At a glance
| Compare | Resort | Liveaboard |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A resort on an island of its own | A boat that moves between islands and atolls; you sleep on board |
| Trip length | Any length | Usually about a week; 10 to 14 nights on southern routes |
| Diving | The house reef and the resort’s dive centre | Up to three dives a day at many sites, including remote ones |
| Experience | Beginners to experienced divers | Some routes ask for 30 to 100 logged dives and experience of currents |
| Comfort | A villa of your own | From simple cabins to suites |
| Suits | Couples, families, mixed groups, non-divers | Keen divers, and surfers on surf routes |
What a liveaboard is
A liveaboard, called a safari vessel in the Maldives, is a boat you live on for the trip. It cruises between islands and atolls, so the holiday moves with you; smaller boats may take only one group at a time. About 170 safari vessels are registered in the Maldives.
How long trips run
The usual trip is about a week, most often around the central atolls. Routes to the far south run longer, usually 10 to 14 nights.
The diving
Diving is the point for most guests: up to three dives a day, at many sites, including remote reefs only reached by boat. Some routes ask for real experience, from about 30 logged dives on some central routes to 100 on some trips to the deep south, with experience of diving in currents. The Maldives’ diving rules, a 30-metre limit and no diving alone, apply on safari boats without exception.
Routes and seasons
Central atoll routes run all year. Others follow the seasons: manta trips in the southwest monsoon, and routes to the deep south from about January to March.
Comfort
Cabins range from simple to suites, and unless your group has the boat to itself, you share it with other guests; anyone prone to seasickness should come prepared. A resort gives you a villa of your own, and suits groups where not everyone dives.
Doing both
A liveaboard trip can include visits to resorts, and a stay on an island can be added before or after. If the stay ends with a flight or a seaplane, leave time between your last dive and flying. Guidance ranges from at least 12 hours after a single dive to 24 hours, so ask your dive centre what applies before you book the transfer.