MSV Amira dive boat review
Photos: Amira / LiveAboard.com.
Room to spread out between Indonesia’s reefs
Amira’s appeal is space: a broad sun deck, a substantial camera work area and a wooden phinisi atmosphere that still feels like Indonesia. Solo travellers also have a useful option here, with two dedicated single cabins rather than an automatic need to share a double.
52 m · 11 cabins · up to 20 guests
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Divezone reader reviews
Amira, through your eyes.
The best advice often comes from someone who slept in the cabin, shared the dive deck and came back with a story. This is the place for your Amira experience.
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Earlier stories remain part of the conversation, without assigning scores their authors did not provide. Reviews describe individual experiences; publication does not verify a stay or certify the boat’s safety.
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Stories shared on Divezone
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Reviews from other websitesSelected accounts · checked 13 November 2026
The selected accounts favour Amira’s generous shared spaces and attentive crew. Comfort during crossings and the conditions underwater remain more personal, trip-dependent parts of the experience.
What guests love
Recent accounts in the sample praise the dive organisation, crew and room aboard. These practical comforts help explain the boat’s appeal on a longer cruise.
What guests like less
Transit noise appears in one account. Older guests reported spicy dishes, a briefing mismatch or disappointing visibility. These dated experiences do not demonstrate a continuing defect; visibility is a condition of the destination.
LiveAboard.com
9.3/10 · eight platform-labelled verified reviews
Laurie Sue S, 3 January 2025: “Efficient, expert dive operation”. Catherine B, 31 October 2024: “Boat is noisy when transiting”.
Raymond C, 6 January 2025, praised the guiding and crew. Jens D and Dirk L’s 2018 accounts respectively raised spice levels and briefing communication.
DiveBooker
One published Amira review was available.
D. Paul, 12 November 2018: “the underwater visibility was poor overall”. The reviewer liked the boat but was disappointed with that Raja Ampat trip’s visibility. This is historical destination feedback, not evidence of today’s conditions.
How to read this comparison
These are dated manual snapshots and selected accessible accounts. Platform totals can include overlapping travellers, and scores are not pooled or included in Divezone ratings. Verification labels belong to the platform. LiveAboard.com links may earn Divezone a commission.
Choosing your cabin
The current detailed cabin plan lists nine double/twin cabins and two singles, for 20 guests. Four upper-deck rooms are about 13 m² with windows. Below are five approximately 14 m² double/twin rooms and two 11 m² singles with portholes. Ensuite bathrooms, fans and individual air conditioning are listed throughout. The single rooms are a useful alternative for a solo traveller who would rather not share.
Upper-deck double/twin
Four cabins of about 13 m², with windows and flexible double/twin bedding.
Lower-deck single
Two single cabins of about 11 m² provide a private option for solo travellers.
Lower-deck double/twin
Five cabins of about 14 m², with portholes and flexible double/twin bedding.
Cabin photographs: Amira / LiveAboard.com. Cabin sizes follow the current operator plan; the quotation confirms the exact room and occupancy.
Life between dives
Built in 2010, Amira has a 140 m² sun deck and a covered outdoor dining area. The indoor lounge doubles as a briefing room and holds a fish-identification library. A nine-metre camera workbench and individual dive stations are practical luxuries when everyone comes back with wet equipment and a card full of photographs.
Meals are generally served outdoors when weather allows. The booking listing includes full board, snacks, drinking water, tea and coffee; soft drinks and alcohol are separate. Dated guests praise both seafood and the variety of meals, while an older account mentions spicy dishes. A specific dietary request is best agreed ahead of provisioning.
How the diving works
The operator describes a normal full dive day as three daytime dives and one night dive, with fewer dives on first and last days, during long crossings or in unsuitable weather. Four guides lead groups of at most five divers. Nitrox is free with the appropriate qualification, and ENOS locator beacons are provided. A Nitrox qualification is not a rebreather qualification; any technical diving arrangement requires separate confirmation.
Matching the route to your holiday
Raja Ampat and Misool
These remain named regions in Amira’s programme. The exact Sorong departure, length and daily sequence belong to the chosen cruise confirmation rather than an assumed standard 11-night trip.
Komodo and Alor
The operator also promotes Komodo and Alor. Crossing itineraries can require different arrival and departure airports, so the ports are an essential part of comparing quotes.
Banda Sea and eastern Indonesia
The wider destination list includes the Banda Sea, Forgotten Islands, Halmahera, Triton Bay and Cenderawasih. This is an annual destination range, not a promise that each region has an available sailing today.
The fare and the extras
On 12 November 2026, the booking platform’s “Upcoming Departures” view showed no online availability for Amira. That is a booking-status observation, not evidence that the boat has stopped operating. The operator’s own 2027 schedule does show available cabins, so direct operator availability and the platform listing currently differ.
The platform lists full board, specified transfers, Nitrox, kayaks and land excursions as included. Fuel surcharge, national-park fees and port charges are additional without a verified amount for a specific cruise. Wi-Fi is listed separately at €30–108, without a clear package basis in the displayed summary. The operator’s dated examples below provide a more concrete comparison; a final quote still needs to identify the actual cabin and all exclusions.
Available operator examples for 2027
Checked 12 November 2026, per person in a lower-deck double/twin cabin. The total combines the displayed fare, port/harbour charge, park/local fees and distance fee, before flights, insurance and personal extras.
| Departure | Route / nights | Fare + listed fees | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–23 January 2027 | Raja Ampat, Sorong return · 11 nights | €5,623 + €110 + €140 + €370 | €6,243 |
| 5–16 March 2027 | Misool & Triton Bay, Sorong–Kaimana · 11 nights | €6,248 + €100 + €270 + €380 | €6,998 |
| 14–25 May 2027 | Komodo, Maumere–Labuan Bajo · 11 nights | €4,633 + €70 + €170 + €220 | €5,093 |
| 10–21 September 2027 | Komodo North & Alor, Labuan Bajo–Maumere · 11 nights | €5,648 + €70 + €150 + €380 | €6,248 |
Cabins were available in these examples when checked; some remaining shared spaces are restricted to male or female travellers. The schedule also lists Triton–East Banda, Forgotten Islands, Banda Sea and Misool–Banda crossings. Prices and cabin availability vary by departure.
Amira operator schedule and cabin availability
When only one of you dives
Snorkellers are welcomed in the platform description, with kayaks and land excursions listed among inclusions. The large deck spaces can make the quiet hours enjoyable too. A companion who needs daily guided snorkelling should have the guide, tender access and route suitability written into the quotation; no non-diver discount was verified.
Who will enjoy this boat?
Amira is worth considering for photographers and solo travellers who value dedicated space. A light sleeper may want to discuss cabin position and overnight passages, particularly in light of the dated transit-noise feedback.
Amira booking questions
How many cabins does Amira have now?
The current detailed operator plan lists eleven: nine double/twin cabins and two single cabins.
How many guests can join?
The published current maximum is 20.
Is Nitrox free?
Yes, for divers holding the appropriate certification; training is charged separately.
Are four dives guaranteed every day?
No. The operator excludes first and last days, long crossings and unsuitable conditions from its normal four-dive-day description.
Why do the operator and booking platform show different availability?
On 12 November 2026 the platform showed no online availability, while Amira’s own 2027 schedule listed cabins. The dated operator examples above include the separately displayed fees; availability needs confirmation for the actual cabin.
Can I book a room without sharing?
There are two dedicated single cabins. Their availability and rate depend on the departure.
A Divezone guest account from 2014
Original account preserved below. This describes a historical trip and is not a current cabin or equipment specification.
“What more could you ask for if all the things and services that you need are given to you? From comfy cabins to good facilities, incredibly-helpful staff and great service, MSV Amira has it all to achieve an extraordinary diving experience. The boat is well-designed and well-kept. Although it was almost full when I had my trip, there was still enough space for everyone. The crew showed their welcoming gesture by giving us fresh towels after every dive.
The whole crew was absolutely willing to help out. Some even helped me rinsed my gear. I was in awe with the divers who guided us because all of them were stupendous in identifying the marine organisms we met along the way even the minutest ones. Diving in Raja Ampat was an exhilarating experience for me. The dive sites were mesmerizing, the coral reef formations were beautiful and the itinerary and service of MSV Amira made diving more fun and enjoyable!
I am a naturally shy person but the crew made me and the rest of the guests feel comfortable. They have fine set of SCUBA equipment. Their equipment was well-taken cared of. I am grateful to one of the crews who allowed me to rent a computer when mine suddenly froze. There is a variety of food. Most of the local and international dishes served were delicious. They also served us cakes and tea for afternoon snacks.
I’m thankful that I went on board with MSV Amira for they created a remarkable Rajah Ampat experience for me!”
– Ralph, UK, 2014
A walk through Amira
The operator’s vessel walkthrough; it is not a dated inspection of today’s cabin layout. Watch the official Amira walkthrough.
Editorial review: 12 November 2026; cabin presentation and external review sources checked 13 November 2026. This source-based guide is not a new firsthand inspection. Dated prices and original guest accounts retain their context.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
destination of the monthKomodo Island
Komodo pairs busy coral pinnacles and manta habitat with quieter bays and southern macro reefs. The best plan matches your experience to the tides, with a choice of Labuan Bajo day boats or longer cruises.
Wakatobi
Coral gardens, walls and tiny reef residents, with distinct choices between local island diving, Wakatobi Resort and Pelagian cruises.
Raja Ampat
Fish-filled reef corners, tiny pygmy seahorses and manta encounters give Raja Ampat its extraordinary range. Resorts, homestays and liveaboards offer different ways into this remote Indonesian archipelago.
Gili Islands, Lombok
Turtles, reef slopes and short boat trips make the three Gilis an appealing diving base. Training-friendly profiles and deeper drift sites offer quite different days underwater.
Lembeh Strait
Lembeh’s volcanic sand hides frogfish, seahorses and other remarkable small creatures. Slow macro dives are the main draw, with coral sites and guided snorkelling adding variety.
Bunaken, Manado
Bunaken pairs coral-covered walls with shallow reef gardens, turtle habitat and small creatures in the crevices. Island resorts and Manado-based boats offer different ways to enjoy the same marine park.
Tulamben
Tulamben’s USAT Liberty combines a shore-access wreck with reef life, while the Drop Off and nearby macro sites reward a longer stay. Rocky entries, depth and conditions still shape the dive.
Pemuteran, Lovina
Pemuteran combines shore-access restoration reefs, short boat dives and rewarding macro excursions. Lovina is a separate north-coast base; Puri Jati and Secret Bay offer a different, sand-and-critter diving day.
Padang Bai
Padang Bai rewards close looking: sandy slopes, reef fish and tiny macro subjects near Blue Lagoon and Jepun, with more demanding offshore dives available when conditions suit.
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
Manta cleaning stations, seasonal sunfish and lively coral drifts make Penida and Lembongan memorable. The best dive is the one matched to the current, swell and experience of the group.
Menjangan Island
Menjangan’s reef shelves and coral-covered walls reward unhurried diving and snorkelling from mainland bases in northwest Bali. Clear water and sea fans are part of the appeal, with profiles and site choices matched to conditions and experience.
Candidasa
Candidasa’s offshore islets offer dramatic walls, schooling fish and reef-shark encounters, with seasonal sunfish possibilities. Strong, changeable currents make Tepekong, Mimpang and Biaha outings for suitably experienced divers and careful local planning.
Bali
Bali brings together the coral-covered Liberty wreck, east-coast macro life and the manta encounters and seasonal sunfish of Nusa Penida. Shore dives and drift dives suit different experience levels; currents, colder upwellings and the chosen base shape the trip.
Indonesia
From Bali's volcanic shores to Raja Ampat's coral gardens, discover Indonesia's wrecks, walls, manta encounters and remarkable macro life. The most rewarding region depends on the season, your experience and the diving you love.
Amed
Amed combines volcanic-sand macro dives, shallow reef gardens, artificial reefs and deeper walls. Shore entries and short jukung trips make a rewarding east-Bali base, with sites chosen for experience and conditions rather than a promise of current-free diving.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Indonesia & Raja Ampat, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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I had a wonderful trip in 2014 on the Amira. I liked the spacious dive deck and her modern facilities, which gave me enough comfort. It was also very clean, sleek and classy. I enjoyed hanging out in the upper deck. Sharks and other pelagic sightings were possible there. The roomy sundeck was perfect for sunrise and sunset viewing. I also stayed there when I want to upload and edit my underwater photos. They had a good selection of movie which you can watch while hanging out in the air-conditioned saloon.
The staff was informative and the boat crew attended to our needs. I have observed also that all the diving equipment were well-maintained. I have to say that the local and foreign dive masters were all conversant and well-acquainted about their job. Aside from helping us in identifying marine creatures faster, they also have a good sense of humor which keeps a relaxing vibe.
I also appreciate the effort that MSV Amira exerted in serving sumptuous dishes. My diving buddy who is a vegetarian, didn’t worry for her meal since the chef onboard also catered to this type of diet. I believe that MSV Amira 1 will last longer in this liveaboard industry because of the quality service and outstanding assistance they give to the customers!
Dive, eat, sleep, repeat. No kidding, I dove as much as 4 times a day on this boat. When not diving, I could use a sea kayak and paddle around. It was a paradise for marine biodiversity, I have never seen and learned so much in such a short period of time. The boat is beautifully designed, practical and comfortable at once. The crew was amazing, helpful and knowledgeable .
Amazing experience. The vessel, the inflatables and the equipment were all newer and easy to use. We ate plenty of good food and the kitchen staff is nice and accommodating. The boat crew is smart, well trained and professional. Amazing week holiday!
My wife and I just returned from a 14 day trip aboard the MV Amira. It is the 9th Liveaboard that we have been on. It ranks 2nd to last and I would not return to it. Though there were many issues the worst was the constant presence of diesel exhaust on the dive deck and in the salon. I have not experienced this on any other vessel. The Manager came on board late in the cruise. Without prompting he beelined to us. At one point he said that they were having problems with the tuning of the engine and that it was creating a lot of smoke but that they had ordered parts to get it fixed. He intimated that this was an abnormal condition. Another diver who was a returnee was standing next to us during our conversation. Once the Manager had taken his leave I asked the diver if there had been problems 5 years ago when he was on board. He said yes, not quite as bad, but yes. I feel for the crew members who spend there lives in a toxic atmosphere. As a retired firefighter I am all too aware of the long term effects. The salon cannot be enclosed since it has no glass windows. Only curtains that partially cover the openings during rain. The only A/C on board is an anemic one in your room. The room also has a small fan but there are none elsewhere on the ship. There is a small A/C unit in the forward salon but a crew member is always in front of it working!
As far as the diving goes the dive masters would go beyond 70’ on every dive and would usually have you start with your nose in the current even when it was avoidable. Though we would stay above them and do shallower dives our computer was still often in the yellow (Oceanic Pro Plus). There were 2 local guides that were both excellent both in knowleged and attentiveness. They soon realized that we did not want to “push our computers” and began to dive profiles the way that I was trained. Several other divers (one was also a dive master) soon joined us. We were not the only ones to be discontented. 2 of the other “divemasters” were clueless.