The world‘s finest diving

Conte Max

When Conte Max was launched in 2004, she was one of the earliest to offer spa cruises. Her itineraries are largely in the central atolls, but she's added some tantalizing extreme-south trips.

A word from Dom : “Nice, intimate, well-run yacht with a custom-built dhoni. One of my favorites for the charm of her interior, the comfort of her deck space, her excellent organization & super crew.. Plus, she includes free nitrox……” Dominick Macan

conte max ext opt

On Board Conte Max

1 upper deck DOUBLE / TWIN stateroom
queen bed, twin bed & picture windows
1 main deck TWIN stateroom
2 twin beds (adjacent) & picture windows
4 lower deck DOUBLE / TWIN staterooms
1 double bed + 1 twin & port windows
2 lower deck TWIN staterooms
2 twin beds & port windows

All have a private bathroom, individual air conditioning & a storage area.

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

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

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

Traditional Look With Thoroughly Modern Provisions

Conte Max provides 4 decks of classy but comfy living space. There is ample outdoor lounging on 3 decks starting with the super-sized top sun deck with bean bag decor for your comfort. Just below, at the aft of the upper deck, you find another very large exterior lounge with a hammock, more bean bags, lots of sun loungers and the spa area, ready & waiting for those of you longing for a massage. Also on the upper deck is a large, beautifully appointed cabin with picture windows.

The main deck consists of the indoor bar and restaurant and lounge, where you find TV-DVD-Stereo area for your kick-back, keeping-cool time. The beautiful Maldivian wood furnishings lend character & warmth to the ambiance …. the feel of a classic yacht. It’s an oversized room, so more than ample to also house the camera work area and a library with varied offerings. Just outside this interior dining & salon, on the aft deck, is the al fresco dining which also features Maldivian wood and carving.

A very special place for breakfast, lunch or dinner when the weather is right. The large bow adds yet more leisure-time space … with a couple of small sofas, more bean bags & deck chairs. In addition to all of that is a lovely twin cabin. The other 6 cabins are all located on the lower deck.

Meals are generally not buffet-style, but served at the table. Menus include Italian, international and Maldivian cuisine, with abundant fresh fish and the chefs are always ready to accommodate guests dietary requests. Once a week a buffet of traditional Maldivian dishes is prepared.

Internet connection is available for a fee and also a massage service..

Diving is all done from the traditional Maldivian dhoni.

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 Conte Max.

Your last dives will be on the second to last day in the morning. Conte Max docks back in Male in the evening before disembarkation. 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 year: 2004
Dry dock: every year
Length:33 meters
Width: 10 meters
Draft: 3 meters
Weight: (tonnes) 140
Speed: (knots)12
Cruising Speed: 12 knots
Construction material: wood
Decks: 3

Dhoni
Length: 16 meters
Width: 5,5 meters
Engine: Daywoo 120 HP
Overall people capacity: 22 pax
Toilet: Yes
Fresh water: Yes
Water tube: Upon request
Diving baskets: 24
Water tube for camera Upon request Ladder 1
Safety buoys: 1
Life jackets: 25
Fire extinguishers: 2
Emergency kit: 1
Oxygen mask: 1
Medical oxygen:1 tank DAN
Generator: kohler 55kw
Compressors: Electric

PROFESSIONAL CREWS

Captain: 1
Dinghy captain: 1
Engineer: 1
Diving dhoni captain: 1
Room boy: 1
Diving dhoni: crew 2
Waiter & Bar tender: 1
Masseur: 1
Chef: 1
Cruise director: 1
Assistant chef: 1
Diving instructor:1
Dive master: 1

MACHINERY

Engine: Yammar 405 HP
Compass: 1+ 1 in diving dhoni
Generatos: 2 Onan 35 kw each
Fuel tank capacity: 4500 lt.
Fuel Diesel
Compressors
Hydraulic system –on dhoni
Desalinator
Nitrox membrane: No
Fresh water tank capacity: 6 tons
GPS with map 1 + 1 in diving dhoni
Electicity (v) 220V + 110 V
Adapters: Yes

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Medical oxygen: 3 tanks COLTRI 13 lt. (98% O2-200 bar)
Oxygen masks:1 free flow/ 1 upon request
Nautilus Life Line: 12 (GPS devices)
Emergency kit: 1 (first aid medicines)
Life rafts: fiberglass tender 6mt
Life jackets: 38
Radios: 1 + 1 in diving dhoni
EPIRB Nautilus Life Line (12)
safety buoys:4
Emergency kit: 1
Fire Extinguishers: 12
Fire cover: 1 in the kitchen
Smoke detectors: No

Itineraries

Conte Max 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: 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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