The world‘s finest diving

Carpe Novo

The 42-meter (138-foot) MV Carpe Novo offers 22 guests guests spacious living areas on three decks plus a sundeck. She cruises the Central Atolls, Deep South & Northern Atolls.

A word from Dom : “Carpe Novo, one of the 3 sisters … Carpe Diem, Carpe Vita & Carpe Nova … does not disappoint. She offers everything the dedicated diver could wish for in a liveaboard ” Dominick Macan

CNova Ext 2 opt

On Board Carpe Novo

2 upper deck DOUBLE / TWIN cabins
1 king bed or 2 large twin beds & picture windows
2 upper deck DOUBLE cabins
1 king bed with picture windows
2 main deck SINGLE cabins
queen bed for single travellers & picture windows
4 lower deck DOUBLE / TWIN cabins
queen bed plus adjacent twin bed & portholes
2 lower deck TWIN cabins
2 adjacent twin beds & portholes

All with air conditioning, safes, TV screens & central media system plus private bathrooms.

up to 3 dives per day all from the dive dhoni
11.5 and 13.5 liter aluminium tanks (DIN & INT valves)
15 liter alu tanks (at extra cost)
scuba gear rental (by advance request)
nitrox available
water temperature: 78 – 82F, 25 – 28C … 3mm wetsuit recommended

accommodation & diving
meals, snacks, water, tea & coffee
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
airport transfers
tax 12%

international & domestic airfare
juices, soft drinks & alcoholic beverages
scuba rental gear (by advance request)
nitrox
15-liter tanks
environmental tax

Purpose Built & Roomy

The four big decks on Carpe Novo assure you of plenty of space to spread out, even with a full contingent of 22 divers on board. During your leisure-time hours, you can enjoy the top sun deck, an ideal place to relax on sun loungers or in the shade. Guests love dining in the al-fresco dining area on the upper deck or sipping a cool drink at the bar there, lounging on the super comfy, cushioned seats. Still another outdoor leisure area can be found aft on the main deck, an ideal spot for watching the colorful atolls of the Indian Ocean slip past. Or, you’re welcome to escape the tropical heat in the main deck air-conditioned lounge and leisure area, with TV viewing area and DVD/CD music system on this level. Spread across 3 decks are the spacious cabins.

All diving is done from a custom-designed 60-foot diving dhoni (large, covered tender which houses all the equipment). The dhoni has ample space for all divers, cameras and gear. There are individual gear bins for each diver, separate camera and wetsuit rinse tanks and two hot-water showers aboard. Both the air and nitrox compressors are on the dhoni as well.

Photographers will love the dedicated camera room with charging station and tables.An on-board internet connection is available when in proximity to some of the islands. There are also two computers on board for guest use.

Travel & Cruise Logistics

Most of the trips begin and end in Male and the closest airport is Male Intl (MLE). The cruises normally leave every Saturday, for 10 day cruises departure days may change. Check in time is generally at 2.30 pm. If you arrive early, you will have the option of waiting at the airport, doing a city tour of Male … or arrangements could be made to use the facilities of the nearby airport hotel which offers different packages until check-in time for the boat. You’ll want to return to the airport to meet a representative of the boat who will transfer you to the dock for check-in. Check out time will be latest by 8 am on the final day of your cruise.

Layout & Specs

Deck & cabin layout, the yacht specifications, equipment & safety features
carpe novo deck plan opt

Specifications

Built : 2016
Port of Registration : Male’ / Republic of Maldives
Length (m) : 43 (140 feet)
Beam (m) : 11 (36 feet)
Maximum Guests : 22
No. of Cabins : 12 (4 Junior Suites, 2 Single suites, 6 Standard)
No. of Bathrooms : 15
Air-Conditioning : In all enclosed areas of the boat and in all cabins
No.of Crew : 10 + 3 on the diving dhoni
Laundry Service :NO

Diving Dhoni :YES (L: 61 feet/ W: 20 feet)
Dive Gear Rental :YES – Scubapro brand
Diving School :YES – PADI

MACHINERY

Engine : Doosan Daewood Marine Diesel (Model No: V1 80219), HP 800
Fuel Tank Capacity : 2 x Tanks of 6,000 liters per Tank (Total 12 tons)
Generators : 2 x Zenith Isuzu 65 KW Marine-Gen set
1 x Zenith Isuzu 25 KW Marine-Gen set
Water Maker:1 x WASCO Desalinator 700Liters/hr.15 tons/ day
1 x WASCO Desalinator 900 Liters / hr. 18 tons / day
Electric Voltage : 220 / 50 Hz, 3 Phase, 24 hrs / day
Fresh Water capacity:13,000 Liters (10 Tons)

Nitrox on Board: YES
HP Compressors:L&W
Nitrox Gen:Nitrox L&W Membrane System
FA Oxygen on board :YES, 10,500 Liters

NAVIGATION

GPS, Sounder

COMMUNICATIONS

VHF Radio, Internet, GSM

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, life jackets, emergency alarm

Itineraries

Carpe Novo concentrates on Central Atolls trips with occasional trips to the Deep South and lots of itinerary variations which take in North Central & South Central atolls also.

The final itinerary is, of course, always dependant upon weather, sea conditions and where the best animal sightings are at any particular time of year

7-nights trips usually include 4 atolls …. 10 night trips usually include 6 atolls.  The itineraries are varied and complex (Central Atolls, Central & North Central, Central & South Central, Southen Atolls).  Check the schedule at the bottom of the page to know which atolls are included on specific dates.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

Central Atolls

  • North Ari Atoll: find caves & overhangs here are home to home to a variety of fish … from dog-toothed tuna, napoleons, trevallies and barracuda to parrotfish, butterflyfish, blue face angelfish, batfish and lionfish. You’ll encounter grey reef sharks and white-tip sharks … while on the top of the reef, countless fusiliers dart around and those lovely, ever-present-in-the-Maldives blue-stripped snappers move in waves. Lovely soft corals and gorgonian fans add color … and there’s a nice little wreck …. a fishing trawler with coral growth and loads of fish and critters to add interest.
  • South Ari Atoll: popular for its population of whale sharks. In season you’re likely to have the opportunity to snorkel with one or more. But, whale sharks aren’t all there is. You’ll find caves and overhangs, more sharks … plus fusiliers, angelfish, tuna & jacks, large seafans, soft corals and an abundance of other marine life.
  • North Male Atoll: one of the finest sites in the Maldives for sighting those majestic mantas. A cleaning station here can be very busy between May and December, with cleaner wrasse anxious to get to work on their oversized friends as they sail in. It’s a bit like a busy barber shop!
  • South Male Atoll: a challenging thila dive here offers some lovely corals and schools of pelagic fish … plus eagle rays and sharks. Another small wreck features some good macro options.

North Central Atolls (includes Baa and Hanifaru Bay)

  • Lhaviyani Atoll: A favorite dive for many divers looking for an adrenaline rush, the Kuredu Express at his atoll is almost always like downhill racing … and sometimes too wild to dive at all. The currents bring in nutrients and smaller fish for the big guys, who also seem to like the ride. Large groups of grey reef sharks are common … as are giant napoleon wrasses, a giant grouper, big stingrays, turtles, eels, trevally, eagle rays and sometimes a group of mobulas.
  • Raa Atoll: some good diving for advanced divers in fast currents … with the usual Maldives cast of characters: stingrays, eagle rays, groupers, snappers, jacks and sharks. Hard and soft corals make a splash here and there, attracting colorful reef fish and offering the macro photographer nice opportunities to snap some critters. The icing on the cake is a manta cleaning station.
  • Baa Atoll: known even to non-divers, Hanifaru Bay is a UNESCO reserve designed to protect the exceptional marine life that congregates within its remarkable shores. The funnel-like bay and reef have a tidal, current action that traps plankton and other nutrients at certain times. Mantas, whale sharks and other animals arrive for a feeding frenzy unlike any other we know of. At times there can be more than 100 mantas taking part in this huge feast. In the neighborhood are other dives where you’ll find hard & soft corals and a sampling of the other Maldives characters: the turtles, the snappers, the sting rays, the sharks … and even a critter or two.

South Central Atolls

  • Vaavu (Felidhe): there’s a popular channel dive here with nurse sharks as well as black tip and white tip reef sharks. A possible night dive at a jetty offers up loads of nurse sharks & sting rays. Another dive, loved by photographers in particular, is alive with soft corals in lovely hues and includes a nice variety of reef fish.
  • Rasdhoo Atoll: a popular reef dive which is usually also very sharky if you’re there early in the day … although the hammerheads tend to be around most of the time. Big schools of pelagic fish are commons as well as the ever-present snappers, fusiliers & batfish.
  • Meemu: channels with currents bring excitement with good drift diving amongst lots of fish with some lovely, lush coral backdrop. A shallow manta cleaning station is one of the most popular dives here. In addition to mantas, you can expect all the Maldives characters, the jacks, Napoleons, groupers, snappers eagle rays, morays and reef sharks.
  • Thaa Atoll: known for both mantas and eagle rays and plenty of pelagic fish, there’s also a nice channel dive which often includes a few sharks, including occasionally some silvertips.

Southern Atolls (if your cruise starts at Male and ends at Gan – or vice versa – it will include some of the south central atolls)

  • Foammulah / Fuvamulah: if you’re looking for sharky dives, you need look no further. Tiger sharks, thresher sharks, hammerheads and silky sharks can be found in this region … plus oceanic mantas. The currents can be wild, so, it’s strictly for advanced divers. If you’re in that category, this is thrilling stuff! There’s also a beautiful wall dive with more of the same characters and schools of pelagic fish.
  • Huvadhoo: (Gaaf Alif and Gaaf Dhaal) in this region, you’ll find multiple superb shark dive sites, again for advanced divers, where you’ll almost certainly spot grey reef sharks, white tips, silvertips, leopard sharks, hammerheads and the occasional silky shark. Never a dull moment !
  • Addu Atoll: this atoll offers a wonderful shark dive. Grey reef sharks and white tip reef sharks hang out on a sandy plateau and other species are often spotted in the blue. In addition to the sharks, you’ve got a manta cleaning station and a very popular wreck dive, the British Loyalty, an oil tanker was torpedoed in 1944 by a German U-boat. The body of the ship is covered with table coral, soft corals, gorgonians and black corals.

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