Amba Liveaboard, Maldives

Name: Best of Central Maldives: Ari - Rasdhoo - Vaavu - Male Atolls (Male - Male)
Start: 2027-01-18
End: 2027-01-29
Location: Maldives

8.9 Fabulous

Free Nitrox
En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 179 / day Check dates

“This was my first live aboard experience and I couldn't have wished for a better one. ”
Sina S, Germany

Highlights

BAUER PureAir certified filling system
Nitrox fillings included
Enos diver location beacon onboard
Paradroque Safety Equipment

The AMBA is a 31-meter-long liveaboard that accommodates 20 guests in 10 cabins, each featuring a private bathroom and adjustable air conditioning. The German owner personally manages the vessel. The clientele is international, comprising English and German-speaking individuals. The ship offers 11-day, 10-night tours to the Ari, Vaavu, and Malé Atolls, featuring well-selected dive sites.

The AMBA specializes in two-week tours for divers with medium to advanced experience. The tours require a minimum of 30 logged dives and some experience with currents. Communal areas onboard the Amba include the main saloon and dining room, where three freshly prepared meals are served daily, along with afternoon snacks, cakes, drinking water, tea, juice, and coffee. The German and Maldivian chefs bake fresh bread daily in the morning for breakfast lovers, alongside a vast variety of international delicacies from Asia, complemented by global cuisine. Since the Owner is a chef himself, food is one of the top priorities, besides safety and stunning dives. The outdoor lounge on the upper deck is perfect for relaxing between dives, and the partially covered sun deck is furnished with sun loungers.

The AMBA navigates through all atolls of the Maldives, including the Deep South, Central Maldives, and northern Atolls, offering dive sites carefully selected to avoid crowded areas. The Amba stands out for its BAUER PureAir filling system, free Nitrox for every dive, and an extended, modern safety concept that ensures the highest safety standards. The 16-meter dive dhoni provides efficient dive operations featuring a freshwater shower and a western toilet, and smaller speedboats offer easy access to nearby islands. The experienced multilingual crew ensures all guests have a smooth and personalized diving and holiday experience.

Book your liveaboard trip aboard the AMBA today.

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Date

Itinerary

Price

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05 Sep

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 3,070

FULL

18 Sep

12 Days / 11 Nights

Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply.

~~$ 3,070~~ $ 2,149 Save 30% -30%

Select Cabin available

01 Oct

12 Days / 11 Nights

Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply.

~~$ 3,070~~ $ 2,149 Save 30% -30%

FULL

14 Oct

12 Days / 11 Nights

Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply.

~~$ 3,070~~ $ 2,149 Save 30% -30%

FULL

27 Oct

12 Days / 11 Nights

Female Shared Cabin.

$ 3,070

Select Cabin only 1 space left

09 Nov

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 3,455

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

22 Nov

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 3,455

FULL

05 Dec

12 Days / 11 Nights

Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply. Female Shared Cabin.

~~$ 3,455~~ $ 2,591 Save 25% -25%

Select Cabin only 1 space left

19 Dec

15 Days / 14 Nights

Christmas trip! Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply. Female Shared Cabin.

~~$ 4,397~~ $ 3,738 Save 15% -15%

Select Cabin only 1 space left

05 Jan

12 Days / 11 Nights

Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply.

~~$ 3,455~~ $ 2,937 Save 15% -15%

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

18 Jan

12 Days / 11 Nights

Male Shared Cabin.

$ 3,455

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

31 Jan

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 3,969

Select Cabin available

Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Night Dives, Nitrox, Land Excursions, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: Environment Tax (€12 / day), Nitrox Course (€200).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Rental Gear, Snorkel Gear.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

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Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Rooms with Balcony
Nearly 1:1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio
Seaview Cabins
Naturalist Itineraries
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Library
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
Fishing
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Beer available
Wine Available
Welcome Cocktails
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Free Nitrox
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
Sidemount Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, German, and Italian.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 2004

Year renovated: Annually

Length: 32 meters

Beam: 10 meters

Top speed: 13 knots

Cruising speed: 8.5 knots

Engines: Heavy Duty Yanmar 370 HP

Max guests: 20

Number of cabins: 10

Number of bathrooms: 10

Tenders: 2

Fuel capacity: 4000 liters

Freshwater maker: 6000 liters per day

Boat navigation and safety

Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Fishfinder
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Engine room CCTV
Crew trained in first aid

Amba Liveaboard Reviews

8.9 Fabulous

Vessel

8.7
Crew

8.7
Food

9.6
Diving

8.7
Value

8.9

10 Exceptional
Craig D
United Kingdom

Excellent 10 day liveaboard experience on Amba
Itinerary picked as 2-3 rather than 4 dives per day and 10 night option. Guides superb from initial briefing through to maximising sightings potential on each dive. Saw mantas, sharks (white tip, black tip and nurse), turtles, octupus and various rays. Lots of tuna, jacks and large groupers as well as the small reef fish. Crew very helpful on Dhoni and the Amber liveaboard. Excellent food.
Recommended for
Dive itinary. Dive Guides and Crew. The boats (Liveaboard and Dhoni).
21 Jan, 2026

8.4 Very good
Stefano R
Italy

Beautiful experience
Fantastic trip, met beautiful people, super helpful staff, always smiling and super nice. Not a brand new boat but with everything you need. Fantastic dives, we saw a lot of variety of fish and corals.
Recommended for
Staff - MAGNIFICENT. Fantastic dives. Marine biology.
22 Jan, 2026

Translated from Italian

10 Exceptional
Pilar R
Spain

Magnificent
An unforgettable experienceIt's the third time we've been on this boat. It's very comfortable, with plenty of space on the upper decks to relax, chat, sunbathe... Recently remodeled. We were in one of the upper deck suites and it's a great, spacious stateroom with amazing views and a private terrace. The food is healthy, plentiful and varied. The crew is excellent, friendly and diligent at all times. Diving is great. The dive sites are the most well-known in each atoll and did not disappoint. The dhoni from which the dive is done is also very comfortable and spacious.
Recommended for
The diving, the cabin, the food.
18 Mar, 2024

Translated from Spanish

10 Exceptional
Jean-Marc T
France

Everything was very well organized. I recommend it without hesitation for beginner or not
From the beginning with the welcome, to the departure, between the dives, the rest times, the meals and the briefings, everything was perfect.All under the supervision of the boss who does not hesitate to get involved or help if necessary.I recommend this boat and crew for any diving course.
Recommended for
food. listening to the entire crew, the dive management and the skipper. organization and dives.
04 Mar, 2026

Translated from French

9.2 Superb
Silke K
Germany

Tolle Tauchgänge, viele Haie....es war ein Erlebnis!!!
Amazing dives
Recommended for
Tauchgänge, entspannte Gruppe, grosse Kabine
07 Aug, 2022

10 Exceptional
Kimberly P
United States

Awesome Boat/Staff and Diving !!!
Wow...So many highlights. Stefan and his staff were great even before the trip started. Great communication ahead of time on little things about the trip. We were picked up promptly at the airport on Tuesday. Great briefings on the boat, typical diving, etc. This was the ONLY boat I've ever been on to actually do a safety drill on evacuating from the lower level. Food was awesome and very healthy. Amo and Neo were great guides and did most of the daily dive briefings. There is some challenging diving in the Maldives at certain sites (current, reef hooks necessary, etc), but the crew made sure we practiced in advance and were ready when we did hit those more advanced sites. Diving in the Maldives ranges from beautiful corals and small stuff like nudibranchs to sharks, turtles and Manta Rays ! I've done multiple liveaboards and this one is the best. The crew went out of their way to make us all feel welcome. Great trip and can't wait to go back ! Hats off to Stefan and all the crew for an awesome week !
Recommended for
Great diving in Maldives ! Staff was incredible ! Communication was excellent
11 Apr, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Michael H
Germany

Gigantic great diving safarai. Always happy to do it again.
I had an unforgettable trip with my son on the Amba. Everything was perfect here. The crew, the food and the diving we were also totally thrilled. A must for every diver. We would love to come back. See you
Recommended for
The fellow travelers. The boss of the boat. The diving areas.
29 Dec, 2025

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Matthias G
Germany

Just beautiful
Lasting positive memory of diving with nurse sharks, as well as sightings of manta rays and reef sharks.
Recommended for
Dive guides. Quality of food. friendliness of the Vrew.
09 Dec, 2025

Translated from German

8.8 Fabulous
Angela T
United States

Good Value for your money, very nice crew
The shared rooms and bathrooms are spacious compared to other liveaboards I've been on. The crew is very nice, polite, helpful and attentive. The smaller boat, from which we do the diving from, is also spacious and comfortable with bathroom, covered roof, and sundeck. Very good value for your money!
Recommended for
Crew, Food, Well Organized
05 Jan, 2022

10 Exceptional
Connor W
Canada

The crew, the guides, the boat, the food, everything was amazing! 10/10
Diving and all the laughs and good times onboard.
Recommended for
The entire trip was perfect!
21 Apr, 2021

91 reviews

8.9 Fabulous
91 Verified Reviews

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10 Exceptional
ying D
China

If you're looking to start your liveaboard trip in the Maldives, Amba is the best choice
It was great to arrange a dive site, especially the last shark dive site, which will be unforgettable for a lifetime
Recommended for
The dive sites selected in the itinerary are very distinctive, so that you will have different surprises every day of diving. However, you must have good diving skills to better enjoy the underwater world. For those who like to dive and have challenges, there are still some streams from several dive sites in this itinerary, which is very interesting. The safety on board is well done, and it is reflected in many small details. Steven will be like a big brother, constantly reminding you of the safety issues you overlooked. The food on board tasted good, after all, Steven was a chef 👨🏻 🍳 before. It's the taste I like anyway. Fresh chili peppers are served at every meal to boost the appetite. The cabins were tidy and well maintained, especially the beds, which were right for the hardness and softness. Can be a good rest.
09 Feb, 2024

Translated from Chinese

9.2 Superb
Johan B
South Africa

The week on the Amba was the best diving I have done yet!!!
The crew was really good, especially the kitchen staff. They kept us well fed and didn't just serve the "normal" dive boat fare. We did 18 dives and each one was different from the next, ensuring that we experienced all that the North Maldives has to offer in one short week. Some advice - as the currents can be quite strong, remember to bring a reef hook along, although the boat and also provide.
Recommended for
Crew and guides / underwater life diversity / Food
31 May, 2016

10 Exceptional
Michaela S
Germany

From now on, there is only one liveaboard for me in the Maldives: the Amba!
There is one thing that sets the Amba apart from other safari vessels: the owner (himself an instructor and cook) lives and works on board himself - it makes a huge difference in pretty much everything. Stefan has put together a great team. The atmosphere on board is professional, friendly and familiar. To mention a few points: - Everything, starting with the journey, briefings, security, rental equipment, meals is perfectly organized- the crew is great: friendly, helpful, humorous and well trained- Food is fresh, healthy and varied, curries from our own production, homemade sourdough bread, fresh fish and many vegetarian alternatives - Stefan attaches great importance to the kitchen- a small cooking course for interested parties was spontaneously added between two dives- the cabins are huge, some of them already nicely renovated (and the older ones are still completely ok) and offer a lot of storage space, USB sockets, reading light and a shower with more water pressure than at home...- Great sun/shade deck with plenty of comfortable loungers- Stefan is in constant exchange with the guests and responds to all wishes if possible- the Doni is very spacious (the only disadvantage here is that the compressor is not on the Doni and you have to change the bottle after every dive)- Nitrox always constant at 31% - this saves the eternal switching of the computer- three guides on board, so group size at about 6 people (Thank you Shah - you're great!)- on the last day the Doni was damaged. As a result, a replacement Doni was organized overnight, so that we could still do the last dive!- a great, colorful selection of dive sites / we had some bad luck with the weather this time (wrong or no current, therefore poor visibility and few big fish), but the team did everything to offer us good dives anyway. - on our next Maldives liveaboard we will 100% sail with the Amba again (and I have already been on 4 other ships).- Thanks again Stefan and team, if you are reading this - you are very special!
Recommended for
Perfectly managed ship with a professional and service-oriented crew. spacious cabins with plenty of storage space. delicious, healthy and varied food.
17 Nov, 2025

8.8 Fabulous
Mike B
Germany

10 Days Maldives
Diving + snorkeling with the manta rays and the nurse sharks.Very helpful and friendly crew on board.
Recommended for
Mantas, Haie, Essen
14 Nov, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
Ben P
United States

Fun diving with great staff! Goes by too fast
We had a wonderful time on the Amba. While you can't schedule the marine life, we had some great encounters with sharks, a manta, and numerous Maldivian reef fish. The crew was warm, inviting, and helpful. The dive staff was very knowledgeable and attentive before, during, and after the dives. The chef and kitchen staff are wonderful. The worst part of the trip is that it goes by too fast.
Recommended for
Great dives. Fun group. Amazing staff.
21 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
Robert L
United States

Amba, one of the best liveabaords in the Maldives!!
This was my first long liveabaord and it was such an amazing time. We were only a group of 10 out of 20 divers so it made for a more intimate and enjoyable experience. It also gave us our own cabins which was an added plus. The crew were amazing, friendly and attentive and the meals were all freshly prepared and bountiful! The dive sites were incrediable and we saw such incredible sea life, but due to weather conditions visibility wasn't great at times and we weren't able to do the night dives, but weather is out of everyone's control hahaha but the dive team did their best to make each dive memorable!!
Recommended for
The Dive Sites. Amazing crew. A small group of divers.
24 May, 2026

10 Exceptional
Graeme L
New Zealand

A well designed, safe ship and excellent crew and company.
The whole trip was a "highlight!" We felt that the tour was responding to our wishes and seemed to always be on the lookout for a better alternative making subtle changes to achieve this.
Recommended for
Attention to quality food, helpful staff and great diving
23 Jan, 2023

9.2 Superb
jorge H
Spain

Very good valeu for money
Excellent diving with guides like Alex, Dane and Zeezal nothing can go wrong. Very profesional. Nice. With lots of patience and empathy. The dives we did were always excellent and very well planed even when it was not their normal route. Great time with great people.
Recommended for
The crew, the diving and the group we got.
17 Dec, 2019

10 Exceptional
Mark B
Israel

Can't be better!
I highly recommend it! Stephan, the manager and the sole of Amba has three passions: 1. Diving. 2. Cooking. 3. Make his guests enjoy every moment of the safari. All these made our experience unbelievable and unforgettable. Best dive sites, outstanding meals, and permanent care are the overall impression of our stay. Special thanks to Amba's most professional dive guides, who assured the safe and interesting dives in any weather and currents!
Recommended for
Caring by the team. Dive sites. Best diving ladder I have ever used.
25 Jan, 2024

10 Exceptional
Maximilian O
Australia

Amazing Trip
We had an amazing time in Amba. From the first day on board the crew looks after you and everyone on board is super welcoming and friendly. You could really tell that the dive guides knew what they were doing and had great knowledge on the Maldives and the individual dive sites. Overall we absolutely recommend this to anyone who would be visiting Maldives for a dive trip, well be back soon enough ourselves to do it all again. Massive shoutout to Ammu and Neo, they’re the best guides in the business.
Recommended for
Diving. Crew. Food.
12 Oct, 2024

10 Exceptional
Trond S
Norway

Friendly, great food, value for money
Manta, sharks, variety of dives excellent 👍
Recommended for
dives, crew, boat - all great
10 Jan, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Vincent G
France

Bonne experience
Good overall experience, boat and cabin very comfortable.Some dives could be better organized.
Recommended for
Comfort of the boat and the cabin (Upper Deck Cabin). Helpful and friendly crew. The north of the Maldives (fewer tourists).
19 Sep, 2024

10 Exceptional
Sina S
Germany

A wonderful liveaboard experience on Amba
This was my first live aboard experience and I couldn't have wished for a better one. From the first moment of booking I felt well taken care of. The crew gave us a warm welcome at the airport and everything was perfectly thought-through and organized. We were greeted on Amba with a refreshing towel and a welcome drink which was a great start. The check-in procedures were stress-free and we could move into our rooms very fast after arriving to relax. The room was exactly as described, very clean and had all the amenities. I especially liked that there was also a fan additionally to the air-con and plenty of space for all my belongings. Everything was in great condition, there was a beautiful sun-deck and a nice chill-out area in the shade, the dining-area / saloon was very comfortable. The food on Amba was really amazing, there were always plenty of options, lots of fruits and vegetables, and catering for guests with special dietary needs as well. My highlight was the freshly caught Wahoo that was served one evening! All the boat crew were super friendly, attentive and professional. Our dives were wonderful, we started with a check dive with Manta Rays, which was amazing and continued with lots of other beautiful dives. The whole dive crew was very professional - Ammo, Joe, Franz and Neo were great, as well as all the other staff on the dive dhoni - they made sure we had superb dives while focusing on safety of all divers as well. Neo was a fantastic guide for my group with a lot of knowledge and experience - especially considering his young age. I learnt a lot from him and really enjoyed my dives with him as a guide. The whole week was really wonderful - from start to end and I would immediately book a trip with Amba again. It's been my first liveaboard but thanks to this great experience definitely not my last!
Recommended for
Diving & Dive Guides. Crew Service & Friendliness. Value for money.
20 Nov, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Franz V
Germany

Diving with humor and German quality.
The German guided rope ship Amba invites you to a 12-day liveaboard. During these days, the crew and especially the dive guides were able to show us the most beautiful dive sites in the Maldives with their experience and enough humor. But also around the diving they could really convince with good food, a lot of effort and a clean ship (apart from a few termites that like to circle around at night). You could feel the strong German guiding hand of a very strict, but all the more humorous boat leader and could always count on him for all problems and questions. He as the Gordon Ramsay of the seas, in combination with his new German and slowly warming colleague as a quasi sous chef and as icing on the cake a local, sometimes talkative, very experienced dive guide, form a wonderful, sometimes not perfectly organized trio (guessing currents was not their strong point xD), which made this trip really special. Therefore, I can really recommend this trip.
Recommended for
Diving Experience, Community, Maldives
09 Nov, 2022

10 Exceptional
Sven R
Germany

Maldives = Always AMBA!
Everything :)
Recommended for
The unmatched positive vibe, professionalism and all people I met during this amazing trip :)
18 Dec, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Herbert A
Austria

Enjoyment at its finest!
Schools of barracudas mixed with sharks, schools of rays,
Recommended for
Mood, Current, Atoll
26 Jan, 2024

10 Exceptional
Peter W
Australia

A great dive trip in the beautiful northern Makdives
Great! The Amba is currently the only dive boat operating in the Northern Maldives so the dive sites were not crowded with boats and divers. Sleeping out of the roof deck was wonderful! Great cabins too! Excellent food!
Recommended for
The diving, the diving, the diving.... Everything was great but the diving is the most important
15 Mar, 2016

8.0 Very good
Greg F
United States

Some good Some bad
The Manta dive was an awesome dive. The reefs were in very good shape for the most part and the amount of reef fish was mind boggeling!!
Recommended for
The crew on the dohni were very very good. 4 of the dives were good.
22 Mar, 2018

9.2 Superb
Adrián A
Spain

Amazing!
We had an incredible 8-day liveaboard experience in the Maldives! Breathtaking dives with nurse sharks, bull sharks, and turtles made our trip unforgettable. The crew was exceptional, making our journey both safe and enjoyable. The camaraderie on board was fantastic, and we appreciated the professionalism of the entire team. Thank you for the amazing memories and top-notch service! We highly recommend this adventure to anyone seeking a thrilling and well-organized diving expedition.
Recommended for
Great breakfast, the crew and diving sites
30 Oct, 2023

8.8 Fabulous
peter D
Netherlands

very good service, relaxing and beautiful part of the maladives
we had a very nice stay on the boat. i tell all my friends to go over there and stay with you thanks ps Tamara did a fine job; could you ask her to send me the pictures she promised me
Recommended for
relax, space and the food
09 May, 2015