Alor

Indonesia

Scuba dving in Alor Indonesia

Dorothea Oldani

Alor lies to the east of Flores & north of Timor Island. Divers who venture this far will be rewarded with exceptional diving away from the crowds.

The area is characterised by two main forms of diving - current swept dives with a high chance to find pelagics; and world-class muck diving.

There are actually a few islands that are dived in the area, not just Alor. The islands of Pantar, Pura, Kumba, Ternate & Buaya make up the Alor group of islands. 


Highlights

» Thrilling big fish encounters
» Superb muck diving
» Intriguing local cultures and people

Alor
Liveaboard diving asia
Liveaboard diving asia

Best diving spots

Kal’s Dream is one of the area’s more famous dive sites. The currents make this only suitable for experienced divers, but they also bring an excellent chance to see large pelagics. Numerous species of shark can be seen here, huge Groupers make their presence felt, oversize Tuna patrol the blue while large Napoleon’s can also be spotted. On the reef itself, clouds of colourful Anthias dart in and out of the reefs, caught between feeding in the current and finding shelter.

Sharks Galore is a drift-dive, with a good chance to spot Grey Reef Sharks. The drift usually ends in Clown Valley, where every spare inch is carpeted in Anenome’s. The Cathedral and the Arch are beautiful sites with impressive underwater rock formations.


Looking for the latest liveaboard deals in Indonesia? Find your deal

Muck-diving is the latest craze in Alor and the area has a selection of weird critters to rival anywhere in the archipelago. Mimic Octopus and the less-well-known Wunderpus are seen here. Numerous Frogfish compete for the best spot and many Ghost Pipefish can be found, including the Halimeda Ghost Pipefish. Among the other residents, Stargazers peer out from the sand, Nudibranch’s abound and many rare shrimps make their home here.

Whales are also occasionally known to frequent this area.

When to dive

Alor is best visited between April and December, which promise excellent conditions for scuba diving. January to March can bring rough seas & wet weather.

Getting there

Alor has a small airport with regular to & from Kupang in West Timor. Kupang is well connected, with flights to & from Jakarta, Surabaya & Bali.

Activities

Alor is a charming island, with friendly, welcoming locals. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the tranquil pace of life. The island is quite undeveloped, so there are not a great deal of tourist facilities.

Resort and liveaboard options

Alor is most commonly dived from resort, with a small number of excellent dive resorts and operations. It occasionally features on a liveaboard itinerary for certain vessels.

Powered by GetYourGuide

You might also enjoy...

Lankayan

The picturesque island of Lankayan is now regarded as one of Malaysia’s finest dive destinations.

The island, which is just off east the coast of Borneo in the Sulu Sea, has only one resort, ensuring uncrowded dive sites and plenty of relaxation.

Kavieng

Kavieng is a small, friendly town on the northern tip of New Ireland - a long thin island to the east of Papua New Guinea that separates the mighty Pacific Ocean from the Bismark Sea.

This tranquil retreat was the scene of intense fighting towards the end of the Second World War between the Japanese & Allied forces.

East Kalimantan

On the east coast of Kalimantan, a little south from the world famous Sipadan area, are more equally impressive, but less well-known islands & reefs.

These difficult to reach dive sites are now beginning to open up to divers - and the intrepid travelers who make it this far will not be disappointed.

How to photograph a Clownfish

Clownfish are great subjects for underwater photographers.

Not only are they colourful and full of character, but they are also one of the most iconic and well recognised fish in the sea. A good Clownfish photo nevers fails to provoke a reaction from your audience.

They are also a very tricky subject to photograph, leaving many budding photographers frustrated.

So what can you do to get a great shot?

Tunku Abdul Rahman

Just off the coast from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's regional capital - the five islands that make up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park are often overlooked by divers heading straight to Sipadan in the south.

The national park, which is named after a former Malaysian president, has some very good diving though, with pretty fringing reefs sloping gently down from white-sand beaches, plus some rare & unusual species.

Lembeh Strait

Lembeh Strait separates little Lembeh island from the north-eastern shores of Sulawesi. It is famed for its exceptional muck diving.

The coastline either side of the Lembeh Strait has a rugged beauty, but it is the action below the waves that draws divers here.