Emperor Leo
Emperor Leo Liveaboard Dive Trips
The Emperor Leo, part of the prestigious Constellation Fleet, ensures professional cruise management and safe diving. At 115 feet long, Emperor Leo comfortably accommodates up to 24 guests, offering plenty of space for a relaxed diving experience.
The Maldives is a warm and captivating destination, home to rich marine life and vibrant coral reefs teeming with schools of fish and playful dolphins.
With 26 atolls featuring both outer and inner reefs, the Maldives is one of the world’s most diverse scuba diving destinations. The spectacular channel dives attract marine animals from the deep, leaving divers in awe. Towering pinnacles (thilas), rising from depths of 35m and tapering to 8m, are perfect for slow, relaxing dives.
Water temperatures in the Maldives average 27°C (80°F), with currents reaching up to 1.5 knots, ideal for encountering sharks and manta rays. Prepare for an awe-inspiring dive experience as you glide into the blue.
Join Emperor Leo for an unforgettable journey with manta rays and whale sharks in the sunny Maldives.
Book The Ultimate Liveaboard Dive Vacation Aboard The Emperor Leo Liveaboard with The Ultimate Dive Travel Agency
The Emperor Leo offers three unique 7-night itineraries throughout the year, each showcasing the best of Maldives diving.
The Best of the Maldives
Dive into the iconic sites of Rasdhoo Atoll, North & South Ari Atolls, Vaavu Atoll, and North & South Male Atolls.Deep South & Southern Sharks (February & March)
Explore the remote southern atolls, including Laamu Atoll, Huvadhoo Atoll, Foammulah Island, and Addu Atoll, for thrilling shark encounters.South Central Atolls (January-March)
Discover the diversity of North & South Male Atolls, Vaavu Atoll, Meemu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, and Laamu Atoll.
Experience unforgettable liveaboard diving aboard the Emperor Leo, exploring the pristine atolls and encountering sharks, manta rays, and the stunning marine life of the Maldives.
The Best of the Maldives itinerary lives up to its name, offering divers the chance to explore the most famous and breathtaking dive sites in the Maldives during an unforgettable week of liveaboard diving across the Male and Ari Atolls.
This dive holiday takes you to iconic sites in North Male, South Male, and Ari Atoll, where you’ll experience thrilling channel dives, drift dives, and spectacular pinnacles. Expect encounters with manta rays, whale sharks, and a mesmerizing array of marine life. Flexibility is key on this itinerary, ensuring that no matter when you visit, the underwater wonders of the Maldives are ready for exploration.
This journey offers a perfect blend of big fish encounters, such as shark and manta ray dives, alongside vibrant reef dives filled with reef fish, moray eels, and abundant macro life. Get up close at the cleaning stations without disturbing the natural habitat. One of the most famous dive sites on this route is Maaya Thila, a 30-meter-wide pinnacle teeming with sharks and schools of fish.
A night dive from sheltered moorings at Maaya Thila is highly recommended. The liveaboard also makes every effort to locate whale sharks, giving you the chance to snorkel with these gentle giants—if they stay long enough!
The Deep South and Southern Sharks trip is available in February and March, the ideal time to sail to the remote southern Maldivian atolls and dive into thrilling shark encounters at lesser-known dive sites between Huvadhoo and Addu (Seenu) Atolls.
Spend a week away from the crowds, diving at Foammulah and Huvadhoo, where you can encounter some of the Indian Ocean’s largest residents, including tiger sharks, silvertip sharks, grey reef sharks, whale sharks, and many more.
Your adventure begins with a domestic flight from Male to Laamu (Kadhdhoo) or Addu (Gan), where you’ll board your liveaboard and embark on this unforgettable journey. Laamu Atoll, an oval-shaped southern atoll, is home to world-renowned dive sites like Guraidhoo and Gan. In Foammulah, expect close encounters with tiger sharks and silvertip sharks. At Huvadhoo, one of the Maldives’ deepest lagoons, strong currents create the perfect conditions for shark sightings, including whale sharks, silkies, hammerheads, and tiger and grey reef sharks.
Experience exhilarating channel dives at several kandus, including Vilingilli, Nilandhoo, Mareehaa, and Kondeey. Addu Atoll is home to the WWII wreck of the HMS British Loyalty and features popular manta cleaning stations, offering more relaxed dives to start or end your trip.
This itinerary is perfect for experienced divers (100+ dives) seeking unique, off-the-beaten-path diving, with a strong emphasis on drift diving.
Looking for action-packed diving? Speedy drift dives, encounters with manta rays and sharks, and exploring multiple atolls await you. Our experienced guides and crew ensure you spot mantas, sharks, and other magical marine creatures emerging from the deep blue.
January to March is the ideal time to join us, as the currents in the Kandus flow predominantly from the east. This period offers a great variety of dives, from thrilling channel dives to more relaxed exploration of Thilas or Giris inside the atolls.
The best part? There are few other boats in these atolls, which are dotted with uninhabited islands and limited resorts, meaning low liveaboard competition and a peaceful diving experience.
Expect to find hammerhead sharks in Thaa Atoll and whale sharks visiting the boat at night, drawn by the krill attracted to the lights. When the currents are strong, the channel dives here are spectacular, with abundant sightings of schooling snappers, jacks, barracudas, whitetip sharks, grey reef sharks, groupers, Napoleon wrasse, turtles, and eagle rays.
You’ll either board your liveaboard in Male or Laamu (Kadhdhoo) before embarking on this incredible adventure.
This itinerary is rich in drift diving, making it ideal for advanced divers. With excellent visibility in the southern atolls, it’s also perfect for photographers and videographers seeking large pelagic action.
Looking for an extended adventure? The South Central Atolls trip pairs perfectly with the Deep South & Southern Sharks itinerary. Stay onboard for an extended journey to explore the southernmost atolls of the Maldives, where even more exciting channel dives and pelagic encounters await.
Name: Emperor Leo
Type: Wooden hull
Length: 115 feet
Beam: 31 feet
Engine: 500 HP Mitsubishi
Water Makers: 9500lt/day
Nav and Comms: VHF radio, GPS chart plotter, Telephone, Mobile
Diving facilities
Compressors: 2 x Coltri + Nitrox
Nitrox diving: FREE
Dive equipment rental: Full range on offer, must be arranged before arrival. SMB, dive computer and reef hooks are required on all dives. For your safety, both SMBs and reef hooks are offered complimentary.
Safety: Oxygen/Medic First Aid Kit
Dhoni: Large diving dhoni, fully equipped with compressors, tanks & oxygen kits
Camera facilities: Charging stations, air gun, rinse tanks & camera table
Accommodation
Upper deck: 1 double suite, 2 twin (can be changed to doubles), 1 twin.
Lower deck: 2 double, 2 twin (can be changed to doubles), 4 twin.
All cabins: Ensuite, with individually controlled air con and fan.
Main deck: Comfy sofas, bar, Jacuzzi
Life jackets & life rafts
Guests: maximum 24
Crew: Dhoni Crew: 3 Diving Guides: 4
Maldives Map
Emperor Leo
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Water temperatures typically range between 27 – 30°C (80-86°F), though thermoclines may be encountered at depths below 20 meters.
A Lycra 3mm wetsuit is suitable for tropical waters, though some divers prefer a 5mm wetsuit if doing multiple dives per day. It depends on your comfort, and we’re happy to advise.
Generally, 60 minutes to ensure the safety and accounting of all divers.
At Emperor, we are highly environmentally conscious. Please refrain from using knives or gloves during dives and avoid touching, riding, feeding, or harassing marine life. Return to the boat with no less than 30 bar in your tank, and ascend/descend near the reef or mooring line. No solo or decompression diving is allowed, and good buoyancy control is required, especially when using cameras.
There are 17 dives offered per week, with 2-3 dives per day. Please ensure you leave a minimum of 24 hours between your last dive and your flight or any trips to altitude.
All itineraries and dive sites are subject to change due to weather conditions and Maldivian Government approvals. The captain and dive guides will have the final say on dive sites to ensure the safety of guests, staff, and the vessel. No refunds or compensation will be offered for missed dives or changes to dive sites due to these factors.
Meals are typically served buffet-style with a mix of local and international dishes. Fish is available, mostly frozen, with some fresh catches along the way. For special dietary needs, such as vegetarian or allergies, please inform us in advance. Items like gluten-free products or soy substitutes may not be available, as we source ingredients locally.
Wi-Fi is available on all liveaboards, with service dependent on mobile signal, usually near port or inhabited areas. The service supports limited browsing and communication apps. For high data usage, we recommend purchasing a local SIM card at Male airport. Your Emperor Maldives representative can assist you.
Importing alcohol is prohibited in the Maldives and will be confiscated at Customs upon arrival, returned to you at departure. Alcohol is available onboard, with beer priced around $5 USD, spirits between $6-10 USD, and wine bottles ranging from $30-50 USD.
- Thila: An underwater island that may be small enough to circle during a dive or large enough to explore one side. Found within Kandus, these sites feature strong currents and rich marine life.
- Kandu: A channel or pass at the edge of an atoll, ideal for drift dives and spotting sharks, tuna, and mantas.
- Lagoon: Each island has its own lagoon, typically shallow (up to 20 meters), sandy, and protected from currents. Great for snorkeling and scuba courses, but not as rich in marine life.
UK 3-pin sockets are used, with 220 volts AC 50Hz.
