Maldives Luxury Yacht Charter – The Ultimate Dive Vacation

Our Favorite 7-Day Maldives Yacht Charter Itinerary

DAY 1. Malé –  Bandos Island

Malé, the capital city of the Maldives, is located in the very south of the North Malé Atoll. This is where you will begin your yacht charter. On the first day of your charter, you will stay within the North Malé Atoll; it is only about 6 nautical miles to some of the best coral islands near Bandos Island, a good, easy stretch for your first day, and you will quickly be in the water!

DAY 2. Rasdhoo Atoll

On the second day, you will leave the North Male Atoll and cruise west for 3 hours to the tiny Rasdhoo Atoll, located in the lee of the larger Ari Atoll (where you will head tomorrow). You enter the Radhoo Atoll, which is a perfect circle barrier reef, through a narrow passage in the south next to Rasdhoo Island. Get ready for a day of snorkeling or diving, likely encountering small clownfish, turtles, eagle rays, morays, colorful parrotfish, and, if you are lucky, hammerhead sharks!

DAY 3. Maaya Thila, North Ari Atoll

On day three, you will cruise for 1.5 hours down to the huge Ari Atoll, and you will head for Maaya Thila, a very small reef flat known as being the number 1 dive site in the Maldives! The dive features a pinnacle starting at 6 meters and going down to 30 meters, where divers can see whitetip reef sharks, moray eels, sea turtles, and stingrays.

☾ It’s especially popular for night dives, as the site comes alive with nocturnal species.

DAY 4. Kudarah Thila, South Ari Atoll

On day four, you will wind your way down the extensive Ari Atoll, zigzagging around its many reefs and sand patches. Maybe you will stop on the way for lunch and a quick beach walk. After a cruise of 3. 5 hours, you will arrive in the very south of the Ari Atoll and go to Kudarah Thila, another underwater pinnacle that rises from 30 meters up to 12 meters.

The site is famous for its vibrant coral, including soft corals, sea fans, and black coral trees, making it a colorful and lively dive. You can explore caves, overhangs, and a network of coral blocks, often encountering grey reef sharks, barracudas, jacks, tunas, and large schools of blue-lined snappers. The currents can be strong, adding to the thrill and also attracting dolphins.

DAY 5. Vaavu Atoll (/Felidhu Atoll)

On day five, we highly recommend you go to Vaavu Atoll, also known as Felidhu Atoll. The cruise is about 4 hours from southern Ari Atoll to this more authentic and less known, less crowded area. The best spots in Vaatu Atoll are Fotteyo Falhu, the longest unbroken reef in the Maldives, and Fotteyo Kandu, a famous dive channel that is perfect for drift dives and is frequented by dolphins. Divers can explore vibrant corals caves, and encounter sharks, rays, and barracudas.

DAY 6. South Malé Atoll

On day six we take you back in the direction of Malé, but your trip is nit done yet. YOu still have a full day and night at South Malé Atoll. This Atoll, a more relaxed, laid-back vibe compared to its busier northern neighbor. And there is a lot on offer here including famous channels (Kandus) like Embudu Kandu, where divers can encounter reef sharks, rays, and schools of fish.

Popular dive sites include Kandooma Thila and Velassaru Caves, known for their stunning coral formations and diverse marine life. The area also attracts surfers and water sports enthusiasts.

DAY 7. Back to Malé

For your final day heading back to Malé from South Malé Atoll, it’s not far, and you might choose to stop for lunch on a tiny sandbank or a last dive. You know it by now: the underwater world in the Maldives doesn’t end. And although this itinerary has taken you to some of Maldive’s top locations, you have only seen a fraction. There is plenty waiting for your return, perhaps to the more rural northern atolls or the wavy south.