The Maldives is continuously rated as one of the top diving destinations in the world by international dive publications and awards. Made up of 26 coral atolls and crossing the equator, roughly 1,200 islands are home to some of the most beautiful, thriving reefs of rare and common coral, attracting every kind of marine life.

Carpe Diem Maldives Cruises is inviting aspiring scuba divers to swap their local chlorine-filled pool waters for the clear Maldivian lagoons in 2018. With two dedicated week-long cruises in July and August, designed specifically for 20 novice scuba divers on each, the "Learn to Dive" bucket list has just became all the more attractive. 

Introducing the scuba diving experience to all travelers, in 2018 Carpe Diem Maldives is now offering beginner divers the ultimate dream holiday. For one week in July and a week in August, a 7-day cruise on Carpe Vita will be dedicated to 20 adventurous travelers looking to obtain their PADI Open Water Diver certification. Starting in Male and ending in Baa Atoll, northern Maldives, guests will experience the beauty of coral reefs and a myriad of fish starting from just 3 meters beneath the surface.

With a destination that is surrounded 99% by water, Carpe Diem Maldives strongly believes that any traveler to the region should be in, on, or under the ocean to truly appreciate its beauty. Spending a week exploring different lagoons and reefs on board an award-winning luxury live aboard cruise, complete novice scuba divers can now do this in style with Carpe Diem Maldives.

Learn to Dive cruise weeks begin with shallow and calm lagoon dives. With the fundamentals of diving firmly mastered, 4 open water dives on beautiful coral bedecked reefs will complete the certification. By the end of the week, novice divers will be able to confidently enjoy the mesmerizing underwater world at 20 meters below the surface. Each of these special trips will also include a snorkeling visit to the regions annual manta ray migration in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, a UNESCO protected marine biosphere area.

Under the guidance of Carpe Diems expert Maldivian Dive Instructors, guests will learn the PADI Open Water theory in the briefing room on board Carpe Vita luxury cruise. Equipped with the latest dive gear, guests will then step onto a dive dhoni for their first plunge into lagoon waters. After each dive, divers will return with increased confidence and applied theory, to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the upper deck. Mealtimes are designed to become an enthusiastic exchange of underwater observations and shared experiences around a long table. Accommodation will be provided on the boat, in twin bed and double cabins, each with private bathrooms, air conditioning, 24 hour electricity and wifi connection.

The two Learn To Dive cruises on Carpe Vita will run July 1-8 and August 26-September 2, 2018. Priced from USD 2,363 for the week, the package includes:

• 7 nights on board Carpe Vita
  
• 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
  
• PADI Open Water theory and practical training, as well as certification
  
• 3 dives daily (except for on day of arrival and day before departure)
  
• Use of tanks, weights and belts
  
• Dive mask, fins, dive computer and buoyancy control device
  
• Drinking water, tea and coffee
  

 One-way domestic or seaplane transfers from Baa Atoll to Male International airport are not included in the package but these can be arranged by Carpe Diem and guests can also combine their cruise with a resort stay in Raa Atoll at the new Carpe Diem Beach Resort and Spa, opening July 2018. For cruise guests staying at the resort, three complimentary dives are included in the full-board stay package, making it the perfect opportunity to practice those certified dive skills on a thriving house reef. Stays at the resort start at USD 450 per night for solo travelers in a shared twin-bed pool villa. 

 By the end of each PADI Open Water Learn to Dive week, guests will have a dive log that begins with enviable diving in The Maldives. Since 2008, the award-winning hospitality group Carpe Diem Maldives Pvt. Ltd. has been operating luxury dive and surf live aboard cruises, sharing the beauty of the Maldivian waters with adventurous travelers. Carpe Diem is the only live aboard operator in the Maldives to offer diving adventures with a team of all-Maldivian Dive Masters. With the expansion into resorts, Carpe Diem Maldives becomes the only hospitality brand in the country to offer year-round live aboard cruises that can be combined with a resort stay.

Established in 2008 Carpe Diem Maldives Pvt Ltd. showcases a collection of luxury live aboard cruises and is currently expanding its operations in the Maldives with a new 115-room pool villa resort in the northern Raa Atoll, scheduled to open 1st June 2018. Carpe Diem is renowned for delivering a sense of discovery, adventure and always with expertise that enriches their guests knowledge and time with the company.

 The Carpe Diem name has built significant brand recognition within the top echelons of the travel industry for diving & leisure, and the current portfolio includes 3 high end live aboard cruises, each catering 20 guests at a time.  With the expansion into resorts, Carpe Diem is one of the most unique and only hospitality brand in the Maldives to offer both live aboard cruises and resort stays.

 For more information and to reserve your Carpe Diem adventure, visit www.carpediemmaldives.com.