travel itinerary

Arrival at the Nautilus Liveaboards

Flights to Male

The Maldives are a popular holiday destination, not only for divers. Today, they are served by a large number of airlines worldwide, some of them even daily. The most popular airlines for travel from Europe include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Condor, Oman Air, Air Berlin, Aeroflot, British Airways, and several others. Suitable flights can be booked directly through our general agency, which is also a competent travel agency, in addition to the diving safari. Of course, flights can also be booked independently.

arrival plane
arrival-dhoni
arrival jetty
arrival visa
arrival-welcome

Arrival in the Maldives

After a fascinating landing on the airport island of Hulhulé, you will be greeted by the wonderful tropical climate of the Maldives. After leaving the plane, you will proceed to passport control (immigration). Every tourist receives a free 30-day visa in their passport. Once you have successfully completed the entry formalities, proceed to the baggage carousel to collect your luggage. This will be checked by security before you leave the airport. Please note the entry requirements of Maldivian customs.

Airport pickup

Immediately after leaving the arrivals hall, you will enter the covered arrivals area, where you will find the check-in counters for tour operators and islands. One of our dive guides will be waiting for you here, clearly visible with a sign bearing the name of the Nautilus Liveaboards boat. Once all arriving guests have gathered, we will continue on to the water taxi jetty. One of our dive dhonis and members of the boat crew will be waiting here to help you load your luggage.

Arrival on the Nautilus Liveaboards

From the small jetty for water taxis, we then set off in the direction of Nautilus Two. The trip to the lagoon where the liveaboard boats are moored takes around 20 minutes. During this crossing, we would ask you to stow your diving equipment on the dive dhoni and attach your buoyancy compensator and regulator to the dive tank at your place.

Questions and answers about traveling to the Maldives

Where can I find the departure and arrival halls for my flight?

Please refer to the enclosed flight schedule (electronic ticket) for the exact flight itinerary and your exact flight times. Check-in usually takes place 120–90 minutes before departure. Please arrive in good time, as this is the only way to ensure that you get your preferred seat on the plane.

Liquids in hand luggage may not exceed a package size of 100 ml per item. A maximum of 10 items (1 liter) are permitted in a resealable plastic bag with a capacity of 1 liter (freezer bag with closure). Liquids also include: liquid medications (eye drops, etc.), cosmetics (lip balm, mascara, etc.), shower gel, toothpaste, etc.
No vaccinations are required. We recommend checking your tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Austrian and German citizens require a passport that must be valid for at least 6 months upon departure. A 30-day visa is issued free of charge upon arrival at the airport.
Please note that there are strict import regulations in the Maldives. For example, the import of alcohol, pork, and pornographic literature is not permitted, and these items will be confiscated upon entry!
The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa. 1 euro is approximately 20 MRF. Importing and exporting the local currency is prohibited. The hotel islands accept foreign currency in euros and USD, as well as credit cards. On our ships, you can pay in euros and USD, as well as with all major credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, and American Express.
If you have booked a beach stay afterwards and are traveling by seaplane, please note that only 20 kg of luggage is allowed. Anything above this will be charged extra (from approx. USD 2 per kilo) and transported by speedboat!
The free baggage allowance (including diving equipment) is 30 kg on Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Oman Air flights departing from Germany and Austria. Each piece of luggage may weigh a maximum of 30 kg. If you have more than this, please let us know, as it must be registered (special conditions – each piece of luggage may weigh a maximum of 30 kg). The airline is entitled to charge excess baggage fees.
An airport processing fee of USD 25 per person will be charged upon departure (payable by credit card or cash at check-in).
Hand luggage may weigh a maximum of 7 kg (dimensions 50x37x25 cm for Qatar and 55x38x20 cm for Emirates). Please note that batteries or rechargeable batteries must be removed from diving lamps and that these must be transported in your hand luggage. All conditions of carriage are subject to the respective airline.
There is no social security agreement with European countries. We recommend that you take out additional insurance for medical treatment and medical transport (including diving accidents). This applies in particular to medical transport flights offered by several Austrian companies. If you have taken out travel insurance and a claim arises, please be sure to request confirmation of all payments and services, as only with these confirmations (receipts, diagnoses, purchase receipts, etc.) can the claim be made to the insurance company.

diving cruise

Diving with Nautilus Liveaboards

Check-in on the Nautilus liveaboards

Upon arrival on one of the Nautilus liveaboards, you will first be offered a cool refreshment. Next, the guest registration cards and liability waiver will be filled out and your diving certifications will be checked. Afterwards, the crew will show you our detailed boat briefing and safety video. The time of the first dive to check the equipment depends on the time of your arrival. If you arrive in the morning, the first dive will take place in the early afternoon; if you arrive later, it will take place the following morning.

Schedule for diving days

From the second day of the boat trip onwards, three dives (morning, mid-morning, midday) are usually offered. During longer crossings between the atolls, the second dive at midday may be canceled. If this is the case, a night dive will be offered on the same evening, weather permitting.

Dives with the dhoni

Each dive begins with adetailed briefing by our dive guides on board the Nautilus Liveaboards.After the briefing and the formation of buddy teams, we transfer to the dive dhoni, which is already waiting to take us comfortably to the dive site. During the trip to the dive site, there is plenty of time to put on your equipment and prepare for the dive.
Once our dive guides have checked the conditions on site (current, visibility), we descend into the fantastic underwater world of the Maldives. During the dive, you candive with our experienced dive guides or, if you have sufficient experience, in a buddy team with your dive partner.
After successfully completing the dive, our dive dhoni will pick you up at the surface and the crew will help you get back on board.

Questions and answers about diving with Nautilus Liveaboards

A minimum of 40 dives of relevant diving experience is required. Our dive guide is authorized to prevent a guest from participating in a dive if they are not capable of meeting the diving requirements for the upcoming dive or are under the influence of alcohol. Please note that this dive is non-refundable.
Depending on your arrival time in Malé, a check dive will be offered in the early afternoon of the same day if you arrive in the morning (depending on the transfer situation) so that you can familiarize yourself with your equipment again. If you arrive at noon or in the afternoon, the check dive on the day of arrival will be omitted and, in this case, the first regular dive will take place on the following day.
In addition to the option of a check dive on the first day (depending on your arrival time), 2-3 dives are offered daily from the second day onwards. For longer crossings between the atolls, we reserve the right to replace the midday dive with a night dive or sunset dive, conditions permitting. The final decision is made by the captain. The last dive will always take place early in the morning on the day BEFORE departure.
Weather permitting, we include a night dive in all our safaris and will gladly provide you with one of our lamps free of charge if you do not have your own.
The Maldives offer a wide variety of diving sites, such as: drift dives on reef edges and channels, dives along a reef or steep wall, wreck dives, colorful thilas/pinnacles—there is something for every diver's heart.
All of our dive sites are accessed by the dive dhoni, which accompanies the Nautilus Two throughout the safari, and are located between 5 and 20 minutes away, depending on the dive site. This means you always have enough time to prepare your diving equipment for the dive without having to wait too long.
If required and upon request, various diving courses can be taken. As we do not have an instructor on board for every tour, we would need to organize this separately for you upon request and therefore ask for the relevant information when you make your booking enquiry.
12-liter tanks with DIN or INT connections are available. This means you don't need to bring an adapter. Lead weights and weight belts are also on board, but you will need to bring the rest of your diving equipment with you (including your dive computer).

14-liter tanks are available in limited quantities upon request and advance order (for high air consumption) with DIN or INT connections. Please let us know in advance if you require this option.

Depending on how sensitive you are to the cold, we recommend diving in a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit. A shorty wetsuit is also possible, but due to the risk of jellyfish stings, we recommend a long wetsuit.
We recommend that you bring your own familiar equipment with you. If necessary, it is of course possible to hire equipment for a fee. Please let us know when booking, stating the sizes you require, so that we can organize the equipment for you in good time. The costs depend on the equipment you require. We will be happy to provide you with the relevant information.
Snorkelers are very welcome on board. Depending on local conditions, you can accompany the divers on the diving dhoni. If the dive site is not suitable for snorkeling (e.g., because it is too deep or there is too much current), snorkelers will be taken to a nearby reef by dinghy (small boat). On request, we can provide you with a local snorkeling guide. We recommend that you bring your own snorkeling equipment.
This is possible in any case and is also common practice for us, as our spacious 20m² cabins for twin occupancy are each equipped with a king-size double bed as well as a king-size single bed. For an additional charge, you can also book our cabins for single occupancy. Of course, we only assign our twin cabins to guests of the same sex.
The buddy teams are coordinated after the check dive in consultation between the dive guides and the guests. In any case, it is also possible to complete all dives directly with the dive guide as your buddy.
The Nautilus Two offers a variety of safaris throughout the year. The main season in the Maldives is from November to April. The months of May to October are considered the off-season, but due to global climate change, the situation in the Maldives has changed, meaning that the weather and visibility during the "off-season" can now be compared to those of the main season in some respects.
The dive sites in the Maldives are located between 5 meters (reef top) and 30 meters. The maximum legally permitted diving depth in the Maldives is 30 meters.
A current hook is not mandatory but recommended, as currents in the Maldives can be very strong depending on the season.
If you have your own diving lamp, we recommend that you bring it with you. As every diver knows, a lamp is useful even at shallow depths (overhangs, caves, etc.). If you would like to rent a diving lamp for your stay, this is possible for a fee.
In addition to your diving or snorkeling equipment and swimwear, we also recommend bringing a light beach towel, a headband to protect your ears, sunscreen, and, if necessary, longer, light clothing for the evening. If you want to sleep on deck under the stars, we recommend bringing a light sleeping bag.
We recommend diving with Nitrox in the Maldives, for which a Nitrox certificate is required. Our membrane system produces Nitrox 1 EAN 32 (+/- 2%). It is possible to book a Nitrox package for the tour in advance (€16/night). If the fills are ordered individually on board, there is a charge of €6 + 10% service charge + 16% TGST tax (+17% TGST tax as of July 1, 2025) per dive.
There is a decompression chamber under medical supervision on the islands of Bandos and Kuramathi. Public and private hospitals are located in Malé and Hulhumalé.

We offer liveaboard diving safaris ranging in length from 7 nights to 12 nights, depending on the season and itinerary.

Our one-way tours from January to March, which run from Malé to Gan or back from Gan to Malé, last 12 nights. Depending on the international flight booked, a domestic flight may be required for one leg of the journey.

Depending on the season and routing, currents in the Maldives can vary greatly. During our routes in the months of May to September/October, currents are generally weaker, as we dive more at thilas than channels.

During the months of November to April, the focus of the dives is more on channel dives, where stronger currents can sometimes occur.

Strong currents are to be expected, especially on our one-way tours in the south of the Maldives due to the atoll location, which is why these tours are only suitable for experienced divers.

All dives are conducted from our dive dhoni. The diving equipment remains on the dhoni throughout the safari, and jackets and regulators can remain attached to the tank for the entire tour. Each diver has their own basket under their seat for the rest of their equipment.

The Nautilus Two is one of the few safari boats in the Maldives equipped with the ENOS emergency call and location system, which is indispensable for divers.

During the first two days, each diver will receive their own RADIO/GPS transmitter, which must be attached to two places on the diving equipment to prevent loss. If the transmitter is lost, we will unfortunately have to charge you for the cost. You will receive detailed instructions on how to use it on the ship.

In your own interest, we strongly recommend undergoing a medical examination for diving (every two years for those under 40, every year for those over 40) and taking out diving insurance with appropriate coverage.

diving courses

Continue your education with a new SSI or CMAS certification

nitrox

SSI/CMAS* Nitrox Specialty

Learn to dive with Nitrox (EAN) and enjoy the benefits of longer, safer dives.
€ 180

DRIFT DIVER

SSI/CMAS* Drift Specialty

Learn how to dive with the current and what you absolutely must keep in mind when doing so.
€ 180

DRIFT DIVER

SSI/CMAS* Night Specialty

Discover the underwater world at night and learn everything you need to know about diving in the dark.
€ 180

introductory dive

Upon prior request before departure, we also offer introductory diving courses for non-divers on our diving safaris for €25 in one of the many wonderful lagoons of the Maldives. We provide the necessary diving equipment for the introductory dive. After our dive guides have checked the conditions on site (current, visibility), we descend into the fantastic underwater world of the Maldives. During the dive, you candive with our experienced dive guides or, if you have sufficient experience, in a buddy team with your diving partner. After successfully completing the dive, our dive dhoni will pick you up at the surface and the crew will help you get back on board.

course participation

Ifyouare interested in one of our diving courses during a diving safari with Nautilus Liveaboards, please register in advance when making your booking.The prices quoted include all fees for issuing the certification and any necessary course materials.

After our dive guides have checked the conditions on site (current, visibility), we descend into the fantastic underwater world of the Maldives. During the dive, you candive with our experienced dive guides or, if you have sufficient experience, in a buddy team with your diving partner.
After successfully completing the dive, our dive dhoni will pick you up at the surface and the crew will help you get back on board.

activities

Experience the Maldives above water too

More than just beautiful dives

During our diving safaris, we offer a wide range of other activities in addition to spectacular dives and relaxing time on the Nautilus liveaboards. These range from unforgettable excursions to secluded islands and exciting meals with culinary highlights to sporting activities. This means that not only guests with diving licenses get their money's worth.
Lifestyle-110
beach relaxation
Lifestyle-111
active snorkeling

kitesurfing

The Maldives also offers ideal conditions for kitesurfers with its endless lagoons and fresh winds over the sea. So if you are a kitesurfer, simply bring your equipment with you on the diving safari with the Nautilus Two. Our crew knows the best spots for kitesurfers in the Maldives, so you can go kitesurfing instead of diving in between dives.

Trip to Malé

At the end of every diving safari with Nautilus Liveaboards, there is the option of taking a trip to the capital of the Maldives. Our dhoni will take you over to Malé and pick you up again at the agreed time.

Island Picnic

On every tour, there is the opportunityto visit a local island.The Maldivians sell everyday items in small shops there, as well as handicrafts such as carvings, colorfully painted wooden fish, colorful silk scarves, postcards, and much more.

 

Snorkeling and swimming

At almost all anchorages of the Nautilus Liveaboards, beautiful lagoons await our guests. At any time, it is possible to go swimming or snorkeling in the water after consulting with our crew. The bathing platforms at the stern of both Nautilus Liveaboards make getting in and out of the water very comfortable.

Island hopping in the Maldives

An evening on a Robinson Crusoe island—who doesn't dream of that? We make it possible and invite our guests to an unforgettable island picnic with Maldivian delicacies on one evening of the diving safari.

Fishing with the crew

During the diving safaris on the Nautilus Liveaboards, there is the opportunity to go fishing with the crew in the typical Maldivian style every afternoon and evening.Our chef will be happy to prepare your fresh catch for you.

 

Flights & Islands

We don't just organize your diving safari

Flights to the Maldives

As a full-service tour operator, our general agency not only books guests on our Nautilus liveaboards, but also offers our customers a "full-service" package. This means you can book the right flights for your diving safari directly with us as part of the package.
island-waterbungi
island seaplane
island cafe
island boats
island jetty

Extension on an island

Would you like to visit a resort on a Maldives island before or after our diving safari? This can also be easily arranged and booked directly with us as part of a package including flights and a diving safari with Nautilus Liveaboards.

Frequently asked questions

Check-out is at 9:00 a.m.

On the last evening of the safari, our crew will inform you of your respective transfer times. This is normally 4 hours before departure, as delays may occur due to high traffic at Malé Airport.

If your check-out is after 12:00 p.m. due to your departure time, we offer you the option of booking a "late check-out." Stay on board with full meals and keep your cabin until 8:00 p.m. at the latest for an additional charge of EUR 80 per person, including extra transfer.

(only possible with advance booking)

Our cabins are impressive with a size of 20m² and were renovated in summer 2022.

They are equipped with a private bathroom with toilet, a desk with stool and mirror, a wardrobe, and ample storage space, so that suitcases and diving bags can be easily stowed under the beds.

The air conditioning can be regulated separately in each cabin. If you do not wish to use the air conditioning, large roof hatches and side hatches provide sufficient ventilation and cooling.

As our salon has windows that can be opened throughout, allowing a pleasant breeze to flow through, it is not air-conditioned. All of our cabins have individually adjustable air conditioning.

A water dispenser is available 24 hours a day. This water comes from our two desalination plants on board, which produce 10 tons of fresh/drinking water every day. We also carry an additional daily tank of 8 tons. Nevertheless, please use water sparingly.

A water dispenser is available 24 hours a day. This water comes from our two desalination plants on board, which produce 10 tons of fresh/drinking water every day. We also carry an additional daily tank of 8 tons. Nevertheless, please use water sparingly.

We provide you with a bath towel for the cabin (+ hand towel) as well as a bath towel for sunbathing. Even though we have sufficient bath towels on board, we recommend that you bring your own lightweight bath towel if necessary, as we have limited opportunities to do laundry during a safari.
We offer our guests free WiFi for messaging and emails. You can obtain the access code from our salon manager. Please note that there may be no or only sporadic reception between the atolls/islands. There is no entitlement to a refund in the event of poor functionality. If you require a larger data volume, e.g. for streaming, you can purchase local SIM cards at Malé Airport.
Full board is provided on board in the form of a buffet. Please ensure you drink sufficient water in the Maldives. Our chef always strives to prepare a variety of dishes for you in his small kitchen. Please bear in mind that almost all food, except seafood, fish, and coconut products, has to be imported and carried on board. Please inform us of any food intolerances before your arrival.
We will be happy to provide you with our bar menu upon request.
220 volts – 24 hours. No adapter is required for Austrian/German plugs (two-pin). There are also some British (three-pin) plugs available on board. There is also a large charging station in the saloon. For safety reasons, please do not charge your devices in your cabin – fire hazard!

There are a total of three emergency kits on board: two directly on the ship and one on the dive dhoni. There are also two defibrillators available—one in the saloon and one on the dive dhoni.

In addition, the Nautilus Two has two 50-liter oxygen tanks with regulator units—one in cabin 213 and one on the dive dhoni.

Additional emergency numbers and an emergency plan are posted in the salon.

We urge you NOT to jump into the water while the engines are running. Please ask the captain or crew whether it is safe to swim before entering the water (currents). Please do not enter the saloon while wet (risk of slipping!). We are happy to provide towels. As we have a limited number of towels available, we also recommend that you bring your own beach towel.
The crew will be happy to fill it with saltwater for you on request. As the ship is constantly in motion, the whirlpool cannot remain filled permanently and must be emptied from time to time.
On board and on the islands, the preferred method of payment is foreign currency such as euros or US dollars. Credit cards are also accepted on board.

Tips are generally included in the safari price. If you are particularly satisfied with the crew and their service, our crew will of course be delighted if you wish to reward them with an additional tip. At the end of your trip, you will find an envelope in your cabin in which you can place any additional tips for the crew, which will then be distributed fairly among all crew members. Thank you very much!

Downloads

Nautilus Two information sheet

Disclaimer Nautilus Two

Recreational Diving Regulation

Dive Emergency Plan Nautilus Two

Price list for diving and café

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