Diving services onboard this vessel is provided by Sea Explorers Dive School (www.seamaldives.com), a PADI 5-Star Gold Palm Facility # 9584. All major dive-related decisions throughout the safari trip will be made by the Dive Base Leader (Dive Instructor or Divemaster assigned to the vessel by Sea Explorers) in conjunction with the boat Captain.

·      The Captain and the Base Leader will give an overall briefing at the start of the trip about the general procedures and protocols on board the vessel. It is very important that you attend this briefing as there will be a lot of practical information discussed regarding the diving on the trip. If you have any special needs or will require direct assistance during dives, please use this opportunity to inform the Base Leader.

·      Sea Explorers will provide 2 to 3 dives per day EXCEPT on the day of your arrival and the day of departure. There will be ONE night dive scheduled during thetrip, which will take place of the normal third dive of that day.

·      Due to adverse weather conditions or route changes, it may sometimes not be possible to conduct three dives on a particular day. While we will make every reasonable attempt to make up for the missed dive on another day, we CANNOT guarantee that it will always be possible.

·      Requests for dives in addition to the offered package will need to be discussed with the Base Leader and the Captain. The decision will depend largely on the pre-planned route and the schedule of the other guests.

·      There will be a dive briefing given by the dive guide prior to each dive.  Please attend these briefings and do not hesitate to ask questions if clarification is needed.

·      In the Maldives, most dives are drift dives, and all diving is conducted from a dedicated dive dhoni (local boat) which accompanies the safari boat through out the trip. Once a dive commences, the dhoni crew track the bubbles and pick up divers as they surface at the end of the dive. Dives will be conducted in small groups, each led by a Divemaster.

·      Divers should dive in BUDDY PAIRS and we advise you to stay within your group at all times. While each individual diver is responsible for his own dive plan within the framework of the briefing given by the dive guide, it is understood that buddy pairs will follow the same dive plan.

·      Due to the repetitive nature of liveaboard diving, each dive should be a MAXIMUM of 45 minutes. You MUST begin your ascent when one of the buddy pair reaches 50bar of air remaining OR when dive time is 45 minutes. All dives should be planned as NO DECOMPRESSION STOP dives.

·      All divers MUST make a safety stop at the end of every dive by remaining at a depth of 5 meters for 3 minutes. As a signal for the dive dhoni and as a caution to other vessels, surface marker balloons must be deployed while you are at your safety stop. If you do not have your own, we have a number of balloons available for rent.

·      Following Maldivian law, NO dive should be deeper than 30 meters. In keeping with PADI guidelines, we recommend that each repetitive dive in a day be shallower than the one preceding it.

·      All divers MUST dive with a dive computer and follow its built-in safety guidelines accordingly. If you do not have your own, a number of computers are available for rent from the vessel.

·      As a 5-Star PADI facility, Sea Explorers offer a full range of PADI courses including Open Water, Advanced Open Water and many specialty courses. Please let us know in advance if you would like to undertake any dive courses during your trip so that we can ensure that we have the necessary equipment and instructors available onboard.

·      Extra dives and equipment rental will be charged to the individual diver. Loss of rental equipment will be charged according to the price list displayed onboard.

·      We strongly advise you to conclude your diving AT LEAST 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart.