Alor Diving Trip • Alami Alor Boutique Dive Resort
Travel period
Features
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Diving Vacation to Remote Alor in Indonesia
Alor is a destination for divers who love to explore. This Indonesian island lies off the beaten path, but a tremendous diversity awaits underwater. Around Alor, you’ll find colorful coral reefs, steep walls, volcanic rock formations, and vast coral gardens. In the sheltered parts of Kalabahi Bay, there are also unique muck dive sites, where you can search among the black and white sand for small and extraordinary macro life. At the same time, there is plenty of large marine life to see. Mola mola, various species of sharks, rays, and large schools of fish are all possibilities, and with a bit of luck, you might even encounter dolphins or whales during a boat trip.
You’ll be staying at Alami Alor, a small-scale boutique resort on the shore of Kalabahi Bay. With just seven waterfront bungalows and a maximum of fourteen guests, this is a place where personal attention and tranquility take center stage. From the resort, you’ll enjoy views of the bay and the surrounding islands, and after a swim, you can relax by the pool or on your own terrace.
The Alami Alor dive center is entirely dedicated to exploring Alor’s underwater world. With daily boat dives, an extensive house reef, and experienced local guides, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the various dive sites. The combination of colorful reefs, healthy corals, remarkable macro life, and the chance to encounter larger marine life makes Alor one of Indonesia’s most versatile diving destinations.
Best Time to Visit Alor for a Scuba Diving Vacation
The best time to dive at Alami Alor Dive Resort on Alor Island is between April and December. This is because the weather and sea conditions are generally more favorable during these months, resulting in better underwater visibility and a lower chance of rain and gusts of wind.
Average temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in Alor
Almost all year a 3mm wetsuit is sufficient, only the months of June through August are slightly colder and then you can consider a 5mm.What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Days 1–3 | The Journey to Alami Alor
Today marks the start of the journey to beautiful Alor. Traveling from Europe to Alor in Indonesia takes some time and planning, as the island is quite remote. It is precisely this remote location that makes Alor so special. The island is located in the Lesser Sunda Islands, east of Flores and north of Timor, and is still relatively unvisited. As a result, you’ll find an authentic atmosphere here, abundant nature, and an underwater world that ranks among the most beautiful in Indonesia.
First, you’ll fly to Jakarta or Bali. Depending on your flight connections, you may need to spend the night there. From there, the journey continues eastward through Indonesia to Kupang, the largest city on the island of Timor. As you fly over the many islands of the Indonesian archipelago, you’ll get a glimpse of the vast and varied landscape of this extraordinary country.
From Kupang, you’ll take the final flight to Alor Island. You’ll fly to Mali Airport, a small airport near Kalabahi, the capital of Alor. Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up and taken to Alumi Alor, where you’ll be staying for the next few days. The accommodation is situated in a quiet spot on the coast, surrounded by nature, and serves as a wonderful base from which to explore Alor and, above all, its extraordinary underwater world.
After arriving at Alumi Alor, you’ll have time to settle in, relax, and get to know the resort and the dive center. Depending on your arrival time, a briefing will be held, and preparations will be made for the first dives.
Day 4 - 16 | Diving in Alor
During your stay at Alumi Alor, you’ll have plenty of time to dive and discover the many facets of Alor’s underwater world. Two boat dives are scheduled daily, and you’ll also have unlimited access to the house reef. This means that in addition to the guided dives, you can head out into the water on your own whenever you feel like it.
Diving in Alor offers you the chance to experience a variety of tropical diving styles in a single destination—without the crowds you’ll find at many other well-known dive sites. The diversity of the dive sites is enormous. You’ll find colorful coral walls and slopes, vast fields of anemones, and impressive volcanic cliffs and caves. The reefs teem with life, and because Alor is located in the Coral Triangle, the biodiversity here is exceptionally rich.
Alor also has a lot to offer for lovers of macro life and underwater photography. In and around Kalabahi Bay, there are several muck dive sites with black and white sandy slopes where you can search for unique small marine creatures. The local guides know the dive sites well and are happy to help you find the creatures you’d like to see. Even during boat dives, plenty of attention is paid to the smaller marine life, which means every dive can be a unique experience.
The moments between dives are just as special. During boat trips, there are frequent opportunities to spot dolphins and whales. In the waters around Alor, bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, and Fraser’s dolphins are among the species seen, sometimes in large groups. Blue whales are also found here. With the right conditions and a little luck, you might even spot sunfish at the surface during a surface interval.
This makes Alor a destination where you can spend days diving without ever getting bored. From colorful reefs and impressive walls to muck dives teeming with macro life and the chance to encounter large marine creatures: every dive offers something different.
Day 17 | Exploring the Island Above Water
There are no dives scheduled for today. It’s our last day on Alor, so it’s a great time to take it easy before we start our journey home. You still have plenty of time to enjoy Alumi Alor, spend a dive-free morning by the pool, or go snorkeling one last time at the house reef.
If you’d like to see a bit more of the island, you can spend this day exploring the surrounding area. In addition to its extraordinary underwater world, Alor also boasts a beautiful green landscape and an authentic local culture. A walk or a visit to a village will give you a different perspective on the island and is a wonderful way to wrap up your stay.
Of course, you can also choose not to plan anything at all. Enjoy the view of the sea, take your time for one last lunch, and let the experiences of the past few days sink in. At the end of the day, get ready for tomorrow’s journey, when you’ll leave Alor behind and begin your trip back home.
Day 18 & 19 | Return home
Unfortunately, your stay on Alor comes to an end today. After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to Alumi Alor and begin your return journey. From Mali Airport, you’ll fly via Kupang and then on to Jakarta or Bali before heading back to Europe.
Depending on your connections, you’ll depart from Alor today and arrive in Europe the next day. The exact travel time depends on the available flight connections. If the connections don’t line up well, it may be necessary to spend an extra night along the way. Of course, we’ll coordinate this with you in advance to ensure your return trip is as comfortable as possible.
With a suitcase full of diving memories and, hopefully, lots of beautiful photos, our trip to Alor has come to an end!
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from the underwater world in Alor?
Coral diversity & anemones
The reefs around Alor are among the most impressive in Indonesia. Here you will find a huge variety of hard and soft corals, colorful coral gardens and gigantic fields of anemones, one of the largest in the region. The reef is bursting with life: huge schools of fusiliers and anthias, colorful parrotfish shooting among the coral, and rare species such as mandarin fish. The combination of pristine coral and exceptional biodiversity makes every dive a unique experience.
In search of macro life
Alor is a paradise for macro lovers. Especially in Kalabahi Bay and other muck dive sites, you will find a huge variety of small, fascinating creatures: shrimp, coral crabs, mandarin fish, pygmy seahorses and countless nudibranchs. With a keen eye and a camera, you’ll discover hidden wonders here that you won’t find anywhere else. This microcosm of the reef is beautiful for photographers and lovers of fine, unusual marine life, but keep in mind that there is a current on many dives.
Pelagic life
Alor isn’t just known for its beautiful coral reefs. While diving and on your way to the dive sites, you might also spot some impressive pelagic life. Mola mola, various species of sharks, and even hammerhead sharks are regularly spotted here. Rays, large schools of fish, and dolphins are also possibilities. With a little luck, you’ll have an encounter with one of these extraordinary creatures during your stay—an experience you won’t soon forget.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Alami Alor Boutique Dive Resort
Alami Alor is a small-scale boutique dive resort on the coast of Alor, located on Kalabahi Bay. The resort is nestled in a tropical setting along the island’s volcanic coastline. The combination of its secluded location, small scale, and personalized service creates a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. With just seven waterfront bungalows and room for up to 14 guests, Alami Alor feels more like a personal retreat than a large resort.
The resort is entirely centered around diving, snorkeling, and enjoying nature. In the central area, you’ll find an open lounge and restaurant, where meals are served in a casual, communal setting. The kitchen focuses on fresh Indonesian and tropical dishes, using local ingredients as much as possible. Alami Alor also features an infinity pool overlooking Kalabahi Bay—a wonderful spot to relax after a dive and enjoy the sunset.
You’ll be staying in one of the seven spacious waterfront bungalows. The bungalows are scattered throughout the grounds and positioned so that you can fully enjoy the surroundings from your room and private terrace. Each bungalow has its own access path and a terrace with seating and lounge chairs. Thanks to their location right on the water, you’ll have a beautiful view of the sea and the surrounding nature from your accommodations.
The rooms are spacious, bright, and comfortably furnished, and feature air conditioning, a ceiling fan, a closet, and a desk. The large glass front faces the sea, allowing you to enjoy the view right from your room. A unique feature of the bungalows is the open-air bathroom, which includes a rain shower with hot water.
You can choose a bungalow with a king-size bed or, depending on room availability, a bungalow with a king-size bed and a single bed. The rooms are generally designed to accommodate two people.
The diving school
The Diving School and Its Facilities
Alami Alor’s diving facilities are fully tailored to divers who want one thing above all else: to enjoy Alor’s extraordinary underwater world as much as possible. The resort features its own diving and snorkeling center, a pier, and two speedboats used to visit the various dive sites in the area. Group sizes are deliberately kept small, ensuring plenty of personal attention and allowing the guides to tailor the experience to the divers’ skill levels and interests.
Alami Alor is particularly appealing to underwater photographers. There is a specially equipped camera room with individual workstations. Here, you can clean your camera gear, let it dry, charge it, and get it ready for your next dive.
Alami Alor caters exclusively to certified divers and does not offer PADI, SSI, or other diving courses. It is therefore a destination for experienced, independently certified divers who primarily want to dive frequently and explore Alor’s unique dive sites.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is US$ 4.481 per person based on two people in one bungalow. The trip can be extended as desired and it is also possible to shorten the duration. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from US$ 4.481 p.p.
- 14 nights in a Waterfront Bungalow
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Coffee, tea, and drinking water
- Snacks and homemade cakes
- 24 boat dives (2 boat dives per day)
- Unlimited diving on the house reef
- Nitrox for certified divers
- Airport Transfers
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flights from Europe to Alor from US$ 1.345
- Marine park fee (approx. US$ 78)
- Visa for Indonesia (US$ 56
- Dive and travel insurance
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe. However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide. Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Night dive by boat (approx. US$ 80)
- Diving equipment, including computer (approximately US$ 34 per tank)
- 15-liter tank (approximately US$ 3 per tank)
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Frequently asked questions about this diving holiday
Diving general
Around Alor, you can do both boat dives and shore dives. The dive sites are very diverse, ranging from colorful coral reefs, steep walls, and volcanic rock formations to calm muck dives where you can search for unique macro life. At some locations, you may encounter currents, which bring plenty of life to the reefs and increase your chances of seeing larger fish. Thanks to the wide variety of dive sites, no two dives are the same.
Most dive sites are within a 15-minute boat ride.
With this dive package, you’ll enjoy 2 boat dives in the morning and unlimited diving on the house reef in the afternoon. Want to do more boat dives? Then you can upgrade the dive package to include 3 boat dives per day. You’ll still have access to the house reef.
Absolutely. The house reef is open until 10:00 p.m., so you can definitely go on night dives and sunset dives. There’s also a daily night dive by boat, which takes you to a muck dive site. The additional cost for this dive is approximately US$ 80. Night dives on the house reef are included in your dive package, so you don’t have to pay extra for them.
Yes, a fantastic house reef! You can dive here as much as you like between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
No, the diving school really focuses on diving, not on training programs. There are, however, a number of photography workshops you can choose from, if you’re interested. These aren’t courses that involve getting in the water; they’re workshops you take in the classroom.
Yes, the diving school is on-site.
Diving equipment
Both tanks are present.
Yes, there are a number of 15-liter tanks available. The cost is 4 USD per tank, which is approximately US$ 3.
Nitrox 32% is free and available only to nitrox certified divers.
That’s definitely possible. A complete set, including a computer, costs about US$ 34 per day. Without a computer, it costs about US$ 26 per day. If you rent the equipment for more than 7 days, you’ll receive a 20% discount.
Resort
Yes definitely, snorkelers can join the boat in the morning at 08:00 to snorkel at two beautiful sites. Snorkelers can spend the rest of the day on the beautiful house reef.
Free Wi-Fi is available in the guest lounge.
Yes, there is a swimming pool.
All bungalows have air conditioning as well as a ceiling fan.
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