Overview
Formerly operating in the northern Maldives, the Amba now focuses on dive sites in the central and southern atolls, offering 7 night itineraries and extended 11 and 14 night adventures, all departing from Male. She also operates special trips, one in December and January heading north for 14 nights (one way domestic flight required) and a unique Tiger Shark expedition in March/April - a 25 night itinerary including Fuvamulah in the deep south. The build of boat with its deep keel and weight makes it a very comfortable and quiet vessel as she cruises the different regions of the Maldives atolls.
To participate in diving activities, guests must be qualified to 30 metres and Nitrox certified. Courses can be taken on board.
A total of 8 roomy standard two-person cabins (6 x lower-deck and 2 x upper deck, with large windows) plus 2 luxury double cabins enables the boat to take 20 guests very easily.
The lower deck cabins have portholes, individually controlled A/C and ventilation, ensuite shower. Choose from twin bed or double with single bed in the standard lower deck cabins. On the upper deck, there are two further spacious standard cabins, one with bunks and the other a double bed. They both have individually controlled A/C and large windows that allow for good ventilation (and lovely views!). The two luxury cabins feature a queen double and single bed. They have individually controlled A/C and panoramic windows overlooking the bow and ocean, plus direct access to a private sun terrace.
There is a spacious saloon equipped with comfortable sofas and chairs, a TV, DVD player and audio system. There is a bar on board the boat. Each cabin has a compartment in the saloon for valuables and battery charging. Spend time on the furnished sundeck or outdoor covered seating area at the stern of the main deck.
Specification
Cruiser, Length 33m, Beam 10m, Engine Volvo Penta 430HP, Speed 12 knots, Generators 3 Fischer Panda (super silent), 1 x 22 KW Lombardini, Voltage 380/220 throughout.
Navigation / Safety
Life preservers, GPS, Oxygen and First Aid Kit, Compass marine radio, radar and GPS.
Dive info
Liveaboard diving in the Maldives is world-class, and it's become renowned as one of the world’s premier liveaboard destinations, and for good reason. This string of breathtaking islands and atolls stretches over 800 kilometres from north to south, starting near the southern tip of India and finishing near the equator - in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.
Our carefully curated range of Maldives liveaboards operate throughout the island chain, offering classic itineraries along established routes out of Male along with itineraries to more remote locations. Supported by a ‘dive dhoni' carrying all cylinders, equipment and compressors, Maldivian liveaboards are a superb way to see and dive the very best of this Indian Ocean jewel.
The Maldives has so many dive sites to explore, with great scuba diving around each and every atoll. A liveaboard is a fantastic way to see more of the excellent diving on offer, and maybe meet new friends along the way!
Where's the best liveaboard diving in the Maldives?
Underwater highlights on most itineraries include a mix of reef, wreck and channel and drift dives. Expect to dive in warm water and see colourful corals and plentiful fish life. While not guaranteed, encounters with big fish such as reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta ray and if you're lucky, whale shark are relatively common throughout the year in this special diving destination, so keep your eyes peeled on the blue.
Liveaboards out of Male
Diving in the Maldives is spectacular throughout the year. One of the simplest and most satisfying ways to experience the incredible range of world-class dive sites is to hop on a liveaboard departing from Male. Most of our liveaboards offer classic week long diving adventures to the best sites of the nearby atolls. These trips are often known as the ‘Best of Maldives' and follow a flexible itinerary that takes account of local diving conditions. The boats will generally operate in both North and South Male atoll, North and South Ari atoll and include time at Rasdhoo and Vaavu atolls depending on your chosen boat.
Liveaboard Itineraries Beyond Male
Recent years have seen access to some remote atolls in the Maldives improve dramatically, and our liveaboard portfolio has evolved to cover these exciting new atolls. These include Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani and Rasdhoo in the north and Meemu, Laamu, Huvadhoo and Addu in the south. These atolls bring exciting new opportunities for experienced divers seeking exciting marine life encounters.
Southern Atolls
The south atolls of the Maldives are renowned for their exhilarating shark encounters and many boats sail to this region operating itineraries for the first few months of the year visiting sites in the Laamu and Huvadhoo atolls as well as Fuvamulah and Addu, the most southerly. Many of the trips offer exploratory dive sites that have been seldom dived. This is challenging and pioneering diving, characterised by waters that are abundant in the marine life one expects from the Maldives.
Liveaboard itineraries in the southern atolls often begin and end in the region and involve a domestic flight from Male to reach the boat. In addition, there are some extended itineraries available which begin or end in Male as the boats move to ensure they are in the best locations throughout the year, offering divers the best experiences.
Northern Atolls
Certain liveaboards focus on the north-west of the Maldives between June and September each year, drawn by the promise of whale shark and manta ray in their droves as they feed on the plankton rich waters. Occasionally, itineraries are offered to the far north of the Maldives, promising more exploratory diving.
What to see when
Manta Rays
These elegant nomads are one of the prime reasons for many to visit the Maldives, with sizeable schools of reef manta ray regularly visiting key cleaning stations or feeding sites. Broadly speaking, between December and April, manta rays are sighted on the western side of atolls. From May to September, they're found on the eastern side of atolls. In each case, they're following their primary source of food; plankton.
Liveaboards tailor their itineraries to maximise the chances of good encounters at any particular time of year. One particular highlight is around the Baa Atoll between August and November, when up to 200 are known to gather around the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve called Hanifaru Bay. Our Maldives Manta Ray Extravaganza is an exclusive 10-night liveaboard safari where you can dive the northern atolls and snorkel in Hanifaru Bay amongst the mantas during their annual aggregation. This exclusive adventure is expert led by marine conservationist and cameraman Danny Copeland.
Whale Sharks
Similar to manta rays, whale sharks are filter feeders, and their movements are largely governed by their source of food. One particular hotspot is South Ari Atoll, a feature on many liveaboard itineraries. Sighted throughout the year here, whale shark encounters are often best between November and March in this area, simply because calmer seas make them easier to locate. Later in the year, between August and November, they can also be found in large numbers around the Baa Atoll.
Grey Reef Sharks
The clearer waters of the period from December to April tends to favour those looking for encounters with sharks, and the far south of the Maldives is well known for the best encounters. Grey reef shark are most common, but silky shark, hammerhead shark and even tiger shark can also be seen.
When's the best time to dive the Maldives by liveaboard
The quality of individual dive sites and marine parks is determined by the ebb and flow of seasonal currents, which in turn affects both the underwater visibility and the marine life. Liveaboards follow these seasonal variations, taking divers to the best sites for the time of the year.
As such, diving from liveaboard in the Maldives is a year-round affair, and you can always be assured of good diving experiences. Because weather is generally more consistent between December and March, which in turn brings flatter seas, these tend to be the more popular months, however outside these months there can be some attractive offers to ensure superb value for money.
Who is liveaboard DIVING IN THE MALDIVES suitable for?
Diving in the Maldives can be challenging, and as such it's recommended that divers have a minimum qualification of PADI Advanced or equivalent, with 30+ logged dives, although experienced Open Water divers are not precluded.
Diving is encouraged to be undertaken in individual self-sufficient buddy teams and small groups, though you may of course choose to follow the guide for ease of navigation. Diving in the Maldives is regulated, as such all divers must wear a computer and carry an SMB. At some sites the recommended depth is beyond 18 metres so advanced and/or deep diver certification are required. The maximum depth on any recreational dive is 30 metres.
Itineraries to the far south of the Maldives are best suited to experienced divers. To join, divers should be Advanced certified, with a minimum of 100 logged dives and experience of diving in current.
Liveaboard and Island Combinations Tailormade
We offer tailormade holidays to the Maldives. This means that we can organise your holiday based on your requirements. We can also offer a twin centre option of a liveaboard and island based holiday in the Maldives. Alternatively, many guests choose to combine the incredible sights in Sri Lanka with either an island or liveaboard in the Maldives.
For Sri Lanka options, click here
GROUPS
For anyone travelling as a group of friends, with a dive club or even an extended family there are often group deals available, along with full charters. To find out the best option for your group or dive club, the experienced and friendly Regaldive team are happy to do the work for you and provide curated recommendations; all part of the service!
Click here for GROUP LIVEABOARD OFFERS
Flight Options
Emirates via Dubai from Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Other regional departures may be available; supplement may apply. Regaldive's prices are currently based on Emirates. Supplements may or may not apply for other airlines dependant on seat availability.
Sri Lankan via Colombo from Heathrow, Qatar Airways via Doha from Heathrow and Manchester, Oman Air via Muscat from Heathrow, British Airways from Gatwick.
Charter Flights: Flights are direct, once a week for 7 and 14 night durations, usually flying overnight on outbound. Charter flight days may not match all the liveaboard departure days, with the exception of Carpe Diem.
Internal transfers to your liveaboard
Your boat is reached either by sea plane, speedboat transfer or internal flight from Male airport. Transfers are organised as part of your holiday package, unless requested otherwise.
Seaplane and Boat Transfers
Most liveaboards that opearate out of Male will organise a transfer using a dhoni that will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the baot. Liveaboards operating from other areas will have a either a speedbaot transfer, seaplane or pressurised flight.
If you are transferring by seaplane you should be aware of the following:
- Seaplanes do not operate a fixed departure schedule, but are planned daily according to the islands / boats requirements. The planning is carried out locally 24 hours in advance.
- Seaplanes often pick up and drop off guests from a number of islands on a single transfer run.
- Seaplanes only operate during daylight hours, generally 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
- You may have to wait for a short duration after arriving in Male. On departing, the islands will transfer you back to Male as late a local logistics on that day will allow.
- On departing your island resort your return seaplane transfer time will be confirmed the day before departure by your resort.
- If you have a late international flight departing home, it is highly advisable you ask Regaldive to reserve a day use package for you at the Hulhule hotel.
- Seaplanes are not pressurised flights.
- Seaplanes typically operate a strict weight policy of 20kg for hold luggage.
- Excess luggage is currently $2 per kilo to the island and $4 perkilo on the return.
Inter Atoll Flights - Haa Alifu
Transfers to Haa-Alifu in the North involve an internal pressurised flight from Male. This is arranged and costed as part of your travel package to the north of the Maldives, unless otherwise requested.
Hulhule Airport Hotel - Day use & overnights
International and internal flight schedules occasionally make fairly long connection times in Male Airport inevitable. The Hulehule Airport hotel offers inexpensive day packages to non-residents for use of their beach, pool, showers, left luggage and other facilities. Pre-booked packages are available with Regaldive, for day use with and without a room, and overnight stays (refer to separate webpage on Hulehule Airport hotel).
Passports
Passengers travelling to the Maldives must have six months valid on their passport from the date of return to the UK.
Visas
A free 30 day permit is given to British travellers on arrival in Male. Other nationalities should consult their consular website.
Vaccinations
Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic or local GP. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to the Maldives, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio.
Amba in North Maldives
"Just got back from a week with Amba. Firstly a week is not enough for a long trip from London (3 days traveling, 5 days diving).
The Amba is a family business is run by a nice couple (Nicole and Franco). Franco and Shazeel are the dive guides. The boat is German and on my trip had 1 Brit (me), 1 Irish, 1 American and the rest were German / Swiss / Danish (8). The guests were friendly and took special care to speak in English when English speakers were around and so were inclusive.
This boat is for experienced divers only. The currents are often strong and you need a reef hook. The sites that Amba have discovered are superb and this is the single strongest reason to book with them. They know their diving. Being German they are not shy about telling you bluntly about any errors you make and any behavior they want you to modify. The accommodation was good in my view - the en-suite was large and kept shower well segregated.
The tanks are all DIN and they can provide inserts for Yoke adaption. Don't leave your tank unhooked - mine fell over. There is no tank well on the diving dhoni. Also good idea to go to top of dohni after dive to get away from diesel smell and noise. The sun deck is fab - lots of covered space with mattresses laid out to lie on as well as sun beds.
Not a huge amount of space to lounge around in if the boat is full but quite ok when not full. Boat is generally quiet and moves almost imperceptibly from mooring point to mooring point. We travelled a lot, but I hardly noticed.
Bottom line: Diving sites are great - manta / sharks [reef / whitetip / guitar / leopard] / turtles / moray / eagle ray / marble ray / Napoleon / Lobster. One dive had spectacular glass fish clouds you had to swim through. 6 Manta seen reasonably near - 3 of them at once - dancing. Turtle Farm (I would call it turtle hotel) is an amazing dive on a wall in which 60 turtles bed down. Franco has done an amazing job of discovering new sites over the years.
Non-diving - adequate - comfortable - quiet."
Joshua Green - London UK
An Enjoyable Trip with Some Excellent Diving
"We had a good week, Amba is a very comfortable and well run boat and the cabins are a good size, common areas are comfortable and the food was first class and very varied. The Dhoni used for the diving is very well planned and gives plenty of space for gearing up.
Diving is described as “challenging” and that turned out to be true with some hard swimming against the current at times, a reef hook is an absolute must. Nevertheless an enjoyable trip with some excellent diving.
As mentioned by another reviewer it should be noted that most the other divers were mostly German, Austrian and Swiss, not British, and language was a barrier at times, but this is no way affected the trip.
Melvyn and Ian"
Melvyn Hill - UK
Amba
"I had a week on Amba and a week on Sheena in early January 2015 and can recommend both, though I thought Amba had the edge on food, boat, diving, and service. I started going to the Maldives in the mid-nineties and have visited 17 times, but in the last decade the experience has been less good than the first. The diving in the far north reminded me of my memories of the Maldives at their very best: abundant life, including lots of big stuff; superb corals; sometimes strong currents but that's what you need for the best life; awesome visibility with incoming current. The owners pair for guiding (he takes the group, she spots and signals from shallower depth) and this works extremely well. As far as I recall we never saw another dive boat on the whole trip. Life on board? I'm a middle-aged geezer and I like my comforts; Amba has those and I recommend it without reservation."
Rab - Maldives
Highly Recommended
"We had a delightful weeks diving on MV Amba. The owners Nicole and Franco were charming as were all the crew. The diving was excellent, well guided and well organised.
This was our fourth liveaboard in the Maldives and I would highly recommend this boat.
"
The Williams Family - UK
Maldives
"Thank you all so much for your help and advice, and for making my husband 50th birthday so very special.
Absolutely first class service from the office and from the rep at Male, best we’ve ever had.
Nikki Wheetman
"
Maldives - Amba trip
"Dear Claire,
Thought it was about time we got in touch to say what a wonderful two weeks we had doing the Northern Itinerary in the Maldives on MV Amba.
Everything went ahead as planned, without too much delay at Mali airport. The boat is huge and very comfortable, designed with stability in mind. Franco and Nicole as dive guides and hosts were fantastic and very accommodating.
The diving was excellent. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip to others but they need to be aware that the divers were mostly German, Austrian and Swiss, not British, and language was a barrier at times. But with good will among the guests, this can be surmounted.
We had a great time and the food was wonderful.
Thank you
John Ramsay and Judith Richards
"
Amba
"Hi Iain,
Michael and I had a fantastic time in the Maldives. Thank you for all of your help in making it possible. Thank you as well for the bottle of wine that was waiting for us in our cabin.
The crew of the Amba were all great and it was so nice to have dive sites all to ourselves. We did get to see mantas and a lot of different sharks. There was just so much to see, it was beautiful. We'd both love to go back!
Many thanks again,
Helen
"
Feedback
"Hello Helena,
Our trip went very well and the diving was the best I ever experienced and I have been around for a good while.
The boat (the Amba) is lovely and the owners run and manage it - a German and an Italian, so all runs like clockwork, the food is great and no bad tummies at all. I can strongly recommend with a few points to be noted.
1. They are the only boat way up north at the very top of the Maldives. So you are diving on pristine coral.....down side you are very far from help if you have a problem so only for very experienced divers.
2. A MUST… there are very strong currents, so strong that you must use a hook to fix yourself to the rock in strong currents. You stay there in the one place watching out into the blue for Sharks and Rays going past feeding in the current.
3. Like the Red Sea and elsewhere they do not look at tide tables..... so you may well dive on the third hour of the tide on Springs (we did and it was very unpleasant without a hook).
So it was a really good boat and a good trip - so good that I hope to return some day.
Regards
Peadar Farrell
"
Add new review