Page 61 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Alor and Kupang

Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights of Alor Snorkeling and
Freediving Highlights
World class coral reefs, stunning walls, through the crystal clear water make In the deeper sections of this site, of Alor
phenomenal sea mounts, visibility in for some excellent photography passing pelagics and dolphin pods
excess of 40 meters, abundant fish life opportunities. are often spotted. This is a great dive The Alor Archipelago ticks all of the boxes
and exhilarating currents with big pelagic for variety, abundant fish, good coral for those who are seeking the ultimate,
opportunities. There’s not much to This is a dive which clearly demonstrates diversity and health and potential remote tropical snorkeling or freediving
dislike about diving the Alor Archipelago. just how alive a reef can be; there is a pelagic sightings. experience. White sand beaches which give
Dolphin pods are frequently seen and a good chance of passing pelagics here but way to colourful and abundant coral reefs are
variety of whale species are often spotted even in their absence this stands out as a Situated on the north west corner of the order of the day here and you won’t be
passing through – including orcas! top class site. Pura Island is Paradise Point – which surrounded by hoards of other people in the
as the name suggests is another water. This is exploring as nature intended!
The Fish Bowl is one Alor dive site that Advanced divers and those who like stunning dive site. This exhilarating
certainly does live up to its name – adrenaline pumping currents should deep drift dive around a sloping ridge The area boasts a wide variety of habitats
abundant marine life, schooling fish and check out Kal’s Dream - a sea mount site which extends west towards Pantar including exposed reef flats, dramatic drop-
a kaleidoscopic coral wall. The dive site located in between the islands of Kepa Island is a great site for reef sharks, offs, coral gardens, secluded bays, protected
is situated off Alor Island to the North and Pura. The schooling fish, passing eagle rays, schooling bat fish and shallow reefs, current-swept passes, and
of the channel that separates Kepa and large pelagics, sweeping currents and when dived at the right time some black sand where an amazing number of rare
Alor. This can be an exhilarating drift dive diversity of marine life make this a must- adrenaline pumping currents. and bizarre critters can be found and spotted
and neon fusiliers stream past in flowing dive spot. Highlights in the blue at Kal’s Pantar Wall (AKA Symphony No.9) from the surface.
ribbon-like formations in the blue, along DReam include Spanish mackerel, various is a picture perfect shallow slope
with lone titan trigger fish and midnight shark species, giant trevallies, dog tooth and a deep wall dive with layers of Highlight snorkeling spots include Ribbon
snappers. The slope and wall offer a good tuna, barracuda and schooling jacks overhangs, faults and inversions Eel Reef, Clown Alley, and Feather Star City
mix of soft and hard corals of intense are frequent visitors here amongst the that leave you hanging in the blue where thousands of dazzling feather stars
density and color. Schooling fairy basslets densely populated schools of red toothed with nothing below you aside from cling to colorful corals and boulders and
and blue yellow damsels swim into the trigger fish, fusiliers and surgeon fish. streaming, densely packed schools stretch their arms into the water column to
current close to the reef adding flashes of of fish. An upward glance is no less feed upon plankton that floats by. Due to
brightness to the already vibrant scene, On the east coast of Pura Island with a impressive as clouds of antheas, the number of islands in the area, boat rides
red toothed trigger fish school in the blue range of topographical features including sergeant majors and damsels are often necessary but they are more than
and moorish idols, angel fish and butterfly bommies, boulders, ledges, drop offs, glimmer in the sun light overhead. worth it with the added bonus of seeing
fish flit by adding more layers to this and beautiful staghorn coral fields lays The shallow waters offer conditions dolphin pods and even whales along the way.
stunning reef-scape. Look out to the blue Mike’s Delight. This sloping reef site is similar to that of a seriously over
for bigger fish and patrolling predators – another Alor hotspot with a kaleidoscope stocked aquarium with fish and Freedivers need to pay attention to currents
this dive site is a sensory overload! of colours, incredible fish density and corals glittering like jewels in a and if attempting longer freedives, boat
The light in the shallows on sunny days diversity. treasure trove. support is essential.
is phenomenal and the rays penetrating

Kupang’s Fresh Water Cave which are located on the high lands. A halocline chambers, air chambers, pools chamber and final air chamber. The caves
of glimmering light and geologically
Diving local guide is needed to locate these two fascinating shell encrusted walls, crystal are recommended for certified cavern
divers only – although there are limited
sink holes which are also frequented by
locals to occasionally bath in the cave calcite stalactites and tunnels of up to 14 opportunities for getting lost, there is no
Real cave diving in Indonesia is hard to entry ponds! meters of depth approximately 35 meters access to air or to the surface within the
find and it may be that Kupang is actually below ground level. tunnels and it is only upon reaching the air
the only place in the archipelago where Both Crystal Cave and Oehani Cave chambers that divers can surface.
divers can descend into the depths of offer divers up to 50 meters of visibility, Oehani is a 500 meters sink hole with
caves as long as 500 meters long. There a variety of limestone tunnels and 3 air chambers and Crystal Cave is a For cavern divers, these two caves offer
are two diveable cave systems on Kupang passages, narrow swim through points, 100 meter long tunnel with halocline excellent, warm water dives.

Directory of operators in Alor and Kupang (see also liveaboard operators section)
118 Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory 119