Our Itineraries in the Maldives

Wandering from atoll to atoll on one of the ABYSS itinerary cruises, you will have the sensation of diving in exclusivity. One of our Team Abyss guides will accompany the cruise to share their experience of the sites and to ensure your optimal comfort: seaworthy vessels, varied abundance of food (including mineral water) and memorable evenings facing the setting sun.

For the dives, we choose quality sites that are rarely visited to ensure you have a feeling of total exclusivity.

The distances between different stages situated on the same atoll are reasonably short. One to two hours a day is generally enough. Only when navigating between the atolls is a longer time of navigation required.

We have established several itineraries of variable durations. This will permit you to dive at different zones of the archipelago based on the budget and time that you have available. To find out more about the timing of our cruises please follow the link related to Dates and Tarifs.

No matter which itinerary you choose, here is how a general day on one of our cruises unfolds (this is an indication, subject to modifications):

We often start early in the morning to take advantage of the first light of the day. After a quick snack (coffee, tea, biscuits) we leave in the dive tender for the first dive to enjoy the amazing morning life of the reef system. Back on board a sumptuous breakfast will be served before preparing to move to the next site. During times of navigation you will be able to rest on the deck or in the saloon. Once at the next site an early lunch will be served followed by the preparation for the next dive. After the completion of the second dive and based on your personal preference you will have the choice of a third afternoon dive or night dive, cultural excursion to one of the fishing villages or a well earned siesta on board before dinner.

Our "theme" cruises:

"Maldives and Wrecks" Cruise If you love discovery and exploration, come and join us on our special cruise "Maldives and Wrecks". You might be touched by the story behind each wreck, but you will surely be even more impressed and seduced by the quality of the dives amongst them, with an amazing diversity in the fixed fauna as well as the numerous residents such as stingrays, sharks, batfishes, groupers and many more. You may feel like visiting the engine room, cruising the passageways to find some multicolored nudibranches, or just drifting along the surrounding reef. The magnificent diversity of these environments will please all, for that we are sure!
One wreck per day! The remaining dives will allow you to discover the extraordinary natural beauty of the Maldives Archipelago!

"XXL" Cruises Along the reef of the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (Ari South), we encounter a natural coral barrier extending for more than 40 kilometers from East to West. The particular topography of this reef has attracted a large amount of whale sharks where, after a census was made, about 130 have chosen this underwater paradise as their residence. There is therefore a very good chance of encountering the largest fish in the world all year round, to the delight of our amazed divers!However, as we all know, nature guards its secrets jealously! But if like us, you're looking to find out more about these mysteries, come and join us on our "XXL" cruise. During our cruise, dives, presentations, films and discussions will be proposed everyday, which will allow us to discover more about these two giant mysterious and magnificent creatures, the Manta Ray and the Whale Shark! And as usual, additional dives will be proposed to discover all the species and extended natural beauties of the Maldives Archipelago!

Here are your 4 exclusive itineraries:
(the stages given are general indications and may be modified depending on navigation and weather conditions plus the interest and desires of the divers)

Classic Cruise - the Atolls of North Malé, South Malé, Ari, Felidhu, Vattaru and Meemu
A complete itinerary permitting us to experience the marvellous potential of the underwater world in the Maldives. With a duration of 7, 8, 10 or 12 nights this cruise offers divers the possibility to discover amongst others the wreck of the Victory (North Malé), the Foteo drop-off, the Manta rays of Dhonkalo Thila, the hammerheads of Rasdhu, the grey sharks of Maya Thila or the whale sharks South of Ari Atoll. Generally speaking the choice is vast and you will actively participate in the expansion of the itinerary taking into consideration your desires for underwater encounters.

On 12 night charters, this itinerary could have us cover approximately 600 kilometres.

Extended South Cruise - Atolls of South Malé, Ari, Felidhu, Vattaru, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Gaafu and Gan
Using an ascending or descending formula this itinerary permits us to explore the extreme South of the archipelago with a strong impression of going back in time: only a few hotels, even less divers and many almost untouched sites. By taking an internal flight from Malé to Gan we save precious time and never retrace our steps on our 12 night cruise.
The South offers sites of abundant intact coral and extremely varied underwater topography. Even though the fish life is abundant on every dive it is true that the encounters with whale sharks or Manta rays are less frequent than on the classic cruise. Having said this, certain areas are prolific with grey sharks and rays.

Extreme North Cruise - Atolls of North Malé, Ari, Rasdhu, Baa, Raa, Thilandunmatee, Shaviyani, Noonu and Lhaviyani
Organised only twice in the month of March 2008 this Extreme North Cruise permitted us to discover new dive sites beyond the atolls of Baa and Lhavivani in an environment entirely preserved. Just like the extended South cruise we propose an ascending or descending itinerary with internal flights from Malé to Hanimaadhoo (or visa versa). This cruise is designed for experienced divers in search of exploration and surprises.
Untouched coral reefs, abundant fish life and varied topography; the extended North cruise is similar to that of the extended South cruise where the encounters with whale sharks and Manta rays are less frequent than with the classic cruise itinerary.

North Cruise - Atolls of North Malé, Ari, Rasdhu, Baa and Lhaviyani
Reserved for groups who wish to charter the boat exclusively and totally, this itinerary can replace a classic cruise. This permits divers with a good knowledge of the destination to dive on some of the most beautiful sites of Rasdhu and North Male plus discover those of Baa and Lhavivani, renowned for their limited visitations. In addition, drift diving between reefs will allow you to dive with pelagics such as rays, sharks, tuna and jacks. Above the coral reef formations you will also observe large quantities of multicoloured reef fish.