Emperor Serenity

Edward AlanGoogle Reviewer

Emperor Explorer — Review I booked Emperor Explorer many months in advance as part of a carefully planned round-the-world itinerary. After comparing multiple liveaboards and reviews across several platforms, this boat best matched our schedule and expectations. The vessel itself is in excellent condition and immaculately maintained. The crew keeps the boat spotless, cleaning between dives and again at night without creating any disturbance. Cabins are quiet, comfortable, and very well kept, and the air-conditioning works extremely well, allowing for consistently good sleep throughout the trip. Dive operations were a strong point. The dhoni used to access dive sites is spacious, well organized, and fully equipped, with plenty of room for divers and gear. There were multiple dive masters and assistants, which provided a reassuring level of individual attention. Dive site selection was excellent and represented some of the best the Maldives has to offer. Marine life was abundant, with healthy coral, reef mantas, and multiple shark species. Over the entire seven-day itinerary, only one dive showed noticeable reef decline; otherwise, the diving was exceptional. Rental equipment was top-notch—modern, well maintained, and in excellent condition. Nitrox was available as expected on every dive and consistently reliable. Aside from personal items such as a mask or dive computer, there is little need to bring extensive gear. The food was plentiful and generally well prepared, though temperature consistency could be improved. Some meals arrived properly warm, while others did not. This could be easily addressed with better warming solutions for serving dishes or plates. Perhaps a microwave oven? A far more serious issue, however, was food allergy management. My daughter has a documented tree-nut allergy, which was communicated in writing at booking, again on boarding forms, and verbally to staff. Despite this, on the final night a pasta dish contained cashews, resulting in an anaphylactic reaction. While appropriate medical supplies were available onboard (and we also carry our own), this type of oversight is unacceptable and potentially life-threatening. This issue alone significantly impacts the overall rating. In summary, Emperor Explorer excels in vessel condition, cleanliness, dive operations, equipment quality, and overall diving experience. However, allergy protocols must be addressed and corrected. With proper food-safety controls in place, this could otherwise be an outstanding liveaboard experience.

Sameer BhiseyGoogle Reviewer

Emperor is a fantastic live aboard. We just finished a cruise on the Emperor Serenity in the Maldives on June 06, 2026. The staff on the vessel is fantastic - the dive guides were incredible!!!! Great food - and staff that was there in anticipation of every need. I bow to the service and experience ❤️

Beata RoppantoGoogle Reviewer

An Unforgettable Week with Emperor Divers Maldives I recently spent a week with Emperor Divers Maldives, and it was an experience I will never forget. From start to finish, everything was seamless. The boat was absolutely phenomenal — very spacious and comfortable, providing plenty of room for everyone to relax between dives. We visited some of the best dive sites in the Maldives, with vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life, making each dive a new adventure. The food onboard was really good, offering a variety of delicious meals to keep us energized throughout the day. We had the opportunity to dive 3 to 4 times daily, with every dive offering something unique and exciting. The dive guide team was exceptional — knowledgeable, friendly, and always happy to share their expertise, ensuring we felt safe and well taken care of at all times. Overall, this trip was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend Emperor Divers Maldives for anyone looking for a top-tier diving experience in the Maldives. Can't wait to return!

Jolanda PriveGoogle Reviewer

We had a really great week on board Emperor Virgo. Very good food, lovely dives with very professional guides/instructors and the boat is super nice. Price-quality was very good. I would recommend this boat and certainly Emperor Divers

Graham PowellGoogle Reviewer

Emperor Explorer Best of Northern Maldives was an awesome boat, trip and amazing dives…. Every single one of them! The Emperor booking team were brilliant. The pick up from the airport by Dhoni was military timing as was the whole trip. Katy and Russ were boat managers that were very experienced at running a faultless operation. Rowan and Elle were another two guides whose faces were always friendly and lightened up every moment. Everything was perfect and impossible to improve!! Food was amazing throughout and every dive was unique and different. From channel dives, Nurse Shark dive sited and not to forget the night dive with Manta Rays that surprising took a lot of organizing by the team with torches in the seabed for runway lights. Plus the beach barbecue made us feel like we were on Bravo Below Deck tv show! I can’t thank you enough for making this trip so special for my group and look forward to the next group trip with Emperor on Leo and hopefully Harmony.