Accommodation

There are 13 cabins to select from on the Emperor Explorer, each of which is equipped with individually controlled air conditioning, an en-suite bathroom and a fan.

Upper Deck Cabins
There are two Upper Deck cabins with king-size double beds and two with twin beds for dive buddies travelling together.

Main Deck Cabins
There are two Main Deck Cabins that are equipped with twin single beds.

Lower Deck Cabins
There are five Lower Deck Cabins with twin single beds and two Lower Deck Cabins with a double bed.

Dining

Meals on board the Emperor Explorer draw on global cuisines and local specialties, with three hearty meals provided each day. Snacks are also provided between meals to ensure you never go hungry between dives and there’s unlimited drinking water, tea and coffee available.

A complimentary glass of wine is provided with dinner while beers and spirits are available for a surcharge. Guests should be aware that importing alcoholic beverages is prohibited under Maldivian law and will be confiscated on arrival.

Most special dietary requirements can be accommodated by the culinary team (provided there’s prior notification), although guests should keep in mind that as food is sourced locally, some ingredients and products may not be available.

Amenities

The Emperor Explorer features a comfortable, air-conditioned lounge area on the Main Deck, as well as an open-air dining space where meals are served. It’s also here that you’ll find the spa for indulging in a range of treatments when you’re not busy diving.

The Upper Deck is home to another lounge area with a TV/video/DVD player, as well as an open space where you can stargaze at night. If you’re looking for somewhere to soak up the rays in between dives, there are bean bags and deckchairs scattered across the vessel’s spacious Sun Deck.

Diving

All diving is done from the Emperor Explorer’s large dhoni (tender), which is fully equipped with compressors, tanks & oxygen kits. Up to four dives are offered each day and there are four experienced dive guides on each Maldives liveaboard adventure, ensuring an intimate service that’s targeted towards each diver’s interests. All certified divers have access to free Nitrox while on-board while non-divers are welcome to snorkel at most of the dive sites.

Tanks and weights are provided on-board the Emperor Explorer and there’s a full range of high-quality dive equipment rentals available with prior notification. Divers should be aware that SMB and dive computers are compulsory on every dive during this Maldives dive vacation. There are charging stations, an air gun and rinse tanks for underwater photographers to utilize, as well as a dedicated camera table.

The underwater landscapes of the Maldives include small coral pinnacles, caverns and dramatic walls, as well as colourful inner and outer reefs. It’s home to one of the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays, as well as whale sharks that can be seen throughout the year. The Emperor Explorer runs special itineraries to encounter thresher sharks and there is the possibility of doing a number of wreck dives on some itineraries.

The Maldives offers outstanding year-round conditions for diving, with water temperatures only varying slightly (83-86°F/28-°C) throughout the seasons. Some divers will be comfortable in a shorty wetsuit while others may prefer the added warmth of a full-length 3 mm wetsuit.

While the climate is tropical with generally warm, sunny days, the Southwest monsoon brings significant rainfall between May and October, with the heaviest showers descending between June and August. The Emperor Explorer cruises between the east and west sides of the islands during the Southwest monsoon season (May-October) and the Northeast monsoon season (November-April) to take advantage of the unique characteristics of the seasons.

The Emperor Explorer doesn’t have a minimum number of required dives for their Maldives liveaboard trips but divers should be comfortable with drift dives as the currents can be unpredictable and strong. Some dives are below 18 meters, so it’s recommended that divers get an Advanced Open Water certification before travelling to make the most of the dive experiences on offer. A range of dive courses and certifications are also available onboard (depending on the itinerary), so check with the team at the time of booking to see which specialty courses are available.