Blue Force 3 Liveaboard Review: The Boat, Now Sailing the Maldives

I reviewed Blue Force 3 during a week-long liveaboard cruise on Egypt’s Red Sea, when the boat operated out of Hurghada. Blue Force 3 has since relocated and now operates in the Maldives, so I’ve updated this review to focus on the boat itself — the cabins, food, service, and overall experience — which remain accurate wherever it currently sails.

Why Trust This Blue Force 3 Review?

Check Availability and Book Your Cruise on Blue Force 3 Here

There are hundreds of liveaboard reviews online, but many are written by people who have only experienced one or two boats. A luxury liveaboard can seem exceptional when you have nothing to compare it to.

I have logged more than 1,500 dives around the world and have personally sailed on more than 30 liveaboards across Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea, Mexico, Galapagos, and other diving destinations. Over the years, I have been on 6 liveaboards in the Maldives and continue to return to its atolls in search of exceptional diving experiences.

As the founder of This Is Luxury Travel, I have made liveaboard reviews one of the core focuses of the website. Today, This Is Luxury Travel has reviewed more diving liveaboards than any other luxury travel publication, allowing readers to compare boats based on real first-hand experience rather than marketing materials.

When reviewing a liveaboard, I pay attention not only to the diving itself but also to the details that can make or break a trip: cabin comfort, food quality, dive operations, guide quality, safety procedures, photography facilities, internet reliability, value for money, and how the experience compares with competing boats in the same destination.

My goal is not to tell you whether a boat is “good” or “bad.” Instead, I aim to help you understand who the boat is best suited for and whether it matches your diving style, budget, and expectations.

This review of Blue Force 3 is based entirely on my personal experience cruising the Maldives atolls aboard the vessel. Choosing the best Maldives liveaboard comes down to finding a premium dive liveaboard Maldives operation that delivers consistent quality across all these departments.

Note: this review was written while Blue Force 3 operated in Egypt’s Red Sea. The boat has since relocated to the Maldives — the boat/cabin/food/service sections below still apply, but Egypt-specific logistics and itinerary content have been removed. Pricing and the booking link above reflect Blue Force 3’s current Maldives listing as of July 2026 — always confirm current rates before booking.

Getting to Malé

Your Blue Force 3 trip in the Maldives begins with a flight into Malé Velana International Airport, the main gateway for international arrivals. Immigration is generally straightforward, and Malé itself is easy enough to navigate on arrival.

Staying in Malé or Hulhumalé before your cruise?

If you’re arriving the day before boarding, I’d recommend staying in Hulhumalé, about a 10-minute drive from the airport, rather than central Malé — it’s calmer, and you’ll find comfortable hotels along the beach at a lower cost than the city center. A taxi from the airport to Hulhumalé is inexpensive and quick.

Review of the Blue Force 3 liveaboard

The first impression when boarding the Blue Force 3 is that it is big and shiny. It was built in 2018 and is one of the newest and most luxurious purpose-built dive boats around. It has been built for diving, and a lot of attention went into the details to make it comfortable. The Blue Force 3 is one of the best boats around.

With a length of 42 meters, there is plenty of common space and seating areas so that the boat never feels crowded.

The lower deck is occupied by cabins.

On the main deck, we find the dining room, the living room, and the dive deck.

The dining room is large and has 5 tables. You can therefore choose to eat with your friends or you can eat at the larger central table and meet the other passengers.

Next to the dining room is a large area with multiple sofas and a TV.

Both the dining room and the living room have strong air conditioning so this is a great place for people who like it fresh.

The dive deck is spacious at the back of the boat and is shaded to protect you from the sun.

TIP: The Maldives can be very windy. The diving station on the edge of the boat can be too windy and cold so you are better off choosing a dive station at the center of the boat.

On the superior deck, you can find the outdoor bar and another seating area. 4 more cabins are located on this deck.

In the bar, you can help yourself to soft drinks. Beer, wines, and cocktails are available for purchase.

You can see the prices below.

The sun deck is huge and has another seating area and plenty of comfortable sun loungers. I certainly enjoyed the multiple cushions provided. Not only do they add a lovely touch of color to the boat, but they also make us more comfortable when relaxing on the sundeck.

The boat is very easy to navigate with large stairs, handrails, and anti-slip floors.

It is a well-designed boat, and attention has been paid to the look of the boat. The main colors are blue, white, and yellow, which go very well with the Maldives Sea landscape. There is a lot of natural wood onboard giving it a relaxed feeling. Practical aspects have not been forgotten. For example, they have placed charging plugs and USB plugs under the sofas in the main living room.

Review of the rooms on the Blue Force 3 liveaboard

I stayed in the superior deck cabin number 10. The bedroom is well designed and comfortable.

There is plenty of natural light due to the large panoramic window. Only the superior cabins have a large window that allows you to see the passing landscape.

Attention has been paid to the lighting of the room with fancy LED lights and electric charging points. (The plugs are European types.)

There are 2 beds. One is a single bed, and one is a double bed.

The bed is super comfortable, and a plush duvet is provided. I slept very well.

There is individually controlled air conditioning available in all the cabins, but you can also open the bathroom window to get fresh air directly into the cabin.

The cabin is relatively quiet, and the noise of the motor when navigating is fairly low.

There is a safety box.

The superior cabins are excellent and nicer than on most diving liveaboards.

The bathroom

The bathroom is en suite and relatively large for a liveaboard.

I really liked the blue Arabic-style flooring tiles. It gave the bathroom an interesting look.

The shower is separated by a glass so you don’t wet the whole bathroom each time you shower. A clothes drying line is conveniently placed in the shower.

There is hot and cold water, and the water pressure was great — the best I have seen on any liveaboard!

Plenty of plush towels are provided.

The toilet is a “normal” toilet, but make sure you don’t put toilet paper in it, as it will block the pipes.

Tip: only shower gel is provided so bring your shampoo and conditioner.

What cabin to choose on the Blue Force 3 liveaboard?

All the cabins have a similar size and layout. What distinguishes them is the deck they are on.

Cabins on the superior deck have a large window with a sea view and a door opening to the outside, allowing you to get fresh air into the cabin.

The price difference between cabins is quite small so I would suggest going for an upper-deck superior cabin.

Review of the food on the Blue Force 3 liveaboard

The food was good and varied. It was served buffet-style.

Breakfast would be served after the first dive at around 8 am. It consisted of eggs, bread, 4 types of cheese! Fruits, yogurts, and many other things to choose from.

I loved the fruit platter. It had many kinds of fruits like apple, melon, peaches, apricots, watermelon, and the fruits were delicious.

For coffee lovers, a Nespresso coffee machine is available and Nespresso capsules cost 1.5 EUR. Tea lovers were not forgotten as 5 types of tea were on offer.

Lunch would be served after the second dive, around 12:00 or 1 pm and dinner after the night dive, around 8:30 pm.

Lunch and dinner consisted of a large buffet with 2 or 3 meat dishes, plenty of vegetables, rice and pasta. The food was mostly Western-style, with plenty of options for vegetarians too. The chef was very accommodating of dietary preferences.

Most dishes were very appetizing, and the quantity and quality of the food provided were impressive. It was even better than some five-star hotels I’ve stayed at.

The dessert buffet was also remarkable with 2 or 3 cakes on offer and plenty of tasty fresh fruits every day.

Snacks, fruits, and cake would be available at all times if you get hungry in between dives.

Needless to say, we didn’t get hungry during this cruise, and nobody on board complained of any stomach issues — a good sign of the chef’s hygiene standards.

Review of the service aboard the Blue Force 3 liveaboard

The team on the Blue Force 3 is very solid. They are super-efficient and organized but also do everything with a smile.

A lot of attention to detail was obvious on the dive deck. They would help us put on diving gear. The tanks were perfectly filled every time. A drink would usually be waiting for us after each dive.

The cabin would be cleaned and turned down 3 times a day!

The waiter in the restaurant was ever attentive, bringing us drinks or special food orders.

The service on the Blue Force liveaboard is very good.

How much does a Blue Force 3 Maldives liveaboard cost?

A week aboard Blue Force 3 in the Maldives typically runs from around $210/day — roughly $1,690 to $2,390+ per person for an 8-day/7-night departure, depending on season and cabin — with a premium for the upper-deck superior cabins I’d recommend. Budget extra for Nitrox (around $80/week), the mandatory service charge (around $160/trip), environmental tax (~$12/day), and fuel surcharge (~$20/night), plus drinks and crew gratuities — confirm exactly what’s included with the operator, since inclusions can vary by season.

Check current Blue Force 3 Maldives dates & prices →

In conclusion, my Blue Force 3 review

Blue Force 3 was a splendid boat to dive from during my week in Egypt’s Red Sea — flawless organization, great food, and a helpful, smiling crew, with outstanding value for the level of luxury on board. Blue Force 3 has since relocated to the Maldives; the boat and the onboard experience described above should still hold true, though I haven’t personally sailed it on its new routes.

If you’re considering booking Blue Force 3 in the Maldives, I’d treat this as a review of the boat itself rather than of that specific itinerary, and check with the operator for current routes, crew, and logistics.

Check Blue Force 3 Maldives availability & book →

FAQ: Blue Force 3 liveaboard

What experience level do I need for a Blue Force 3 liveaboard?

Blue Force 3 has generally required a minimum number of logged dives and recommended Advanced Open Water certification, though exact requirements can vary by itinerary — check current requirements with the operator before booking. I could not find a published minimum-dives requirement for the Maldives operation specifically, so check with the operator when booking.

Related reading

If you are researching a Maldives liveaboard, you may also enjoy my other reviews from these central and northern atoll trips:

• Blue Force One liveaboard review — the sister ship in the same Blue Force fleet
• EcoPro Seascape Maldives liveaboard review
• White Pearl liveaboard review — the biggest diving liveaboard in the Maldives
• The Duke of York liveaboard review
• Scubaspa Yin: the Far North diving itinerary
• Scubaspa Ying: spa and dive in the Maldives

Prefer to stay on land, or want to combine a resort stay with your dive trip? Read my Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru resort review. Still deciding on your approach? See my guide on the best way to dive the Maldives: liveaboard or resort. You can also browse all my liveaboard and diving reviews.