MV Emperor Serenade

The MV Emperor Serenade is operated by Serenade Cruises and is fully certified under PADI, SSI standards. We carry satellite communication, a defibrillator, emergency oxygen on every tender, and a dedicated chase boat. All cruise directors are Divemaster or Instructor-level and hold current EFR and DAN oxygen provider certifications.

For the Maldives, the prime diving months are November to April. We schedule itineraries to match peak marine-life activity during that window. Travel outside peak season is still rewarding but expect more variable conditions.

Diving is rated intermediate. Expect some drift dives, depths to 30 m, and strong surface currents at a few sites. Divers should be comfortable with negative entries and maintaining buoyancy in moving water.

Included: all meals and soft drinks, shared cabin accommodation, up to 4 guided dives per day (3 on travel days), weights, tanks, airport transfers on charter days, and marine park fees where applicable. Not included: flights to the departure port, alcoholic beverages, crew gratuity (standard 10% of the trip cost), dive insurance, and any Nitrox surcharge where relevant.

Eleven cabins spread across three decks, each with en-suite bathrooms, hotel-grade bedding, and large picture windows on the upper two decks. All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with hot-water showers, 110/220V outlets, and crisp hotel-grade linens changed mid-trip. Ocean-view cabins feature a picture window; lower-deck cabins feature a porthole.

Our chef prepares a blend of Maldivian, pan-Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood. We accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and most food allergies with advance notice — please tell us at booking so we can provision correctly. Breakfast is buffet-style, lunch and dinner are served family-style, and there is always a hot drink and fresh fruit bowl between dives.

Tanks, weights, and dive computer are all included. Guests may bring their own regulator, BCD, and fins, or rent a complete set from us on board.

Nitrox (up to 32%) is complimentary for all certified Nitrox divers — no extra fee, no limit on the number of fills.

Our recommended minimum is Advanced Open Water with 30+ logged dives. Less-experienced divers can often join, but may sit out one or two of the more advanced sites at the cruise director's discretion — this is a safety call, not a service downgrade.

Trips attract a mix of European, North American, and East Asian divers, typically couples and friend groups in their 30s–50s. Our average group is 14–18 divers from 5–8 nationalities. Solo travelers are common and can opt for a shared cabin at no single supplement on most departures. The minimum age on board is 12.