M/Y Resolute Liveaboard Overview

portrait of a smiling woman with dark hair in a light blue sweaterDIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
By
Sarah Turnbull
portrait of a smiling woman with dark hair in a light blue sweater
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
Sarah is a writer, PADI instructor and underwater photographer based in Mauritius. Diving across 5 continents, she has a love of all things ocean-related and an...
Rebecca Strauss
DIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...
Aerial view of the liveaboard M/Y Resolute anchored on calm water under low sun
Built in 1974 in Vladivostok in the former USSR, M/Y Resolute is a former Soviet spy ship that was converted into a full-service dive vessel in 1998, though it underwent a refit in 2019.
M/Y Resolute liveaboard dive boat viewed from the side at sea
At 113 feet (34.6 m), M/Y Resolute carries 16 passengers in eight individually air-controlled, ensuite cabins.
An octopus crawls over a coral reef at a M/Y Resolute dive site
Divers may encounter whale sharks, octopus, large pelagics, playful dolphins, and schools of colorful fish.
A school of fish swims over a coral reef at a M/Y Resolute dive site
Experience the thrill of diving in the Philippines, with excellent visibility (often exceeding 100 feet/30 meters) and vibrant coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life.
Scuba tanks and gear crates lined up on the M/Y Resolute dive deck
The dive deck is extremely spacious with log bench seats on three sides and separate storage baskets for divers to keep their gear.
A lounge cabin with beanbag seating and wood flooring aboard the M/Y Resolute
The air-conditioned salon features comfortable bench seats and large bean bags for guests to relax and socialize.
Outdoor dining tables set up under a canopy aboard the M/Y Resolute
Dining is alfresco on M/Y Resolute and guests enjoy this experience along with the excellent quality food.
Wooden bunk cabin bedroom aboard the M/Y Resolute liveaboard
The eight cabins are located below the main deck and feature individual air-conditioning and an ensuite bathroom.
A colorful Chromodoris nudibranch crawling on the reef
Stunning macro critters like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs are lurking about.
Green sea turtle resting on a coral reef as a diver looks on nearby
A mecca for underwater photographers, wide-angle is popular, capturing well-preserved Word War II Japanese wrecks at Coron as well as large pelagics.
Blacktip reef shark cruising over a coral reef
Pristine dive sites with excellent visibility offer the chance to see large pelagics, including whale sharks, sharks, dolphins, turtles, and even a rare dugong.

Experience the thrill of diving in the Philippines, with excellent visibility (often exceeding 100 feet/30 meters) and vibrant coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life. Divers may encounter whale sharks, large pelagics, playful dolphins, and schools of colorful fish.

Stunning macro critters like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs are lurking about too, offering photographers the opportunity to capture some incredible images.

Built in 1974 in Vladivostok in the former USSR, M/Y Resolute is a former Soviet spy ship that was converted into a full-service dive vessel in 1998, though it underwent a refit in 2019.

At 113 feet (34.6 m), it carries 16 passengers in eight individually air-controlled, ensuite cabins. M/Y Resolute offers dive itineraries to Tubbahata, Apo Reef, the Coron wrecks, and Cebu with 7-day/6-night trips. Divers can expect 21-22 dives per trip.

Let’s dive into our review of M/Y Resolute liveaboard.

About this overview

To help you decide whether this liveaboard fits your dive style, budget, and comfort needs, we’ve researched the boat, itinerary, onboard experience, diving setup, and overall value.
We review liveaboards based on the details that matter most during a multi-day dive trip, including cabins, food, crew support, dive operations, safety, route quality, and how the boat compares with similar options in the destination.

Things we like:

  • Excellent choice of itineraries
  • Good quality food
  • Unique boat history
  • Large pelagics including whale sharks, hammerheads and dugong

Things we don't like:

  • Shallow draft may cause some guests to experience seasickness
  • In need of some updating

Diving on the M/Y Resolute liveaboard

A whitetip reef shark cruises over coral near a M/Y Resolute dive site
A broadclub cuttlefish resting on the sand at a M/Y Resolute dive site
A close up of a seahorse clinging to the reef at a M/Y Resolute dive site

With a selection of exceptional itineraries—mostly 7-day/6-night—the M/Y Resolute offers divers the opportunity to dive off the beaten path in the Philippines. Pristine dive sites with excellent visibility offer the chance to see large pelagics, including whale sharks, sharks, dolphins, turtles, and even a rare dugong.

Suitable for experienced divers of Advanced Open Water or equivalent and above, itineraries take in wrecks, reefs, and drift dives in a host of spectacular settings.

A mecca for underwater photographers, wide-angle is popular, capturing well-preserved Word War II Japanese wrecks at Coron as well as large pelagics and schools of large fish like jacks, trevally, and sardines in open water. Macro photographers can capture pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs in this diverse underwater world.

M/Y Resolute has a dinghy and two large fiberglass tenders to transfer guests to dive sites in comfort. With 21-22 dives on a 7-day/6-night trip, divers have plenty of opportunity to blow bubbles. Gear rental is available on board but should be booked in advance.

Divemasters are skilled and safe, providing excellent, detailed briefings. Guests enjoy their professionalism and that they give guests the freedom to explore independently once they’ve been assessed.

Highlights:

  • Up to 22 dives on a 7-day trip
  • Excellent for photographers
  • Opportunity to dive independently
  • Frequent shark encounters

Onboard the M/Y Resolute

Sun loungers on the open deck of the M/Y Resolute overlooking the ocean
Wooden bench seating with blue cushions on the M/Y Resolute deck
A wooden bunk bed cabin decorated with plants aboard the M/Y Resolute
Astroturf deck lounge with colorful beanbags aboard the M/Y Resolute
A cabin bench seat piled with patterned pillows aboard the M/Y Resolute

M/Y Resolute is an older boat, having been built in the early 1970s, but has undergone refits and refurbishments, the last being in 2019. It is clean and well-maintained by a friendly and professional crew.

Both public and private areas benefit from daily housekeeping and a laundry service is available for guests. The eight cabins are located below the main deck and feature individual air-conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. The cabins are a little snug, but are fitted with comfortable twin or double beds.

The air-conditioned salon features comfortable bench seats and large bean bags for guests to relax and socialize. The spacious area has an audio and video entertainment system and a library with magazines and books.

On the upper level you’ll find an outdoor salon with comfortable seating and alfresco dining. There are several spaces for guests to sunbathe and take in the views, with loungers and leisure furniture scattered about the boat.

The dive deck is extremely spacious with log bench seats on three sides and separate storage baskets for divers to keep their gear. There is a large space that serves as a camera corner, fantastic for divers to prepare, store, and safekeep their photo and video equipment.

Highlights:

  • Spacious dive deck
  • Alfresco dining
  • Comfortable salon and cabins
  • Daily housekeeping and laundry service

Dining onboard M/Y Resolute

Outdoor dining tables set up under a canopy aboard the M/Y Resolute
Dining tables set for a meal with ocean views aboard the M/Y Resolute

Dining is alfresco on M/Y Resolute and guests enjoy this experience along with the excellent quality food, offering plentiful local and international dishes. Predominantly buffet-style, vegetarian dishes are offered as standard with other dietary requirements accommodated with prior notice. The buffet normally features at least five main course dishes.

The food is plentiful, with a light breakfast before the first dive and a more substantial breakfast afterward. Lunch and dinner are bookended by mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Tea, coffee, fruit juice, and water are available all day and included in the price. Alcohol is available on board and charged extra.

Highlights:

  • Food is plentiful and well-prepared
  • Alcohol is available and charged extra

Things we like:

  • Excellent choice of itineraries
  • Good quality food
  • Unique boat history
  • Large pelagics including whale sharks, hammerheads and dugong

Things we don't like:

  • Shallow draft may cause some guests to experience seasickness
  • In need of some updating
Key facts
Year built: 1974
Max divers: 16
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: No
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes ($)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: 5-7 Nights
Price range: Mid-range
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1 Comment
Wicher Le poole
Wicher Le poole

We booked the M/Y resolute and got stranded on the Tubbataha Reef with a broken engine. The owner knew there was trouble before we set sail but was only in it for the money..

The agent; Maldivian charter club/ time to dive, as well and the owner refuse to take responsibility.