The world‘s finest diving

Duke Of York

The elegant 36-metre (118-foot) Duke of York is one of the Maldives spa ships. She and sister-ship, Conte Max, have been concentrating on central atolls trips, but have added extreme south trips.

A word from Dom : “A classic yacht. Definitely amongst my top choices in the Maldives. Refined styling, excellent food and super guides. Be ready to be pampered!” Dominick Macan

Duke of York Ext 1 opt

On Board Duke Of York

2 upper deck TWIN staterooms
2 twin beds & (1 with picture window overlooking the stern)
1 upper deck DOUBLE / TWIN stateroom
large double or 2 twin beds & picture windows
1 main deck TWIN stateroom
2 twin beds (adjacent) & picture windows
4 lower deck TWIN / DOUBLE staterooms
1 double bed + 1 twin bed adjacent & port windows
2 lower deck TWIN staterooms
2 twin beds & port windows

All with individually controlled air conditioning, private bathroom and a spacious storage area.

up to 3 dives per day all from the dive dhoni
11 & 13.6 liter alu tanks (DIN & INT valves)
15 liter alu tanks (at extra cost)
scuba gear rental (by advance request)
nitrox & re-breather support available
Nautilus Lifeline provided
water temperature: 78 – 82F, 25 – 28C … 3mm wetsuit recommended

accommodation & diving
meals, snacks, water, tea, coffee & fruit
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
nitrox
airport transfers
kayaks

international & domestic airfare
alcoholic beverages
scuba rental gear (by advance request)
15 liter tanks
rebreather support
environmental tax
spa treatments

Upscale & Modern

Duke of York is constructed on 4 levels and offers open-air spaces on three decks furnished with sun loungers, cushions and sun mats, both in the shade and in the sun. The lovely sky deck is furnished with loads of loungers and has both covered and uncovered area. At the aft end of the upper deck, you find additional (mostly shaded) lounging area, this time with cushy sofas, tables, deck chairs and bean bags. Just inside this exterior lounge is the spa room. Lodged between the spa room and the bridge and 3 large cabins.

The bow of the main deck has yet more seating …. an immense semi-circular sofa plus bean bags (and fabulous views). The beautiful lounge has a bar offering a wide choice of soft drinks and spirits. You can hang out on one of several comfortable sofas or work on your computer at the table.

Also, it’s a good spot for those wishing to listen to music, play board games, watch a film or read a book from the well-stocked library. Occasionally, for special evenings, thanks to its Dolby Surround TV-Stereo system the saloon becomes a disco. The fully covered al fresco dining area is at the stern end of this deck. The deck also houses one cabin while the remaining 6 cabins are located on the lower deck.

Meals are served buffet-style offering Italian and Maldivian cuisine, using lots of fresh fish, and the chefs will always prepare according to guests’ specific requirements.

Internet connection is available for a fee and spa treatments are also an extra charge.

Travel & Cruise Logistics

Most of the trips begin and end in Male and the closest airport is Male Intl (MLE). Pickup time at the airport is according to your flights. Give yourself enough time to go through immigration and pick up your luggage. At the exit of the terminal a crew member will meet and escort you to the Duke of York.

Your last dives will be on the second to last day in the morning. Duke of York docks back in Male in the evening on the second to last day and disembarkation is the following morning. Guests will then be transferred to Male airport.

This schedule is altered for Deep South trips which include a domestic flight one way. Full info for these trips is available upon request.

Layout & Specs

Deck & cabin layout, the yacht specifications, equipment & safety features

Specifications

Construction: 2010
Hull: Wood
Length: 36 meters
Breadth: 11 meters
Speed: 12 Knots
En-suite Cabins: 11
Spirits:Yes

MACHINERY

Inverter: Yes
Diving Dhoni: Yes
Dinghy: Yes
Engine: Daewoo
Canoe: Yes
Electricity: 220 volt
Air conditioning: Yes
Cylinders: 12 & 13,6 It

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone & radio: Yes

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

First Aid: Yes/O2
Nautilus Life Line: Yes
Cardiac Defibrillator:Yes

Itineraries

Duke of York concentrates on central and southern atoll trips. She does the Central Atolls much of the year but early in the year, she cruises to the exciting Southern Atolls, including Huvadhoo …. for lots of fabulous shark action!

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

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

Central Atolls – The atolls included vary from week to week.  Depending on the route you are likely to visit anywhere from 2 to 5 of the following:

  • 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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