Ambai

MV Ambai is a 32m mono-hulled motor yacht built from ironwood in traditional Indonesian style. Up to 16 guests can be comfortably accommodated on board in cabins with ensuite bathrooms during these Indonesia liveaboard diving safaris around Raja Ampat and the greater Banda Sea area.

Guests relax in the air-conditioned saloon and dining area plus on deck where there are many shaded areas as well as a large sundeck for those who want to bask in the sun between dives. The saloon includes a full entertainment system with TV, DVD, music system, books, magazines and games. With a large crew of between 16 and 18, you can expect plenty of personal attention in English and French on these cruises.

There are 3 x 50 HP fibreglass speedboat tenders that take divers to the sites, and both 12 and 15 litre tanks available as well as DIN adaptors and free nitrox. Photographers will appreciate the separate rinse tanks for cameras and camera table on the dive deck plus the dedicated camera room. For added comfort and convenience the deck includes 2 toilets and 2 fresh water showers.

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Dive experience: Banda Sea, Halmahera: Level 2 / 50 logged dives. Raja Ampat, Triton bay, Sulawesi: Level 2 / 30 logged dives. This is a recommendation.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemasters (max. 4 divers per guide), enriched air nitrox for certified divers, tanks, weights and weightbelts. Many itineraries include land visits like to the nutmeg plantation of Banda Neira. All safaris include return airport transfers to and from the boat.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (US$ 41 per day - includes computer and torch, needs to be pre-booked), dive insurance, port and park fees: Raja Ampat US$ 258, Halmahera US$ 258 (subject to change), fuel surcharge US$ 206 (subject to change). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only - EUR, USD, CHF, IDR).

Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, torch (US$ 8 per day), dive computer (US$ 10 per day), 15 litre tank (US$ 77 per cruise). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Raja Ampat: These cruises depart in the evening from Sorong in West Papua. You can fly directly to Sorong from Jakarta, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. From Bali there are convenient connections via Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. We will help you arrange return domestic flights between Bali or Jakarta and Sorong. There is a free transfer service from the boat to and from the nearest airport.
Triton Bay: Fly direct to the port of Kaimana in the south of West Papua, from Sorong, connecting to Jakarta. Forgotten Islands: Fly direct to the port of Saumlaki (from Ambon connecting to Jakarta and Makassar) or the port of Kupang (direct to Jakarta). Ambon/Banda: Fly direct to Ambon from Jakarta (or from Sorong or Surabaya). North Sulawesi & Halmahera: Fly direct to the port of Bitung (Manado) (from Jakarta, Bali, Singapore, Guangzhou, Nanking, Shanghai).
For more details, including airlines, see our travel information section. The last dive of the trip will be at around 16:00 hrs on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: 10% off the published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 65% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 7 divers and 1 extra person can join the cruise free of charge in a lower deck cabin (total 8+ guests), pay for 10 divers and 2 extra persons can join free of charge (total 12+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Equivalent to pay for 13 guests and 3 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge.

Raja Ampat National Park (11 Days / 10 Nights - 30 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Misool, Three Rocks, Fiabacet, Penemu, Fam, Kawe, Wayag, Waigeo, Gam, The Dampier Strait and Cape Kri. Non-diving activities: beach hopping, beach barbecues, a climb in Wayag for its breathtaking view, local village tours, jellyfish lake trip, Blue River visit, and a trek to see the birds of paradise.

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Sorong Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-9
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch the boat starts its way back to port.

Day 10
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer back to Sorong Airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.

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Raja Ampat & Triton Bay (12 Days / 11 Nights - 33 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Triton Bay: Larry Dive's Heaven, Batu Aruba, Flasher Beach, Little Komodo, Saruenus, Xmas Rock, Disneyland and GT Rock; beach visit, tree kangaroo land visit, waterfall visit, Deep Rock, Aiduma, Momon, Pisang, Warakaraket, Daram, Raja Ampat: Misool - Farondi, Three Sisters, Fiabacet and Magic Mountain, trek to see bird of paradise, Mioskon

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Kaimana Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. The boat leaves port around midday and the 1st day includes viewing the ancient cliff paintings of Bitsari Bay.

Days 2-11
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters.
Triton Bay is considered a dive destination of absolute world class with its own unique attractions. It is relatively unexplored, with wonderful biodiversity and unique soft coral gardens. Huge forests of black coral and rugged rocks provide fantastic scenery both above and below water. Potential sightings include whale sharks, epaulette sharks, resident pilot whales, squadrons of bumphead parrotfish. Critter appearances include frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish and nudibranchs galore.
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch Ambai starts its way back to Sorong.
This cruise includes land excursion to see tree kangaroos, waterfalls and birds of paradise.

Day 12
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Sorong airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.
Note this cruise may operate in the reverse direction.

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Raja Ampat National Park (13 Days / 12 Nights - 36 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool, Three Rocks, Fiabacet, Penemu, Fam, Kawe, Wayag, Waigeo, Gam, The Dampier Strait and Cape Kri. Non-diving activities: beach hopping, beach barbecues, a climb in Wayag for its breathtaking view, local village tours, jellyfish lake trip, Blue River visit, and a trek to see the birds of paradise.

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Sorong Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-12
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch Ambai starts its way back to Sorong.

Day 13
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer back to Sorong Airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.

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Triton Bay & Forgotten Islands (12 Days / 11 Nights - 33 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Manuk, Nil Desperandum, Nila, Pulau Teun, Dai, Pulau Damar, Karang Barasadi, Nusaulang Momong, Triton Bay, Disneyland, GT Rock

Day 1
You will be met by the Ambai cruise director at Saumlaki airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and prepare for the diving that will begin at Karang Barasadi on the 1st day.

Days 2-11
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
There will be plenty of reasons for having a great time while underwater. The Forgotten Islands offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs and coral bommies, spectacular wall dives on impossible drop-offs. Fields of pristine coral will still be there for you to visit in the afternoon, with a 3rd dive scheduled after lunch and a nap or some downtime. Then at dusk you will enter the water again for a 4th dive (night dive). Triton Bay is known for displaying a similarly impressive level of soft coral coverage as places like Misool Island. Epaulette sharks can be seen walking over the reefs as giant groupers lurk in sheltered spots, while schools of jacks and fusiliers dart around en masse.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory. On the last day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch Ambai starts its way to Kaimana.

Day 12
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Kaimana airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.

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Raja Ampat National Park (12 Days / 11 Nights - 33 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool, Three Rocks, Fiabacet, Penemu, Fam, Kawe, Wayag, Waigeo, Gam, The Dampier Strait and Cape Kri. Non-diving activities: beach hopping, beach barbecues, a climb in Wayag for its breathtaking view, local village tours, jellyfish lake trip, Blue River visit, and a trek to see the birds of paradise.

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Sorong Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-11
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch Ambai starts its way back to Sorong.

Day 12
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer back to Sorong Airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.

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Raja Ampat, Lembeh & Halmahera (13 Days / 12 Nights - 36 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait: Mioskon, Sardine Reef, Manta Sandy, Misool: Faronid, No Contest, Love Potion, Andiamo, Candy Store, Boo, Yellow Reef, Fiabacet, Nudi Rock, Pisang, Halmahera: Patinit Strait, Proco, Saleh Besar, Kusu, Nanas, Goweba, Manis, Lagioma, Failonga, Maitara, Lembeh: Hairball, Nudi Falls

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Sorong Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-12
No place on the planet gives you the chance to see more shy critters than the Lembeh Strait, such as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps, seahorses, frogfish and innumerable nudibranchs. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
The marine biodiversity in Halmahera is exceptional and its pristine coral reefs offer exceptional conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling; it is a secret gem with so much still to be discovered. You will have the chance to do some wreck diving and experience some of the best coral gardens that Indonesia has to offer. Dive sites range from ridges, pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, muck and ancient volcanoes, creating a diversity of diving and coral habitats. Schooling reef fish such as spadefish and surgeonfish, and bait balls attract numerous hunters, tunas, and mackerel and you can also search under the docks at Makian and Lilai for critters. Other encounters can include hammerheads, barracuda, oceanic whitetip sharks, mantas, mobulas, bumphead parrotfish, trevallies, Napoleon wrasse, bonitos and wahoo.
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters.
You can look forward to 3 dives a day on the cruise and there are normally 6 night dives on this itinerary. You will also enjoy diving in small groups with Ambai. Dive times are usually 07:00, 10:30, 14:30 and if a night dive, 18:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory. On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 1 or 2 morning dives depending on your flight schedule.

Day 13
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. In the morning you can disembark at Bitung port in Lembeh and be transferred to Manado Airport.
Note: this trip sometimes runs in reverse so please check exact port details above.

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Banda, Ambon & Forgotten Islands (13 Days / 12 Nights - 36 Dives)

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Ambon, Nusa Laut, Suangi, Banda Islands, Banda Neira, Manuk, Koon, Serua, Nil Desperandum, Damar, Terbang islands, Babar,, Dawera and Dai

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Ambon Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-12
The Forgotten Islands in the eastern Banda Sea’ are a remote chain of islands that offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs and coral bommies, and spectacular wall dives on impossible drop-offs. The nutrient rich currents can bring sunfish, dogtooth tuna, reef sharks, as well as maybe sailfish. Prepare your camera gear for pelagics, muck diving, schooling hammerheads, schooling surgeonfish, and large schools of barracuda at Serua. You will see lots of sea snakes at Manuk. GoPro enthusiasts will revel at the sites off the islands of Nus Leur, Terbang Utara and Terbang Selatan with their wide angle scenery filled with large fans, barrel sponges and schools of small fish.
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory. On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch the boat starts its way to port.

Day 13
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Saumlaki Airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.
Note this itinerary may operate in the reverse direction.

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Raja Ampat & Triton Bay (13 Days / 12 Nights - 36 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Triton Bay: Larry Dive's Heaven, Batu Aruba, Flasher Beach, Little Komodo, Saruenus, Xmas Rock, Disneyland and GT Rock; beach visit, tree kangaroo land visit, waterfall visit, Deep Rock, Aiduma, Momon, Koon, Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait, Penemu, Misool - Farondi, Three Sisters, Fiabacet and Magic Mountain, trek to view point

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Kaimana Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. The boat leaves port around midday and the 1st day includes viewing the ancient cliff paintings of Bitsari Bay.

Days 2-12
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters.
Triton Bay is considered a dive destination of absolute world class with its own unique attractions. It is relatively unexplored, with wonderful biodiversity and unique soft coral gardens. Huge forests of black coral and rugged rocks provide fantastic scenery both above and below water. Potential sightings include whale sharks, epaulette sharks, resident pilot whales, squadrons of bumphead parrotfish. Critter appearances include frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish and nudibranchs galore
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch Ambai starts its way back to Sorong.
This cruise includes several land excursion to see tree kangaroos, waterfalls and scenic view points.

Day 13
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Sorong airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.
Note this cruise may operate in the reverse direction.

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Halmahera Island (10 Days / 9 Nights - 27 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Halmahera: Ternate, Tidore, Mare, Goraichi, Patientie Strait, Pigajara, Bacan

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Ternate Airport and transfer to the harbour where the Ambai liveaboard and its crew will welcome you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-9
The marine biodiversity in Halmahera is exceptional and its pristine coral reefs offer exceptional conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling; it is a secret gem with so much still to be discovered. You will have the chance to do some wreck diving and experience some of the best coral gardens that Indonesia has to offer. Dive sites range from ridges, pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, muck and ancient volcanoes, creating a diversity of diving and coral habitats. Schooling reef fish such as spadefish and surgeonfish, and bait balls attract numerous hunters, tunas, and mackerel and you can also search under the docks at Makian and Lilai for critters. Other encounters can include hammerheads, barracuda, oceanic whitetip sharks, mantas, mobulas, bumphead parrotfish, trevallies, Napoleon wrasse, bonitos and wahoo.
You can look forward to 3 dives a day on the cruise and several night dives on this itinerary. You will also enjoy diving in small groups with Ambai. Dive times are usually 07:00, 10:30, 14:30 and if a night dive, 18:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory. On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 1 or 2 morning dives depending on your flight schedule.

Day 10
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. In the morning you can disembark and be transferred back to Ternate Airport.

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North Sulawesi & Togian Islands (12 Days / 11 Nights - 34 Dives)

Trip highlights: dolphins, dugongs/manatees, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Ratatotok, Tanjung Flesko, Bolsel, Gorontalo, Togian Islands: Una Una, Apollo, Kadidiri, Waleabahi, Pulau Dua

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Manado airport in North Sulawesi and be transferred the 1 to 1.5 hrs to Bitung Harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. Departure is planned for mid-day. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will take place, then you can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. Lunch and dinner will be served during the first day of your vacation.

Days 2-11
This itinerary will allow you to first marvel at the fabulous walls and possible whale sharks of the east coast of Sulawesi. Then you will experience the Dali sponges of Gorontalo and the vibrant reefs and pinnacles of the amazing Togian islands. You can expect to dive over vibrant colourful reefscapes thick with schooling fish both big and small.
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory. On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as only 2 morning dives are scheduled. After lunch the boat starts its way to port.

Day 12
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew, then head to Luwuk Airport. The crew will also help you with check-in procedures.
Note: this trip sometimes runs in reverse so please check exact port details above.

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Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, Ambon & Halmahera (15 Days / 14 Nights - 42 Dives)

Trip highlights: manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Misool, Koon, Pisang, Banda Islands, Banda Neira, Suangi, Serua, Nusa Laut, Ambon, Halmahera: Patinitie Strait, Selat Proco, Saleh Besar, Pulau Pokal, Pulau Nanas, Saleh Kecil, Goraichi

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Ambon Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-14
The marine biodiversity in Halmahera is exceptional and its pristine coral reefs offer exceptional conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling; it is a secret gem with so much still to be discovered. You will have the chance to do some wreck diving and experience some of the best coral gardens that Indonesia has to offer. Dive sites range from ridges, pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, muck and ancient volcanoes, creating a diversity of diving and coral habitats. Schooling reef fish such as spadefish and surgeonfish, and bait balls attract numerous hunters, tunas, and mackerel and you can also search under the docks at Makian and Lilai for critters. Other encounters can include hammerheads, barracuda, oceanic whitetip sharks, mantas, mobulas, bumphead parrotfish, trevallies, Napoleon wrasse, bonitos and wahoo.
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters.
The Banda Islands never fail to deliver great diving on pristine and colourful corals that attract hundreds of different species of fish, from big pelagics to tiny critters, with high a chance to see endemic species like the Ambon scorpionfish. Even dolphins and whales can be spotted from the boat in the Banda Sea. Schools of fish will welcome you in their habitats, especially reef fish such as damsels, anthias, soldierfish and angelfish. But for many, the highlight will be the chance of encounters with schooling hammerhead sharks. The cruise will also involve a land tour to the historically fascinating Spice Islands.
You can look forward to 3-4 dives a day on this itinerary. You will also enjoy diving in small groups with Ambai. Dive times are usually 07:00, 10:30, 14:30 and if a night dive, 18:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory. On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 1 or 2 morning dives depending on your flight schedule.

Day 15
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. In the morning you can disembark and be transferred to Ternate Airport.
Note: this trip sometimes runs in reverse so please check exact port details above.

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Raja Ampat National Park South & Central (10 Days / 9 Nights - 27 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Misool - Damar, Fiabacet, Waylbatan, Farondi, Penemu, Fam, Dampier Strait. Non-diving activities: beach hopping, beach barbecues, local village tours, jellyfish lake trip, Blue River visit, and a trek to see the birds of paradise.

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Sorong Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. In the evening, after dinner, the liveaboard will leave port to reach the dive sites that you will visit the following day.

Days 2-9
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last full day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled. After lunch Ambai starts its way back to Sorong.

Day 10
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer back to Sorong airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.

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Raja Ampat, Banda & Forgotten Islands (13 Days / 12 Nights - 36 Dives)

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Misool, Pisang, Mormong, Koon, Banda Islands Suanggi, Manuk, Serua, Nil Desperandum, Dai, Dawelor, and a land tour to the historically fascinating Spice Islands, tree kangaroos, waterfall.

Day 1
You will be met by the cruise director at Sorong Airport and you can enjoy the short ride to the harbour where MV Ambai is anchored. Its crew and other guests await you. A boat briefing and cabin assignment will happen before lunch. You can then set up your dive gear and relax for the rest of the day. The boat leaves port around midday to travel to the first sites of Misool.

Days 2-12
You will soon discover why Raja Ampat is considered as a world class diving destination. Enjoy the abundance of tropical fish around pristine soft and hard corals, including snappers, soldierfish and anthias. The macro marine life is also excellent. From frogfish to pygmy seahorses, pipefish to nudibranchs (of every form and colour!). A wide angle lens will also be necessary for your pictures to snap as trevallies, barracudas, mantas and sharks, plus the endemic spotted wobbegong, even in shallow waters. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
The Forgotten Islands in the eastern Banda Sea are a remote chain of islands that offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs and coral bommies, and spectacular wall dives on impossible drop-offs. The nutrient rich currents can bring sunfish, dogtooth tunas, reef sharks and schooling hammerhead sharks, as well as maybe sailfish. Hundreds of sea snakes can be seen around Pulau Manuk.
The Banda Islands never fail to deliver great diving on pristine and colourful corals that attract hundreds of different species of fish, from big pelagics to tiny critters, with high a chance to see endemic species like the Ambon scorpionfish. Even dolphins and whales can be spotted from the boat. Schools of fish will welcome you in their habitats, especially reef fish such as damsels, anthias, soldierfish and angelfish. A land excursion to Banda Neira, one of the Banda Islands, will also be arranged, for a visit to a local market, the museum and a nutmeg plantation.
From the very first day of diving you will enjoy the routine of you safari starting with waking up with a light breakfast followed by the 1st morning dive at around 07:30 hrs. Spend your surface interval eating an even bigger breakfast of coffee, tea, cereal, toasts and eggs before the 2nd dive at 10:30 hrs.
All meals will be served in the air-conditioned saloon. The menu features tasty and varied dishes, from Chinese to Italian and European cuisine. Warm soups will be a blessing after the night dives, while the barbecue night will live long in the memory.
On the last day you will have more time to download and review your pictures as there are only 2 morning dives scheduled, before heading on to port.

Day 13
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Saumlaki airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.
Note this itinerary may operate in the reverse direction. Please check the port information.

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[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

Ambai has 8 cabins - 2 upper deck double bed cabins with windows, and 4 double/twin bed cabins and 2 twin bunk bed cabins with portholes on the lower deck.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 10 - hot water

The 17 crew comprise: Free nitrox - 3 Motorised dinghies - 45 m² dive deck with, ladders, toilets and fresh water showers - Camera room with table and rinse tanks - 70 m² air-conditioned saloon & dining area with TV, DVD player & music system - 3G wifi - Satellite telephone - Fish ID & general books, diving magazines - Shaded open-air social area - 30 m² sundeck with deck chairs - Water dispenser

PADI certification courses available including Advanced Open Water Diver, Nitrox and Rescue.

The dining on MV Ambai can take place in either the air-conditioned dining area or in the open air. Meals are served rather than buffet style for that added bit of class. The menu consists of international cuisine as well as BBQs, Chinese and Italian influences.

• Chinese, Italian, BBQ and international main dishes - 3 choices per sitting.
• Meals served buffet-style with waiter assistance in the saloon or open-air.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
• Coffee, tea, fruit, biscuits, toast and drinking water are all free of charge.
• Soft drinks, beer and liquors are also available for purchase.
• All diets can be catered for - please send us your requirements.
• The dive operator rates the onboard catering as fundamental to the cruise.
• The safari dining service begins on guest arrival.

Sample dishes: Grilled fish, Spaghetti Marinera, Pumpkin soup ...

Customer reviews:

"I enjoyed everything about the cruise! The diving was great and all of the dive guides were excellent. They gave is so much personal attention . The food was delicious. My room was organised and tidiesd during each dive - so nice. The cruise director was super friendly and accommodating and gave us very informatve information about the dive sites and local areas. Thank you for a fantastic holiday!" - Sonja Soper, USA, 5 May 2018 ...

"Everything about the boat was excellent. Diving was great. We enjoyed the wonderful reefs and marine life. We also enjoyed diving a few sites that were not normally on the itinerary. Mantas! Wobbegongs! Muck diving! The staff was great. Thank you! Some of the guests with big cameras did not follow the dive plans...damaged reefs taking pictures. It's not Ambai's fault but those guests were allowed to continue their bad behaviour for the entire trip at the other guests' expense." - Peter Nebauer, USA, 5 May 2018 ...