At the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Alor sits on one of the main exits of the Indonesian Throughflow. The water is cold, clear and full of life, the currents are serious, and you'll rarely see another dive boat.
Why Alor is different
The Pantar Strait, between Alor and Pantar, is a channel for water moving from the Banda Sea towards the Indian Ocean. The flow brings cold upwellings, excellent visibility and healthy reefs. It also brings strong currents, and the water can turn noticeably colder within a single dive.
The sites
- Kal's DreamA submerged pinnacle in the middle of the strait. Strong currents, big fish and sharks. Experienced divers only, timed to the tide.
- Clown ValleyA slope off the island of Pura covered in anemones and the clownfish living in them. One of Alor's signature dives.
- The ArchA rock arch off the coast of Pantar, with coral-covered walls around it.
- Mucky MosqueMuck diving in Kalabahi Bay, a sheltered spot for small creatures in the sand.
- Cave PointWalls and overhangs on Alor's coast at the northern entrance to the strait.
Practical information
- Getting there: fly to Alor (ARD) via Kupang in West Timor. Kalabahi is the main town and harbour.
- Bring warmth. A thicker wetsuit or a hood makes the cold-water dives far more comfortable.
- Respect the currents. Dive with operators who know the strait and plan around the tides. Carry a surface marker buoy.
- Liveaboards often include Alor on routes through the Lesser Sundas, combined with Komodo or the Banda Sea.
Sources
- Reef data: Allen Coral Atlas, CC BY 4.0
- Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
