Diving Alor

The main island, of Alor, is surrounded by the Pantar Strait, the Ombai Strait, and the Banda Sea, creating a perfect convergence of nutrient-rich waters that marine life absolutely loves!  Unlike more famous Indonesian dive spots that can get crowded, Alor remains relatively untouched. You'll often find your group has entire dive sites to yourselves, creating that rare feeling of discovery every diver craves.  The convergence of the Pacific and Indian Oceans here results in an underwater melting pot that attracts everything from tiny critters to large pelagics.

Currents can be moderate to strong at many sites, which is exactly what attracts the impressive marine life! Visibility typically ranges from 15-40 meters (50-130 feet), with the best conditions usually from April through November.  The marine life here is truly spectacular. Regular sightings include schools of trevally, tuna, and barracuda, reef sharks, eagle rays, and occasionally hammerheads and mola mola (sunfish) during the cooler months. Alor is famous for its healthy hard and soft coral gardens, and macro enthusiasts will delight in finding pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, and the elusive rhinopias scorpionfish.

Beyond the underwater wonders, Alor offers fascinating cultural experiences. The local Alorese people maintain traditional ways of life, with distinctive ikat weaving traditions that create some of Indonesia's most sought-after textiles. The region is also known for its traditional bronze kettledrums called "moko," which have been used as part of marriage dowries for centuries. For the adventurous, inland Alor features volcanic landscapes with hot springs, traditional villages perched on hillsides, and friendly locals eager to share their culture.