Dive Four Seasons Explorer

For keen divers or for those looking to see the more remote Maldivean Islands, this is an ideal alternative to an island-based hotel. A typical cruise programme will include island tours (it is genuinely interesting to see some of the remaining Maldivian culture), an evening barbeque on a deserted beach, lunch on a remote sand bar, basic marine biology talks, and video presentations of your underwater adventures, all punctuated by delicious food. In fact, the food would be impressive were it served up in a land based restaurant - the fact that it is prepared on board makes it even more so. The cruises are very well organised leaving you adequate time to relax, enjoy a massage, swim or do whatever you want.

Explorer operates two cruises, normally alternating every week - one week to the Northern Atolls and one week to the Southern Atolls. Choose a three, four or seven-night cruise, but if diving, and given the no-fly rule, the four-night cruise is a minimum as otherwise it means only two days’ diving. The four-night option means you fly out to join the boat in the middle of the cruise, which will deposit you back at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa five days later. Alternatively take seven nights and you will join and leave the boat at the hotel.

Just when you thought things on board could not get any better, it is time to go diving. Diving from the Explorer gives you the opportunity to dive a greater variety of reefs than were you staying on land. A dive deck opens to the stern, with an excellent range of dive gear available. Smaller boats speed you to the dive sites, which can be anything up to 20 minutes away from where the Explorer anchors. Diving is normally in small groups, and for a small premium they will even arrange your own dedicated instructor. The dives range from novice to advanced. Under Maldivian law, 30 meters is the maximum depth permitted, and the majority of dives seem to only last 45 minutes. Normally there is a morning and afternoon dive, punctuated with the occasional dawn or night dive. In total, over four days you will probably do approximately nine dives, but if you want to do more, just ask.