Maleo Moyo

Maleo Moyo Dive Resort is a small, owner-run property on Moyo Island, off the north coast of Sumbawa. The island sits inside a nature reserve with around 4,000 residents and no mass tourism. It’s a good base for divers looking for uncrowded reefs, whale shark encounters, and a quieter pace.

The Accommodation

The resort offers four room categories to match different budgets:

The Ocean View Deluxe Bungalow sits at the top of the range with direct ocean views from a private terrace. The Deluxe AC Bungalow comes with air conditioning, a garden view, private terrace, and an open-air bathroom. For those on a tighter budget, basic fan rooms are available in double or twin configurations with shared bathroom facilities. All guests have access to the swimming pool, restaurant, and beachfront area.

Meals are prepared on-site with a mix of Indonesian and international dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, more guesthouse than resort, which suits the island’s character.

Scuba Diving at Moyo Island

Maleo Moyo runs its own SDI dive center with courses from Discover Scuba through to Rescue Diver, available in English, Indonesian, Dutch, and German. The pier is a 5-minute walk from the resort, and most dive sites are within a 10-minute boat ride.

The resort has access to 14 dive sites, with 7 included in standard dive packages. The reefs around Moyo are healthy and see very few divers compared to more popular Indonesian destinations. Conditions are generally calm with good visibility outside of monsoon season.

Dive packages combine accommodation and guided dives: a 3-dive package runs over 3 days and 2 nights, and a 6-dive package covers 4 days and 3 nights. Both are available with either Deluxe or Basic room options for 2 guests.

Beyond Diving

Moyo Island has more to offer above the surface. The Mata Jitu and Diwu Mba’i waterfalls are worth the trek, and the island is small enough to explore by motorbike in a day. On the water, day trips run to Satonda Island (a volcanic crater lake), whale shark excursion sites, and the Golden Triangle snorkeling circuit.

Getting There

Fly into Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ), then transfer to Pantai Goa on the coast. From there, a private boat to Moyo Island takes about 30 minutes. A public boat departs daily around 13:00 for those on a budget.

During monsoon season (December to March), the resort recommends booking at least one week in advance. A larger transfer boat is available for rougher conditions.