We met lovely people on the cruise. The meals were delicious with lots of variety, with fresh tuna and chicken dishes. Our tour guides Kamey, Hamna and Nafsha were superb, from initial meet and greet, making sure we all had the best experiences possible. We were joined by Be-Be from Save the Beach NGO, an engaging and passionate advocate, who is leading projects to revive the coral reef. We even swam with a whale shark that hadn’t been recorded before – truly was lucky Tuesday.
Without doubt one of the best full on holidays we have ever had. We had never been on a cruise before and didn’t know what to expect, but all our expectations were well and truly exceeded. Well done Secret Paradise on offering this unique conservation cruise and informing tourists on the consequences of human action/inaction.
Giving Back opportunities
Marine Conservation
Environmental Awareness
Cruise our island paradise with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Progamme and experience the ultimate in marine life encounters, marine conservation and environment awareness. Expect to see whale sharks, turtles, reef sharks, morays, eagle rays, dolphins and abundant tropical fish life.
This unique hand-curated cruise itinerary is for anyone with a passion for the ocean and responsible travel. Discover new places and cultures, learn more about marine life, participate in data capture and bask in beautiful natural surroundings.
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
- Private Double Room USD4398
Comfort and privacy, a room just for the two of you
- Private Single Room USD2549
Enjoy the comfort and privacy of your own room
- Twin Share Room USD2199 per person
Make new friends by sharing with same-gender solo travelers
Availability
- 9th – 16th November 2024 – Full
- 2nd – 9th February 2025 – 3 spaces remaining
- 2nd – 9th March 2025 – 2 spaces remaining
- 23rd – 30th March 2025
- 21st – 28th December 2025
- 1st – 8th February 2026
- 1st – 8th March 2026
- 15th – 22nd March 2026
- 5th – 12th April 2026
- 8th – 15th November 2026
Duration
- 8 days & 7 nights
Meeting point
- Velana International Airport (MLE) 11:00
Group size
- To provide more personalized time with your tour leader, enrich your overall experience and minimize our environmental footprint we operate on a small group basis.
- Minimum number of guests 6
- Maximum number of guests 12
Included
- 7 nights standard cabin
- 7 breakfasts, 7 lunch & 7 dinner
- Daily morning and afternoon snacks
- Airport and transfer assistance
- Return transfer of guests from the airport to boat – airport
- Unlimited drinking water – bring reusable bottle
- All activities as per itinerary
- Secret Paradise Guide
- Local Tax ( $6 Green Tax per person per night, 10% Service Charge and 16% GST)
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Diving
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- WIFI
What to bring
Full details will be provided in our welcome information pack
Your Impact
- Your accommodation & travel spend sustains the local economy and the livelihoods of locals, including your tour leader and our local suppliers.
- Contribute to the protection of coral reefs and marine life by learning about the Green Fins code of snorkeling conduct.
- Contribute to the whale shark data base through citizen science.
- Increase your awareness of how you can make a positive impact on coral reefs even by your actions back at home or when you travel to other destinations.
- By understanding what disrupts our ecosystem, you can take actionable steps to reduce your impact, both on tour and at home.
- Become an advocate for the protection of vital ecosystems, helping preserve seagrass meadows and their crucial role in mitigating climate change.
- Participate in a beach clean-up, directly removing debris and protecting marine life from pollution.
- Engaging with local guides fosters mutual understanding and respect, promoting cultural preservation and appreciation.
- Using the provided reusable water bottles reduce the amount of plastic waste in the Maldives.
- By joining our cruise you help minimize the carbon footprint associated with food sourcing, as we do not serve beef or imported seafood.
Carbon Footprint
715Kg of CO₂e – average carbon emission per person
Find our more about our Carbon Management here
About Your Guide
One of our experienced and professionally trained local tour guides will accompany you for the duration of the activity. All our guides hold First Aid and Lifeguard qualifications and have completed Travelife Online Sustainable Tourism Certification.
Important note
- Day-by-day itinerary subject to change due to weather and ocean conditions.
- Alcoholic beverages available onboard from USD $4 (payable at end of the cruise).
WHAT ARE THE MALDIVES ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
- Travelers must have a confirmed accommodation/tour booking.
- Travelers must have a passport or travel document valid for a minimum 30 days from date of entry to the Maldives.
- Travelers must have a return flight ticket.
- The online traveler declaration form IMUGA must be completed within the 96 hour period prior to arrival in country.
Highlights
Accompanied by Maldives Whale Shark Research Program
Assist in research and data collection
Contribute to coral nurseries and beach cleans
Learn about the unique Maldivian ecosystem and the conservation challenges
Learn how to protect the biodiversity and marine life of the Maldives
Snorkel the coral nursery maintained by Save the Beach
Spot sea life like turtles, colorful fish, sharks, and dolphins
Unforgettable meals under the stars and delicious local dishes
What to Expect
- Arrive in Maldives & board the MV Felicity 12:00
- Meet Maldives Whale Shark Research Program (MWSRP)
- Cruise to South Male Atoll
- A responsible snorkeling briefing followed by your first underwater snorkeling encounter
- Meet NGO Save the Beach and learn about Maldives coral reefs and the challenges they face.
- Visit Maafushi and discover the challenges of local tourism
- Snorkeling at Renee’s Coral Garden with Save the Beach
- Learn why seagrass is known as the lungs of the earth
- Cruise to southern part of South Male Atoll
- Whale shark presentation by Maldivian Whale Shark Research Project
- Kick-start the day Maldivian style, with an early morning snorkel before breakfast
- Cruise through to South Ari Atoll home of the whale shark.
- Discover Dhangethi Island – tickle your taste buds with ‘Hedhika’ snacks
- Enjoy an amazing colourful Maldives sunset at Dhangethi
- Whale shark presentation by Maldivian Whale Shark Research Project
The region of South Ari Atoll is very lucky to have a probable unique year-round population of Whale sharks. Learn about these magnificent creatures and how identification can be made before heading out on our own Whale shark safari to capture research data.
We may see 1 or 2 sharks in half an hour or given that they are wild creatures in their natural habitat we may not encounter one for the whole time we are searching. However the unpredictability all adds to the excitement! If we do spot them we will have the opportunity to snorkel alongside them, a truly magical experience. Whale sharks can, at times, swim very quickly – so you may need to work hard to keep up with them in the water!
Together we will collate all data and encounters and input to the MWSRP database, as well as identifying the individual sharks or other megafauna such as manta rays we saw that day. All encounters will feature on MWSRP online portal as well as contributing to the Big Fish Network.
Find out more about MWSRP here
- Whale shark safari
- Data capture with MWSRP
- Visit the one of the longest islands in the Maldives – Dhigurah
- Take a tropical forest walk & learn about flora and fauna
- Whale shark presentation by Maldivian Whale Shark Research Project
- Whale shark snorkeling safari
- Data capture with MWSRP
- Afternoon Robinson Crusoe visit to an uninhabited island
- Give back – join in a Beach Clean Up
- BBQ Beach dinner
- Cruise back to South Male Atoll
- Visit Gulhi island & discover island life in the atoll
- Maldivian theme night including Bodu Beru musical performance on board.
- Cruise back to Hulhumale lagoon
- Snorkeling with sting rays and banner fish we end on a high!
- Visit to snorkel Save the Beach coral nursery on Villimale
- Farewell dinner
- Transfer to airport 08:30
- Depart from Maldives
Your Trip Accommodation
MV FELICITY
MV Felicity a wooden hull gullet consists of 3 double and 3 twin fully air-conditioned cabins, which can accommodate 12 guests onboard at a time and is fully equipped with the required amenities.
- Air conditioned cabins, toilets with hot & cold water
- Salon space with bar facilities
- Outside deck with dining facilities
- Large sundecks with sun beds
- Fully equipped PADI dive center
- TV/DVD/Music Library
We require a minimum number of 6 persons for cruises to operate.
There is no minimum number for any of our land based tours.
Accommodation is offered on a twin/double room share basis.
If you are a solo traveler, on our group tours/cruises we offer the opportunity to share with same gender traveler.
Or if you prefer a private single room to yourself throughout the tour/cruise, this can also be arranged.
Yes, we can assist with organising pre and post tour accommodation, including a transit night in the capital area or a longer independent stay on a local island or resort island.
Like many places in the world today, the climate and weather patterns are changing and historical data is becoming less reliable as an indication of what to expect. With a tropical climate, plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 30°C throughout the year, there is never a really bad time to visit the Maldives. There are two distinct seasons: the dry season (northeast monsoon) from January to March and the wet season (southwest monsoon) from mid-May to November. ‘Wet season’ doesn’t mean it rains all the time, but during this period there is a higher probability of rain. However, in today’s world we do experience rain even during the ‘dry’ season.
More detailed weather information can be found here
The Maldives are a Muslim nation, therefore care needs to be taken regarding dress on small islands and in local communities.
While it is acceptable for men to wear t-shirts and shorts/swim shorts, women should avoid causing offence by maintaining a more conservative approach. T-shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulders, loose shorts that cover the thighs, or sundresses with a sarong around shoulders are advised.
All the islands we visit are more tolerant of guests wearing traditional beachwear, but women should NOT wear swimwear unless on an uninhabited island, sandbank, private tourist bikini beach (available on all islands you’ll stay on) or on board our cruises and snorkeling boats. Your tour leader will advise when and where this is possible.
No previous experience is needed for any of the included activities – just an average level of fitness and a sense of adventure. The activities aren’t strenuous, the only requirement is that you must be able to climb a ladder to exit the water, be comfortable in the water and be able to swim to participate in snorkeling activities.
We strongly recommend you bring along your own mask and snorkel wherever possible. Not only will you be assured the mask fits your face properly (making it more comfortable and less likely to leak), it’s also more hygienic. A mask and snorkel are small and light, so they should take up very little space in your suitcase! Due to the ocean current and wind conditions in the Maldives, the use of fins is essential for almost all snorkelling and these are included in all snorkelling activities we provide on tour. However, if you want to ensure a perfect fit, you are always welcome to bring your own.
On board our cruises we can cater to most diets providing we are advised at time of booking. If there is something particularly you eat within your diet that you can’t live without we would encourage you to pack some and be prepared for perhaps more repetition of meals than you would be used to back home. For further clarification drop us a message.
Note to support our sustainable approach to cruises we do not offer beef products on board.
When traveling on land based tours properties can cater for vegan and vegetarian diets but it is worth noting in regard to food on local islands, over 95% of products are imported and then from Male they are transferred once or twice a week to outer islands.
Fruit and vegetables whilst available can be limited and they do not form part of the traditional Maldivian diet in the way you may be used to back home with your 5 a day! Given that tuna is a key component of our diet as vegetarians you will find your diet quite limited in comparison to what you are used to, even a potato curry is likely to have dried tuna added. On local islands you can’t just pop out to the supermarket and what you may see in the convenience store one week is not seen again for months!
Maldivians, as Muslims, are prohibited by law from consuming alcohol; hence there is a total restriction on alcohol being available on inhabited local islands, this includes the capital Male. Please do not bring alcohol through the airport as it will be confiscated and returned to you at time of departure.
Alcoholic beverages are available on our cruise itineraries and are purchased on board. Payment is required in USD cash or local currency to the boat captain.
When staying on local islands, visits to tourist resorts and bar boats in certain areas can be arranged.
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our multi day tours. You need to be covered for medical expenses abroad, including any emergency transportation costs to the nearest hospital and any emergency repatriation that may be required due to illness/injury. We recommend your insurance covers flight delays, missing flight connections and lost/delayed luggage.
Hear From Our Previous Guests
Excellent cruise with lots of snorkeling at different reefs. Marine wildlife amazing and plentiful. Didnt see whale sharks on this trip so a good reason to return.
Very good presentations from both Maldives Whale Shark Research Program and also Save the Beach . Lots of information and demonstrations of conservation work both NGOs are doing . Accommodation on MV Felicity more than adequate, lots of food to refuel the energy expended in reef snorkeling. Cultural experiences on island visits and Bodu Beru evening most enjoyable. When snorkeling felt completely safe and staff in water ensured lots of checking on me without being intrusive . Very helpful in spotting and pointing out marine wildlife to me.
7 Nights Marine Life Conservation Tour is an amazing way to experience the Maldives, both above and below the water, whilst gaining an education and understanding of the marine environment from passionate experts from NGO’s Save the Beach, The Maldives Whaleshark Research Program, complimented by the Secret Paradise guide and the boat captains and crew.
Huge thanks to the Secret Paradise team, our guide UB, Bebe, Kamey and of course Captain Shafee, Ibbe and the Felicity crew for making it a truly memorable week.
If you want to truly experience the best of the Maldives and the best of Maldivian hospitality then a Secret Paradise cruise onboard MV Felicity is the perfect way to achieve it.
On board Felicity, expect the unexpected, experiences beyond expectations, superlatives in sceneries, coral, sea grass & whale-shark & more. Spiels before actual encounters (not guaranteed but much appreciated) Food & services of the team – be it in scorching midday sun or pissin-rain (briefly on 1 in 7 days) I felt well looked after from the team, ground up & I’m a septuagenerarian w a wheelchair too. Once in a lifetime experience before sunset. Thanks to U all, staffs, fellow traveller’s (a special breed, I tink) I’m blessed.
We were welcomed at Malè’s airport and just after a few hours onboard MV Felicity we felt as being part of the family.
We were taken care of, by our tour guide, UB, in every single part of the tour, which was the Conservation Cruise onboard MV Felicity.
The coral nurseries and whale shark briefing were instructive and helpful in making us understand the impact of tourism and tsunami on Maldives marine environment.
The whole Secret Paradise team has been the most kind and very professional.
I want to thank you and everyone else involved in our holiday for such an amazing trip, I enjoyed it so much, it has been my best holiday ever! We were so well looked after and everyone on the boat were so lovely and helpful, I was really sad to leave.
A fantastic cruise on every level, educational, exceptionally well organised, incredible marine life, the whale shark and the manta rays being the highlight.
The crew were outstanding along with our guide Ube. Congratulations Secret Paradise on a wonderful trip.