
MV Ambai dive boat review
The MV Ambai is a traditional diving vessel with a luxurious modern twist. Owned and operated by Wallacea Dive Cruises, the vessel offers the best of Indonesia! The company has been operating in the area since 2002 and has a wealth of local experience.
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Cabins & boat amenities
The Ambai is able to accommodate 16 guests over her wonderfully characterful 8 boutique cabins. Each cabin features air-conditioning and a private ensuite bathroom with hot water shower. The cabins are also available in either twin or double configuration depending on your needs.
You can check the availability and prices for this boat here.

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Moreover, the MV Ambai offers spacious social areas both indoor and outdoor. First, a comfortable air-conditioned salon/lounge area with an audio/video entertainment system. Also, you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s a dedicated camera room on board. Plus, the outdoors have plenty of relaxing space to offer. You can admire the views of the Indonesian islands from both covered and sunny outdoor lounges.
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A scuba diving cruise on the Ambai comes with tasty meals and plenty of drinks options! Indeed, the meals are served buffet style and the food is always plentiful. The cuisine includes a delicious mix of western and local flavors. Plus, there are snacks available all day between meals. Also, both soft and alcoholic drinks, as well as vegetarian options for the meals are available.

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The vessel
The vessel MV Ambai was built in 2012 from ironwood and hardwood to the latest standards. The ship is loaded with the very latest facilities. Plus, the 32m long diving liveaboard has a powerful 600hp motor which makes short work of traveling between islands and reefs. The dive boat is equipped with 2 air and 1 nitrox compressor, GPS, radar, radio, and satellite phone. Also, for emergencies, there is all the required equipment including; life rafts, first aid, and smoke detectors.
Furthermore, the MV Ambai’s team is highly customer oriented and will guide you through a memorable journey in Indonesia. Indeed, the crew of 16 are always available to assist you and make your stay as comfortable as possible.
The video below is a sneak peek of a diving cruise on the Ambai!
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Dive Indonesia with the MV Ambai
Predominantly, Ambai cruises the stunning waters of Raja Ampat, Komodo, and the Banda Sea. The name Raja Ampat translates as ‘Four Kings’ and is an archipelago of approximately 1,500 islands in the West Papua province of Indonesia. Put very simply, Raja Ampat offers the most prolific and diverse reefs and aquatic life on the planet. Komodo and the Banda Sea are not far behind, each with their specific draws!
In short, Indonesia is more than:
- 1,200 fish species
- 600 coral species
- 700 mollusk species
Of course, this includes all the big hitters such as sharks and rays! You’re also likely to find octopus, moray eels, cuttlefish, turtles, jackfish, dolphins, emperor angelfish, groupers, goatfish, sweetlips, frogfish, pipefish, lionfish, scorpion fish and even leaf fish! Plus, there are loads of invertebrates such as sea fans, sponges, soft corals, feather stars, hard corals, hydroids, whip corals and colorful nudibranchs.
Indonesia is truly a diver’s playground. However, due to the current and drift dive nature of many of the sites, it’s recommended divers have a few dives logged before visiting.
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Now, diving in Indonesia with the Ambai has many perks! The boat offers outstanding installations and a highly experienced crew to guide you! First, the Ambai comes along with 3 dedicated fiberglass dinghies with outboard motors to pick up and drop divers.
You will get to dive about 3 times per day, plus night dives whenever possible. The dive center onboard the Ambai is well organized and leads to an easy diving preparation. Also, Nitrox is available as well as DIN adaptors, if you’ve brought your own European regulators. Plus, the dive guides speak English, French and Indonesian.
Price starts at 2,434€ – 8 days / 7 nights
Various itineraries also available
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.
Komodo Island
Diving in Komodo Islands is all about action! It is BIG fishes land! With wonderful coral, it is just incredible diving all year round.
Wakatobi
Wakatobi has some of the finest coral in the world, amazing biodiversity and one of the best places in the world for macro photography! On the right day, the visibility can be outstanding!
Raja Ampat
Richest Reef in the World, Amazing Biodiversity, Wonderful Coral, perfect place for underwater photography.
Gili Islands, Lombok
Diving in Gili islands is great for swimming with Turtles! It can also be a great spot to take your next diving course as the dives here are relatively cheap.
Lembeh Strait
Best Muck Diving in the World! One of the Best spot in the World for Macro Underwater Photography. Amazing Biodiversity!
Bunaken, Manado
Diving in Bunaken is just fantastic for wall Diving, Coral gardens, endless visibility, incredible biodiversity. Also staying on an isolated island is something really special to experience!
Tulamben
One of the best Wreck Dives in the World!!! And the most easy for sure, 30m from the Shore and starts at 4m deep! Fantastic Marine life and great Coral!
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 & Komodo Island & 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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