Maldives DEEP SOUTH

NORTH TO SOUTH | 29 MARCH - 9 APRIL 2025

OVERVIEW

Famous for its impressive pelagic encounters, the Southern Maldives circuit is highly regarded among divers. Embark on a thrilling journey through canals, exploring breathtaking landscapes and fulfulling your dream of encountering the legendary pelagics for which the Maldives is renowned. Prepare for challenging dives!

A typical day aboard the boat is structured as follows:

06:30 Wake up. Tea / coffee.

07:00 First dive.

09:00 Breakfast.

11:00 Second dive.

13:00 Lunch.

15:30 Third dive.

17:00 Snacks. Tea / coffee.

19:00 Cocktails.

20:00 Dinner.

In case of a night dive, the dinner (and cocktails) will be rescheduled after the dive, which will take place around 19:00.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 HULHUMALÉ

A Dune representative will meet you at the airport and will transport you. to the boat. Once you arrive, you will be offered refreshments while the Cruise Manager will provide you with a briefing. Dinner will be served in the evening and the first night will be spent in the Hulhumale marina.

DAY 2 NORTH & SOUTH MALÉ, VAAVU ATOLL

The trip will start by exploring the long reefs of North Male Atoll. Corals are abundant here, providing an exceptional home for many fish and smaller creatures. After the first dive we shall sail to Vaavu Atoll to get straight into the heart of the action with many encounters with sharks, rays and jacks.

DAY 3 VAAVU & MEEMU

In addition to the exceptional topography and marine life, you will also visit the virgin reefs of Meeemu Atoll. The excellent canal is made up of steep walls and overhangs covered in soft corals. A great chance to see hammerheads with grey sharks, whitetip sharks, eagle rays, napoleons and turtles.

DAY 4 MEEMU, THAA, LAAMU

Travelling South, you will discover a varied topography: thilas, gyres, canals, coral gardens and overhangs. You will also encounter reef sharks, whitetips, eagle rays, tunas and jacks.

DAY 5 LAAMU, NORTH GAAFU

Laamu Atoll is characterised by drift dives and deep canals that attract sharks, rays, jacks and tunas. You will also discover caves and drop offs. The central lagoon hosts large shoals of parrotfish, triggerfish and turtles.

DAY 6 NORTH GAAFU, SOUTH GAAFU

The largest atoll in the Maldives, located in the deep south, offers intact reefs and lagoons. A wide variety of sharks make their home here. You may even be lucky enough to see tiger sharks here.

DAY 7 SOUTH GAAFU, FUVAHMULAH

Gaaf Dhall is made up of very beautiful canals with intact corals and often frequented by pelagics. Depending on current and wind conditions we will then head to the mythical site of Fuvahmulah.

DAY 8 FUVAHMULAH

Located below the equator, Fuvahmulah is renowned for the presence of many sharks, in particular tiger sharks, and very often reserves beautiful surprise encounters!

DAY 9 FUVAHMULAH, GAAFU

A last dive on Fuvahmulah atoll and then we will go back up to Gaafu to enjoy the multitude of canals here. Afterwards we will anchor at night with the possibility to observe whalesharks at the back of the boat.

DAY 10 GAAFU

Depending on your return flights we will make 2 or 3 dives in the passes around the islands of Vilingili and Khoodoo.

DAY 11 KHOODOO

Departure from the boat to Khoodoo domestic airport and transfer to Male airport for your international flight.

MV NORAYA

The Noraya is a brand new vessel just launched in 2024, built with comfort and luxury in mind.

Practial Info

Diver Level CMAS 2** or Advanced Open Water Diver with a minimum of 30 logged dives required. Open Water Diver is accepted on condition of passing the Advanced Open Water Diver on board at the beginning of the trip as per local regulations.

Food Local cuisine and international menus will be serve onboard.

Rooms Double cabin sharing basis. If you register as an individual, it is up to you to agree to share your cabin with a man or a woman or to book a single cabin for an additional fee. The beds of some cabins can be moved to form a double bed or 2 single beds.

Airport pickup and transfers Guests are greeted at the airport by a DUNE Maldives representative. The meeting point will just be outside the arrival hall after the baggage claim and customs clearance area. Guests are then transferred to the boat via the diving Dhoni leaving from the marina of Malé International Airport (duration 20minutes).