Emperor Leo, Maldives

Name: Best of Maldives (Male - Male)
Start: 2026-11-21
End: 2026-11-28
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 $ 246 / 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.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

12 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,822

Select Cabin available

19 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,822

FULL

26 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid for a limited time only or until promotional spaces are sold out.

~~$ 2,822~~ $ 2,399 Save 15% -15%

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

03 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid for a limited time only or until promotional spaces are sold out.

~~$ 2,822~~ $ 1,976 Save 30% -30%

Select Cabin available

10 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid for a limited time only or until promotional spaces are sold out.

~~$ 2,822~~ $ 2,258 Save 20% -20%

Select Cabin available

17 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,822

Select Cabin available

24 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

Valid for a limited time only or until promotional spaces are sold out.

~~$ 2,822~~ $ 1,976 Save 30% -30%

Select Cabin available

31 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,822

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

14 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,996

Select Cabin available

21 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,996

FULL

28 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,996

Select Cabin available

05 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,996

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.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

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

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

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

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
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

9.6 Exceptional
Anne G
United States

Wonderful experience diving!
The dive masters did a great job at finding us good dive sites and plans for the conditions. Maldives is known for crystal clear water, which isn't what we had, but we were able to get some incredible dives in anyway. The guides did a great job managing a group with varying skills, languages, interests, and attitudes. We saw manta rays, sharks, many turtles, fish, and so much more. An unforgettable trip! The crew made a good effort to make Christmas and New Years special while we were on the boat. Thank you Leo crew!
Recommended for
Great food, guides, and comfortable bed.
24 Jan, 2017

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
Emmanuel B
France

Absolute happiness
The boat is ultra comfortable, the food varied and delicious, everything is rhythmed in a perfect way, the crews and guides are kind, dedicated and ultra efficient, at the end of the stay the tip becomes a matter of course as their work is fabulous, a special thank you to Ismail our guide, who knows the ocean like the back of his hand and made us live intense emotions. Finally, particular attention is paid to the respect of nature and animals, a rather marked sense of ecology ends up delighting us.Thank you!
Recommended for
Night diving with mantas, whale sharks, barbecue on the beach
29 Jan, 2020

Translated from French

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

9.2 Superb
Steve M
Belgium

Very nice and helpful crew, delicious meals and amazing dives!
I already did a lot of liveaboards but this one was the best when it comes to service! At the end of the trip they did even take care to clean our diving equipment and hang it out to dry.
Recommended for
Service from staff and instructors. Delicious food. Atmosphere.
12 May, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Minna K
Finland

Diving with sharks and mantas
Great dives with plenty of marine life, incl. various sharks and mantas, BBQ on a deserted island, beautiful scenery! Very lucky with the weather too, despite the rainy season.
Recommended for
Nice dive guides & crew, exciting marine life, mantas and sharks
16 Jul, 2018

154 reviews

9.1 Superb
154 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

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
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
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

10 Exceptional
Bernd K
Germany

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY
Since we were only three German divers, we were perfectly positioned in the German team together with Ichelle, who led the tour. The destinations were chosen in such a way that we could observe sharks or manta rays in more than half of the dives. Since there were mostly currents in the channel dives, we were instructed in the behavior beforehand, which was important for me, as I had no experience with drift diving before.The highlight was the night dive on the last evening, where plankton were attracted by light from the boat and lights on the bottom, which was a feast for a group of manta rays. An unforgettable experience.A barbecue evening on the beach and three birthdays with cake rounded off the experience.The food was varied and adapted for Europeans in spiciness.
Recommended for
With Ichelle I surprisingly had a German-speaking, very helpful guide. The dive destinations were perfectly chosen. The food was great.
31 Mar, 2025

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Michael C
Norway

Fantastic diving with great group of people
Diving with manta’s and lots of sharks, snorkling with whale shark, bbq on deserted island and great group of people from around the world sharing the same passion.
Recommended for
Diving, crew and guests
14 Jan, 2020

10 Exceptional
Anuniti Anil A
India

One of the best diving experiences
We had an amazing one week with Emperor Leo. The dive guides were fantastic, the crew was friendly and the cabins were comfortable- making the whole experience memorable. We saw everything from mantas, eagle rays, dolphins, whale shark, a variety of reef sharks, etc.
Recommended for
Crew, Great diving, Food
20 Jun, 2023

8.0 Very good
CLEMENT L
Malaysia

Outstanding
having great dives with awesome people from all around the world.
Recommended for
Choices of Food, Cleanliness, Friendly Crew
01 Aug, 2017

9.2 Superb
Sandy N
Singapore

Possibly the best liveaboard I ever did
Diving with nurse sharks at the jetty, dive site Maaya Thila, and watching manta feed at Maaya Lagoon. Dive briefings conducted by dive manager Jules were particularly enjoyable.
Recommended for
1. Dive guide: always ensuring our safety underwater. 2. Dive sites: good variety of big and small stuff, and schools of fish. 3. Dive boat and crew: clean, good sized cabins, nice food
29 Jun, 2024

9.2 Superb
Nicholas C
United Kingdom

A great trip, great diving, nice boat and good weather
Seeking so many sharks close up was an unforgettable experience as was night diving with the mantas. The visibility underwater was generally outstanding and the water was so warm.
Recommended for
1. the sharks 2. the visibility 3. the boat
03 May, 2024

9.2 Superb
Steffen H
Germany

Wonderful week of diving!
We had a great week on the Leo and felt well taken care of and looked after at all times. The briefings were extensive and informative, the food, the crew, everything was tip-top! Anytime again!
Recommended for
Our cabin (9). The dive guide (Albert). The whole crew!.
22 Jul, 2025

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

10 Exceptional
Scott H
United Kingdom

First liveaboard and won't be my last loved every minute of it.
Tiger sharks , oceanic mantas , bull sharks , wall of reef sharks... Great food everyday.
Recommended for
Marine life , guides , crew
22 Jan, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Sylvia H
Germany

dive-eat-sleep-repeat
It's been an amazing trip... rooms big and comfy, delicious food, friendly and helpful staff, bar and sun deck to relax and chat. All dive masters were friendly and did a great job showing us amazing diving spots. They even managed to arrange spontaneously everything so I could get my advanced open water course. The two night dives with sharks and rays and even mantas were two of my highlights. Having a BBQ at a local island and walk along the beach was a nice break from being on the boat. In the other evenings I also enjoyed sitting in the bar area to chat to everyone or lying on the sun deck to watch the stars.
Recommended for
great group, friendly and helpful staff, amazing food
04 Dec, 2018

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
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

10 Exceptional
Vasilij S
Lithuania

Best Of The Best
I wanted to experience diving with a sharks and team somehow with their amazing magic made it possible! :) Super happy and already looking for the next trip with emperor :)
Recommended for
sharks people views
11 Jan, 2021

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
Mirjam P
Austria

Very good, helpful and friendly staff with perfect ecperience!
Manta Night dive, many different pelagics, in every dive something special
Recommended for
Great guides, excellent service from Crew, Ocean view room is amazing
14 Jun, 2021

6.4 Review score
Hussein A
Tanzania

Its a trip of a lifettime,
We had booked with leo but than were transferred to explorer due to some maintenance issue on Leo, ni complains as it was an upgrade for us, Food was good, and enough for everyone Diving was great,
Recommended for
Night dive at fesdu lagoon , crew , food
10 Aug, 2022

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