Solitude Gaia Maldives Deep North (10 Days / 9 Nights)

Solitude Gaia Maldives Itinerary: 10 days & 9 nights, Maldives
Route: Malé – Baa – Raa – Lhaviyani – Noonu – Shaviyani – Haa Dhaalu – Haa Alif
Embarkation & Disembarkation: Malé (Velana International Airport, MLE)

Embark on a voyage into the Maldives’ lesser-visited northern frontier, where pristine reefs and powerful currents shape a world few divers experience. Aboard Solitude Gaia Maldives, you’ll explore untouched thilas and channels across Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani, Noonu, Shaviyani, Haa Dhaalu, and Haa Alif Atolls, tracing a route from Malé through the remote northern reaches to the edge of the Indian Ocean.

Over ten nights, this journey reveals coral gardens untouched by crowds, dramatic walls, and encounters with reef sharks, schooling trevally, and graceful mantas gliding over unspoiled reefs. Each dive offers a glimpse of the Maldives as it once was — wild, vibrant, and profoundly alive.

Between dives, unwind aboard Solitude Gaia Maldives, watching endless horizons from the deck or Jacuzzi as the ocean unfolds around you. Designed for divers drawn to exploration, photography, and the quiet thrill of discovery, this itinerary captures the spirit of Solitude — authentic, adventurous, and deeply connected to the sea.

Day 1: Malé – Embarkation
Arrive at Velana International Airport (MLE) and transfer to Solitude Gaia Maldives.
Settle into your cabin, meet the crew, and enjoy a welcome briefing and dinner as we set sail towards Baa Atoll, gateway to the northern atolls.

Day 2: North Malé Atoll
Dive opportunities: 2–3 dives
Begin your journey with check dives at sites such as Lankan Manta Point and HP Reef, home to turtles, reef fish, and vibrant corals.

Day 3: Baa Atoll – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Dive opportunities: 3 dives
Dive into the coral thilas of Dhigali Haa and Nelivaru Haa, exploring reef slopes alive with schooling fish, turtles, and occasional mantas.

Day 4: Raa Atoll
Dive opportunities: 3–4 dives
Journey further north to Raa’s channels and coral ridges, where grey reefs, snappers, and eagle rays move through nutrient-rich currents.

Day 5: Raa to Lhaviyani Atoll
Dive opportunities: 3–4 dives
Explore wide plateaus and vibrant thilas, including Reethi Thila and Fainu Corner, known for swirling schools of fusiliers and pelagics.

Day 6: Lhaviyani Atoll
Dive opportunities: 3–4 dives
Dive Kuredu Express and Felivaru Kandu, famous for strong currents, sharks on the drift, and densely packed coral growth along the walls.

Day 7: Noonu Atoll
Dive opportunities: 3–4 dives
Discover Orimas Thila and nearby pinnacles where macro life hides among corals, and mantas occasionally visit cleaning stations in the channels.

Day 8: Shaviyani & Haa Dhaalu Atolls
Dive opportunities: 3–4 dives
Venture into remote, rarely dived reefs with towering sea fans, vibrant hard corals, and potential hammerhead or thresher shark sightings.

Day 9: Haa Alif Atoll – Northern Frontier
Dive opportunities: 2–3 dives
Dive the Baarah Reef and Ihavandhippolhu Channel, the northernmost waters of the Maldives, where pristine coral walls drop into deep blue.

Day 10: Return South – Relax & Farewell
Dive opportunities: up to 2 dives (weather dependent)
Enjoy relaxed coral garden dives before cruising south for a celebratory farewell dinner beneath the stars.

Day 11: Disembarkation – Dharavandhoo or Malé
No Dive Day
After breakfast, disembark from Solitude Gaia Maldives at Dharavandhoo (Baa) or Malé, depending on the cruise direction. Transfers to domestic flights or onward travel are included.

Please Note:
All itineraries are weather, current, and marine-life dependent, and may be adjusted by the Cruise Director to maximise safety and enjoyment. Manta and whale shark sightings are natural encounters and cannot be guaranteed.

Full itinerary

Day 1 Embarkation – Malé (Velana International Airport, MLE)

Boarding for Solitude Gaia Maldives begins promptly at 1700 and concludes no later than 1000 on Day 2.

Welcome aboard! After complimentary transfers from the airport or local hotel, the crew will greet you and assist with check-in. Settle into your cabin, meet your dive team, and join orientation and safety briefings.

We’ll collect Marine Park and Atoll entry fees; please have your C-Cards and/or logbooks ready. Dinner will be served as the vessel departs northward toward Baa Atoll.

Dinner included. Refer to the Know-Before-You-Go guide for permit and travel details.

Days 2 North Malé Atoll

Gives the opportunity for 2 to 3 dives.

Embarkation concludes at 1000.

Choice of sites: Lankan Manta Point / Nassimo Thila / HP Reef

Ease into Maldivian diving with relaxed check dives amid coral pinnacles draped in soft corals. Expect turtles, reef fish, and occasional mantas gliding past. These first dives reacquaint you with currents and buoyancy before the voyage north.

Day 3 Baa Atoll (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)

Gives the opportunity for 3 dives.

Choice of sites: Dhigali Haa / Nelivaru Haa / Dhonfanu ThilaEnter the protected waters of Baa Atoll, where coral thilas rise from deep blue to teeming shallows. Dive among schools of fusiliers, reef sharks, and turtles. Between dives, take in the tranquility of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve before the vessel continues north toward Raa Atoll.

Day 4 – 5 Raa Atoll

Gives the opportunity for 3–4 dives each day.

Choice of sites: Fainu Thila / Reethi Thila / Fenfushi Thila

Raa Atoll’s wide channels and coral slopes offer a mix of macro life and pelagic encounters. Explore thilas with vibrant coral bommies and schooling snapper, and watch for mantas hovering over cleaning stations. These two days blend calm lagoon dives with open-ocean drifts, perfect for wide-angle photography.

Day 5 – 7 Lhaviyani & Noonu Atolls

Gives the opportunity for 3–4 dives each day.

Choice of sites: Kuredu Express / Felivaru Kandu / Orimas Thila

These northern atolls are known for channel diving and shark action. Strong currents draw in grey reefs, tuna, and eagle rays, creating exhilarating dives framed by towering coral walls. Between dives, relax on deck or in the Jacuzzi as Solitude Gaia Maldives continues north toward Shaviyani.

Day 8 – 9 Shaviyani & Haa Dhaalu Atolls

Gives the opportunity for 3–4 dives each day.

Choice of sites: Veyvah Kandu / Alidhhoo Caves / Hanimaadhoo Outer Reef

Now far from the crowds, dive some of the Maldives’ most remote reefs. Expect pristine coral gardens, big schooling fish, and occasional hammerhead or thresher sightings in deeper channels. Evenings here are tranquil — open sea, starlit skies, and the feeling of true isolation.

Day 10 Haa Alif Atoll (Northern Frontier)

Gives the opportunity for up to 3 dives.

Choice of sites: Baarah Reef / Ihavandhippolhu Channel / North Thiladhunmathi Wall

The final day brings you to the Maldives’ northernmost waters. These rarely visited reefs offer steep drop-offs, bluewater pelagics, and large coral fans along the channel walls. Afternoon spent cruising south as the expedition draws to a close, followed by a celebratory farewell dinner.

Day 11 Disembarkation: Dharavandhoo or Malé

No diving today.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the vessel returns to Dharavandhoo (Baa Atoll) or Malé, depending on schedule. Transfers will be arranged for domestic flight connections or onward travel. Farewells with the crew close your journey through the Maldives’ untouched northern realms.

Please Note:
All itineraries are subject to weather, currents, and marine-life activity. The Cruise Director may adjust the route to ensure safe and optimal conditions. Wildlife sightings such as mantas and whale sharks are natural encounters and cannot be guaranteed.

Departures

Solitude Gaia Maldives Departure Schedule for All Itineraries

About Solitude Gaia Maldives

Solitude Gaia Maldives

INDONESIA

Explore Indonesia’s underwater with Solitude Adventurer. This 36-meter catamaran offers an unmatched liveaboard experience, featuring above-deck cabins, delicious dining, and top-notch diving amenities. Dive into vibrant reefs, encounter diverse marine life, and enjoy the ultimate diving adventure.

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