Route Description - Best of North
11 Days 10 Nights
Set sail on an unforgettable liveaboard journey through the northern atolls of the Maldives aboard the AMBA. This exclusive route showcases the pristine beauty of Northern Malé, Lhaviyani, and the world-renowned Baa Atoll, offering unmatched biodiversity, vibrant reefs, and magical encounters with manta rays and whale sharks at Hanifaru Bay, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Itinerary Highlights
Northern Malé Atoll – A diverse underwater landscape featuring coral gardens, wrecks, and regular sightings of reef sharks.
Lhaviyani Atoll – Characterized by dramatic overhangs, lively marine ecosystems, and iconic wreck dives like the Shipyard.
Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay – A globally recognized marine sanctuary famous for seasonal manta ray and whale shark aggregations.
Sample Itinerary
Arrival Day
Guests are welcomed at Malé International Airport at 12:00 PM by the AMBA crew. For those arriving later, pre-scheduled transfers are arranged. Once aboard, guests are greeted with a refreshing drink and a cool, lime-scented towel. A short orientation follows, introducing the vessel’s layout and the plan for the day.
Between 2:00–4:00 PM, certifications and insurance documents are verified, and guests set up their dive gear on the Dhoni (the dedicated dive tender) with assistance from the dive team. Dinner is served around 6:00 PM, followed by introductions to the crew and a full safety briefing. The evening offers time to relax and settle in after the journey.
Diving Days
From Day 2 onward, the adventure truly begins. Most days include 2–3 dives, depending on the travel distance between atolls. One night dive is included during the trip. Each dive is preceded by detailed multilingual briefings (English, German, Spanish) to ensure guests are well-prepared.
Diving in the Maldives reveals an incredible underwater world—from delicate coral gardens and vibrant reef walls to exhilarating encounters with manta rays, whale sharks, and a range of pelagic species like hammerheads, tiger sharks, and bull sharks. All dives are conducted in self-reliant buddy teams, with expert dive guides available to lead and highlight the best features of each site. Divers are expected to be comfortable making independent ascents and using surface marker buoys when necessary.
Last Diving Day
The final dive is scheduled for 8:00 AM on the day before disembarkation. Afterwards, gear can be rinsed and dried in freshwater tanks in preparation for packing. In the afternoon, guests have the option to explore the capital city, Malé. The evening concludes with a farewell gathering and a final shared dinner onboard.
Departure Day
Disembarkation takes place before 10:30 AM. A light breakfast is served, and early check-outs are accommodated on request. Late check-outs are unfortunately not possible due to turnaround preparations for the next charter.