Ambai

I recently returned from an absolutely amazing experience aboard the MV Ambai Liveaboard in Indonesia. I was part of a 5 night cruse and during that time I was able to do over a dozen fantastic dives!The Ambai is a high quality boat; spacious, beautiful, and well maintained. It is very clear that the owners and crew take excellent care of every detail. I was staying in one of the upper deck cabins. It was comfortable and elegant with views of the surrounding islands, plus a lovely ocean breeze so I never even needed to use the in-room A/C. The boat has many spaces to rest and relax. Even on a full cruise, there was always somewhere to sit quietly or to hang out and chat with other passengers (depending on how exhausted I was feeling!).The dives were phenomenal. The sites were all top quality and had a lot of variation, no two sites were the same in terms of the 'landscape' or fauna. The dive guides and cruise director are all clearly experienced and knowledgeable about the sites we dove, so I always felt completely safe. The dive guides were all friendly, helpful, and talented at finding 'creatures' big and small, including some of the most beautiful nudibranchs I have ever seen. All of my equipment was well taken care of during the cruise, they even washed and dried everything before we left the boat!Lastly, like everything else, the food on the Ambai was fantastic. I'm always hungry, and especially so when I'm diving, but there was always something delicious available for me to eat from the moment I woke up until I went to sleep. The meals served in the dining room were all unique, carefully prepared, and beautifully presented. There was a nice blend of Indonesian dishes and western meals, as well as a plethora of vegetables and fresh, tropical fruit.I would absolutely recommend a trip on the MV Ambai to anyone who is traveling to Indonesia! I haven't stopped talking about my trip since I returned, and I cannot wait to go back.

Wallacea Dive Cruise has been operating since 2002 in Indonesia (Komodo, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Raja Ampat). Wallacea Dive Cruise offers two liveaboards: MV Paisubatu and MV Ambai. I cruised in Raja Ampat with Ambai - a 32 metres yacht - made only for 16 divers. Excellent dive guide ratio: only 3-4 guest per dive guide - four dive guides plus cruise director onboard. NITROX; 12 or 15 l tanks. 3 tender-boats. Camera room, fresh water rinsing tanks. Choice of 8 spacious cabins (6 on the lower deck and 2 on the upper deck) - individually controlled air condition, private bathroom with hot water. Soap and tooth paste is provided. Clean. Fullboard, soft drinks included. Freshly made meals.What I liked most was the fact, that 3-4 dives per day where embedded in a relaxed schedule over the day - plus even some short land excursion to the lush green islands. Very friendly staff; experienced and dedicated indonesian dive guides. Dive conditions: water temperature constant warm 29°C /83°F, visibility depending on dive site from fair to extremely good. Most of the dive sites no current at all. Marine life was abundant: wobbegongs, mantas, lots of fish, frogfish with eggs just to mention a tiny bit of he stunning marine life... Ambai is definitely a recommendation for the enthusiastic diver - looking for a vessel in Indonesia with great diving, comfort & yummy food.