Carpe Vita Explorer
Looking for an extraordinary vacation package? Don’t want the typical beach vacation? Let Explorer Ventures welcome you aboard the M/V Carpe Vita Explorer, the liveaboard dive boat that promises scuba divers a spectacular weeklong diving adventure in the Maldive Islands, considered by many to be a tropical paradise. Enjoy an 8-day / 7-night or 11-day / 10-night excursion departing from Malé, in the Republic of Maldives.
The Maldives are located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and span the equator. They are situated approximately 250 miles (400 km) southwest of India and 430 miles (700 km) southwest of Sri Lanka. Stretching north to south some 500 miles (805 km), this archipelago nation is spread over nearly 35,000 square miles (90,000 square kilometers), and is comprised of more than 26 atoll formations.
The crew of the M/V Carpe Vita Explorer is constantly tracking pelagic migration patterns, therefore your itinerary will depend upon season, sea, and weather conditions. Rest assured, however, as the Captain will select dive sites to ensure you maximize your scuba diving experience in the Maldives. The water temperatures remain constant, averaging 80°-85°F (26°-29°C) year round. A 3mm. wetsuit is usually enough protection for most divers. While visibility is always good, ranging between 50 and 100 feet or more (15-30 m.), it is at its peak in December and January.
All diving will be done from a custom-designed 61-foot (18 m.) dhoni, or tender, and drift diving is the norm. Divers must be certified from an internationally recognized scuba diving certification organization. In the Maldives, all dives are at depths of less than 100 feet (30 m.). You will make up to four dives daily. Dives typically start at 70-80 feet (21-24 m.), and many of them are on sea mounts. The sea mounts rise from a flat bottom and ascend to a flat, coral-encrusted top that is usually located between 10 and 50 feet (3-15 m.) from the surface. You will go around the circumference of the sea mount and then work your way up the wall. Please note: Maldivian regulations limit the maximum depth for all dives to 100 feet (30 m.).
Because the climate in the Maldives is monsoonal, it is made up of two distinct seasons when the winds blow from opposite directions. One is the dry season, when the northeast monsoon occurs, and the other is the wet season, when the southwest monsoon occurs. The temperatures are mild year round, ranging from lows around 78°-79°F (25°-26°C) to highs in the upper 80s or low 90s (31°-33° C). The M/V Carpe Vita Explorer has two distinct itineraries that take these weather seasons into account. The November-April itinerary visits North Malé Atoll, South Malé Atoll, and Ari Atoll. From May to October, the itinerary covers the atolls of North Malé, Ari, Baa, and Raa.
North Malé Atoll is the best known and most explored diving area in the Maldives, and is characterized by reefs, caves, and drop offs. Fish and large pelagics can be found here. South Malé offers exciting channel diving where you will see large schools of fish, big pelagics, soft corals, caves, and a wreck. At Ari Atoll you will encounter thilas, or pinnacles, inside and outside the atoll lagoons. These waters attract sharks and mantas, making for some excellent diving. Baa Atoll presents huge overhangs covered in vibrantly colored soft corals. You can also expect to find a variety of fans and plenty of hard coral here, as well as numerous reef fish. Raa Atoll is mainly pinnacle diving and lots of critters. The currents here can be strong.
The Maldives are a premier destination for scuba diving. There are literally hundreds of unique dive sites awaiting exploration by avid divers, with something amazing to be encountered at each one. You will experience wall dives with caves, crevices, and overhangs replete with fish life and soft coral.The reefs here are teeming with life; divers often encounter many endemic species that are found nowhere else. You will see many species of Moray Eels as well as Anemone Fish, Octopus, and Lion Fish. Big animals also populate the waters of the Maldives, with sightings of Whale Sharks, Mantas, Dolphins, and Sea Turtles on virtually every dive. The highest concentrations of Whale Sharks can be seen during the monsoon transition months of October-November and April-May. Often on day dives you will see sleeping White-Tipped Reef Sharks while on night dives you will see these same sharks hunting. The coral reefs in the Maldives are alive with schools of colorful tropical fish and vibrant, healthy corals.
During your time aboard the M/V Carpe Vita Explorer you will have opportunities to dive with Mantas and visit their cleaning stations that are typically located on flat sandy bottoms covered with small patches of coral. The best cleaning station encounters usually occur during the months of May-November. The wreck dives in the Maldives are small, but they do not disappoint. Covered with coral and alive with life, you will find a variety of colorful Lion Fish, Leaf Fish, Nudibranchs, and Mantis Shrimps. During the exhilarating channel dives, it will feel as though you are flying over the reef along the current as the tide passes through the channel.
The Captain and crew strive to provide scuba divers and vacationers with the highest quality and most innovative liveaboard experience possible. In addition to unmatched scuba diving, guests aboard the M/V Carpe Vita Explorer will enjoy excellent accommodations and delicious meals as part of their vacation package. Explorer Ventures dive boat excursions afford guests both safety and comfort as they travel to the best diving locations in the Maldives.
