MV Ambai Liveaboard (Wallacea Dive Cruises)
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.
