Seafari Explorer 2, Maldives

Name: Sharks and Mantas Expedition (Male - Addu Atoll)
Start: 2027-01-24
End: 2027-02-07
Location: Maldives

8.3 Very good

Nitrox available
Free Internet
Free Nitrox
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 270 / day Check dates

“Choice of dive sites were amazing. ”
Elmar P, United Kingdom

Highlights

Spacious, comfortable accommodation
Free Nitrox for Nitrox certified divers
Onboard bar area for enjoying a relaxing drink
Itineraries visiting popular areas of the Maldives - Northern, Central & Southern Atolls

Seafari Explorer 2 liveaboard operates dive trips in the fabulous Maldives. Refurbished in 2020, it has 12 ensuite cabins with individual air conditioning. There is a mix of double, twin, and single cabins available to offer guests comfortable accommodation during their chosen itinerary. The bright and airy indoor salon area is perfect for relaxing during the day or evening, with a large TV for watching underwater footage or movies. An outdoor saloon has space to enjoy the views and grab a drink at the onboard bar, while spacious sun deck areas allow guests to soak up the warm Maldivian sunshine.

The itineraries offered by Seafari Explorer 2 liveaboard cover all the top spots in the Maldives. Visiting such areas in the Northern, Central & Southern atolls and well-known dive areas like Ari Atoll, Vaavu, and North & South Male atolls. Divers can expect all the best marine life encounters that have made the Maldives a popular diving destination. Well known for its Thilas and Manta encounters, Seafari Explorer 2 offers guests all they need to cruise and dive into these places comfortably.

Take a look at the itineraries offered by Seafari Explorer 2 liveaboard and book easily online today.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

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18 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$200 OFF! Rates include discounts + Second Guest at 50% OFF. Valid for a limited time only.

$ 2,300 Deal %

Select Cabin available

25 Oct

11 Days / 10 Nights

$300 OFF! Rates include discounts. Valid for a limited time only.

$ 3,015 Deal %

Select Cabin available

05 Nov

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,215

FULL

15 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,395

FULL

22 Nov

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,215

FULL

03 Dec

11 Days / 10 Nights

Male Shared Cabin. Last space for men only.

$ 3,315

Select Cabin only 1 space left

13 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$200 OFF! Rates include discounts + Second Guest at 50% OFF. Valid for a limited time only.

$ 2,300 Deal %

Select Cabin available

20 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$200 OFF! Rates include discounts + Second Guest at 50% OFF. Valid for a limited time only.

$ 2,300 Deal %

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

27 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,395

FULL

03 Jan

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,315

FULL

14 Jan

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,835

FULL

24 Jan

15 Days / 14 Nights

$ 5,525

Select Cabin available

Included: VAT, Fuel Surcharge, National Park Fees, Airport Transfer, Local Flights, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Nitrox, Land Excursions, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, WiFi internet.

Required Extras: Environment Tax ($12 / day), Mandatory Service Charge ($125-250 / trip).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Extra Dives ($30 / activity), Nitrox Course ($185), Private Dive Guide ($80 / day), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses ($150), Snorkel Gear.

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

Free Internet
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Seaview Cabins
Indoor Saloon
Audio & video entertainment
TV in cabins
Available for Charter
Bar

Food & Drinks

Beer available
Wine Available
Beach BBQ
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
Dive deck
Tenders for diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English.

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 renovated: 2020

Length: 43 meters

Max guests: 20

Number of cabins: 14

Number of bathrooms: 12

Freshwater maker: YES

Boat navigation and safety

GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Search light
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Seafari Explorer 2 Reviews

8.3 Very good
29 Verified Reviews

Vessel

8.6
Crew

8.6
Food

8.6
Diving

8.1
Value

7.9

10 Exceptional
FRAN B
Spain

Spectacular
I have been to quite a few liveaboard trips and without a doubt this has been the best. If you had any problem they solved it right away, they were all day looking and checking which dive sites were best to go to at that time. The food was great and the crew always had a smile on their faces. Mizzé was our guide and the truth is that he did it spectacularly but the other guides Evan, Ahusan and Nicolás did it just as well. Totally recommended.
Recommended for
Dive sites. Boat organization. Crew.
27 Sep, 2026

Translated from Spanish

9.2 Superb
Andrea C
Italy

Highly recommend
Despite having 5 days of unexpected rain, the staff went out of their way to make the holiday absolutely enjoyable. The hostess, beard, is a fantastic person.
Recommended for
The boat. The crew. The company.
11 Jan, 2025

Translated from Italian

10 Exceptional
KIN LEUNG L
Hong Kong

Diving for more than 15 years
All are perfect!
Recommended for
Friendly and helpful crew members,tasty food, professional guides
18 Dec, 2023

10 Exceptional
HYUNSE K
South Korea

A truly perfect liveaboard experience
It was an unforgettable trip with delicious food, kind staff, and amazing dives. Every moment was perfect!
Recommended for
The delicious food. The friendly staff. The perfect guide.
13 Oct, 2025

10 Exceptional
Anne B
France

Dreaming every day
The fabulous colors of the corals, the fish .....for photographers like me it's the TOP !! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Recommended for
The quality of the dives, the friendliness of the staff and dive masters, the friendliness
04 Aug, 2022

Translated from French

8.4 Very good
Veronika A
Germany

Gladly again
Great overall experience, nice crew, great dive spots, best food, comfortable cabins and nice group!
Recommended for
Diving. Essen. Entire crew and people on board.
05 Apr, 2026

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Fanny
France

Croisière de rêve
Raies mantas, requins et requin baleine
Recommended for
Plongée, confort, repas
04 Nov, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Philippe L
France

Very good overall
Every day
Recommended for
Cabin comfort, excellent food, dive sites
01 Feb, 2024

Translated from French

8.4 Very good
Jesper S
Denmark

Amazing experience
Seeing a so abundant amount of life under water. Giving my now fiancé a ring on her finger on a small sandy Island with the help your Crew
Recommended for
The dives, Our room, the Crew
30 Nov, 2022

9.2 Superb
Elmar P
United Kingdom

Great diving week
The boat was refurbished not too long ago and it shows :). Room and shower was better than my home. I could have stayed for a year :). Choice of dive sites were amazing. Boat crew was very friendly and gave us a great service overall.
Recommended for
Crew, food, dives
15 Jan, 2024

29 reviews

Sort reviews by:

8.0 Very good
Paul W
United Kingdom

Good diving, good priced accommodation and food, but a French boat and unwritten preferences to French divers on arrival at sites and inflexible departure arrangements
Mantas and sharks Meeting new friends
Recommended for
Diving, being in Maldives, other divers in our group
11 Dec, 2023

8.8 Fabulous
Sara P
Italy

Unforgettable experience!
The trip on Seafari was unforgettable and far beyond expectations, even compared to the other reviews I had read. We had a mixed group of guests from different nationalities, and there was great interaction and very pleasant company throughout the trip. The daily program was perfectly organized, with plenty of activities and no time to get bored, while still leaving space for those who preferred to relax and rest. The crew, extremely professional, went well beyond what was expected, organizing themed evenings and a spectacular beach BBQ. I have been on many cruises, and I can confidently say that this one was of a very high standard. I would also like to add that, even though I am not a diver, I always had a guide available for snorkeling and was able to join the activities of the other diving guests, with the opportunity to see a great variety of marine life (whale sharks, mantas, eagle rays, sharks…), experiences that would not be possible with the usual snorkeling trips organized by resorts. The dive guides were also extremely professional and always helpful. I definitely recommend this type of trip, especially on the Seafari Explorer — an experience of great value!
Recommended for
A full and well-rounded program of activities. Outstanding professionalism and availability of the crew. The chance to see and experience things not available with other kinds of trips.
08 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
Karin R
Germany

Great tour
The 15-day tour started in the south and already at the beginning the tiger sharks were of course an amazing experience. In search of hammerhead sharks, manta rays and whale sharks, the crew tried very hard to get the best options out of it. The dives took place in well-coordinated small groups and it was tailored to individual needs. The atmosphere on board was relaxed and all guests were well taken care of. The cabins were great, just like the rest of the boat. At the end of the tour, all the equipment was washed and dried for the guests. I would go again at any time
Recommended for
Perfectly coordinated crew, great service around the clock, many great dives
05 Jul, 2023

8.8 Fabulous
Camille R
France

Great experience
Marine life
Recommended for
The dives, the crew, and the boat
05 Feb, 2022

8.8 Fabulous
Renato G
Italy

Very good experience
The chance of see many different diving spot
Recommended for
Diving, Guides and boat
05 Feb, 2022

8.8 Fabulous
YVES R
France

Great
Beach dinner on the island - dives with the mantas - dives with the sharks
Recommended for
Dives - the boat - the staff
05 Feb, 2022

8.8 Fabulous
Jessica H
Germany

Very nice tour
The crew is exceptionally friendly and professional. The pick up from the airport worked great. The food was great and there are plenty of retreats on the boat, but also plenty of places to meet and exchange with fellow travelers.
Recommended for
Lots of manta rays, nurse sharks, excellent food
05 Feb, 2022

10 Exceptional
Jean philippe L
Canada

Great dive trip
Modern boat with great staff. A lot of underwater life. Good food
Recommended for
Great service. French speaking. Nice boat and dives.
15 Feb, 2026

8.0 Very good
PIERGIORGIO B
Italy

Inspired by the true story
Whale sharks and manta rays
Recommended for
Every day always excellent dives with lots of marine life
05 Feb, 2022

8.8 Fabulous
RUDY M
France

Nice stay on a nice boat
Comfortable and pleasant boat to live in, quality and varied meals, itinerary allowing you to discover very beautiful sites. The rented equipment is quite limited and not always suitable. The return the day before at 2pm to Malé is a real shame, no point in getting stuck on the boat in the bay between the different boats and the planes taking off...
Recommended for
Comfortable room. Quality of meals. Itinerary.
02 Jan, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Donald L
United States

Awesome unforgettable leaving planning and wishing to return
Manta Cleaning statio Stunning abundance and diversity of marine life The mall deviant cultural experience on the last night with the traditional dinner and gastronomic cuisine prepared for royalty
Recommended for
The attention the guides placed on safetyThe mall deviant cultural experience on the last night with the traditional dinner and gastronomic cuisine prepared for royalty security of clients in the water during the dive and return to Dhoanni
05 Feb, 2022

8.0 Very good
Thierry D
France

No luck with the poor weather for 2/3 of the cruise. Too focused on macrofauna.
The last 3 days under the sun
Recommended for
Macrofauna at the rendezvous. Night dives (2) without interest. Attentive local staff
29 Nov, 2022

5.6 Review score
Sarah D
Canada

The boat and the local crew are great, but there is a big lack of dives.
The scenery in the Maldives is breathtaking and the local employees were exemplary. On the other hand, there are several shortcomings at the seafari level: poorly guided or even dangerous dives, diving staff not listening, no way to reach the external seafari management staff...
Recommended for
Excellent food, cook accommodating to food intolerances, cleanliness of the boat
14 Aug, 2022

7.2 Good
Brigitte V
Netherlands

If you’re not francophone, look elsewhere
Positives: food was non-pretentious but honest, tasty and well-prepared, size of the boat was comfortable for 19 divers (though the maximum capacity is higher), the 2-week duration of the trip provided ample time to explore central and central-south area, staff was friendly & helpful. Negatives: overall maintenance of the boat and cabins; our cabin, which was the most expensive, had several issues known by management prior to departure, such as AC not functioning properly (too cold), cabinet drawer not functioning properly and curtains were detached from the rail (we had to fix ourselves), the bedlinnen has not been changed in 2 weeks (which is very cheap), there was no wifi in the cabin, and overall tidiness of the boat was not up to proper standards, e.g. shared areas were partially used for general storage of goods. Overall, if budget is a concern, Seafaring Explorer is a value for money solution. If not, there are better alternatives. One last note, we had underestimated some prior reviews about the predominance of francophone guests. During our trip, out of 19 guests only 3 were not francophone. Though guests were overall kind and friendly, inevitably the social component was totally absent for non-francophone guests for the entire duration of the trip.
Recommended for
Food, friendliness of staff, duration of trip
03 May, 2024

8.0 Very good
Benjamin S
Germany

Good but not great! Been on better safaris!
It was a pity that I was the only "non-French" who didn't speak French! It would have been good to have been informed about this in advance! Such a sole "special role" is not necessarily a hit!
Recommended for
24 dives in total!. Comfort on board!. Nitrox and Donie reliability.
28 Mar, 2025

6.0 Review score
Andreas S
Germany

Excellent dives, best guide since I've been diving, nice crew, but breakfast hardly worth mentioning
Bebe is the best guide we've ever had. Estimation of the current, selection of dive sites, guiding everything excellent. But on the day of arrival the ship does not leave yet and on the last day we had to check out at 06:45 due to guest change. You also couldn't check out later for those who flew later. Breakfast was inadequate. 1x there were cheap slices of cheese. Muesli and sliced fruit in selection was not available, only one variety: either papaya or melon. The tea selection was very limited. There was no filter coffee, only instant coffee. For 12€ you could buy Nespresso capsules....omelettes could be ordered, but the pancakes were cold and hardly edible. Jam was available with two varieties in the typical 2* Hôtel packaging. Bottleneck every morning was the slow toaster. Here you had to toast your two toasts yourself, which led to the corresponding waiting time of the guests. On other ships, the crew toasted in advance. Between the TG 6:30/10:30/14:30 and breakfast/lunch there was no time to shower, so some of the guests were already sitting at the table and others came later. In the afternoon there were snacks except cheap biscuits, 2x smallest pieces of cake, which were immediately out and not enough for everyone. And only once a tunna toast....all very poor. Lunch/dinner were better. The final barbecue, on the other hand, is very good. Drink prices were €4 for a beer or €34 for a bottle of wine, so not cheap. There was no tip regulation as you know it from other ships. For this, a service fee of €88 per person was charged with the final invoice, which is supposed to go to the crew. There is hardly any room for manoeuvre to consider one or the other. After all, the ship is French-owned, so out of 20 divers there were only 2 Italians and 4 Germans on board, so not an international mix as you usually know it. So the conversation in French prevailed on the ship. We certainly wouldn't choose Seafari Explorer again.
Recommended for
Manta Seven, Valhai Sichatung, Nurse Shark Hot Spot
05 Feb, 2022

4.8 Review score
Nathaniel R
United States

Careless and Dangerous
Boat was broken when I arrived, so we got stuck in port an extra day while the crew sourced a replacement part from France. The first four dives were in industrial/biological waste dump sites. Not a great start to the trip. My first dive guide (B) didn't attend dive briefings, changed a dive plan at the last minute, failed to explain the change, and took our group into dangerous current conditions. I hadn't been assigned a dive buddy, so when I aborted the dive a few minutes in, I surfaced alone. I don't think B realized I was missing, and I had a nice long float (after completing a solo safety stop) because the surface boat didn't see me or pick me up for over 10 minutes. Changed guides after that. The new guide (T) changed a setting on my dive computer, but couldn't explain why he made the change, so I switched it back when he wasn't looking (that computer's worked perfectly and kept me safe for over 80 dives, I'm sure it didn't need his help). T frequently ignored his own dive briefings. Briefed limits of 30m, 60 minutes, or 50 bar were exceeded on most dives. Several dives exceeded 30m depth, in violation of Maldives law. Surface boat came within 1m of hitting me and my dive buddy at the end of a safety stop, when the pilot blew in directly through the middle of our group. Guess he wasn't looking for bubbles. I raised some of these issues with the crew during the trip, but got the distinct impression they didn't care. Don't dive with this crew. You can do better.
Recommended for
Single cabin, good food, manta dives.
17 Feb, 2024

6.0 Review score
Cristobal Ramon C
Spain

Incompatible with snorkeling
We went snorkeling only and felt discriminated against towards our snorkeling activity.If the divers made 3 dives a day, with luck the daily average came out to one, and some days to none.The reason offered by the guides was that the site was not suitable for snorkeling, without giving us another optional site to be able to develop our snorkeling activity.We have been very disappointed with the organization, when before hiring the trip, we asked if they also did snorkeling and they answered affirmatively that they developed the activity.
Recommended for
Room. Crew. Food.
11 Feb, 2025

3.6 Review score
Alfred J
Austria

Wrong information and would definitely not recommend this ship
Fortunately, we have already been able to get to know numerous liveaboards. But after our two-week tour with the Seafari Explorere 2, I can only say in summary that we really feel deceived and betrayed.We had booked this liveaboard because a Shark & Manta expedition was promised in the program. A very special route with 2 named specialists. However, this was a lie, because none of the specialists were on board and not a word was mentioned about it. After all, it was the normal crossover route to the south, which we had already done much better 4 years earlier. Also easy to spot by having up to 13 liveaboards on the same day at the same dive sites. There was not a single specific spot or even a reasonable explanation of pelagic life. Interesting: According to French guests, this special program was probably not promoted on their own website in France! We booked the ship specifically for this reason. Otherwise, we would have chosen a different one.The ship was very crowded with 25 divers (most of them from France). There were too few and far too narrow seats at the food, briefing and also on the dive boat. There was no cruise manager on the entire tour (about which there was also no comment). Accordingly, all processes did not work and there were no reasonable briefings, no boat introduction, no introduction and no welcome. There was a lack of a clear plan and any communication. This also started at the airport: no one was on site at the agreed time. Other guests had also been looking for an hour. Others were already with the tourism police and were then picked up there. Reason: There was only 1 person at the airport to receive guests. The phone number provided didn't work either! Finally arrived on the ship, we and some others had to wait 4 hours for the room - in the meantime it was 4:00 p.m. There was no reasonable communication about this either. But it was good practice for meals, where you had to queue for up to 15 minutes each time. Only positive: quality of the food was ok.The 2 French guides were not present at the beginning of the tour - they only came on the ship after 4 days. Wordlessly and without any further explanation or even a personal introduction. So the first days the 25 divers were divided into 3 guides (8 and more divers in a group)! Accordingly, the diving quality of this special tour was hectic and poor! When the French guides came on board, one guide was sent and the divers were divided into 4. Especially the guiding of the two Frenchmen was really bad. Also, the division of the groups made no sense, so that some passengers actively refused to continue diving like this. To be honest, the whole diving operation was an imposition. Some things can go wrong, but others are clear deception. Not only in the tour description, but also in the rooms. The description says King Size Bed. However, there was only one queen size available. Also, the pictures of the Upper Deck Cabins (we had booked these more expensive cabins) show a luxurious bathroom with double sinks and bathtub. None of this was given. Just a tiny and desolate bathroom with no windows. There was no evening with an under the stars presentation as listed in the program. There was also a special snorkeling session with manta rays, which of course did not take place. To me, it doesn't look like it just happened.The technical condition of the ship and cleanliness were also poor. But I don't want to elaborate on that here. There is no guidance on this liveaboard, so everything just goes wrong (I could prove this with many more examples). We were not the only ones who were dissatisfied. We understand very well that there are sometimes situations, especially on ships.
Recommended for
Eat. Dive guide decoration. Local staff.
10 Mar, 2025