By: Torben Lonne
Voted as the ‘Best Dive Safari 2018’ at the Maldives Boating Awards, the MV Sachika is an Italian owned and operated luxury boat that takes divers and non-divers to the best dive sites in the Maldives. The common dive sites visited include North Male, South Male, and Aril Atoll. A high class and luxurious vessel, the MV Sachika was built in 2007 with attention paid to the finer details. This stunning yacht ensures that guests travel in luxury, comfort and style. Diving aboard the MV Sachika is an experience you wouldn’t forget for the rest of your life as the boat’s combination of luxury, comfort and safety is unmatched.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Several divers commended the dinner on the island as it made a perfect picture opportunity. -
Several divers commended the instructor on the night dives because it opened up a whole new world that is often not looked at during the day.
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Some people stated that the crew were knowledgeable and always had great input when confronted with question.
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The divers enjoyed the experience and said they would be back in future.
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The food was great and the staff understood that not everyone ate the same stuff and the fish was exceptional.
Things we don't like:
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Some divers said they did not get adequate training before the dives. -
A few people claimed that the land excursions were too quick and they wanted to spend more time there.
Diving on the MV Sachika in the Maldives
The 33meters/108feet MV Sachika will sweep you off your feet with its modern facilities. Custom built for diving, the MV Sachika has four decks which means that there is a lot of space to accommodate up to 22 divers /non-divers in 10 beautiful cabins. All cabins have at least 1 King or Queen Size bed and come with windows, minibar, fridge, and personal TV and DVD players. The cabins are very spacious with large bathrooms and a generous shower cubicle. There are several areas for outdoor relaxation spread across the decks.
Boat features
The MV Sachika is stylishly designed with three independent hi-fi systems on every deck and an outdoor Jacuzzi. The yacht also features large exterior and interior living areas with attention paid to every detail.
The boat has an indoor air-conditioned restaurant with HD TV and DVD player on the main deck with a dining area. For guests interested in books, the Sachika comes with a small library filled with books, movies, and board games. There is also an outdoor dining area at the back of the main deck.
The boat has a lounge area with sofas on the main deck. There is an amazing panoramic lounge bar with an audio system on the upper deck. There is an open and shaded area on the sun deck where guests can relax in between and after dives.
The meals prepared by the onboard chef are a mix of local and international cuisine, and guests are served in buffet style. Snacks are also available all day long.
Diving on the MV Sachika is done from the Dhoni which carries all the equipment and compressors for both air and Nitrox. The dive staff includes a marine biologist to ensure you make the most of your liveaboard cruise.
With safety a priority as in other liveaboards that go diving in the Maldives, the Sachika is equipped with all the necessary safety equipment such as GPS, oxygen, first aid equipment, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, life vests, and a defibrillator.
Best time to go
While diving is suitable all year long, the best time to go diving aboard the MV Sachika is between November and May.
Logistics
Guests are transferred from the airport or hotels to the boat. They are returned upon the trip’s completion.
Itinerary
The MV Sachika runs specific routes depending on the time of the year and prevailing weather conditions during that period. Most of the MV Sachika’s itinerary is for 8days/7nights.
Once transferred in the boat, guests are briefed on the safety and dive schedules before they are checked into their cabins.
No diving is done on the arrival day. There are a total of 17 dives per week including one night dive depending on weather conditions. There are just two dives on the day before departure, and no diving is done on the departure day.
All diving is supervised by dive guides to ensure everyone’s safety.
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