MV Ambai Liveaboard (Wallacea Dive Cruises)

Destination: Indonesia

Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Sulawesi, Banda Sea/Ring of Fire, Triton Bay (9-14 Nights) | From $548++/night

MV Ambai Quick Pitch

Dive Komodo and Raja Ampat in style and comfort aboard the MV Ambai. With a large dive deck, dedicated camera room and a large screen TV in the lounge, the Ambai is a liveaboard of choice for underwater photographers.

Location 

Excursions originate in various areas, including Labuanbajo, Bima and Denpasar for Komodo trips, and Sorong for Raja Ampat trips.

Dive Overview

Indonesia is a diving gem, featuring volcanic geography, wrecks, and vibrant marine life. See modern era dragons in Komodo or dive the region with the highest marine biodiversity in the world in Raja Ampat

[See: Raja Ampat Travel Guide & Komodo Dive Travel Guide]

Check Out These Awesome Videos!

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Accommodations

Types of Cabins, Amenities and Photos

MV Ambai Accommodation Overview

The MV Ambai has 8 cabins accommodating 16 passengers. All cabins have individually controlled A/C units and private ensuite bathrooms. Room options include bunk and double-bed cabins. 

Lower Deck Cabins

Sea VIew Cabin

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General Facilities

Upper Deck (LEFT) & Front Sun Deck (RIGHT)

Restaurant (LEFT) & Main Deck Lounge (RIGHT)

MV Ambai Boat Features

• AC
• Ensuite bathrooms
• Sundeck
• Dedicated camera room
• Airport transfers
• Laundry Service
• Massage
• Onboard kayaks
• Audio & video entertainment
• Inside lounge and restaurant
• Large shadow deck areas

MV Ambai Dive Facilities

• Shaded diving deck
• Nitrox
• DIN Adaptors
• Rinse hosts
• Tenders for diving

Dive Deck (LEFT) & Camera Room (RIGHT)

Dinghy

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Food & Drinks Aboard MV Ambai

All-inclusive.

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MV Ambai Liveaboard Deck Plan

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Schedule, Rates & Availability

The actual rates are based in EUR. The starting price indicated above may vary based on the current exchange rate.

The prices shown below are per person in USD and do not include park & port fees. The pricing at the time of booking may vary depending on the latest EUR/USD exchange rate.

[See also: Inclusions & Exclusions]

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Inclusions

• All the dives guided. 3 day dives + night dive when possible. No dive on the arrival day, 1 dive on the last day of cruise, no dive on the check out day. 
• 3 guided dives/day + night dives in the Banda Sea & Ring of Fire cruises
• 3 guided dives/day + night dives for full charter (if required)
• Aluminum 80 CF diving tank, diving weights, weight belts.
• NITROX FILLS for certified divers
• All meals and snacks on board. Drinking water, hot drinks (The, coffee, milk, chocolate), soft drinks
• Airport-boat-Airport transfers at cruise departure and arrival location

Exclusions

• International and domestic flights
• Harbor Fees and park or preserved area entry fees, local diving taxes.
• Beers, wines, liquors, espresso
• Diving equipment rental
• Massage service
• Aluminum 100 cf dive tank
• Int’l & Indonesian domestic flights and/or transit hotel
• Visa entry fee (if any)
• Tips on board recommended but not mandatory (5% to 10% of published rates)
• Occupancy of “double bed cabins with sea view” (40 €/cabin/night )
• Single occupancy (190% of published rates)
• Fuel surcharge in case of noticeable increase in the fuel prices
• Park, anchorage, port and distance fees*

*Distance Fees are applicable for cruises departing in 2021 and onwards. Sorong - Sorong Ultimate: 50€/pax, from/to Ambon – Kaimana - Saumlaki: 75€/pax, any cruise during 13 nights and more: 100€/pax.

RATES & AVAILABILITY

For more information on other departure dates, rates, and on availability email us at info@bluewaterdivetravel.com or call us at +1-310-915-6677 and we will gladly help you plan your dream dive vacation!

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Dive Information & Destinations

raja ampat

Hopping aboard a Raja Ampat liveaboard is on the bucket list for many scuba divers and non-divers alike, and for good reason. 

Home to the world’s most biodiverse coral reefs and more than 1,400 fish species, many would agree that the scuba diving in Raja Ampat is second to none. Throw its year-round warm water temperatures and stunning landscapes, you’ve got yourself a perfect paradise.

Probably the image that comes to mind when thinking of Raja Ampat. Captured in Wayag, North Raja Ampat.

Exploring with a liveaboard in Raja Ampat is the best and most time-efficient way to enjoy the area’s best diving, as this massive area is made up of 4 main islands—Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo—as well as 1,500 small islands and cays. 

Non-divers can equally enjoy Raja Ampat with its fantastic snorkeling, pristine beaches, fascinating views, and local villages, or by simply enjoying the serene good life on our Raja Ampat liveaboards. 

Raja Ampat Itineraries

• Ultimate Raja Ampat  | 10 -12 Nights - Sorong to Sorong
• Our most popular Raja Ampat liveaboard itineraries, and the one to choose if you want to experience the best diving in Raja Ampat. You will visit and dive Misool and Dampier Strait, renowned for its world-class wide-angle dives, one-of-a-kind soft corals, and a density of fish like nowhere else in the world. Also known for its manta rays and amazing macro dives at Batanta. 
• In North Raja Ampat, you will see firsthand Wayag’s iconic landscape, with lots of small islands and turquoise water, alongside some great dives. 
• Other than that, divers often encounter trevallies, barracudas, bumphead parrotfish, schooling fusiliers, and bigger fish like tunas, mackerels, reef sharks, as well as the endemic Wobbegong, epaulette ‘walking’ shark, and Papuan Garden eel. 
• Non-diving activities are included during our cruise such as 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.
• Raja Ampat, Banda Sea & Triton Bay  | 11 to 14 Nights - Embarkation and disembarkation ports vary
• These amazing itineraries take you to Misool for the world’s most colorful dives, to the Banda Sea for its schooling hammerheads, and Triton Bay for a chance to dive with the gentle giants—whale sharks. Speaking of diversity!
• Raja Ampat Misool & Dampier Strait | 9 Nights - Sorong to Sorong
• If you’re short on time but want to dive the best of Raja Ampat, then this is the itinerary for you. Explore the same dive sites and areas as the Raja Ampat Ultimate itinerary, minus the North, guaranteeing a spectacular time for divers and non-divers alike. 
• Combo Raja Ampat Itineraries | 10 to 14 Nights - Embarkation and disembarkation ports vary
• The MV Ambai offers various itineraries combining Raja Ampat with other diving gems in Indonesia, such as Banda Sea, Sulawesi, and Halmahera. It’s a great chance to dive some of the world’s best and discover off-the-beaten-path locations at the same time. Perfect for the adventurous at heart!

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banda sea overview

• If people probably heard about the Galapagos Islands, Malpeo, or Layang Layang for their shoals of Great hammerhead sharks, the Banda Sea and its Ring of Fire is a rare fortune to dive with hammerhead sharks and other pelagic in the hot waters of Indonesia. On the top 5 areas to encounter Squat-headed and Scalloped Hammerheads, our cruises will take you to remote spots for an unforgettable diving experience.
• Whales also frequently pass through the strait. Walls, drop-offs, boomies, and pinnacles so colorful and so healthy! 
• Main points:  In the Banda Sea the visibility is generally good. During the South East winds, June to September, some upwellings develop: the surface waters get colder and a bit more turbid, which also means more productive. Tis when we can see the hammerhead sharks. The waters then warm up again towards November and December. e
• Some exceptional dive sites as “Too Many fish” in Koon, a great wall with incredible fish life, Manuk with so many sea snakes; the reef of Nil Desperendu, Serua island and Suanggi islands are spots for the schooling Hammerhead sharks, and many more that we prefer to keep secret. 
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triton bay Overview

• The beauty of Triton Bay lies in its incredible soft corals that emerge from the surface, constituting one of the main marine attractions. With over 959 different types of corals and 471 known coral species in the area, the diversity is remarkable. Additionally, the region boasts black coral forests, abundant sweetlips benches, vibrant macro life, and a significant chance to encounter whale sharks at Triton Bay Bagan, the fishing platforms that these giants visit to feed on the fishermen's net full of fish. In Triton Bay, the forests of black coral and the proliferation of gigantic sponges of all colors delight even the most jaded divers.
• Macro photography finds ample representation in this region with subjects like antennae, ghost fish, and numerous cephalopods. Whale sharks frequent the Bagan fishing platforms, allowing observers to approach and observe them for as long as desired.
• The destination holds a special allure; while superb, it is never the sole focus of a cruise. Thus, Triton Bay often marks either the beginning or the end of a cruise that also encompasses visits to Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea with its Ring of Fire, or both within a 14-night itinerary.
• The MV Ambai not only offers diving and cruising in Triton Bay within the Kaimana District but also includes renowned destinations like Raja Ampat and the northern part of the Banda Sea and the Ring of Fire.

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halmahera Overview

• Scuba diving in Halmahera is not only exceptional but also extraordinarily varied: wrecks in Ternate, emerald waters and schools of fish in Tidore, vertiginous and pelagic walls in Bacan, drifting dives in the Patinti Strait, not to mention its beautiful coral gardens.
• The islands stretch between the Philippines, Sulawesi, and New Guinea and are connected to the open Northeast Pacific Ocean.
• Halmahera is the largest island in the whole Maluku Islands. Tropical, it is covered with lush forests. Everywhere majestic volcanoes come out of a calm sea and the deep forests of Halmahera have remained intact. Its pristine beaches of white sand and coral reefs offer exceptional conditions for scuba diving, snorkeling, and snorkeling. In addition, several outdoor activities can be considered, although to this day it is the underwater world that the visitor seeks.
• Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, its marine ecosystem and rich biodiversity, with exceptional flora and fauna is still a secret gem with so much to be discovered.
• Halmahera islands is an outstanding scuba diving destination and is still preserved from mass tourism. In particular, sailors and scuba divers enjoy visiting this remote part of the world and exploring its raw and unspoiled nature, pristine landscapes, secluded bays, and deep and colorful seascapes.
• All these splendors are still totally confidential. It is frequent that guests are alone on-site during most of our cruises. Halmahera is quickly brought to become known as one of the best diving destinations!

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sulawesi overview

• For MV Ambai, this cruise feels like a return to its roots, as it began operations in these areas of Sulawesi in the early 2000s.
• Two itineraries that visit the East coast of Sulawesi and the Togian islands and end in Luwuk. Beautiful dive sites on the East coast in the areas of Ratatotok, Tanjung Flesko, and Gorontalo (fabulous walls and whale sharks !). We then dive the best spots of the Togian islands, especially around the islands of Una2. the two last days are spent in the Tompotika area where Wallacea recently set up a dive resort, Tompotika Dive Lodge, just because we found there, spots that are among of the best dive sites of Indonesia!
• Wakatobi Diving
• Located in the heart of the Asia-Pacific Coral Triangle, in South-East Sulawesi Province, the Wakatobi Islands offer crystal clear waters and underwater life rich in biodiversity, a real paradise for divers. hearts in the World Coral Triangle stretching from the Solomon Islands in the Pacific to Wakatobi and the North to the Philippines. Wakatobi alone would have 900 species of fish and 700 species of coral reefs out of a total of 900 of the world's collections. 
• WAKATOBI is an acronym for the islands WA-ngi Wangi, KA-ledupa, TO-mia, and BI-nongko. Celebrated for having some of the diving and snorkeling spots in the world. Come here for an enriching experience where you can explore a breathtaking environment, enjoy unique food and culture and have refreshing activities.
• The incredible marine diversity and reefs of Wakatobi attract divers and apnea enthusiasts from around the world. With more than 750 different species of coral and 942 species of fish, Wakatobi has the largest number of reef fish species ever recorded. It is the world's second-largest barrier reef on a spectacular 1.4 million ha - of which 900,000 are tropical coral reefs. The varied and colorful marine life in these crystal clear waters with drop-offs, breathtaking cliffs make these underwater places a superb diving destination like no other.
• In the village of Mola located on Wangi-Wangi Island, lies a community unique in their way of life and history. These are the Bajo people who believe they are direct descendants of the sea. Formerly known as nomadic "gypsies of the sea", members are educated from childhood in a spirit of hunting and also the preservation of the ocean. They have also developed incredible skills such as walking on the bottom of the ocean and diving at depths of 25 to 50 meters without the aid of diving equipment. It is said that Bajo can survive for months at sea without any provisions or modern equipment. In the past, they lived only on "soppeks" (wooden boats) in nomadic mode. Today they are rather sedentary in traditional floating habitats. With the help of a local guide, visitors have the privilege of traveling the canals between these homes and sharing a first-hand experience of the Bajo way of life.
• Anamo Beach
• Anano Beach, or known as the beach with a thousand turtles, is the perfect destination to observe sea turtles in their natural habitat. The incredible white sand beach is home to two types of sea turtles, Honu (green turtles) and Koila (hawksbill turtle).   Hopefully, visitors will have the opportunity to see these charming turtles spawn, hatch, and migrate to the sea. The best time to observe the egg-laying is during the full moon where green turtles usually gather on the shore. prepare to lay their eggs in the early hours of the morning. This enchanting beach is not only a favorite of sea turtle lovers but also a popular place for divers and sunbeds.
• Sombano Lake
• The surrealistic beauty of Lake Sombano, located in the village of Sombano on Kaledupa Island is absolutely breathtaking. The vast, dense and green mangrove forest is unique in this region and the tranquil saltwater lake in the center of this delightfully picturesque forest is filled with bright red crustaceans that can be seen from the surface. Besides the magical mangroves, the lake is surrounded by a variety of beautiful orchids and fragrant pandanus leaves.   This lake is considered sacred by locals and swimming in the lake is possible but discouraged, as local folklore indicates, a mystical black crocodile lives there.

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Other Information

Boat Specifications

• Length: 32 meters (105 ft)
• Width: 7.5 meters (25 ft)
• Cruising speed: 8 knots
• Engine: Marine engine Mitsubishi 600 Hp, 2012.
• Generators: 3 Yanmar generators: 36 kw, 28 kw, and 16 kw
• Freshwater: Freshwater tanks 15 tons, Watermaker 10000 lts / day
• Fuel tanks: 14 tons
• Compressors: 2 air compressors, 1 nitrox LP compressor
• Navigation: GPS, chart plotter, Depth sounder, Radar,
• Communication: Radio VHF, SSB, satellite phone
• Safety: Smoke detectors, Engine room CCTV, 2 lift rafts @20 pax, EPIRB
• Dive boats: 3 fiberglass dinghies with Yamaha 4 strokes 50 HP outboard engines
• Maximum guests: 16
• Number of cabins: 8 
• Number of crews: 18 crew including 4 dive guides. 1 western cruise director/ dive instructor

Practical Information

• Time Zone: UTC+8 & UTC+9
• Local Currency: IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)
• Payment onboard: Cash (most currencies accepted)
• Language Spoken: English, French & Indonesian

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Underwater Gallery 

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