AMBA I 2021 I 7 NIGHTS I BEST OF MALDIVES

OUR BOAT

In 2016, the Amba was completely renovated and is updated every year during the summer months. The Amba offers a generous amount of space both indoors and outdoors. The upper deck has 3 cabins and 7 more spacious cabins are located in the lower deck. The 10 experienced crew members speak English, Italian and German. The ship's hull is fitted with a stabilizer system enabling a smooth and steady trip across the Indian Ocean. Up to 20 guests can be accommodated on board.

CABINS

The accommodation is in 7 standard cabins in the lower deck and 2 standard cabins and 1 luxury cabin on the upper deck. The luxury cabin has a private sun / shade terrace. The standard cabins are equipped with double and / or single beds, individually controlled air conditioning, fan and private bathroom with sink, shower and toilet. The luxury cabin is a bit bigger and has a fantastic view of the Indian Ocean. All cabins have individually controlled, very quiet air conditions. Towels are in the bathroom sufficiently available, even towels with pillows for the sundeck and daily fresh towels for the Diving Dhoni will be provided.

AMENITIES

The generously designed sundeck, partly covered, invites you to relax with deckchairs and a large sunbathing lawn. On the shadow deck, which has been redesigned in a lounge style, it is really relaxing after diving. In the salon the food is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also the multimedia area with TV, DVD, Hifi, board games and library can be found here. Wi-Fi is available on board for a fee. Diving lights ect. can be conveniently charged in the salon. The ship has 24 hours electricity with 230 volts and German sockets.

FOOD ON BOARD

You'll be served from a varied menu including both international and Maldivian dishes. Full board includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks/cakes, drinking water, coffee, tea and dinner. Dietary restrictions can be catered for if the crew is notified in advance. Extra snacks, juices, soft drinks and alcohol cost extra and may be purchased on board.

DIVING WITH US

The luxurious Amba is the only liveaboard serving the Northern Maldives, offering advanced divers access to unspoilt, lively reefs and thilas (underwater mountains) across the area. Secret dive spots mostly discovered by Amba's crew over the years will show you a very large variety of species, so macro and big fish photographers will be happy.

Amba is run by Nicole and Franco, who have been working in the Maldives for over 25 years. The colorful Northern Maldives represent amazing diving spots, tranquility and memorable impressions away from typical locations.

The Amba is the only safari boat diving since 2004 in Haa Alifu Atoll and Haa Dhaalu Atoll, in the far north of the Maldives, about 280 km from Male and reachable in only 35 minutes by propeller plane. The ship cruises mainly in Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu Atoll, but also regularly offers special tours to Baa and Raa Atoll as well as some tours from / to Male. There is the popular Manta and whale shark point "Hanifaru" which can be found on itineraries in September to December.

In addition to the fixed arrival day Sunday, on request, an individual daily arrival by arrangement and surcharge is possible. The 7 nights turns are from Sunday to Sunday.

Every year we also offer a few 10/11 nights special tours and 14 nights with 2 different tours (see tour schedule). Reefs with manta rays and reef sharks, but also stingrays, guitar rays, Leopard sharks and a variety of otherwise typical for Indonesia "critters" invite you to unforgettable dives. Not only the underwater photographers appreciate the big, colorful fields of soft corals in the north of the Maldives, even more as the last El Nino destroyed a part of the hard corals in the Maldives.

STATEROOM WITH ONE DOUBLE BED AND ONE SINGLE BED [LOWER DECK]

Comfortable, bright cabins with one double bed and one single bed (cabins 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7). Cabin 4 in the bow has an extra large double bed and a single bed. All are equipped with air conditioning and fan cooling, portholes or windows, private bathroom with toilet, hot water shower, basin and towels, reading lights, bedding, cabinet and mirror, round, twin-prong 220V mains outlet, fire warning system and life jackets.

• Size: 12 m²
• Beds: 1 Double and 1 Single
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: Yes
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

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STATEROOM WITH DOUBLE BED [UPPER DECK]

Large cabin overlooking the Indian Ocean, situated on the upper deck and offering fantastic views. Includes private bathroom with toilet, sink and shower, air conditioning and fan, as well as double bed (140 cm). Towels are included, as well as reading lights, bedding, cabinet and mirror, round, twin-prong 220V mains outlet, fire warning system and life jackets.

• Size: 12 m²
• Beds: 1 Double
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: No
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

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STATEROOM WITH TWO SINGLE BEDS [LOWER DECK]

Comfortable, bright cabins with twin single beds (cabins 3 and 5). Both are equipped with air conditioning and fan cooling, portholes or windows, private bathroom with toilet, hot water shower, basin and towels, reading lights, bedding, cabinet and mirror, round, twin-prong 220V mains outlet, fire warning system and life jackets.

• Size: 12 m²
• Beds: 2 Single
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: Yes
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

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DELUXE LUXURY SUITE [UPPER DECK]

Luxury cabin with double and single bed, offering private bathroom (with toilet, hand basin and hot water shower) and private sun/shade terrace. Equipped with fan and air conditioning as well as panoramic windows on the upper deck. Includes reading lights, bedding, cabinet and mirror, round, twin-prong 220V mains outlet, fire warning system and life jackets.

• Size: 12 m²
• Beds: 1 King
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: No
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

MOST RELEVANT INFORMATION

• The trip begins in Male and ends in Male
• The closest airport is Male
• Pickup time at the airport is according to your flights.

EMBARKATION AND DEPARTURE

• Give yourself enough time to go through immigration and pickup your bags
• After your arrival in Male. You will be welcomed at  airport/airport jetty by the Amba crew. You can easily recognize them by their Amba t-shirts and Amba signs Check in on the boat is at 11:00 and the first night will be spend on the boat in the local lagoon.
• The boat departs Hanimaadhoo early in the morning on the following day
• The vessel is equipped with European (2 pin) power sockets
• Accepted payment methods on board: Cash, EUR, USD
• Only Din adaptor available on board
• Towels and soap are included

ARRIVAL AND DISEMBARKATION

• Your last dives will be on the second to last day in the morning
• It is your responsibility to ensure you respect the 24 hour no-fly time after your last dive!
• The boat docks back in Hanimaadhoo late in the afternoon on the second to last day
• Check out and disembarkation is around 08:30 on the last day.
• Transfer to the airport Male 

EXTRA INFORMATION

• Equipment needs to be PRE BOOKED

GENERAL INFORMATION

• 50+ dives recommended, Advanced Open Water Should be comfortable diving in currents
• Rebreather friendly
• Approximately 17 dives
• Dive guides on board
• Reef diving, dives on Thilas and through channels where big fish, swarms, soft and hard coral gardens will enchant you ... and of course night dives will be on the menu as well.
• The Maldives is a Mecca for divers seeking copious amounts of fish.
• Highlights are the regular sightings of Mantas, Whalesharks, Schooling Pelagics such as Eagle Rays, Grey Reef Sharks and Giant Trevally.
• Amba sets off to explore the pristine and virgin dive sites of Haa Dhaalu and Haa Alifu, far away from tourist development and other divers.
• Perched on the Maldives' northern tip lies the Haa-Alif-Atoll, consisting of of 43 idyllic islands, surrounded by clear, turquoise waters teeming with schooling pelagics including manta rays, sharks & game fish.
• For this itinerary, you'll catch a superbly scenic flight 480 miles from the Maldivian capital Male to meet the Amba and its fabulous crew at Hanimaadhoo
• This is a trip for the adventurous diver who appreciates the chance to dive where few have dived before.
• These unique sites were mostly discovered by Amba staff and the highlight of this itinerary is the diversity of the diving on offer.
• From the stunning landscapes of the Amba Canyon and the Bodu Cave to the hammerheads and barracudas gliding around steep drop offs, to the deep thila dives where you drop to a submerged reef and hook in waiting in anticipation for the sharks to swirl above.
• Reef hooks are recommended, especially for photographers looking for that all important manta moment, but they are not essential in the northern waters of the Maldives where the currents tend to be easier than the southern dive sites.
• With countless dive sites to choose from in these remote waters, the Amba has the luxury of being able to tailor its route to weather conditions, ensuring guests get to experience the best underwater conditions on offer and maximising their sightings of aquatic life.

PROGRAM

DAY 1

• Pick up at the airport Transfer to boat Meet the crew and Welcome briefing Departure Port
• Check in around 11 am
• Boat departure after 3 pm when al guest has arrived

DAY 2 - 6

• 3 dives per day including night dives, experience diver recommended
• During the trip we will visit some islands 
• Sample itinerary and information about area Good for: Large animals, drift dives and snorkelling...
• Not so good for: Beginner divers, non-diving activities...
• A holiday escape to the far north rewards you with serenity on your dives since, unlike other areas of the Maldives, you are unlikely to see another liveaboard during your entire cruise. 

DAY 7

• Last day of diving Most of the times 2 last dives Time to prepare and clean up diving gear Review photos and relax with other divers Boat will arrive to the area in the afternoon The arrival time can be change according to captain decision Dinner is served on board

DAY 8 Breakfast and check out from boat at 8.00am Transfer to airport

THE BEST OF THIS ITINERARY

• The marine life also seems to revel in the minimal interference from humans with flourishing hard coral growth over most of the submerged boulders.
• Soft corals do well on the sides of the boulders protected from often strong currents.
• The sea creatures thrive in the nutrient-rich waters bringing in the reef predators: white and black tip reef sharks.
• Large numbers of manta rays and leopard sharks populate many of the dive sites in the far north.
• Your liveaboard diving best of Maldives will be spiced up with drift dives, cave explorations and even the Maadhoo wreck.
• Wall dives are among some of the best you will find in the whole of the Maldives region and the coral reefs shine in the sunny weather and clear waters that make for great visibility of up to 30m. Thila, numerous species of fish including Andaman sweetlips and blackfin barracudas school against a backdrop of hard coral growth while leopard sharks rest on the sandy floor.
• Moving with the current over this submerged boulder is memorable with the possibility of witnessing over 30 mantas enjoying the attention at a wrasse cleaning station.
• Witness huge numbers of black and white tip reef sharks at Thila, feeding with apparently no interest in inquisitive scuba divers.
• If you can distract yourself from the spectacular shark scene you will see giant trevallies and mantas soaring in the blue above you, with moray eels and nudibranchs living in the profusion of healthy coral structures below you

INCLUDED

• Full board, including water, tea, coffee
• Dive guides
• Island tours
• Island Barbecues
• Airport transfer on departure day
• On board sales tax
• 12% Maldivian government sales tax (GST)

NOT INCLUDED

• Green fees 6 USD per night
• A Flight from Male-Hanimaadhoo-Male cost 360,00 Euro.
• Pre- or post cruise hotels (we can help you to arrange a combination after or before a stay on the Amba without a further domestic flight between the two stays)
• Nitrox 
• Wifi
• Tips for the crew (recommended)
• Transfers other days on request … one way/person (per transfer)
• Rental equipment
• 15 liter tanks
• Full Scuba set 
• Local beer & wine, alcohol, snacks

CANCELLATION POLICY

What if I need to cancel my booking?

Your reservation request is obligation free and you can cancel anytime within the first 72 hours. During this time you can easily find matching flights and get answers from our reservations team to any further questions you may have. After you have confirmed and paid for your reservation, the following cancellation policy applies:

• 30 % is non-refundable
• Between 120 days and 90 days before the trip = 70 % is refundable
• 90 days before the trip = no refund

In case of cancellation the refund will be transferred to your bank account, credit card or paypal account within 10 business days

BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Make sure you meet the requirements for your nationality and entry into the country you are visiting,
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the date you plan to leave the country
• Dive insurance is mandatory for divers of all ages on all our trips: bring your certificate as proof
• It is strongly recommended to take out a travel insurance that is appropriate for the type of dive vacation booked
• Check the electrical standards (such as what plugs are used) in your destination country before you travel and bring the appropriate adapter if necessary.
• Itinerary and number of dives are indicative and subject to weather and conditions: safety always comes first
• The operator of the vessel is not responsible for civil unrest, terrorism, strikes, illness, epidemics, accidents, injuries, damage, loss and theft, quarantine, customs regulations, changes to flight schedules, delays, deportation or refusal of entry by immigration authorities and other circumstances beyond our control.
• In the event of a change in the cruise itinerary due to a major cause there is no refund, if there would be a refund if the duration of a cruise were to change, the affected passengers will be offered a credit or refund of the cruise fare pro-rated for the number of days of reduction of the cruise itinerary that was scheduled.
• In the event that a cruise is cancelled, the ship will make every effort to provide a suitable alternative including, the option to participate in another available ship.
• If no alternative offered is accepted by the affected cruise passengers, the ship reserves the right to provide a refund of the amount of the cruise fare paid or not.
• All divers must provide their dive certification card
• Dive computers are mandatory
• Local rates, fuel surcharges, distance rates, port fees, etc. may change without notice due to changes in government policy, changes in oil prices, etc. Changes are beyond our control and increases must be paid upon request. We will endeavor to inform you of any changes as soon as possible. A change in these rates does not give you the right to cancel the trip.