Maldives

September 23-Oct 2, 2026

Maldives Cover Video 2.mp4

September 23-Oct 2, 2026 (10 nights/11 days)

Manta Rays & Whale Sharks

We have an amazing itinerary planned: starting north of Male to focus on the Baa Atoll, Hanifaru Bay (world famous for large numbers of manta rays) and the surrounding atolls (for whale sharks and reef sharks) then we make our way south before returning to Male for departure.

Group Leader:

Kim Randall has a wealth of travel and underwater experience. Kim is located in the US and is passionate about diving, marine encounters and photography ever since. This trip has run for over 9 years. Kim can't wait to share this unforgettable experience with you.

Trip Information:

We have planned this route to maximize the amount of time spent with manta rays and whale sharks. It is an unforgettable experience. You are responsible for getting yourself to Male International Airport (MLE). A short domestic flight (included in cost) will be required to Dharavandhoo Island for a three night (Oct 2-5, 2025) stay to go out to Hanifaru Bay with the large aggregations of manta rays. We then board the charter vessel (Oct 5-12, 2025). Please note check-in time for the vessel is usually around 2:00pm. Scuba diving courses can be undertaken on the vessel if you are an open-water diver and want to progress your level/depth.

Cost for Trip:

Standard room: TBC per person (incl. green tax) – sleeps 2 pax (one double bed and one single bed)
Superior / Upper deck: TBC per person (incl. green tax) – sleeps 2 pax: 1 king or 2 single beds.
Single Suite: TBC per person (incl green tax)- sleeps 1 person

Note: All costs are in US Dollars (USD) for this trip. Single supplement for (standard & superior rooms available upon request)

Notes on the Itinerary:

The above trip routing is designed to be able to visit spots most frequented by Manta rays including famous Hanifaru Bay in Baa atoll. The trip starts in Baa atoll, which means a one way domestic flight will be needed at the start of the trip.

Guests will be encouraged to gather pictures and/or make sketches of the mantas seen during the dives. This information is passed on to mantamatcher.org to assist in information gathering and research of the manta population in the Maldives. Divers observations will be included in on-going manta research being conducted in the Maldives. Data on manta identification and migration is being collected by the Marine Research section of the Ministry of Fisheries in Male. BONUS: If it is a “new” manta and it is spotted for the third time, the guest can decide on a name and keep track of “their manta” in future.

Package Includes:

3 nights (4 days) Dharavandoo Island (Kiha Beach Hotel)
3 manta ray swims at the world famous Hanifaru Bay, largest aggregation of mantas in the world (Marine Protected Area)
1 Beach BBQ Picnic evening with traditional Maldivian music and dancing.
1 domestic flight (Male – Dharavandhoo)
7 nights onboard the luxury Carpe Novo liveaboard
17/18 dives from the Carpe Novo liveaboard
3 great buffet meals daily, plus between-dive snacks – the food is fantastic.
Drinking water, coffee/tea
3 dives daily (except day of arrival and day before departure)
Dive instructors – 1 guide to a group of 5pax – very professional and experts on the local dive sites.
Use of air tanks or nitrox tanks, weights and belts.
Airport transfers on the days of embarkation/disembarkation (airport transfer from Dharavandhoo to/from vessel to Male International airport)
Presentations on marine life
Fun & friendly atmosphere with experienced group leaders Kim & Amanda

The Vessel: Carpe Novo

The MV Carpe Novo is a 42 metre long (138 feet) motor safari yacht with a wooden hull, three decks plus a sun deck. It is the newest boat of the Carpe Diem fleet, starting operation in 2016. With the upper sun deck, bar on the middle deck and rest area on the lower deck – you will be very spoilt for a week.

Superior rooms (upper deck): each have a king size bed (2 rooms can be divided into two super singles) and desk, dresser, hanging closet, large windows, individually controlled air conditioning systems, flat panel TV/HD player, private ensuite bathroom with shower.

Standard rooms (lower deck):  each room provides individually controlled air conditioning, one queen bed and one super single bed, desk/chair, dresser, hanging closet, TV/HD player, portholes, private ensuite bathroom with shower.

The electricity voltage onboard is 220V and international outlets are available onboard if required. If joining from the US, check that your chargers are 120V/220V compatible (most electronics- laptops, iPads, GoPros, camera battery chargers are compatible).

For the photographers, the vessel offers a spacious camera room for setting up and charging cameras/batteries, and the crew will assist with carrying cameras to/from the dive dhoni and are trained in careful care of camera gear.

Exclusions:

International Flights to Male
Rental Gear
Dive Insurance
Travel Insurance
Lunch/Dinner/Beverages on local island
Gratuities
Soda, alcoholic beverages and "fancy" coffee drinks onboard the vessel
Shopping on the local island
Diving on the local island
16% GST & 10% service charge for on board purchases
SIM cards
Wifi on board the vessel ($40 USD per week)

How to secure your spot:

Please note that this trip has limited spots, so you will need to get in quick to secure your booking. The following payments will be required:

$800 USD per person to secure your spot
30% of trip invoice due March 13, 2026
Remaining balance due June 12, 2026

Email: info@designedforscuba.com Before booking, please email to check available space/rooms/cabins. You'll be provided an individual invoices and payment instructions. We recommend purchasing your flights into Male (capital) as soon as possible to secure reasonably priced flights, once you receive and invoice.

Note: Bookings less than 100 days prior to a trip require full payment. (This can be spread out by a couple of payments within a few days of each other if needed).

Terms and Conditions

Designed for Scuba, LLC highly recommends you purchase travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming your travel plans.. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. Dive Assure offers a Dive and Travel Insurance annual and short-term (per trip), as well as a liveaboard rider. You can purchase it here: https://diveassure.com/en/home/?pid=18662
Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
Bookings made more than 100 days out from the start of a trip require a deposit of $800.00 USD per passenger in 2024 and a regular deposit schedule will commence in late 2024/early 2025.
All deposits are non-refundable.
Bookings made less than 100 days out from tour commencement require payment in full to secure your booking.
Payment in full is required 100 days out from the start of the trip. We will email you a final payment reminders. No refunds will be given within 100 days of the start of any trip, under any circumstances.
If you cancel your spot more than 100 days before the start of a trip, and we are able to resell/fill the spot, a trip credit for your remaining balance (minus a $300 USD service fee deducted) will be issued for use on another Designed for Scuba, LLC trip within 2 years of the cancellation.
If you cancel your spot less than 99 days prior to the start of a trip, no refund or credit will be issued for deposits that have been paid.
If our In-Country Providers cancel or if aForce Majeure Event occurs, meaning any act of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood or any other extreme weather conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, slow-downs or other strike activities, riots or civil disturbances, acts of government, semi government or other authorities, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors, suppliers or other third parties (including telecommunications carriers), material shortages or other disruption to the trip beyond our control, Designed for Diving shall not be held responsible for matters outside of our control or any failure to deliver the trip.
The affiliated and established company such as Kiha Beach Resort and Carpe Diem Maldives Cruises, hold the relevant insurances and maintains responsibility for the dive and snorkel insurance policies and procedures. As such when in the water diving, snorkeling or swimming you are diving under the affiliated company's policies and procedures and must adhere to either the Captain, Dive Instructor or Divemaster’s instructions.
Designed for Scuba, LLC takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury arising from any shortfall, error or omission in the information passed to the customer during the course of the sale or subsequent delivery of the product. The company takes no responsibility nor can be held liable for loss, damage, or injury that occurs on a supplier’s or service provider’s premises or transport, or between two such premises.
Participation in any of the Activities involves certain risks which may result in injury or death. This warning does not purport to describe or disclose all risks associated with participation of the Activities. There are a wide range of inherent risks when engaging in sports and particularly underwater sports; for example, with diving there is the risk of decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric injury can occur that requires treatment in a recompression chamber. Open water scuba diving trips may be conducted at sites that are remote, either by time or distance, from emergency services or recompression facilities. Scuba diving, snorkeling and tours will involve uncontrolled encounters with wild animals which bears the risk of stings, bites, and at the extreme end, more serious injury and death. Participants should be responsible and aware of animal behaviors and their own interactions and engage in these activities entirely at their own risk.
We will not be liable to you in respect of any personal injury (including without limitation serious injury or death) that you may suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of attending the Trip or participation in the Activities. Nor will we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result of any such personal injury (including without limitation loss of profit or earnings or other consequential losses). We will not be liable to you in respect of any of your personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged before, during or after a trip.
Please ensure you understand our cancellation policy prior to providing any deposits and agree to the booking and trip. By placing a booking with Designed for Scuba, LLC, this implies that you accept these booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy.

Entry Requirements for Maldives

Most visitors to the Maldives can enter visa free for up to 30 days.
Guests will complete the IMUGA traveler declaration form prior to departure for entry into the Maldives.

Report abuse