Accommodation
All rooms are air-conditioned and include en-suite bathroom with bathtub/shower, plus a sofa, writing desk, telephone, mini-bar, safe, LCD flat screen TV and DVD/CD player with MP3 cable and wireless internet access.
Lounge
The indoor lounge is a relaxing venue to swop stories, listen to a marine biology briefing, or review the day’s videos; it also incorporates a library of books, magazines and board games plus a large CD and DVD collection for use in the lounge or in individual cabins. Drinks and refreshments are available throughout the day.
Dining
The air-conditioned indoor and outdoor restaurant serves a wide range of Indian, Maldivian, Asian and European dishes plus Lobster Dinner and
theme nights. Meals are all-inclusive – with the exception of alcoholic beverages – and vary between buffet and table service, shared in the company of other passengers.
Spa
Four Seasons Explorer’s resident spa therapist offers natural therapies inspired by Asia’s ancient healing principles. Retreat to the private treatment area on the upper deck – curtained for privacy yet open to the refreshing sea air – or indulge in a massage at one of the secluded beach locations visited during the cruise.
Diving
As the country’s fastest cruising liveaboard, Four Seasons Explorer gives guests effortless access to a larger range of secluded hotspots: exciting channel dives with sharks and rays, vibrant thilas, cleaning stations, wrecks, and the myriad coral-lined overhangs between the island chains.
Dive Itineraries
Guests can typically expect two dives in the morning and one in the afternoon, with the option of additional sunrise, night and wreck excursions. From May to November, the currents move large quantities of plankton through the atolls, attracting large pelagics (manta rays and whale sharks) to the eastern side of the country. During December to April the wind reverses, resulting in incredible 30-40m visibility and consistently near-perfect conditions.
Dive itineraries adapt to currents and conditions, seasonal marine visitors and the diving requirements of divers onboard. As such, each cruise aboard Four Seasons Explorer is never the same trip twice. Dive groups involve a maximum ratio of 6:1 divers to dive guide, with experience levels separated as much as possible.
Dive Courses
Four Seasons Explorer is geared towards qualified divers. It is the ideal vessel on which to hone dive skills, increase underwater confidence and develop specialty skills in thrilling new areas. Development courses offered on board range from Advanced Open Water Diver to over 12 specialties including Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Drift and Underwater Naturalist.
Dive facilities:
- Multilingual dive staff and experienced crew,
including a marine biologist (maximum 6:1 guest to
dive guide ratio)
- Separate nitrox and air compressor systems
- Diving conducted from a traditional 16.7-metre (55-
foot) support vessel, Aseykara II, a custom-designed
dive dhoni with full safety and navigation
equipment
- Full equipment available for all onboard guests,
including SCUBAPRO BCDs and regulators, Suunto
computers and Cressi fins
- All divers are equipped with a surface marker buoy
and Sea Marshall personal locator radio beacon
- Hot and cold showers available on two sea-level
platforms
- Dedicated fresh-water rinse tank for camera
equipment
- Coffee- and tea-making facilities and post-dive
refreshments
- Underwater photography services available (fees
apply)
Sports
Water sports – Take to the waves with waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, fun tubes and kayaking.
Excursions
Savour gourmet cuisine on uninhabited islands. Castaway in isolation on a secluded sandbank. Visit remote villages for cultural experiences and
souvenir shopping. Or enjoy a spot of football or rugby on a beach in the middle of nowhere …
Snorkelling – Embark on daily snorkelling excursions with the marine biologist or snorkel off the beach at any of the numerous island stop-offs along the way.
Fishing – Venture out for a spot of bottom line fishing by dhoni twice a week or fish off the back of the vessel each night.
SURFING TOURS
Dedicated seven-day surf safaris Four Seasons Explorer runs a selection of seven-day ‘surfaris’ each year under the expert guidance of the
pros from Tropicsurf, Noosa, Australia. The Tropicsurf tours lead surfers of all abilities to new frontiers and uncrowded, rarely surfed breaks. The vessel’s exemplary facilities combine with consistent yearround swells, passionate instructors and sophisticated web-forecasting equipment for all but guaranteed surfing nirvana.
Surf tour highlights:
- Easy access to excellent uncrowded breaks
- Experienced surf guides and coaches
- Learn to surf programmes
- Surfboards provided for beginners
- Surf photographers and videographers both inwater
and filming from tenders
- Access to the latest meteorology information for
wind, wave and swell forecasts
- Tenders and crew on stand-by at each surf
location
- Tenders to ferry surfers to and from the boat for
gourmet lunches
EXCLUSIVE CHARTERS
Design the ultimate Maldivian adventure …
Charter Four Seasons Explorer for a private cruise of three or more nights … or combine a few days onboard with a stay at Kuda Huraa and/or Landaa Giraavaru. Charter guests can customise every aspect of their experience: focusing on diving, surfing or an in-depth cultural tour; pre-ordering a preferred selection of spirits, wines and champagne and tailoring menus for each and every meal. The charter rate includes all food
and non-alcoholic beverages, diving gear and escorted dives, water sports, activities and excursions to private islands. Laundry services, personal communications services (internet access, faxes and phone calls) and alcoholic beverages are extra.
THE VESSEL
Four Seasons Explorer is a light boat that cruises fast at 17 knots. Designed for extending cruising without the need to re-fuel or re-supply, the boat is also fitted with the latest navigation and safety features and a Sea State Motion Control System to provide an exceptional sea-faring experience. A draft of 1.9 metres means the boat can access locations that larger vessels cannot reach – adding to the sense of discovery that a Four Seasons Explorer cruise brings.
Specifications:
- Length – 39 metres (128 feet)
- Beam – 12 metres (39 feet)
- Draught – 1.7 metres (5.7 feet)
- Builder – Image Marine Australia
- Year – 2002
- Engines – 2 x 1000hp 12V2000 M70 MTU
- Speed – 17 knots