The Alor Islands, consisting of two main islands and numerous smaller islets in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Alor Island, situated amidst the Flores and Savu seas as part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The name of the primary island and within the archipelago is Alor Island. It hosts Kalabahi, the largest settlement and real town on the islands. Kalabahi is where you will establish your base during your stay in the Alor Islands.
About Alor
Despite its short name, Alor Island offers a long list of splendors. It has pristine water, a stunning coral reef system, and many unique creatures. You can reach Alor by plane or liveaboard trip, due to the remote and undeveloped island.
Alor Island is home to various Flores sub-ethnic groups who actively maintain their traditional lifestyles. The distinctive culture of the Alorese people is most evident within the Takpala indigenous group, residing in the village of Lembur Barat in North-Central Alor. The Takpala community continues to uphold traditional housing construction resembling a pyramid, featuring coconut leaf coverings, bamboo-woven walls, and four prominent wooden pillars.
Alor Island is nicknamed the “Island of a Thousand Mokos.” A Moko is a small bronze kettledrum thought to have come from Vietnam’s Dong Son culture. You can see these unique artifacts at the Museum of a Thousand Mokos in Kalabahi, the main town on Alor Island. The museum displays a collection of unique Alor hand-woven clothing known as Kawate.
Get There
Similar to numerous locations in Indonesia, these small islands boast surprisingly efficient air connectivity. A direct flight to Mali Airport in Kalabahi is unavailable from most Indonesian destinations. There are few daily flights from and to Kupang in West Timor, with a flight duration of approximately 40 minutes. Kupang is a well-connected hub to the broader Indonesian network, offering direct connections to Denpasar, Maumere, Ende, Jakarta, Surabaya, and various other destinations.
Scuba Diving in Alor
Alor Island is a premier destination for those seeking a unique and world-class diving adventure. Alor offers its outstanding macro life, stunning coral and benthic diversity, expansive anemone fields, schools of fish, and a resident endangered Dugong population, making these marine features the primary attractions for divers.
The area has volcanoes, and if you are into macro photography, the muck dives in Kalabahi Bay are fantastic. The Pantar Strait area has diverse underwater landscape, is ideal for capturing larger fish and is better for wide-angle photography. Occasionally, larger animals like Orcas, Sunfish (Mola Mola) may make an appearance. The best time to spot Mola Mola is in September.
Spotting of dolphins is quite frequent, and melon-headed or blue whales can be spotted from time to time. On the northern side of Alor, there are a resident group of hammerhead sharks, but get ready for some strong currents if you want a chance to see them!
Here are few famous dive sites in Alor
Karl’s Dream
Descend with a negative entry and swiftly fin down to the seamount where the underwater action unfolds. Swarms of anthias dance above diverse corals as you watch for larger marine inhabitants. If you are lucky, you might witness schools of fusiliers, surgeons, and snappers. The possibility of encountering grey reef sharks, barracudas, and rays adds an element of excitement to what can be a physically and emotionally exhilarating dive.
Sharks Galore
At Sharks Galore, off the coast of Pura Island, divers can enjoy a break from the strong currents without sacrificing the excitement. There’s a good chance of encountering many sharks in the calm or gently drifting waters around your diving boat. Large grey reef sharks & white tips often swim around the dog-toothed tuna. Depending on the conditions, you might wrap up this dive in the nearby site known as Clown Valley.
The Twilight Zone
Located near Biangabang village on Pantar Island, this site is right off the beach. The dive begins near a lava flow to the south of the beach. The divers can choose to explore the reef further south or search around the north in the volcanic black sand.
The best time to dive in Alor Island is from April to November. The surface condition can be unsettled, and the visibility is unclear. The water temperatures range from approximately 25°C (March to April and October to November) to 31/32°C from May to September, which corresponds to the southeast monsoon period. Throughout this season, the typically high visibility of around 25-30m may decrease to 15m or less due to plankton blooms.
Are you planning a dive trip to Indonesia? Let us know where and when you would like to go, and our team of dive travel experts will create a unique adventure for you!
