Any time of the year, Maldives offers good diving. Visibility may vary from season to season but 15 to 30 meters (50 to 100 ft.) can be expected at most dive sites.
Water temperatures vary from 26°C to 30°C. A 3-5mm wetsuit is recommended year round.
Climate in Maldives is determined by 2 seasons:
Mantas, whale sharks, turtles, reef sharks and hammerhead sharks are found in the Maldives all year round; if anything, manta rays are found in even greater numbers in the southwest monsoon. As for the other big creatures, diver encounters are dependent on non-seasonal factors: whale sharks are more frequently sighted at high tide.
Divers also have to consider that dive sites can get busy during the high season from December till April. More and more scuba divers therefor consider to travel in the low season: quality of diving is superb year round, dive sites are calmer in low season, and rates are substantially cheaper.
The crew of Maldive Mosaique is trained to offer you great diving service. While onboard, you may pick a buddy of your choice, or dive with one of the dive guides. The yacht offers three dives per day, subject to change depending on itinerary (dives on day before departure, depend on the flight times and sailing schedule), including night dives. The Maldive Mosaique provides 12L tanks with DIN/INT adaptable valves, weight belts and weights. (15 L tanks are available upon request).
All diving is from a separate dhoni. Guests board the dhoni and then kit up their gear on the way to the dive site. Enjoy fresh water showers on the dive deck after your dives.
All diving onboard the Maldive Mosaique should be within the limits and standards of the training agency that certified you, and all dives should be planned no decompression dives.
We suggest you pack the following: mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with pressure gauge,
depth gauge, dive computer, torch, BCD, wetsuit, and surface marker buoy. Dive computers are mandatory for each guest. Guests are also suggested to bring reef hooks for use at some dive spots.
Rental gear is available aboard including regulators, BCD’s, dive computers, and torches.
Rental equipment should be paid on board.
We advise to book your rental equipment minimum 1 month before departure to make sure that the correct sizes are available.
Diving in Maldives can be challenging due to strong currents, and dive sites are in most cases very remote! This means that any help (doctor, hospital or recompression chamber) are most of the time several hours or days away! Divers should be able to dive without help of an instructor. Our dive guides are there to guide, and for unlikely cases of emergency.
Therefor we require a minimum dive experience of 50 logged dives, and a minimum certification level CMAS**, Padi advanced or similar.
If you have less than 50 logged dives, we can arrange a private dive guide for you if booking is made minimum 1 month before departure. This extra service is at additional cost and subject to availability.
Or you can bring your own experienced dive buddy (minimum 150 logged dives) who will take care of you! Please note that schedule will not be changed to meet the dive skills of unexperienced divers.
Our schedule sometimes requires domestic flights to the port of embarkation, or back from to port of disembarkation.
If you require any assistance, do not hesitate to contact us. Our local contacts will find you the most interesting connections and rates.
Our crew will welcome you upon arrival in the airport, and guide you to Maldive Mosaique. Please make sure that your flight details are introduced in our reservation system correctly, to avoid annoying situations of misunderstandings and waiting in the airport!
Boarding Maldive Mosaique is possible starting at 14h00 . As soon as all guest have arrived on board Maldive Mosaique, we leave for the trip. This can be on the day of arrival, or if any clients have booked a late arrival flight, we also might leave early morning of the next day.
The menu onboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of Western feasts and local cuisine. If you have any special dietary requirements, please be sure these are noted when completing the booking form in our website reservation system. You will awaken to fresh fruits, hot entrees, cereals and juices.
Lunches are buffet-style featuring delicious local cuisine. Chef prepared dinners are served each evening and include salads, vegetables, seafood, beef or chicken with a fresh homemade dessert. Certain special dietary and beverage requests may not be available due to the remote nature of the location.
Whether it’s your anniversary, birthday, honeymoon, wedding or you are celebrating a 100th dive, please let us know so the crew can celebrate your occasion. Kindly advise about these celebrations in your booking form, prior to traveling so the crew is notified in advance.
A selection of drinks includes fruit juices, soft drinks, mineral water, coffee, tea, and a limited selection of local beer and wine. Water, tea and coffee are complimentary, and all other drinks are charged at reasonable prices. Maldivian law prohibits that you bring your own alcohol. Drinking and diving do not mix. Once you consume alcohol, you become a snorkeler until the next day.
All staterooms are air-conditioned and fitted with private toilets, showers and sinks.
Breakfast, buffet lunch and an elegant chef prepared dinner with tableside service are served in addition to mid-afternoon snacks.
Mineral Water, coffee and tea are complimentary while onboard. Other beverages (soft drinks, local beer, liquor and wine) are sold at reasonable prices.
Linens are changed mid-week and fresh towels are placed in each stateroom as needed. Filled tanks, weights and weight belts are included.
All rates are quoted on a share basis; therefore you will be roomed with another person of the same gender. If you would like a private room, the cost is a 65% surcharge and will guarantee you a private room.
Payments on board of Maldive Mosaique can be done in EURO, USD or local currency. Credit cards are also accepted.
We strongly recommend each guest purchase comprehensive accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance when space is reserved. Trip insurance will protect you from financial disappointment if you are prevented from making your scheduled trip due to illness, family illness or in the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent the airline or yacht from making its scheduled trip. In the event you cancel your trip, be familiar with our cancellation policies.
When sailing in remote areas, a recompression chamber might not be available in the area. A diving insurance is obligatory for every diver entering the boat. Without a diving insurance, diving on board of Maldive Mosaique is not allowed!
Maldive Mosaique has a first aid kit onboard, including oxygen. You may want to bring motion sickness medication if you feel you will need it. Currents and winds may cause heavy movement of the yacht at times. We recommend a complete physical before your trip. There is NO smoking allowed inside the yacht or on the dive dhoni.
Please plan to travel light, as on all live-aboard dive yachts, space is limited. We recommend that you pack your gear in soft luggage such as a duffel bag for easy stowage and to add to your comfort in your cabin. Clothing should be lightweight, comfortable sportswear; sunscreen and swimsuits are a must. A light sweater or jacket is ideal for evenings. Dress is always casual and informal. Additional items you may want to bring are sunglasses.
If you have a favorite movie, digital presentation or a video to share, we encourage you to bring it along. The crew especially loves new releases of DVD’s, movies, CD’s, recent magazines and books. A small library of books for exchange is maintained onboard as well as fish identification books for reference.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay and you must have a return airline ticket to travel. It is the travelers’ responsibility to ensure they have the proper documentation to travel into each country on his or her itinerary as well as for re-entry and return to their country. Please check with
the appropriate consulate to ensure you have the proper documentation. Always check your passport and visa requirements.
Since regulations vary by country, contact your consulate or embassy of your country for the requirement. The Reservation Office and staff cannot assume responsibility for passengers not having correct documentation.
Remember to bring your certification card and logbook. The divemaster requires proof of certification before the first dive. If you intend to dive on Nitrox, don’t forget to bring also your Nitrox certification card.
There is a mini-boutique onboard, which sells t-shirts. One day during the week, the crew will have
a ‘boutique day’. Maldive Mosaique accepts cash, Visa & MasterCard. Purchases and transactions on board the vessel are subject to local taxes and charges.
Crew gratuities are not included in the charter. We believe gratuities should be voluntary and based upon the quality of service the crew has provided. Please consider that for most crew members, this tip is used to send to their family, wife and children at home. It is an important source of income for them!
If you are happy with the service provided, we recommend a tip of minimum 15€ per day spend on board.
When settling your account the Captain will have an envelope for gratuities that will be divided equally among the crew.
On the day of disembarkation our crew will transport you to the airport. Latest check out from the boat is 09.00AM. If you have a late return flight booked, the airport provides a “locker service” for your luggage. This way, you have the possibility to visit the capital of Maldives: Male. Another option is paying for a day pass for a hotel near the airport (http://www.hih.com.mv/), where you can enjoy the pool and bar facilities. Our crew will be happy to give you some advice.