This 125 foot ( 38 meter) Carpe Vita provides a delightful yachting experience for 22 guests. She cruises the Central Atolls but also ventures to the Deep South and North.
A word from Dom : “As with her sister ships, Carpe Vita is always consistent in her service and strives to keep you in the water as much as possible … to take advantage of everything the Maldives has to offer.”….. Dominick Macan
ON BOARD CARPE VITA
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DIVE & RELAX IN STYLE
Catering for a maximum of 20 guests, M/V Carpe Vita began service in February 2011. With 10 cabins divided over 3 decks this yacht provides plenty of space. The top level is exclusively sun deck. It’s a massive & attractive area with sun, shade and hot tub. The upper deck includes two VIP suites, the bridge and an al-fresco dining area on the aft deck with a fully equipped main bar offering you a wide variety of spirits, wines, liquors, cocktails and beer.
Another bar is found on the main deck in the interior lounge and dining area. The lounge offers a wide flat-screen TV, DVD/MP3 player, in-house sound system, library and plug points for laptop use. You also have, on this level, a coffee / tea / buffet table offering you beverages throughout the day and in the restaurant you will be served semi-buffet style meals prepared by a trained chef. Outside, in front of the lounge, is another seating area in the shade with comfortable cushions. Two large cabins are on this main deck … while the remaining 6 cabins are located on the lower deck.
You’ll also find a business center with internet and all business center facilities … and photographers will have a camera table and all the facilities you need.
Diving is, of course, done from a traditional Maldives 60-foot dhoni, which is fully equipped with a bathroom, hot-water showers and air and nitrox compressors. The dhoni is well-stocked with quality diving gear for those who choose not to bring all or some of their gear.
LAYOUT & SPECS
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DECK PLAN
SPECIFICATIONS
Built: 2011
Port of Registration: Male’, Republic of Maldives
Length: 38.2 meters (127 feet)
Beam: 10.36 meters (34 feet)
Maximum Guests : 20
No. of Cabins: 10 (2 Suite, 2 Deluxe, 6 Standard)
No. of Bathrooms: 13
Air-Conditioning: In all enclosed areas of the boat & in all cabins
No.ofCrew : 10 + 3 on the divingdhoni
Laundry Service:YES
Diving Dhoni: YES (L: 61 feet/ W: 20 feet)
Nitrox on Board:YES
HP Compressors: 2 x L&W 420 electric
Nitrox Gen: Nitrox L&W
FA Oxygen on board : YES, 10,500 Liters
Dive Gear Rental :YES Scubapro brand
Diving School: YES
MACHINERY
Engine: Doosan Daewood Marine Diesel (Model No: V1 80219), HP 800
Fuel Tank Capacity: 2 x 6,000 liter tanks (Total 12 tons)
Generators : 2 x Zenith Isuzu 52KW Marine-Gen set
1 x Zenith Isuzu 16KW Marine-Gen set
Electric Voltage: 220 / 50 Hz, 3 Phase, 24hrs/ day
Fresh Water capacity: 10,000 Liters (10 Tons)
Water Maker: 1 x WASCO Desalinator 400 Liters/hr.10 tons /day
1 x WASCO Desalinator 600 Liters / hr. 15 tons / day
NAVIGATION
GPS, Depth Sounder
COMMUNICATIONS
VHF Radio, Internet, GSM
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, life jackets, emergency alarm
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ITINERARIES
Carpe Vita 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. {slider View the highlights of these trips ..….. open|dest|closed}
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
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, Southern 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 adrenalin 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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YOUR CRUISE LOGISTICS
The cruises normally leave every Sunday but 10-day cruises may be different.
Check in time is generally at 2:30 pm. If you arrive early, you will have the option of waiting at the airport, taking a tour of Male city … 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 need to be back at the airport for staff to meet you and transfer you to the boat for 2pm check-in. Check out time will be no later than 8 am on the final day of the cruise.
FIND AVAILABLE SPACES & BOOK YOUR CARPE VITA TRIP