Carpe Diem

Oli PrinceGoogle Reviewer

We did the 10 day best of the Maldives itinerary on the Carpe Novo and absolutely loved our trip! This was our first liveaboard experience, and we are not the most experienced divers so had some nerves. Our guide was Zinah (the dive team leader) and he really looked after us! He turned anxiety into being relaxed, and was great to dive with! We also dived with Naveen for a few dives and we really enjoyed diving with him, and he also took good care of us and even got some great videos for us. Being our first time to the Maldives we were blown away by the underwater life, and got to see mantas, many reef sharks and a huge variety of fish. The dive sites felt varied, and we would love to come back! The boat itself was wonderful. We had one of the lower deck cabins, and it was spacious, clean and every day we got fresh towels and the room cleaned. There is plenty of space on the boat, with a large lounge, but we spent most of our time up on the sun deck, or in the open air dining area. The food was fantastic, we are both vegetarian and the chefs made sure we had plenty of options. We particularly loved the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables available. Thanks to the chefs Lakmal and Rokib, and also to Prasanna, the bar man, who was very attentive. It was great to have a separate boat to dive from, and the crew - Hassan, Joshim and Moses, were so helpful and helped us with getting ready to dive. It was all very organised and we were quickly into the water for each dive. Everything ran like clockwork which made a huge difference to our experience. Doing this trip has given us a taste for liveaboards and we will definitely be coming back in the future! Thank you team!

alexandre trouvilliezGoogle Reviewer

I booked the Carpe Diem Deep North cruise and it was an unforgettable experience. The sites are superb with tons of fish. The ship was perfect and the crew did everything to ensure we had the best diving experience in complete safety. A very big thank you to them. I highly recommend it.

Jingran ZhouGoogle Reviewer

The Perfect Trip for my 100th Dive I booked this trip to celebrate a special milestone—my 100th dive—and to unwind from a demanding job. The experience was fantastic, surpassing all expectations. From the comfort of the rooms to the thrill of the channel dives, this boat operates smoothly. The crew made my centurion dive celebration absolutely perfect. They knew it was a significant moment for me. I was unaware that Naveeen had hand-drawn a charming 100th-dive banner filled with pelagic creatures, personalized with my name. Yamin then surprised me with this banner when a nurse shark decided to rest beside me. I was amazed that this magical moment wasn’t just a dream! It wasn’t just a dive; it was a cherished memory (the naked protocol was also fully supported, just so you know lol). If you’re planning a milestone, this crew is the perfect choice for the celebration. And for those who haven’t tried it yet: TAKE THE DPV COURSE! I arrived on the boat unsure but decided to pay the ~$450 for the course on board, and it turned out to be the best investment of the trip. While others were struggling to stay in place at the channel edge, I was essentially flying an underwater fighter jet. I was literally flying with 30 eagle rays and several sharks at one point in the deep blue, which would have been impossible without the DPV. I was in awe! I covered about three times the distance with minimal effort. The instructors Zinah and Rio will ensure you understand the safety protocols. If you’re on the fence, just go for it. Flying on the DPV was the highlight of the week. Life Onboard: The boat is spacious and stable. Mind you I’m very sensitive to motion sickness! After 3-4 dives a day, I experienced the deepest, most restorative sleep I’ve had in years. The cabins are quieter, cooler, and more comfortable than most liveaboards, with a layout that offers privacy when needed and social interaction when desired. The social dynamic on board was excellent. It attracts a serious but fun crowd—people who are there to dive hard but know how to relax during the surface intervals. Lastly, just want to say the food is amazing! Verdict Carpe Novo delivers a premium experience without feeling stiff. Whether you are hitting a milestone like me or just want to feel the thrill of a scooter in the currents, this boat delivers. I saw everything you can think of—whale shark, manta rays, all sorts of sharks, and so much more beyond words. Highly recommended.

Susan DobbsGoogle Reviewer

The boat is large with a separate large dive boat. Our room, not the most expensive, was expansive. Flushing toilets and a full bathroom with TWO sinks! Dive guides were excellent and all instructors.

HelenaGoogle Reviewer

We are very happy with our choice to book a liveaboard with Carpe Diem. The boat was very comfortable, well maintained and special thanks to the crew - there were no wishes unfullfilled. Everyday we had delicious meals and snacks. The boat and the rooms were cleaned several times everyday. The 16 divers were split in three small diving groups, got detailed briefings before every dive and were assisted, whenever needed. The diveguides were keen to show us the best divesides, avoid the crowds and make the most of our trip... on the many beautiful and exciting dives, we were lucky to see mantas, a whaleshark, seaturtles, eagle rays and countless sharks... including bullshark, tiger sharks and a hammerhead shark! Thanks for this amazing trip!