Ambai Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dining on Ambai is designed to be a social ritual that mirrors the excellence of the diving. The onboard chefs specialise in a fusion of Indonesian spice and Western technique, ensuring that every meal is both fuel for your next dive and a culinary highlight of the day.

The food receives consistent praise from guests. “Amazing,” “fantastic,” and “a culinary highlight” are phrases that appear regularly in reviews. It is not just fuel for diving; it is a celebrated part of the daily rhythm.

• Diverse Menus: From freshly caught seafood and traditional satay to international favourites, the menu changes daily to keep things exciting.

• Beach BBQ Ritual: Whenever logistics and weather allow, the crew organises a signature beach BBQ on a remote island, creating a magical evening under the stars.

• All‑Day Refreshments: A dedicated coffee bar with espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos is available throughout the day, alongside a constant supply of snacks and fresh juices.

• Dietary Accommodations: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten‑free, and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice

Designed with a clean, nautical aesthetic, they use natural woods and soft lighting to create a restful environment.

• Upper Deck Staterooms: Located on the upper deck, these cabins offer large windows with sea views and easy access to the sundeck. They are a favourite for guests who enjoy waking up to the morning light over the water.

• Lower Deck Cabins: Snug sanctuaries that provide a quiet, stable environment, ideal for those who prefer the gentle sway of the ocean.

• Practical Luxury: Every cabin features an en‑suite bathroom with hot water, individual climate control, and complimentary toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste) and towels so you can pack light.

• Storage: Ample wardrobe and shelving space keeps your personal items organised throughout the trip, with room for both dive gear and personal belongings

• Kayaking: Use the onboard kayaks to explore hidden lagoons, quiet mangroves, or shallow reefs during the midday break. Paddling through calm bays gives you a different perspective on the landscape, and it is a gentle way to stay active without the exertion of a dive. The kayaks are available to guests at any time, simply let the crew know when you would like to use them.
   

• Land Excursions: Join guided treks to viewpoints overlooking the prehistoric “Ring of Fire” landscapes or visit local villages. These excursions are woven into the itinerary when conditions allow, offering a chance to stretch your legs and see Indonesia from above the water. In Raja Ampat, walks take you to panoramic lookouts over the karst islands. In Komodo, guided treks offer the rare opportunity to see Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.
   

• Onboard Wellness: Professional massage services are available upon pre‑request, offering a range of techniques to help tired muscles recover for the next morning’s dives. After a day of current diving or multiple dives, a massage can make a significant difference in how you feel the following day. The service is delivered in a dedicated area on deck, allowing you to relax with the sound of the ocean nearby.
   

• Starlink Connectivity: Stay connected even in the most remote corners of the archipelago with Starlink internet. A complimentary 5GB data allowance is provided upon arrival, enough to check emails, share a few photos, or keep in touch with family back home. For those who prefer to disconnect entirely, there are plenty of quiet corners on board to do just that

• Valet Diving: The crew of 18 handles all heavy lifting, from loading and unloading your equipment onto the tenders to rinsing and storing gear after each dive. You simply arrive at the dive deck, step into your wetsuit, and board. Tanks are swapped between dives without you needing to lift a finger. This service allows you to focus entirely on the underwater experience rather than the logistics.​
• Nitrox on Tap: Continuous‑flow Nitrox is available for certified divers, allowing for more conservative diving and less tiring surface intervals. The system is integrated into the dive deck layout, so refills are quick and efficient. For photographers and divers who appreciate extended bottom times or prefer the added safety margin, having Nitrox readily available without pre‑booking is a significant convenience.​
• The Tenders: Three 6.5‑metre fibreglass boats, each powered by twin 50HP outboards, ensure fast and safe transits to sites like Cape Kri or Blue Magic. The twin‑engine configuration provides redundancy and manoeuvrability, particularly useful when navigating through narrow channels or picking up divers in choppy conditions. Each tender is equipped with VHF radios, first aid kits, and oxygen, and the crew is trained to operate them safely in varying sea states.​​​
• Efficient Departures: With three tenders operating simultaneously, groups can be rotated in and out of the water with minimal waiting. This means more time underwater and less time sitting on a boat. The dive guides coordinate closely with the deck team to ensure that everyone gets to the best site at the optimal time, whether it is catching the incoming current at a famous reef or arriving first at a remote pinnacle

The indoor camera room is a rare luxury, offering a quiet, organised space away from the salt spray of the dive deck.

• Workflow Optimised: The room features individual workstations, plenty of charging points (220V), and specialised low‑pressure air guns for drying housings and lenses.

• Review and Refine: The air‑conditioned restaurant has a large flat‑screen monitor used specifically for reviewing footage and sharing the day’s highlights during evening social hours.

• Care and Maintenance: Large rinse tanks are dedicated strictly to camera gear, and the crew is expertly trained in the delicate handling of professional rigs.

• Pro Support: Whether you are shooting macro in Lembeh or wide-angle in Raja Ampat, the guides are skilled at spotting "the small stuff" and positioning you for the perfect shot

With 18 crew members for just 16 guests, Ambai operates with one of the highest staff‑to‑guest ratios in the region. This allows for a level of personal attention that guests frequently describe as “family‑like.”

• Local Expertise: The crew includes experienced dive guides who know the currents, the critter hiding spots, and the seasonal patterns of each region intimately.

• Behind‑the‑Scenes Service: From setting up your gear before the first dive to serving hot coffee after a morning splash, the team anticipates needs without being intrusive.

• Safety Focus: Every crew member is trained in emergency procedures, and the boat is equipped with radar, satellite phone, oxygen, first aid kits, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers

The schedule is dictated by optimal visibility and sea conditions, and each destination offers a distinct flavour of Indonesian diving.

In Raja Ampat, the focus is on sheer biodiversity, where there is the highest concentration of marine species and coral types on the planet.

Triton Bay delivers encounters with whale sharks alongside some of the region’s most pristine soft‑coral gardens. 

Halmahera and the Banda Sea offer remote, uncrowded reefs where schooling hammerheads, barracuda, and walking sharks steal the show.

The itineraries are built to visit less‑crowded, remote sites where you can experience pristine reefs without the rush of a packed schedule. Crew expertise ensures you are always at the best spot for the conditions, whether it is a drift dive along a current‑swept wall or a quiet muck dive searching for rare critters.