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MV Soleil II dive boat review
Step aboard Soleil II
MALDIVES LIVEABOARD GUIDE
Soleil II: A larger boat with a hot tub and dive dhoni
Published capacity figures differ — confirm the current cabin plan
A larger boat with a hot tub and dive dhoni. Start with your preferred cabin and itinerary, then compare the complete departure quote.
Check dates & cabin availability →
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Soleil II vessel and booking details
Soleil II, listed by the booking partner as Soleil 2, is a 40.5 m yacht built in November 2015 according to its specification table. The main description gives 28 guests in 14 cabins, while the technical table gives 30 guests and 15 cabins. Request the current layout before reserving.
Vessel source · checked 7 October 2026.
Which cabin should you book?
| Deck | Cabin choice | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Current booking choices | Ensuite, air-conditioned accommodation | Confirm room number, beds, occupancy and deck in your written quote. |
Cabins have air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Specify whether you need separate beds, a double, a view or sole occupancy; a category name alone does not settle those details.
Life aboard Soleil II
Soleil II offers air-conditioned saloons and indoor dining, plus covered outdoor seating on the upper deck. Its large sundeck gives you another place to relax between dives. Compressors and equipment storage are on the diving dhoni, separating much of the working dive operation from the accommodation boat.
Meals between dives
Buffet meals combine Western and local cooking, with snacks available through the day. Vegetarian and vegan options are listed. Ask how your particular dietary needs will be handled; a menu category alone cannot answer questions about ingredients or cross-contact.
From the original Divezone review
Original Divezone account; confirm departure-specific services in your quotation.
There are DIN adaptors for those with their own regulators. Nitrox is available to extend your bottom time. Plus, if you’re a relatively new diver and want to further your diving knowledge you can take the opportunity to do your Advanced or Nitrox training onboard. Diving in the Maldives means discovering a world of brightly colored reef fish such as sweet-lips, snappers and more. Also, giant moray eels, turtles, and shrimps make the coral bommies their homes. Plus, if you’re hoping for an encounter with larger pelagic animals such as sharks, manta or eagle ray or, sometimes, a giant of the ocean such as the Whale Shark – the Maldives’ reefs may serve up that opportunity.
Travelling with a non-diver on Soleil II?
Confirm a non-diving place directly for Soleil II and the chosen departure. A current boat-specific acceptance policy and companion fare have not been established here. Ask whether the booking is a shared cruise berth or a whole-yacht charter, and obtain the price for your dates, duration, cabin and occupancy, including taxes and transfers. Skipping dives does not by itself establish a discount.
Request a practical programme for the companion: which guided snorkeling sessions or island excursions are actually planned, whether equipment and guidance are included, and which activities cost extra. Confirm age or supervision conditions where relevant. A diving or surfing charter may leave a non-participating guest aboard for substantial periods; do not assume that a tender, sundeck or an old excursion description guarantees daily outings.
Diving, routes and experience
Central, northern and southern routes differ. Hanifaru Bay visits are snorkeling excursions, not scuba dives.
Check the itinerary attached to your departure. Malé–Malé routes avoid the domestic-flight logistics of many southern trips. Currents can change the site order and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. See the Maldives diving guide for seasons and atolls.
Get the minimum logged dives, certification, required equipment and no-fly interval in writing from the operator. A statement that a boat welcomes beginners does not mean every route or dive is suitable for them.
Example circuit: Malé → South Malé → Vaavu → South Ari → North Ari → Rasdhoo → Malé. Operators vary the order and select sites according to the departure, weather and currents.
- Maaya Thila, North Ari: a reef pinnacle; conditions affect dive planning.
- Alimatha, Vaavu: the island marker locates the surrounding night-diving area, not an exact entry point.
- South Ari: the Maamigili marker locates the wider whale-shark area; encounters are not guaranteed.
- Rasdhoo: an atoll reference for the surrounding reefs, not a promised stop.
Most central itineraries use Malé-area boarding and return. Check the actual meeting point and airport transfer; southern one-way departures may require domestic flights.
Route context: Emperor Best of Maldives and Carpe Diem Central Atolls. Geographic references: Malé / North Malé, South Malé area, Vaavu / Alimatha, South Ari / Maamigili, Maaya Thila / North Ari, Rasdhoo.
Soleil II itinerary map
Select the documented route example below. Zoom to inspect the islands and reefs, and select a numbered stop for its name. The actual sailing programme must be confirmed with the operator.
Lines show indicative connections between regions, not navigation tracks. Arrows show the example direction; departures can run in reverse, and stops vary with weather, currents and the chosen cruise.
Routes at a glance
- Central Atolls: Malé / North Malé → South Malé area → Vaavu / Alimatha → South Ari / Maamigili → Maaya Thila / North Ari → Rasdhoo → Malé / North Malé. Indicative regional connections from the route described on this page. Confirm the actual departure, direction and stops; this is not a navigation track.
Confirm ports, transfers and any domestic flights before booking.
Geographic references and route sources
Regional markers use the references below. See the boat-specific itinerary sources accompanying this map; no extra route is implied by the destination guide.
Malé / North Malé · South Malé area · Vaavu / Alimatha · South Ari / Maamigili · Maaya Thila / North Ari · Rasdhoo ·
Watch: Maldives Central Atolls — destination film
Guest film by AROS Pro, February 2026, filmed aboard Emperor Serenity. Destination illustration only: it does not show this boat or establish its facilities. Video source · Watch on YouTube. Illustrative boat photograph.
Budget, inclusions and extras
Current departure listings were checked on 6 October 2026. Obtain a cabin-level quote for your dates. Compare currency, nights, shared or private occupancy, taxes, fuel and service charges before choosing.
| Budget line | Before paying |
|---|---|
| Cruise | Match dates, nights, cabin, currency and occupancy. |
| Mandatory extras | Ask for taxes, fuel/service charges, park fees and compulsory transfers as a written total. |
| Diving extras | Check Nitrox, rentals, larger tanks, courses and private guiding. |
| Travel | Add international flights, any domestic flights, hotels, insurance and optional spending. |
Request a written shared-berth or sole-occupancy quote. Availability in a double cabin does not establish the price for one guest.
Do not compare headline prices as final totals. Until every compulsory charge is confirmed for the same departure, the all-in comparison remains incomplete. Use our budget guide and travel guide to build the rest of the trip.
Is this the right boat for you?
A larger boat with a hot tub and dive dhoni. Start with that priority, then check cabin availability and route. For an alternative, compare Emperor Voyager, Emperor Serenity, Carpe Novo and Blue Force One. See the Maldives boat comparison. Our Maldives liveaboard guide explains the route choices; the luxury guide compares comfort priorities.
What guests say about Soleil II
These LiveAboard.com experiences show why comfort aboard and underwater suitability should be considered separately.
Robin D — 12 March 2025: On a first liveaboard with fewer than 100 logged dives, Robin appreciated the meals, comfortable room and large communal spaces. Medium-to-strong channel currents were challenging, even with attentive guides. Discuss recent experience and comfort in current before choosing a route.
Ozgur P — 9 January 2023: Describing a December 2022 Central Maldives trip, Ozgur enjoyed a spacious cabin and grouping by diving experience. The crew also organised a birthday cake during an island barbecue. This is an older personal experience, not an included celebration package.
Soleil II: questions before booking
Is Soleil II the same listing as Soleil 2?
Yes. Divezone uses Soleil II; the linked partner uses Soleil 2. Match the boat and departure when booking.
Does every cabin have a balcony?
No. Ask specifically for a balcony category and its assigned room; do not infer that feature from photographs of another cabin.
Does the central route represent every Soleil II departure?
No. Northern and southern programmes are also advertised. Check both ports and domestic-flight needs before buying flights.
Find your Soleil II departure
Compare the cabin and final quote for the dates you can travel.
Have you dived with Soleil II?
Share your travel date, cabin, diving experience and any practical advice for the next guest. Existing reader reviews remain below.
Gallery, vessel details and guest-review update: 7 October 2026. Fare observations retain their stated dates. This is a researched update, not a new onboard inspection. Useful original descriptions have been retained and outdated prices and specifications corrected. Sources: operator boat information, departure and cabin listings.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
destination of the monthMaldives
Drift dives, reef sharks, manta rays and whale sharks: choose the right atoll, season and diving style for your Maldives adventure.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Maldives, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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