Destination: Maldives
The Best of Maldives, Deep South, and Hanifaru Bay (7 Nights) | Prices vary per night
Princess Ulua Quick Pitch
Princess Ulua is a 34m luxury liveaboard designed to cater to every need of elite divers. Managed by Ulua Company Pvt Ltd, the Princess Ulua and its crew ensure a personalized experience aboard the vessel. Complete with beautifully designed common areas and amenities such as the sun deck, jacuzzi, and expansive bar, guests can be sure to experience the luxury.
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Accommodations - Facilities - Schedule & Rates - Dive Info & Itineraries
Dive Overview
The Maldives is one of the most popular diving destinations throughout the globe with some of the world-renown dive sites. With clear blue water, white sand beaches, and great visibility, the Maldives is an idyllic paradise. Take a trip to the Maldives and you may see manta rays, whale sharks, reef sharks, and much more. With their team of experienced dive guides, state-of-the-art equipment, and quality dive tenders, Ulua Company Pvt Ltd makes sure that all their dive trips are a success.
[See: Maldives Dive Travel Guide]
Accommodations
Types of Cabins, Amenities and Photos
Princess Ulua room Overview
The boat has a total of 11 air-conditioned rooms, 7 on the lower deck and 4 on the upper deck. All the rooms are spacious and air-conditioned, sure to meet the diver's every need, complete with en-suite toilets, a tv, a minibar, a safe, and hair dryers. Guests can choose between the 4 Seaview Suites on the Upper Deck, 6 Standard Cabins, and a Master Suite, both in the Lower Deck. The Master Suite consists of a king-sized bed, while the Seaview Cabins have the option for either a twin or double occupation. Four of the Standard Cabins come with a double bed and a single bed; while the other two have the option for either twin or double accommodation.
Seaview Suite (L) & Standard Suite (R)
Master Suite (L) & En-suite Bathroom (R)
General Facilities
Princess Ulua Boat Features
- Sun deck with sun lounges and a day bed
- Spacious saloon
- Jacuzzi Bar
- Two jet skis
- Floating inflatable sea pool
- Restaurant
- Expansive bar
- Professional fishing gear
- Spacious dive & excursion dhoani (tender)
- Professional fishing vessel
Food & Drinks Aboard Princess Ulua
The sumptuous meals aboard Princess Ulua are prepared by a chef with over 15 years of experience, serving meals from various cuisines such as Asian, Indian, Maldivian, and more. Guests can also make use of the bar on the main deck and the jacuzzi bar which serves a series of cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits.
Princess Ulua LIVEABOARD DECK PLAN
Schedule & Rates
Princess Ulua Schedule & Rates
Prices are in USD, per person and are based on the lowest-priced cabin. Port and park fees are not included. Full charters are per week (8 Days and 7 Nights) and for 20 pax plus 2 free of charge.
[See also: Inclusions & Exclusions]
Princess Ulua liveaboard schedule
Availability | Itinerary |
18th March - 26th March (9 Days 8 Nights) | Deep South - Male' to Addu |
27th March - 3rd April (8 Days 7 Nights) | Deep South - Addu to Huvadhoo |
3rd April - 10th April (8 Days 7 Nights) | Deep South - Huvadhoo to Fuvahmulah to Huvadhoo |
Inclusions
- Twin Accommodation
- Government Tax
- Full board (3 meals)
- 3 dives per day (depending on the weather conditions) Coffee and Tea, with snacks after dives.
- Unlimited Mineralized Water
- Tanks and weights
- Unlimited Tea and Coffee
- Island Hopping
- Handline Fishing
- Dive Instructor (PADI certified), and 1 Dive Guide (PADI Certified)
- BBQ dinner on sandy beach OR, on a deserted Island, depending on weather conditions).
- Arrange a free airport guide upon arrival & departure
- Transfer (Airport – Boat – Airport)
- Free WiFi
Exclusions
- Green Tax of USD 6 per person per night
- Domestic Flight for Deep South - 390 USD per person
- Fuel Tax of USD 100 per person for the Deep South Route
- Tips for Crew
- Alcoholic Drinks & Soft Drinks
- Equipment Rental
Rates & Availability
For more information on rates and availability email us at info@bluewaterdivetravel.com or call us at +1-310-915-6677 and we will gladly help you plan your dream dive vacation!
Dive Information & Itineraries
best of the maldives
- Dive sites: North Male – Rasdhoo – Ari – Vaavu – South Male
- Duration: 7 – 10 Nights
- Number of dives: 3 dives a day & 1 night dive a week
- Ports: Male – Male
- The Day 1 – Arrival and Departure Day
- Princess Ulua staff will welcome you at Velanaa International Airport. And they will bring you to the boat for boarding while having welcome refreshment he/she will give general boat briefing. All information will be given on arrival to either of our fleets. Dinner will be served in the evening as soon as all the guest are on board and settled in, We will Set sail to our first Dive site in the first light of sunrise
- Day 2 – Sunday - North Male > Vaavu Atoll
- We will start with a classic dive trip to a dive site called maagiri. We call it “check dive” but just an ordinary dive. Kind of warming dive to start fill your Maldives dive story. Embudhoo express and Ran Thila/Guraidhoo Corner giving a home to plenty of reef fishes and sharks and sometimes rays
- Dive 1 – Maagiri, Dive 2 – Embudhoo Express, Dive 3 - Kandooma/Guraidhoo, Dive 4 - Alimatha Night Dive, Anchor Alimatha
- Day 3 – Monday – Vaavu Atoll > Ari Atoll
- Ari Atoll is the place where we cannot miss and that is the atoll you must before you finish your dive story. Where rays and sharks are present whatever the directions of the current are. This atoll comes with many dive sites which can be favorites of many photographers who want to capture the beauty of underwater, from big to small creatures corals.... nameless
- Dive 1 – Miyaru Kandu/Dhevana Kandu, Dive 2 – Vilamendhoo, Dive 3– 5Rocks, Anchor Dhangethi/Dhigurah
- Day 4 – Tuesday – South Ari Atoll
- Special highlights of the day are searching for the presence of whale sharks. As soon as we find one, we will allow you a chance to snorkel or even scuba with them, and if we are lucky sometimes we can see whale shark during dives in maamiligi or dhigu rah archers
- Dive 1 – Kuda rah thila, Dive 2 – Maamigili beyru (whale Shark), Dive 3 – Whale Shark Dive (Dive site may change), Anchor Maamigili
- Day 5 – Wednesday – South Ari to Central Ari Atoll
- Panathone is another great dive for both incoming and outgoing currents the external part of panathone, which is at a depth of around 12 to 16 meters, is a famous manta site, and you’re very likely to see mantas feeding outside the atoll during an outgoing current. During incoming currents on the ridge of the atoll, you’ll see what we call “Shark City” and dozens of big grey reef sharks mesmerizing your every thought and after dozens of dives our staff will invite you to a BBQ dinner.
- Dive 1 – Rangali Manta, Dive 2 – Rai Dhiga, Dive 3 – Panathone, BBQ Embudhoo optional after dozens of dives if you like to have a relaxed evening on the beach of a deserted island our staffs will organize that, Anchor Desert Island
- Day 6 – Thursday – Central Ari Atoll to North Ari Atoll
- Multiple Manta Cleaning Stations, extraordinary thrillers, rich with marine life. Apart from it, you will also find eagle rays, hawks-bill turtles, napoleon rasse, school blue striped snappers, bat fish and fusiliers and also conclude with night manta show...
- Dive 1 – Moofushi Manta Point, Dive 2 – Himandhoo Thila, Dive 3 – Mayaa Thila, Dive 4 – Night Manta Fesdu/Mayaa Thila, Anchor Fesdu
- Day 7 – Friday – Ari Atoll to Kaafu Atoll
- It's wonderful to watch the elegant movement of a large school of grey reef sharks at bathala maagau, big schools of snappers, jack fishes, fusiliers , barracuda, and dogtooth tunas. Fish head is a wonderful place for schools of fish and much marine life. And maybe if time permits us, we will do our last dive at fish tank that will give amazing movements of fish life, especially guitar sharks and rays and eels are the stars.
- Dive 1 – Bathala Maagau/Fish Head, Dive 2 – Fish Head/Bathala Maagau, Dive 3 – Fish Tank (Kaafu)/Kuda haa, Anchor Kurumba Beyru
- Day 8 - Saturday
- Arrival/ Departure
- Our dedicated staff will assist you in cleaning and washing your dive equipment, and help you with packing if required. We will guide you to the domestic flight and to your International Flight checking. Our team will always take care of you from the moment you arrive until you leave the Maldives.
- The itinerary may change at anytime according to weather conditions, last-minute requests & other issues.
DEEP SOUTH MALDIVES
- Day 1 (Saturday): Board Safari, Check Dive
- Upon arrival at Male International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative. Your domestic flight details to Kooddoo / Kaadehdhoo will be discussed with you and you will be taken to the departure terminal for your domestic flight. After boarding your domestic flight you will be taken to one of the airports located in the Huvadhoo Atoll. Our dive guide and captain will be available at the airport to pick you up and then you will be transferred to the boat. You will be settled into your cabin and given a full tour of the boat before beginning your voyage of discovery! After lunch, the entire team will provide you a detailed briefing. Following it, your dive guides will provide you a detailed briefing about all your dives. Following that, a check dive will proceed. When at anchorage you can choose to do as much or as little as you please. Options include snorkeling and swimming, fishing, or just relaxing.
- Dive 1 – Check Dive
- Day 2 (Sunday): Kooddoo & Whale Shark Point
- On the first day of the dive trip, our plan was to allow you a taste of a little bit of everything that the Maldives has to offer. Through multiple channel dives etc. one can expect to see mantas, many types of sharks, whale sharks, schools of barracudas, eagle rays, schools of jacks, as well as turtles on the sandy bottom among many more.
- Dive 1 – Villingili, Dive 2 – Koodoo Kandu, Dive 3 – Koodoo Spinner Shark Point, Night Nearby Boodu Whale Shark Point
- Day 3 (Monday): Kuredhdhoo, Nilandhoo Kandu and Dhaandhoo Kandu
- Today is one of the best days to experience the full effect of the greatest channel dives in the region. These dives are best undertaken by expert divers. These locations are well known for their exquisite pelagic and aquatic sceneries.
- Dive 1 – Kuredhdhoo Kandu, Dive 2 – Nilandhoo Kandu, Dive 3 – Dhaandhoo Kandu, Possible to go Boodu
- Day 4 (Tuesday) Maareha & Kondey
- On this day we head to Maareha Kandu, Kondey Kandu and Kondey Coral Gardens which are dive spots with plenty of marine life to discover and that offer impressive diving conditions, with dozens of grey reef sharks, eagle rays and many species of fish.
- Dive 1 – Maareha Kandu, Dive 2 – Kondey Kandu, Dive 3 – Kondey Coral Gardens, Anchor Kondey
- Day 5 (Wednesday) Day 5 – Gemanafushi
- On this day we first head to Gemana fushi canyon which is largely known for hammerheads and other varieties of fish. This is a locally acclaimed one of the favorite dive sites in the atoll for hammerheads.
- Dive 1 – Gemanafushi Canyon, Dive 2 – Gemanafushi Kandu, Dive 3 – Gemanafushi Coral Land, Anchor Gemanafushi
- Day 6 (Thursday): Day 6 Close to the equator line & Fuvahmulah
- Fuvahmulah is a unique location on the island which makes it one of the best destinations for diving in the world. The quality of diving isn't affected by seasonal changes. Diving here is always a unique and challenging experience. The real underwater treasure of this place is the Thresher Shark. However other sharks such as reef sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads and silver tips also reside in this location. And if you are lucky enough you can even see Mola Molas. The list is endless...
- Dive 1 – Fuvahmulah South Corner, Dive 2 – North End for Mantas, Anchor Fuvahmulah
- Day 7 (Friday): Addu
- Our first dive of the day is at the Maakandu with its beautiful formations of soft coral and spectacular marine life. Our second dive of the day is a wreck of the British Loyalty wreck site.
- Dive 1 – Maakandu, Dive 2 – British Loyalty Wreck, Anchor Addu
- Day 8 – Day of Departure
- Our dedicated staff will assist you in cleaning and washing your dive equipment, and help you with packing if required. We will guide you to the domestic flight and to your International Flight checking. Our team will always take care of you from the moment you arrive until you leave the Maldives.
- Please note that the above is a sample itinerary, which is subject to change based on weather conditions and route.
Hanifaru Bay
- Dive sites: Male’ – Baa
- Duration: 7 Nights
- Ports: Male – Male’
- Day 1
- Princess Ulua staff will welcome you at Velanaa International Airport, and they will bring you to the boat for boarding. While having welcome refreshments, our team will give you a general boat briefing. All information will be given on arrival of Princess Ulua Lunch and dinner will be served. Depending on the arrivals, we will have the check dive in Fish tank. Plus you will have the option to do snorkeling as well. We will Set sail to our first Dive site in the first light of sunrise.
- Day 2
- We will start with a classic dive trip to a dive site called maagiri. We call it a “check dive” but just an ordinary dive. A kind of warming dive to start fill your Maldives dive story. The fauna is rich and it's common to come across eagle rays, snappers and fusilers. Our second dive will be at Boduhithi Thila and third at Boduhithi Corner, giving you a sight of Manta Rays, beautiful coral reefs and sightings of various marine life. After the third dive, we will set sail for Baa Atoll
- Day 3
- By early morning we will be in Dharavandhoo. This is where things get more exciting. Our first dive will be at the Dharavandhoo Rock. This is one of the best places to see the manta rays in Baa Atoll, during the manta season, manta rays come in huge quantity here to clean. This is a popular spot for the snorkelers as well due to the shallow depth of the cleaning station. Along with the Mantas, at the depth of 25m to 30m, grey reef sharks can be found when the current flows into the atoll. And huge shoals of Jackfish and fusiliers are always there.
- The lagoon of Hanifaru has been closed for diving since 2012. Today, only snorkeling is authorized and it is allowed only if a certified guide from the Environment Agency accompanies the snorkelers. You have the option either to snorkel in the world-famous Hanifaru Bay which usually hosts around 100 - 300 Mantas at a time or you have the option to dive in the surrounding areas of Hanifaru Bay which also gives you a good chance of sighting Manta Rays in large quantities. Biologists have counted up to 250 Manta Rays simultaneously present in the lagoon, feeding. The ideal season to visit Hanifaru is during the southwest monsoon, May to December
- The rays come together in the lagoon during a rising tide, high tide, and just after slack high tide because plankton is trapped there in large quantities at these times. Thus, if the water around is not responsibly saturated in plankton, only a few rays may appear at the place.
- Our second and third dive will be in Hanifaru Bay, which would probably be the highlight of your trip.
- Day 4
- On the 4th day, the first dive will be at the Beautiful Dharavandhoo Thila. It's a beautiful pinnacle that gives you an opportunity to experience diverse and dense fauna including Manta Rays and Stingrays. The second dive will follow at Dhonfanu Faru, a long reef of about 300 meters. A huge number of Manta Rays are possibly seen here along with Morays, turtles and stingrays.
- The third dive will be at Dhonfanu Thila, This medium-sized thin offers interesting architecture and rich fauna. A long vertical wall is colonized by bushes of black coral at the southwest with some overhangs, and divers may be lucky enough to catch sight of some ghost pipefish. Eagle rays, humphead wrasses, jacks and turtles will certainly be a part of the experience.
- Today would be a special day of your trip. We will be taking you to a beautiful sandbank BBQ Dinner
- Day 5
- The first dive of today will be at the famous Dhiguthila. large caves can be seen near the bottom and there are many overhangs on the wall. The fauna is dense. Divers regularly find small organisms such as Ghost pipefish, and are likely to come across stingrays and mantas depending on the season
- The second dive will again be around Hanifaru Bay or snorkeling at Hanifaru Bay because we are certain that you are not going to have enough of Hanifary Bay throughout your trip. On today’s dive, we will also be looking for Whale Sharks.
- The third dive of day five will be a night dive at the beautiful Yellow Wall. The beauty of the Yellow Wall results from the incredible amount of sedentary life-forms inhabiting the wall, completely covering its steep surface, edges and overhangs. This provides an immense variety of habitat to many local species of fish, lobsters, sea stars, etc. The area is clearly dominated by widespread colonies of soft corals, these being of many different species displaying a huge range of colors, such as the orange, magenta or mauve spiky soft corals and cauliflower soft corals. Among all the bright colors displayed, the particular presence of yellow and golden-colored variations make it clear to any diver why this reef is best called The Yellow Wall and a “must dive” reef when in the Maldives.” Get up close with colorful schools of fish and majestic hawksbill turtles. Watch a surreal drama of Indian Ocean life unfold all around you.
- Day 6
- On day 6 morning, your first dive will again be at Yellow Wall. Only because you would surely want to see how it looks during day time. It will be a breathtaking experience for sure. The second dive of the day will be at Kakaa Thila. Kakaa Thila is popular for sighting varied marine species such as sponge snail, scallop ship, red spindly lobsters, Nurse Sharks, Blotched Fantail Ray, Flatworms, and lots of Reef Fish.
- The third dive will follow at Hanifaru Bay to enjoy the beautiful sight of 100s of Manta Rays.
- Day 7
- On the last day of your dives, you will be diving at Nelivaru Thila and one last dive at Dharavandhoo Rock.
- Nelivaru Thila is a dive site located 1km north of Kunfundahoo island in Baa Atoll in the Maldives and offers great diving conditions throughout the year, and high chances of spotting Manta rays during the southwest monsoon, especially during rising tides. It is possible to dive all around the pinnacle, but the most interesting parts are the west, east and south sides. The many species you'll be able to encounter include ghost pipefish, stingrays and Manta rays.
- Depending on your flight schedule we will either cruise to Male’ Atoll in the afternoon.
- Day 8 - Departure
- Our dedicated staff will assist you in cleaning and washing your dive equipment, and help you with packing if required. We will guide you to the domestic flight and to your International Flight checking. Our team will always take care of you from the moment you arrive until you leave the Maldives.
- The itinerary may change anytime according to weather conditions, last-minute requests & other issues.
Other Information
Boat Specifications
- Vessel: Wooden Hull (Balau and Kempes timber finely polished with fiberglass coating)
- Year Built: 2019
- Length: 34m
- Cabins: 11
- Pax: 22
- Speed: 14kn
- Propulsion: Cummins 640 HP
- Capacity: 14000 Litres
- Desalinator: 20 ton and 10-ton plants with 11500 Litres of freshwater per day
- Navigation & Communication: 36 miles marine radar system, Eco sounder, Compass, map, fish finder, GPS, CB Radio, mobile phones, internet, searchlight, binoculars, IDD Telephone
- Power: 2 x 70 Kw Cummins Generator
Practical Information
- Time Zone: UTC+5
- Local Currency: MVR (Maldivian Rufiyaa)
- Language Spoken: English
- Payment Onboard: Cash (EUR/USD)
Got Questions? Ready to Book?
Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com
And let us book your dream vacation!
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