
Comfort
5/5
Language(s)
English / French / Chinese

Strengths

World renowned itinerary!

Guide's advice

Very diversified and famous for Manta rays and whale sharks.

Required level

50 dives recommended. 
Advanced Open Water Diver - Level 2 (AOWD courses available on board)

Download trip details

Request a quote