Mantas and whale sharks
Manta cleaning stations and the chance of whale sharks in South Ari are highlights of most central-atoll itineraries.
November 2026 to May 2027 • Emperor & Carpe fleets • Live prices and offers
Mantas, whale sharks and shark-filled channels in warm, clear water. Choose from weekly departures on the Emperor and Carpe fleets, with live prices and the latest offers below and real advice from our UK dive travel team.
The main Maldives dive season
This is the Maldives’ dry season. Expect sunny days, calmer seas and warm water, typically 27–30°C, so a 3mm wetsuit is plenty. Liveaboards follow the best conditions around the atolls, which is why a boat is the best way to dive the Maldives.
Manta cleaning stations and the chance of whale sharks in South Ari are highlights of most central-atoll itineraries.
Channel dives on an incoming tide bring grey reef sharks, eagle rays and big schools of fish. Guides plan each dive around the currents.
All diving is from a separate dive dhoni, so the main boat stays calm and spacious. Your kit stays set up on the dhoni all week.
The classic central atolls suit most certified divers. Deep South and shark-focused routes are there for experienced divers who want more.
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| November | Start of the season. Conditions settle, with good value and offers on selected dates. |
| December – January | Popular festive and new-year departures. Book early for Christmas and New Year. |
| February – April | Peak season: typically the calmest seas and clearest water. Deep South and shark-focused routes run. |
| May | End of the season, with warm water and fewer boats. |
Quick Maldives enquiry
Tell us your preferred month, boat or route, and any cabin or share requirements. A Scuba Travel dive expert will come back to you with the best live options.
The start of the season, with some of the best offers of the year. Prices and spaces update live from the booking system.
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
1 Nov 2026 - 8 Nov 2026
£2,850 pp
Save £425
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
8 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2026
£2,595 £2,170 pp
Save £875
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
15 Nov 2026 - 22 Nov 2026
£2,850 £1,975 pp
Save £800
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
15 Nov 2026 - 22 Nov 2026
£2,595 £1,795 pp
Save £565
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
22 Nov 2026 - 29 Nov 2026
£2,850 £2,285 pp
Save £800
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
22 Nov 2026 - 29 Nov 2026
£2,695 £1,895 pp
Save £350
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
28 Nov 2026 - 5 Dec 2026
£2,295 £1,945 pp
Save £800
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
29 Nov 2026 - 6 Dec 2026
£2,695 £1,895 pp
Save £800
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
29 Nov 2026 - 6 Dec 2026
£2,595 £1,795 pp
Showing 9 of 22 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
Festive departures, including Christmas and New Year. These are popular, so book early.
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
5 Dec 2026 - 12 Dec 2026
£1,985 pp
Save £700
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
5 Dec 2026 - 12 Dec 2026
£2,295 £1,595 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
6 Dec 2026 - 13 Dec 2026
£2,410 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
6 Dec 2026 - 13 Dec 2026
£3,150 pp
Save £400
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
6 Dec 2026 - 13 Dec 2026
£2,725 £2,325 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
12 Dec 2026 - 19 Dec 2026
£2,280 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
12 Dec 2026 - 19 Dec 2026
£2,175 pp
Save £700
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
13 Dec 2026 - 20 Dec 2026
£2,695 £1,995 pp
Save £525
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
13 Dec 2026 - 20 Dec 2026
£2,595 £2,070 pp
Showing 9 of 27 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
A great time for mantas and channel diving across the central atolls.
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
2 Jan 2027 - 9 Jan 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
2 Jan 2027 - 9 Jan 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
2 Jan 2027 - 9 Jan 2027
£2,295 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
3 Jan 2027 - 10 Jan 2027
£2,895 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
3 Jan 2027 - 10 Jan 2027
£2,895 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
5 Jan 2027 - 15 Jan 2027
£2,875 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
9 Jan 2027 - 16 Jan 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
9 Jan 2027 - 16 Jan 2027
£2,295 pp
Save £360
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
26 Jan 2027 - 7 Feb 2027
£3,985 £3,625 pp
Showing 9 of 26 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
Peak season, with calm seas and clear water. Deep South and shark-focused routes run this month.
Save £375
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
6 Feb 2027 - 18 Feb 2027
£4,145 £3,770 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
6 Feb 2027 - 13 Feb 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
6 Feb 2027 - 13 Feb 2027
£2,295 pp
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
7 Feb 2027 - 21 Feb 2027
£5,175 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
13 Feb 2027 - 20 Feb 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
13 Feb 2027 - 20 Feb 2027
£2,475 pp
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
14 Feb 2027 - 28 Feb 2027
£5,195 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
20 Feb 2027 - 27 Feb 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
21 Feb 2027 - 28 Feb 2027
£2,895 pp
Showing 9 of 13 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
Peak season, with calm seas and excellent visibility.
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
6 Mar 2027 - 13 Mar 2027
£2,750 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
6 Mar 2027 - 13 Mar 2027
£2,295 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
7 Mar 2027 - 14 Mar 2027
£2,995 pp
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
7 Mar 2027 - 14 Mar 2027
£2,995 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
13 Mar 2027 - 20 Mar 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
13 Mar 2027 - 20 Mar 2027
£2,295 pp
Route: a more adventurous itinerary for experienced divers - ask us about requirements
14 Mar 2027 - 28 Mar 2027
£4,995 pp
Save £295
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
28 Mar 2027 - 7 Apr 2027
£3,090 £2,795 pp
Save £265
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
30 Mar 2027 - 10 Apr 2027
£2,895 £2,630 pp
Showing 9 of 16 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
Warm, clear water. A great choice for Easter.
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
3 Apr 2027 - 10 Apr 2027
£2,425 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
3 Apr 2027 - 10 Apr 2027
£2,295 pp
Save £365
6 Apr 2027 - 18 Apr 2027
£3,810 £3,445 pp
Save £300
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
7 Apr 2027 - 17 Apr 2027
£3,135 £2,835 pp
Save £180
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
10 Apr 2027 - 17 Apr 2027
£2,075 £1,895 pp
Save £180
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
17 Apr 2027 - 24 Apr 2027
£2,075 £1,895 pp
Save £230
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
18 Apr 2027 - 25 Apr 2027
£2,375 £2,145 pp
Save £215
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
24 Apr 2027 - 1 May 2027
£2,230 £2,015 pp
Save £230
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
25 Apr 2027 - 2 May 2027
£2,375 £2,145 pp
Showing 9 of 22 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
The end of the season, with warm water and fewer boats.
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
1 May 2027 - 8 May 2027
£2,175 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
1 May 2027 - 8 May 2027
£2,150 pp
Save £180
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
2 May 2027 - 9 May 2027
£1,845 £1,665 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
2 May 2027 - 9 May 2027
£2,550 pp
Save £210
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
8 May 2027 - 16 Aug 2027
£2,195 £1,985 pp
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
8 May 2027 - 15 May 2027
£2,175 pp
Save £180
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
9 May 2027 - 16 May 2027
£1,845 £1,665 pp
Save £550
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
16 May 2027 - 23 May 2027
£2,685 £2,135 pp
Save £180
Route: the classic central atolls - our most popular Maldives itinerary
29 May 2027 - 5 Jun 2027
£1,845 £1,665 pp
Showing 9 of 17 departures this month, best offers first. See every date.
Prices are per person and live availability is updated from the booking system. International flights are not included.
We work with two of the most established liveaboard operators in the Maldives. Both offer free nitrox for certified divers, dive dhonis and experienced guides. The difference is the style of boat.
Choice • value • weekly departures
Five boats, from the brand-new 44m Emperor Explorer II to the small-group Virgo. With the most departures through the season, there is a date and budget for almost everyone.
Boutique • smaller groups
Carpe Novo, Carpe Vita and Carpe Diem are known for their relaxed, boutique feel, attentive crew and smaller groups.
Use this as a quick guide, or call us and we will match you to the right boat and route. Each trip page shows the full itinerary and requirements.
The classic central-atoll route and our most popular choice, with mantas, channel dives, reefs and the chance of whale sharks in South Ari.
More adventurous routes with big channels, stronger currents and a focus on sharks and pelagics.
Flights
Prices on this page are for the liveaboard only. We can add flights from the UK to Malé, plus hotel nights before or after your trip. Book flights with us and your holiday is ATOL protected.
Travelling solo?
No buddy? No problem. Tell us your dates and experience, and we will find you a share on a suitable boat.
The Feefo review feed below updates automatically from Scuba Travel guest feedback.
Use the quick enquiry form, call 01483 411590 or email dive@scubatravel.com. Tell us your preferred month, boat or route, and whether you would like us to add flights.