East of Java, a chain of islands runs for more than 1,000 kilometres: Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, and on to Alor. Together they're called the Lesser Sunda Islands, and between every pair of them lies a strait full of current and life. Many liveaboards follow this route.
The ten regions, west to east
- Menjangan, BaliCalm walls inside West Bali National Park. Bali dive guide →
- Tulamben & Amed, BaliThe USAT Liberty wreck and easy reefs from the beach.
- Nusa Penida, BaliManta rays year-round and mola mola in season, in strong, cold currents.
- Gili Islands, LombokTurtles, easy dives and a relaxed island scene. A popular place to learn.
- Sekotong Gilis, LombokThe quieter small islands off southwest Lombok, with calm reefs and few visitors.
- Moyo Island, SumbawaA protected island off Sumbawa's north coast, with reefs and walls around its shores.
- SangeangAn active volcano rising from the sea between Sumbawa and Komodo. Black sand, volcanic reefs and macro life. Mostly visited by liveaboards.
- Komodo National ParkCurrents, mantas and some of the richest reefs in the world. Komodo dive guide →
- Maumere Bay, FloresReefs on the north coast of Flores, regrowing since the 1992 earthquake and tsunami.
- Alor & the Pantar StraitCold, clear water and powerful currents at the eastern end of the chain. Alor dive guide →
Why the straits matter
The Lesser Sunda Islands form a wall between the Pacific-fed seas of Indonesia and the Indian Ocean. Water has to squeeze through the straits between them, like the Lombok Strait between Bali and Lombok or the Pantar Strait off Alor. That's what brings the nutrients, the big animals and the cold upwellings, and also the currents. See the Indonesian Throughflow on our Coral Triangle maps →
Land-based or liveaboard?
- Land-based works best for Bali, the Gili Islands, Komodo (from Labuan Bajo) and Alor (from Kalabahi). Each has an airport nearby.
- Liveaboards reach the places in between, like Moyo and Sangeang, and string several regions together in one trip, often between Bali and Komodo or Komodo and Alor.
Sources
- Base map licensed; dive sites, airports and harbours added by Discover Indonesia
