Diving in Alor

Volcanic Mountains G'Alore

When divers talk about wanting to get away to the middle of nowhere and do some amazing diving then this is what they mean. Alor, a small island north of West Timor, offers diving which is absolutely world class and it is a long, long way from the office.

An excellent bonus here is the likelihood of spotting pilot whales and dolphins from the boat. Diving in Alor tends to be by liveaboard and is suitable for experienced divers due to strong currents and eddies and the remote location.

Highlights

Kal's Dream - Although some recent liveaboard reports suggest it is not all that it once was, this remains a wonderful and colourful site where a large number and variety of fish are all but guaranteed. A further guarantee is the low density of divers.

You make a negative entry here and fin sharply down to the sea mount around which the action takes place. Swarms of anthias flicker above the various corals as you look out for the big boys. Depending on your luck you may see schools of fusiliers, surgeons and snappers. Grey reef sharks, barracudas and rays may well also feature in what can be a physical and emotional ride.

Off the coast of Pura Island at Sharks Galore you can take a breather from the currents without compromising your fun. Not surprisingly, given the name, there is a good chance of you seeing plenty of sharks here in what is normally a still or gentle drift from your Alor liveaboard dive boat.

Big grey reef sharks and white tips tend to cruise around in the company of hefty dog-toothed tuna, sometimes combining to make the human tourists feel very small indeed. Depending on the conditions you may finish this dive in the adjacent site known as Clown Valley.

The Twilight Zone is just off the beach outside Biangabang village on Pantar Island. The steaming hot springs on the beach might make you think that the water here is warm but don't be fooled, it can get pretty chilly here. The dive starts by a lava flow to the south of the beach and divers can choose to dive further south over the reef or to hunt around to the north in the volcanic black sand.

You can drop down to 40 metres or below but most life is found shallower. This is a dive site for critters and the name alludes to the amount of weird and unusual creatures that the eagle-eyed can spot here. Snake eels stick their heads out of their holes and spearing mantis shrimps peer up at divers, focusing their independently movable stalked eyes. These nocturnal creatures are rarely seen out of their holes in day light but lucky divers may see them hunting aggressively at night.

Pegasus seamoths are hard to find in the rubble areas. Octopuses are all over the coral mounds including the much sought after mimic. Bobbit worms and gurnard lionfish inhabit the sand while the rare soapfish inhabit the reef areas. Also on the reef are Spanish dancers that can be seen performing their incredible dance on night dives. This is also one of the few places in the world where the Djibouti Giant has been seen. Like a Spanish dancer on steroids, this huge nudibranch is very rarely seen.

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How to Dive Alor

Although there are now a couple of dive resorts in Alor, the remoteness of the region lends itself well to a liveaboard trip that can visit other dive destinations in the vicinity, such as Flores and the Banda Sea. Check out our liveaboard section for your options.

Diving Season

You can dive in Alor all year round, but the best conditions are from March to December.

Reef Summary

Great for: Large animals, small animals, drift diving and advanced divers
Not so great for: Wrecks, beginner divers and non-diving activities
Depth: 12 - 40m
Visibility: 12 - 30m
Currents: Can be very strong
Surface conditions: Can be rough
Water temperature: 26 - 32°C
Experience level: Advanced only
Number of dive sites: >15
Distance: ~60 km north of Kupang (West Timor, 3 hours), 300 km east of Flores (15 hours) and 1,350 km south west of Sorong (Irian Jaya, 60 hours)
Access: Alor diving liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 4 - 5 days

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