Know Before You Go

Welcome aboard. To help your trip start smoothly, here is the most important information for your diving safari in the Maldives.

Arrival, Check-in & Boarding

Arrival is usually via Malé International Airport. After your arrival, you will be picked up according to your travel information and brought to the Keana. Please share your current flight details with us in good time so that transfer and boarding can be well planned.

The earliest pick-up at the airport is at 09:00. We try to keep waiting times as short as possible. However, as guests often arrive at different times, waiting times of up to three hours may occur at the airport.

There is a fixed meeting point at the airport. Your tour operator will receive the exact information in advance.

If you are on board before 13:00 and the daily schedule allows, we offer a check dive on the day of arrival.

Entry Requirements

For entry, you need a valid passport and your travel documents. The Traveller Declaration must be completed online before arrival. Please do this in good time within the specified time window before your flight.

Diving

The Maldives are known for currents, big fish, thilas and channels. Experience with drift diving is therefore an advantage. Diving is always done within the scope of your training, experience and local regulations.

Please bring your dive certification, your logbook or digital proof of your diving experience. A dive computer is required, a surface marker buoy is standard equipment. For many dives, we also recommend a reef hook. For night and twilight dives, a torch is necessary.

All dives are briefed in advance. Safety, good communication and respectful interaction with the underwater world are always our top priorities.

Dive Insurance, Nitrox & Equipment

Valid dive insurance is mandatory. If you do not have your own dive insurance, you can take out DAN insurance on site. We also strongly recommend travel insurance.

Nitrox is available for an additional charge. The mix is usually between 30 and 32%.
15-liter tanks are only available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. These are also available for an additional charge.

Dive tanks are included, additional dive equipment is not included in the trip price. On request, we also arrange private dive guides.

We offer the following courses on board:

• PADI Nitrox Course: 180 USD

• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver: 260 USD

Meals

On board, we serve three meals a day, usually as a buffet. The cuisine is a mix of Asian and Western influences. There is always a vegetarian option, many dishes are also vegan or can be combined to be vegan.

Please inform us of any known or severe food intolerances before your trip. For very specific requirements, we recommend bringing suitable products as a backup yourself. If necessary, please also remember to bring personal medication.

Cabins

All cabins have their own bathroom, air conditioning and windows that can be opened. On the lower deck, these are portholes.

Solo travelers without a single cabin supplement share the cabin with another solo traveler. Women and men are not accommodated together. If cabin sharing is not possible for organizational reasons, the solo traveler receives a cabin on the lower deck for single use — without an additional single cabin supplement.

Towels & Linen

Hand, bath and beach towels are provided on board. We change the towels once a week, the bed linen on a weekly basis. On request, you can of course receive fresh towels or bed linen at any time.

Internet on Board

The MV Keana has Starlink on board. WiFi is not included in the trip price and can be used for an additional charge.

What You Should Pack

Pack light, practical and suitable for the tropics. On board, you mainly need comfortable clothing, sun protection, sunglasses and personal medication. For diving, we recommend your own mask, fins, computer and buoy.

Please use reef-safe sun protection where possible and avoid single-use plastic. The Maldives are a sensitive habitat — every small contribution helps.

Life on Board

Life on the Keana is relaxed, personal and focused on diving. Between dives, there is time to rest, eat, read, sunbathe or simply enjoy the view of the sea.

On board, things are uncomplicated: barefoot, relaxed and with respect for each other. The crew takes care of the schedule, safety and the well-being of the guests. If you have questions, requests or uncertainties, feel free to speak to us at any time.

During the safari, depending on weather, route and guest preferences, shore excursions are offered.

On the last day before departure, the boat is back in the harbor for the final overnight stay - there is the opportunity to visit the capital Malé or Hulhumalé.

Good to Know

The Maldives are a nature destination. Route, dive sites and daily schedule can change depending on weather, current and visibility conditions. That is exactly what makes a diving safari special: We decide daily where the best conditions for safe and beautiful dives can be expected.

Weather, currents and nature cannot be planned — but they can be read well with experience. Not every day follows a fixed program, and not every dive site is ideal at all times. We choose the route so that safety, experience and conditions match as well as possible.

Come on board with anticipation, openness and a bit of flexibility. The Maldives reward exactly that — with special moments above and below the water.

Check-out & Late Check-out

Regular check-out is at 09:00. Depending on flight times, the transfer to the airport may also take place earlier. We do our best to organize the process as pleasant and suitable as possible.

If cabins are available on the following tour, we offer a late check-out:

• Check-out until 18:00: 30 USD per person including lunch

• Check-out until 24:00: 60 USD per person including lunch and dinner

Not Included

Not included in the trip price are:

• Tips for the crew

• Drinks from the bar

• Dive equipment, except dive tanks

• Nitrox

• WiFi / Starlink

• Green Tax: 12 USD per person per night, payable on board, also for complimentary places

• Beach BBQ or Beach Dinner on an island, weather dependent and subject to island keeper requirements: approx. 5–10 USD per person

• Surcharge for southern tours, e.g. Gan–Malé or Koodhoo–Gan, per person per night

• Diesel surcharge from 15 USD per person per night, depending on diesel price in the Maldives

Payments on board can be made in cash in euros or USD as well as by credit card. A fee of 4% applies to credit card payments. Cash payment is welcome.

Cancellation Policy

• More than 120 days before departure: 25% cancellation fee

• 120 to 91 days before departure: 50% cancellation fee

• 90 to 46 days before departure: 75% cancellation fee

• From 45 days before departure or in case of no-show: 95% cancellation fee

Local Contact Information

Keana Cruise Manager, Maldives: +960 797 2412
Keana Office, Maldives: +960 777392