Emperor Leo, Maldives

Name: Best of Maldives (Male - Male)
Start: 2026-12-26
End: 2027-01-02
Location: Maldives

9.1 Superb

Nitrox available
Free Nitrox
Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 280 / day Check dates

“I already did a lot of liveaboards but this one was the best when it comes to service! ”
Steve M, Belgium

Highlights

All port, fuel, and park fees are included
Modern layout with double or twin cabins
Itineraries include The Best of the Maldives, South Central Atolls, and Deep South & Southern Sharks

The Emperor Leo liveaboard offers good value liveaboard diving year-round in the Maldives. She caters to 24 guests in 12 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins. There are eight double or twin cabins on the lower deck, three double or twin cabins on the upper deck, and one large executive suite. On the main deck is the large indoor salon with an entertainment area, bar, and dining room, which leads out to the front deck where the hot tub is. On the upper deck is an outdoor terrace to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset, and the upper deck has comfortable loungers for sunbathing in between dives.

The Emperor Leo dive itineraries explore some of the best dive sites in the Maldives. The ever-popular ‘Best of Maldives’ itinerary goes to the iconic sites of North Male, South Male, and Ari Atoll, where divers can enjoy channels, drifts, pinnacles, and the chance to meet mantas, whale sharks, and a wide variety of marine life. Diving takes place from the diving dhoni, giving ample room for getting ready and gear storage. Nitrox is free for certified divers.

Trips aboard Emperor liveaboards include all port and park fees, free Nitrox, and even complimentary wine, while you will never be charged extra for itinerary or fuel surcharges. What you see is what you pay.

Book online today to dive into the Maldives aboard Emperor Leo.

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Date

Itinerary

Price

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26 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,801

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03 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,801

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10 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,801

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17 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid until September 21, 2026.

~~$ 2,801~~ $ 2,241 Save 20% -20%

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24 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid until September 21, 2026.

~~$ 2,801~~ $ 2,241 Save 20% -20%

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31 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,801

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14 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,973

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21 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,973

FULL

28 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid until September 21, 2026.

~~$ 2,973~~ $ 2,378 Save 20% -20%

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05 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,973

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12 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,973

FULL

19 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,088

Select Cabin available

Included: VAT, Environment Tax, Port Fees, Airport Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Wine with Dinner, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Nitrox, Land Excursions, Snorkel Gear, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels.

Optional Extras: Gratuities ($150), Alcoholic Beverages ($5), Soft drinks ($3), Nitrox Course ($284), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses ($101-466), WiFi internet ($31).

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

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Boat features

Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Camera Station
Paid Internet
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Library
Audio & video entertainment
Available for Charter
Daily housekeeping

Food & Drinks

Free Wine w/Dinner
Beer available
Wine Available
Full-board Option
Fine Wines Selection
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Free Nitrox
DIN Adaptors
Rebreather Support
Tenders for diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, French, and Spanish.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 2009

Year renovated: 2012

Length: 35m

Beam: 9.4m

Top speed: 12 knots

Cruising speed: 10 knots

Engines: 500 HP Mitsubishi

Max guests: 24

Number of cabins: 12

Number of bathrooms: 12

Tenders: Large diving dhoni fully equipped with compressors tanks & oxygen kits

Freshwater maker: 12000 liters per day

Boat navigation and safety

Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Crew trained in first aid

Emperor Leo Reviews

9.1 Superb

Vessel

8.7
Crew

8.9
Food

9.7
Diving

9.3
Value

8.9

9.6 Exceptional
Eric R
United States

No regrets on my first Maldives trip. The long plane ride (SFO-SIN-MLE) was the worst part.
Fantastic from stepping on the first boat (dhoni.) Met at the airport, then walked across the street to our dive boat, where we had our gear set up even before reaching the liveaboard boat.
Recommended for
Dive crew was fantastic. All creatures, great and small - Mantas being the greatest. Food was tasty and plentiful, with local flair.
08 Apr, 2026

10 Exceptional
Ben P
Luxembourg

Amazing
Had a great week on LEO, diving was just excellent, staff and guides super friendly and food was always very tasty. Saw mantas, sharks, rays and a whaleshark.
Recommended for
sealife diveguides food
18 Jan, 2019

10 Exceptional
Maxim Y
Bulgaria

Great!
Great, and Tina and Oli are really comitted..
Recommended for
The whale sharks, the mantas and other sharks
27 Oct, 2015

10 Exceptional
Sean Percival Y
Spain

Amazing first liveaboard experience
It’s been an amazing week onboard the Emperor Leo. The crew were absolutely amazing and so were the dive guides. The boat itself is huge and very spacious. Would love to repeat this trip in the future!
Recommended for
Crew friendliness and service. Boat and cabin comfort. Food onboard.
15 Jul, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Ekaterina E
France

Love!
Incredible night dive and snorkel with mantas Close-up interactions with nurse sharks and a lot of shark action Informative lectures about sharks and mantas :)
Recommended for
World-class diving with pelagics, food, Jules!
03 Mar, 2024

10 Exceptional
Patree W
Thailand

Great experience
Really good time and top notch service from start to finish. Food had good flavor and variety and loved the Maldivian dinner on the last night.
Recommended for
Rooms, boat, equipment were really nice. Great staff and guides. Enjoyed the food a lot.
18 Feb, 2026

9.2 Superb
Grace C
United States

Excellently organized and fun liveaboard
Great crew and surprisingly delicious and varied food (though some of it tended to run out...not sure if that was the boat's fault or some of the guests on board...). Overall great experience, saw mind-blowing dive sites and safety was very important to the boat manager and guides. Would definitely recommend this liveaboard to others.
Recommended for
Dive sites, food, comfort
02 Apr, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
Andrew D
Australia

Superb
Absolutely superb trip. A clean,comfortable and well maintained boat. Varied and tasty food. Friendly, obliging and discreet crew. 17 interesting and differing dives including an extraordinary night dive with mantas. Rented scuba gear in flawless condition. Exceeded our expectations. Well done and thank you all.
Recommended for
Dive variety, fish life, dive guide
16 Jul, 2019

9.2 Superb
Jeremie G
France

Very pleasant and relaxing week
Nice trip
Recommended for
The friendliness and professionalism of the dive guides. Marine life. Alexia and Maria.
24 Jun, 2025

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Andrea K
Germany

Unbelievably great trip
All around perfect week with lots of great dives, delicious food, beautiful sunsets on the beach. Crew was very accommodating.
Recommended for
Swimming with nurse sharks, dives, very tasty food
28 Jun, 2024

Translated from German

154 reviews

9.1 Superb
154 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

8.4 Very good
Davide L
Italy

Will do again
The overall trip was very good with a good value for money.
Recommended for
Dive sites / Boat comfort / Staff friendliness
14 Jan, 2020

10 Exceptional
Daniel Z
United States

An UnforgettAn Unforgettable First Liveaboard Experience!able First Liveaboard Experience!
Our trip on the Emperor Leo was our very first liveaboard experience—and it far exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we stepped aboard, we were welcomed with warm smiles, professionalism, and top-notch hospitality. The boat itself was stunning—immaculately clean, beautifully maintained, and thoughtfully designed. Our cabin offered the most incredible ocean view, making every sunrise and sunset a breathtaking experience right from our room. The food was absolutely delicious, featuring freshly caught fish, tropical fruits, and irresistible desserts. After each dive, we were treated to refreshing juices or freshly baked cakes, a small touch that made a big impact. The dive crew was outstanding—experienced, friendly, and always ready to help. They made every dive safe, fun, and memorable. One of the magical touches of the trip was the nightly light setup behind the boat, where we could watch mantas, dolphins, and nurse sharks right from the deck. It was surreal. Beyond the diving and the boat itself, one of the highlights was the amazing people we met—fellow travelers who quickly became friends. This journey was truly unforgettable, and we loved it so much that we've already booked our next trip. If you're considering a liveaboard in the Maldives, Emperor Leo is the perfect choice. Highly recommended!
Recommended for
Exceptional Hospitality and Delicious Food – From fresh seafood and tropical fruits to post-dive snacks like cakes and juices, every meal and gesture made us feel pampered and well taken care of.. Top-Notch Diving Experience – The dive crew was incredibly skilled, supportive, and knowledgeable, making every dive safe, exciting, and seamless.. Unforgettable Atmosphere Onboard – The beautiful, clean boat, ocean-view cabins, nightly marine life viewing, and the friendships we made created a warm, memorable atmosphere that we’ll never forget..
02 May, 2025

9.2 Superb
Cindi D
United States

My trip to Male and to the Maldives was a "lifetime experience"!
Seeing the whale sharks, and the manta rays! Those were the two reasons that I booked the trip. The city tour to Male was a "bonus" - something that gave me a good cultural experience, and a way to see how other people in the world actually live.
Recommended for
1. The diving was phenomenal! 2. The crew, service, and food was great! 3. The new friendships that I made with all of the other divers on the trip. We have all exchanged emails.
28 Nov, 2016

8.8 Fabulous
Mikkel S
Denmark

End of Season Maldives Trip
Very large boat, lots of space onboard. Friendly crew and good setup for diving (gear handling and so forth)
Recommended for
Friendly Crew. Space onboard. Diving.
23 Jul, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Jeff C
United States

One of, if not the best, dive trips I've taken.
I arrived at the Male airport around 730 AM and waited for the ride to the Leo, as expected. There was a short boat ride to the Leo from the airport. During the trip to the Leo, we were instructed to remove our SCUBA equipment from our luggage and set it up. Upon arrival to the Leo, we were given liquid refreshments along with a short briefing followed by paperwork / documentation verification and cabin assignments. Every evening we were provided times for the next morning's wake-up call, briefing, and departure times to start the dive. Along with this, the information was provided in writing on a white board in the galley/common room. The process and procedures for the briefings and times are well coordinated and thought out. The dive site briefings were as thorough as could be and included options based on water current conditions and directions. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They did a very good job at watching the divers and making sure everyone had the best experience possible, to include matching divers based on air consumption rates and certification levels. The boat crew was phenomenal to say the least. They have the process down to a science and never missed a beat. The meals were delicious and well prepared. The boat, including our cabins, was kept clean. Any maintenance issues that popped up were handled immediately. Now for the actual diving. I was not expecting the currents in Maldives and it took some getting used to. Also, I had some weight issues, as the salinity in the Maldives is a lot less than any place I had previously been. Once I got lined out, I was good to go. For most of the dives, visibility was pretty good, 10 to 20 meters on the low side. Pelagics on every dive, with loads of reef and nurse sharks, several whale sharks and manta rays. One of the best dives of my life was at a site called Fish Head. It's a dive with nurse sharks. There were 20 to 25 of them on one dive and they acted like a cross between dolphins and puppies. The closest thing I can say as a negative is there could have been a couple of additional dives. There was only one night dive during the week. Safety is always a top priority. Reminders about No Deco limits are given before every dive. Most of the dives are between 20 and 30 meters. Everyone dives on nitrox and is required to have reef hooks and dive computers. Divers sign or initial a nitrox log before the dive and provides dive depth, time, and pressure remaining at the end of the dive as a means of accountability. So all divers are logged in and out of the water. I have been in the Caribbean, Persian Gulf, Mediterranean and Red Seas. This trip is one of the best experiences I have had in over 300 dives. It is well worth going and I look forward to going again.
Recommended for
The three best things about the trip were the staff/crew, the accommodations, and the aquatic life.
12 Jun, 2019

10 Exceptional
Alizee M
France

I recommend 100%
I felt safe from start to finish on this cruise.The guides are perfect: they have an excellent knowledge of the environment and do everything to respect the fauna and flora. We have briefs to explain what we can see underwater: the behaviour of the animals, what to do and what not to do.I'm vegan and my partner is a vegetarian: they've been taking care of us all week.They did everything they could to make this cruising week amazing, and it was.The ocean is not a zoo, there is no guarantee of what you will see in the water. However, the guides do everything so that you can see beautiful things and above all: each dive is unforgettable: the sites are exceptional and you see sharks on every dive.We were also incredibly lucky to be alone with a whale shark and to see a manta ray at the back of the boat.We will be back!
Recommended for
Adaptability - Knowledge of the environment - safety
18 Mar, 2024

10 Exceptional
Camila F
Brazil

Absolutely wonderful!
It was just amazing! I can 100% recommend Emperor Leo! We had everyday 3 dives and 1 day a night dive, we were super lucky and had very good conditions.. the crew was super friendly and took so good care of us. We can see that they do all with love. You think about sth and there is someone there for you. The diving in Malediven was really the best of my life. We had so much luck with Manta Ray in the station and feeding, on the night dive we also went snorkelling with them. Other than that the fish life is so rich in all the diving sites, beautiful soft coral, lovely for macro life.. so so many sharks.. just amazing. Just have to thank and thank one thousand times for the most amazing week!!
Recommended for
The sieving sites, the crew and guides, the comfort
04 Aug, 2022

10 Exceptional
Eugene W
Malaysia

something special and magical
The crews were friendly, kind, experienced and knowledgeable. The briefings were amazing. Knowing the people there were so fun and the dives were perfect.
Recommended for
crew, cruise, company
18 Dec, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Oskar F
Sweden

An amazing experience
The variety of different marine lifes (sharks, manta rays, turtles and various reef fish) and the night dive (amazing - with full on action from predators searching the reef and all other small creatures which you rarely see during the days).
Recommended for
Diving, friendliness & service from staff and an overall great experience
27 May, 2019

9.2 Superb
Giovanna S
Germany

Amazing 😊
This was my first liveaboard with emperor and I can totally recommend it.
Recommended for
Great Dive Guides, beautiful dive spots and great food
29 Jan, 2020

9.6 Exceptional
Pedro L
Australia

Fantastic crew in a wonderful trip experience with diverse dive spots. Eva, Patrick and rest of the crew will be the best of your valuable time.
Variaty of diving sites, well combined with an unforgettable BBQ in a island. Lots of sharks, mantas and all Maldives fishes and corals will make the best trip combination.
Recommended for
Crew, boat and jacuzzi!!!
08 Feb, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
john C
United Kingdom

Awesome diving experience with superb dive guides.
Gabriel and Maria were our dive guides for the trip who have many years experience. For them it is not just a job, it is a passion and that comes across very clearly. We saw everything we hoped to see...Mantas, eagle rays, tons of sharks including a great night dive surrounded by sharks. A whaleshark was also spotted just before he disappeared into the depths. Although we were booked on Leo boat we all were upgraded to Orion due to technical issues on Leo. All changed over in the blink of an eye and no inconvenience to anyone. Diving from a Dhoni is an added luxury to the experience as all dive gear remains on the Dhoni all week and the crew fill tanks whilst you are enjoying the plentiful food aboard the boat. We will definately use Emporer fleet again. An awesome week!
Recommended for
The boat, the experienced dive guides and the variety of dive sites
22 Oct, 2017

8.0 Very good
Alistair D
United Kingdom

Good boat, great crew and fantastic diving
Channel diving with dozens of Grey Reef Sharks and Eagle Rays. Chance encounters with a Whale Shark, Mobulas, Sailfish and Dolphins. A great week of diving.
Recommended for
Diving, Accomodation, Crew
03 Apr, 2019

9.2 Superb
Daisy V
Belgium

Very comfortable, and challenging but cool dives
Challenging dives with the currents, but all the briefings and help from dive guides was very extensive. We learned a lot, and really enjoyed our 17 dives!
Recommended for
Nice people. Comfortable & big cabin. Nice diving.
23 Mar, 2026

10 Exceptional
Melody W
Singapore

Magical dive trip in Maldives!
Manta rays that come close to the surface at the back of the boat to play, sharks everywhere and great boat!
Recommended for
The food, the people and the amazingly attentive dive crew
25 Oct, 2018

10 Exceptional
Michele T
United States

Fantastic liveaboard, crew and dive guides: Very Well Organized
We were upgraded to the Emperor Explorer, which was a fantastic boat. We were amazed by the number of reef sharks, mantas, stingrays and eels that were spotted.
Recommended for
The food was varied and always delicious. The dive briefings were informative and very beneficial to our dive experience.
05 Aug, 2022

10 Exceptional
Clémence V
France

At the top!
Awesome trip, no complaints! The sharks were there, life on board was pleasant. Sure, one day I'll put on the fins again aboard the Leo!
Recommended for
The quality of the dives. The quality of the meals. The boat.
12 Mar, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Eleanor F
United Kingdom

Incredible trip, great crew, great company
Night dive watching 3 mantas feeding, diving with whalesharks, sharks galore!, 100th dive celebrations for 2 fellow divers
Recommended for
Crew, fellow divers, very well organised operation
09 Jun, 2023

10 Exceptional
Patricia N
Canada

Top notch operation
Whale sharks and manta rays. Hook diving to watch the sharks is always interesting.
Recommended for
loved the roominess on this boat. By having a seperate dive dhoani there is a lot more space on our live aboard. The dives were quite varied which made it interesting. The crew were awesome
27 Feb, 2020