Emperor Explorer | Maldives Liveaboard

Travel

Flight options

Our holidays to the Maldives can be quoted with most major airlines. If you would like to depart from a regional UK airport (eg. Glasgow/Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham or Gatwick) or have a specific airline you prefer to fly with, simply let us know in your booking request. Times and any applicable supplements will be confirmed by your travel consultant before you finalise your holiday. We are unfortunately not able to redeem airmiles on your behalf. If you make your own flight arrangements to Male, please check the transfer arrangements before confirming your flights. Please do not finalise any flight arrangements yourself before your liveaboard space is confirmed as being held.

Stopovers

As most flights are not direct, it is simple to add a stop over en route - simply ask your travel consultant for a quote. Sri Lanka is our most popular, up coming destination - with beautiful beaches, it's a great alternative to staying in the Maldives resorts. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, why not head into the jungle for look for elephants and leopards. Or if you are a culture vulture, we highly recommend a Kandy city tour. The choice is yours! As we are able to book most major airlines to the Maldives, you can also add a stop to break up your flight. Popular locations include Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

Arrange before you go

Visa requirements

UK passport holders are able to obtain a free 30 day visa on arrival. Do ensure your passport has 6 months validity from your return date to prevent any issues with immigration. It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid and you fulfil entry requirements. Regulations can change: Please review current FCO advice click here .

Insurance

Scuba Travel requires all of our customers to have diving insurance. Please make sure that you have appropriate cover for your diving activities. We also strongly recommend you have travel insurance. It's worth taking out travel insurance once you have paid your deposit to ensure you are covered for unforeseen events and cancellation.

Fit to Dive

It is important to think about your fitness to dive in the run up to your trip. Local operators will usually ask you to complete a self certification or complete a waiver. Please read the information on our website before you travel to see if you will need to take medical clearance prior to travel, to prevent any delays, costs or disappointment locally (please note if you do require a medical many countries require the medical to be dated within 12 months of travel regardless of whats stated on the medical) - https://www.scubatravel.com/medical_statement.pdf

Immunisations

Please speak to your local GP or check out the latest NHS advice for the required travel immunisations for your destination: click here to go to the NHS

Preparing to fly

Seating

You will be able to manage your booking online once you have been ticketed (after you have paid your holiday balance). Most airlines will now enable you to select your seating at this point. There may be a small charge for prebookable seating before online check in opens. Please speak to the airline for more information about charges.

Check in

As you are flying with a scheduled airline, you will be able to check in online with your airline. Please visit their website for more information about when online check in opens.

Lounge

An airport lounge is a great way to start your holiday or to while away flight connections in comfort. Scuba Travel works with Lounge Pass to offer a huge range of affordable airport lounges around the world. click here for more info on Lounge Pass

Parking

Prebook your airport parking to save money! If you have a long way to travel, why not also look at booking an airport hotel. These aren't as expensive as you might think. click here for holiday extras

What happens when I arrive?

On arrival in the Maldives, you will need to clear immigration and collect your baggage. You will then be met outside of arrivals by a representative from your liveaboard or resort. They will be holding a board with either your destination or your name on it. If you have any issues at all locating your rep, If you can't find your resort representative immediately upon arrival, head straight to the Arrivals Information Desk located just outside the arrival terminal. The local contact number (whats app) for your Fleet is provided in your travel documents.

Transfers

If your holiday begins in Male you will be met and taken to your boat. The transfer takes around 20mins. Many of our Maldives holidays will include either a domestic flight or seaplane transfer. It takes approx 45mins -1 hour to clear immigration and collect your baggage at Male airport. We endeavour to keep the transit between flights as short as possible and your transfer will normally take place within 3 hours of your international arrival, but please be aware, you may have to wait at the airport between flights. The walk between Terminal 1 (International) to Terminal 2 (Domestic) takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes along the Main Road. A free shuttle bus service is also available. Domestic terminal facilities include duty-free shops, lounges, and various dining options. The baggage allowance on domestic flights is typically 20kgs hold and 5kgs hand baggage. Excess baggage is charged locally $2-$5/kg. The seaplane check in desk is to your right on exiting the international arrivals hall. You will check your bag in here and then be transferred to the seaplane terminal by bus. The seaplanes run regularly throughout the day, although the exact time of your seaplane cannot be confirmed prior to arrival. Seaplanes do not run in the dark - the fist seaplane is around 06:00 Male time and ends around 16:00 Male time. The baggage allowance on seaplane flights is typically 20kgs hold and 5kgs hand baggage. Excess baggage is charged locally $2-$5/kg.

Departures

You will be taken back to Male airport in time for your international flight. Domestic flights and seaplanes will arrive in time for you to make your connections. Typically you will arrive at the airport 1 1/2- 2 hours before your flight time.

Info

Tipping

Tipping is entirely at your discretion and it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed. Emperor Fleet suggest around 10% of your package price

Currency

The official currency of the Maldives is the rufiyya. However, we generally recommend you take USD as this is the preferred currency for most transactions. Do ensure you have smaller denominations handy as larger notes can be difficult to use. Notes should be in good condition. Credit and debit cards can be used, but do be aware of currency conversions and card surcharges. There is a 16 %GSTsales tax (17% from July 2025) applied to all local payments.

Phone coverage

The Maldives has good mobile phone coverage throughout. You can purchase a local SIM card at the airport if you prefer. Wifi access can be purchased on board for $31 but coverage may be intermittent. If you need internet, we recommend you make arrangements with your provider in the UK.

Plugs and electricity

Electricity is 240V - UK 3 pin plugs are commonplace, although some plugs may have 2pin European connections. Please do not leave batteries charging unattended in your cabins at any time.

Extras

Hire equipment

Emperor offer a range of rental equipment and different sized tanks (including 6lt, 15lt and twinsets) - all kit hire must be prebooked and are paid for on board. Please speak to your travel consultant for current price list

Extras

Emperor instructors can teach a wide range of PADI courses on board. These must be prebooked and are paid for on board. Please speak to your travel consultant for current course prices

Souvenirs

At the moment there are no boat specific souvenirs for sale onboard. More generic Maldivian souvenirs will be available to buy at the airport.

Nitrox/Gas

Free of charge for certified divers, subject to fill availability on board

Payments

Deposits and Balances

This holiday is a boat and Male airport transfer package only. Where needed, domestic flights are also included as part of your transfers. A typical deposit for a Maldives liveaboard is 30% of your holiday cost. This will be due once your holiday has been confirmed. Your balance will then be due 90 days before travel. Depending on your flight option and ticketing deadline, you may need to pay in full for your flight. From time to time, promo trips with lower deposits on boat only spaces may be on sale as a special offer. Your travel consultant will outline the flight payment structure at the time of booking.

Ways to pay

We accept mastercard and visa debit or credit cards. If you would like a pay by link to complete check out via email please let us know and it can be set up for you. We do not take AMEX. All non sterling card payments and UK business debit cards will be subject to the 3% surcharge. Alternatively, you are welcome to pay via bank transfer. Overseas bank transfers must add £8 to the sterling total to cover international handling fees. We are not able to accept PayPal transactions or personal cheques.

Group Payments

If you have booked as part of a group, you can still call and pay directly without needing to go via your group leader. Please have your trip reference number to hand to help us locate your holiday as quickly as possible. You will receive a transaction receipt - your group leader will forward your ATOL certificate and booking confirmation

Discounts

Repeat Guests

Are you one of Scuba Travel's repeat customers?
Over 60% of our customers trust Scuba Travel to book their next diving holiday, time after time.

And we believe you deserve a huge thanks for your ongoing support over the years, which is what our repeater discount is all about! Travel with us again in either 12 months or 24 months and you will qualify for a discount. That's all you have to do. No forms, no numbers to remember, no fuss, just a good honest price reduction.

5% off for repeat customers travelling with Scuba Travel within 24 months
Plus if you have dived with Emperor Divers in the Red Sea or Maldives 5 times or more, then you can enjoy an Emperor gift voucher to spend locally. If you'd like a free 15lt tank or cabin upgrade, just ask at the time of booking so we can check on availability.
Repeat discounts are not cumulative and cannot be applied to special offer prices

Included

7 or 10 nights on board Emperor Explorer on a full board basis (3 meals daily plus in between dive snacks), drinking water, tea and coffee and a complimentary glass of wine with dinner

You will have 3/4 dives a day except for the arrival and departure day, 12lt tanks, air fills, nitrox, weights and belts. This will typically include 1 or 2 night dives. Dives are guided.

Emperor Maldives packages include all port and fuel fees, marine park fees and local green tax $12 per person per night as prepaid at the time of booking

Airport transfers will be provided and run at fixed times between the boat and airport (visa versa). Domestic flights are excluded and will need to be added at time of booking.

Excluded

Please see the on board extras tab for a more comprehensive list of local charges. You can elect to add international flights to your boat package. If you prefer to make your own flight arrangements, you must notify us of your flight arrangements at least 4 weeks prior to travel so we can make local arrangements as required. It is your responsibility to ensure your flights are booked correctly to match your land arrangements. If you are continuing your holiday in the Maldives at a resort, hotel or another liveaboard, your on-going transfers need to be arranged by you from the airport.

Additional kit hire and any on board souvenirs

Tipping is entirely at your discretion and it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed. Emperor Fleet suggest around 10% of your package price

17% GST is applied to all local purchases in the Maldives

Emperor Explorer Specifications

42m

700 Hp Doosan Daewoo Engine

2 Generators

Wooden Hull

Safety Statement

The following safety and technical equipment applies to all Emperor vessels in the Maldives fleet:

Round-the-clock monitoring to ensure safety and security of guests.
A dedicated night watch who conduct checks on the entire boat every 15 minutes and are verified by a QRbased patrol system.
No charging of any unattended electrical items is allowed in cabins. There are dedicated charging - available in the saloons which are fully monitored.

Each cabin and communal area is equipped with smoke detectors and fire alarms to ensure early detection of fires.
At least two different fire detection systems on each boat to provide coverage in the event of an issue. One hard-wired system which is supported by a fixed-battery system linked by Bluetooth.
Alarms are fully tested on a regular basis.
Detectors are installed in the corridors and engine room to provide warning in case of the presence of carbon monoxide.
Multiple fire blanket shields are positioned in many areas around the boats.
Placed around the boat we have multiple powder, water, CO2 and foam fire extinguishers. Automatic powder extinguishers are in place in the engine room.

AED onboard the main vessel and diving dhoni
Each boat is equipped with emergency life rafts with sufficient space available for all guests and crew
There are enough large oxygen cylinders on every boat and dhoni to ensure sufficient oxygen to reach medical assistance from the furthest point of each trip.
Every guest is provided with a complimentary surface marker buoy which they must take on every dive.


Each cabin is has an illuminated emergency plan and there are luminous directional signage to the fire exits.
Each cabin is equipped with an emergency evacuation torch which switches on automatically in the event power failure
There is one life jacket per person in every cabin and additional life jackets for every guest at the muster station Emergency lighting is in place in the lower corridors The on-board welcome briefing shows guests all emergency exits to familiarise them with the different escape options, of which there are always two


Safety drills are conducted regularly to demonstrate the necessary procedures in case of emergency
Each boat has multiple trained first-aiders who will be on board for every trip
Life rings are situated around the boat. 2 to 4 depending on the size
EPIRB fitted
Bilge pump alarms

Firefighting system, smoke detectors, CO2 monitors, fire alarms, extinguishers, fire blankets, life jackets.

Navigation Equipment

GPS chart plotter, depth finder, VHF/CB radio, satellite phone and mobile Each boat is equipped with a satellite phone to ensure a communication connection even in the most remote areas