DUNE Black Manta

Built in the Maldives and designed by divers for divers, DUNE Black Manta is a modern 42-metre liveaboard based around Faafu Atoll and cruising throughout the Maldives year-round. It carries up to 26 divers across 15 air-conditioned cabins — a mix of standard, superior, deluxe, and panoramic sea-view rooms with private ensuite bathrooms — spread over the lower, main, and upper decks.

Diving with DUNE Black Manta

Dive operations run from a dedicated 20-metre dhoni fitted with compressors and nitrox facilities, backed by an additional speedboat that lets the crew split into smaller groups when needed. Enriched air (Nitrox) is available, and the PADI Public Safety Diver course is offered onboard. The diving takes in the Maldives' channels, reefs, manta cleaning stations, and shark-rich sites.

Between dives, there's free Wi-Fi, warm-water showers, and a battery charging station, with crew speaking English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese. DUNE's environmental initiatives emphasise marine conservation and responsible diving, including partnerships with Green Fins and Manta Trust — a good fit for divers who want comfort alongside a conservation-minded operation.