We've been to the Maldives several times. This is the nicest boat we've been on. The Dhoni was also fabulous. Rooms are very spacious, great bathrooms, good lighting if you want to read, everything clean as a whistle. The food was plentiful and very good. It could have had a bit more variety though.

Diving off the Dhoni was a pleasure. All the gear stayed there, except for our cameras. Good camera rinse, and lots of workspace on the stern of the Carpe Vita.

There had been some recent bleaching, so the fish life was a bit down, and the corals weren't as healthy as usual. We still saw plenty of sharks and lots of mantas. When we next go to the Maldives, we will certainly book onto the Carpe Vita!

The Horizon is the best liveaboard for the area of the Southern Channel Islands. It frequents San Clemente, Catalina and Santa Barbara islands, Cortez Bank, Tanner Bank, and occasionally visits Isla San Martin and the San Benitos islands off Baja. The boat is clean and well-maintained. The two captains are excellent, and the crew is experienced, friendly and helpful. There is a serious emphasis on safety, including a required briefing prior to departing the dock. Nitrox is available from a membrane system. The cabins are comfortable, as are the bunks, and all have full linen service. The food is pretty good and plentiful.

The only negative is that recently it has prioritized Guadalupe shark cage diving, and fewer trips are available to the Channel Islands each year. But if you get on a trip, the diving is consistently amazing. Highly recommended!