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Diving among the islands of Alor and Pantar
Alor is one of Indonesia’s most unique and still relatively undiscovered diving destinations. The island is located in the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago, east of Flores, and is surrounded by deep waters, colorful coral reefs, and strong currents. It is precisely this remote location that makes the underwater world here remarkably peaceful. Around Alor and Pantar, there are dozens of dive sites offering a wide variety of landscapes and marine life.
During this trip, you’ll be staying at Alor Tanapi Dive Resort, a small-scale resort on the west side of Alor. With just eight bungalows, a peaceful seaside location, and a dive school right on the resort grounds, this is a great base from which to explore the island’s underwater world. After a day of diving, there’s plenty of time to relax, enjoy the surroundings, and savor the freshly prepared meals.
Diving is the main reason to travel to Alor. The reefs are colorful and healthy, with vast coral gardens, steep walls, and large schools of reef fish. In addition, there are black sand dives where you can search for unique species such as frogfish, ghost pipefish, rhinopias, sea slugs, and octopuses. Larger marine life, such as sea turtles, rays, sharks, barracudas, and tuna, can also be spotted. The dynamic currents make every dive different and create a constantly changing underwater landscape.
Best Time to Visit Alor for a Diving Trip
The best time to visit Alor for a diving trip is from April through November. Conditions are often excellent, especially from June through October, with good visibility and relatively dry weather.
The resort is closed annually from mid-December through mid-March.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit Recommendations for Alor, Indonesia 
A 3mm wetsuit is sufficient almost all year round; only the months of June through August are slightly colder, so you might want to consider a 5mm wetsuit then.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View the itinerary here
Days 1–3 | The Trip to Alor Tanapi Dive Resort
Today marks the start of the trip to Alor Tanapi Dive Resort. Alor is located in eastern Indonesia, in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, east of Flores and north of Timor. The island is part of the Alor Archipelago, an area comprising dozens of islands and boasting an impressive underwater world. Alor has relatively few tourists and is prized by many divers for its pristine reefs, unique marine life, and strong currents. Its remote location does mean, however, that the trip takes a bit longer.
The trip to Alor takes about two days. From the Netherlands, you’ll first fly to Jakarta. Depending on the flight times, you’ll have some time in Jakarta to relax and recover from the first day of travel. The journey then continues on to Alor. The domestic flight to Mali Airport on Alor departs around 2:00 a.m. and takes about four hours to reach the island. Once you arrive on Alor, you’ll be transferred to Alor Tanapi.
Alor Tanapi is located on the western side of the island, on the coast of the Pantar Strait. The resort is situated in a secluded and peaceful setting. The drive to the resort takes you through Alor’s lush, hilly landscape and immediately reveals just how undeveloped and untouched by tourism this part of the island is.
Upon arrival at Alor Tanapi Dive Resort, you’ll have time to relax and get acquainted with the accommodations and the dive school. The resort is located right on the coast and is entirely dedicated to diving and enjoying the peace and quiet of nature. The coming days will therefore be focused primarily on Alor’s underwater world.
Days 4–16 | Diving in Alor
Diving days at Alor Tanapi begin after breakfast with a boat ride to the first dive site. Two boat dives are conducted in the morning, with a surface interval on board between dives. During this break, towels, snacks, coffee, tea, and water are available. After the second dive, the boat returns to the resort, where lunch is ready.
The waters around Alor and Pantar are known for their great diversity of marine life and the combination of colorful coral reefs and unique black-sand dive sites. Lush soft and hard corals grow along the reefs, where large schools of reef fish swim among the corals. Here you may encounter schools of fusiliers, snappers, and surgeonfish, as well as barracudas, trevallies, and tuna. On the steeper walls and reefs, you can also frequently spot sea turtles, rays, and various species of sharks.
In addition to reef diving, the black sandy bottoms around Alor are of interest to divers who enjoy searching for smaller and unusual marine life. Among the sand, volcanic rock, and scattered coral, you’ll find frogfish, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, octopuses, and various species of shrimp and crabs. Rare species such as rhinopias are also regularly spotted in Alor. As a result, there’s often plenty to discover during a dive, especially if you take the time to look closely among the coral and across the sandy seabed.
Another characteristic of diving in Alor is the current. At some dive sites, the current is mild, while at other locations there may be strong currents or downcurrents. Conditions can vary by dive site and by day. The dive school therefore determines the dive sites and the itinerary based on factors such as the tide, the current, and visibility.
Day 17 | Exploring the island
After several days of diving, today is a great opportunity to see a little more of Alor above water. Alor is an island with a rich local culture, impressive natural scenery, and traditional villages that have been largely untouched by tourism.
If you want to get to know the island and the local culture better, you can, for example, visit a traditional village. In villages such as Takpala, Bampalola, and Latifui, you can still see the traditional houses made of bamboo and thatch. Weaving is also still practiced here using traditional methods. A visit to a local weavers’ village offers a glimpse into the process of making the famous ikat fabrics. Another option is the 1000 Moko Museum, where traditional Moko drums and other local artifacts are on display.
Nature lovers can also get out and about today. There are several hiking trails around Alor, such as a hike to one of the island’s waterfalls. For those looking for a bit more of a challenge, a volcano hike is also an option. For instance, you can climb Pura, an extinct volcano in the Pantar Strait. You can also visit Mount Sirung, a volcano on the island of Pantar, depending on the season.
Prefer a quiet last day? Then, of course, there’s plenty of time to relax at the resort, enjoy the surroundings, and reflect on the dives from the past few days. Tomorrow we begin our journey home, so today is mainly a day to quietly enjoy Alor one last time.
Days 18 & 19 | Return Home
After a wonderful time on Alor, it’s sadly time to say goodbye to the island. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Mali Airport for your return flight. From Alor, you’ll fly back home via Bali.
The trip has come to an end, but you’ll undoubtedly take home wonderful memories of the exceptional dives, colorful coral reefs, diverse marine life, and impressive natural beauty of Alor. Depending on your flight schedule, you’ll arrive back at your destination airport the next day.
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from the underwater world in Alor?
Colorful Corals
The reefs around Alor are among the most colorful in Indonesia. Vast fields of hard and soft coral provide a habitat for a vast number of reef fish. Large schools of fusiliers, anthias, snappers, and surgeonfish glide over the reef, while parrotfish and other colorful species search for food among the coral. Anemones are also abundant, often hosting large groups of clownfish. The combination of healthy coral and a large number of fish makes the reefs exceptionally vibrant.
Unique macro life
Alor is also known for the extraordinary small marine life that can be found at various dive sites. Muck diving, in particular, is of interest to divers who enjoy taking their time searching for creatures that hide well among the sand and coral. You may encounter frogfish, ghost pipefish, rhinopias, nudibranchs, octopuses, and various species of shrimp and crabs, among others. If you look closely, you’ll keep discovering new species and details, meaning that even the same dive site can offer a surprising amount to explore.
Pelagic Life
Alor’s location in the deep waters between the islands also offers encounters with larger marine life. On some dives, there’s a chance to see sharks, eagle rays, large tuna, and schools of barracuda. At certain times of the year, mola mola are also spotted in the waters around Alor. The strong currents carry nutrient-rich water past the reefs, attracting large schools of fish and pelagic species. For divers who enjoy seeing large marine life, Alor can therefore offer some surprising encounters.
The Accommodation
The Resort and Surroundings
Alor Tanapi Dive Resort
Alor Tanapi Dive Resort is a small-scale boutique resort in Sebanjar, on the western side of Alor. The resort opened in 2023 and has only eight bungalows, creating a peaceful and intimate atmosphere. From the resort, you can enjoy views of the surrounding area and the sea, and between dives, there’s plenty of space to relax.
The common areas include the dining room and a lounge where guests can relax and share their experiences. The resort’s design is simple and intimate, reflecting Alor’s remote location: the focus is on diving, tranquility, and enjoying the surroundings.
A great deal of attention is also paid to meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are freshly prepared and consist mainly of Indonesian dishes made with local ingredients, complemented by international dishes. Meals are included in the stay, and snacks are also available.
The resort is located on a slope, so there are several sets of stairs between the bungalows, the restaurant, and the dive center.
Alor Tanapi Dive Resort features eight bungalows, divided into different categories. All bungalows feature a comfortable king-size bed with a mosquito net, a desk, and a closet, as well as air conditioning and a fan. Each bungalow also has a private terrace and an open-air bathroom with a hot outdoor shower, a sink, and a Western-style toilet.
The Hillside Standard Bungalows are located higher up on the grounds and have a private terrace with chairs and an open-air bathroom. These bungalows are suitable for guests who do not require a direct oceanfront location.
The Oceanfront Standard Bungalows are located closer to the water and feature a spacious private terrace with a hammock and seating area. The Seaview Deluxe Bungalows are more spacious and offer additional comfort with a minibar, daybed, and more closet space. The bathroom in these bungalows features a double sink. The Oceanfront Deluxe Bungalow also offers these additional amenities and is located directly on the beach.
The bungalows are designed to ensure a comfortable stay after a day of diving. There is plenty of space to store personal belongings and diving gear, and you can relax on the terrace between dives. The combination of air conditioning and a fan ensures that the room remains comfortable even on hot days.
The Diving School
The Diving School and Facilities
Alor Tanapi Dive Resort
The resort has its own small-scale PADI dive center located right on the premises. There are two comfortable boats used for the dives. Each boat can accommodate up to eight divers and two dive guides, ensuring that groups always remain small. The schedule is determined daily based on conditions, taking into account factors such as the tide, currents, and visibility. This allows the dive school to select the most suitable dive sites for that day.
For photographers and videographers, there is space on board for camera equipment, and the dive center has a dedicated camera room. There are also rinsing facilities and a room for drying diving gear. Additionally, there is a changing room and a separate room for briefings during courses.
Travel Expenses
What's Included
This diving vacation to Alor is available starting at US$ 4.024 per person, based on two people sharing a room. The diving trip can be extended as desired. A number of items are included as standard in this travel package.
Prices are subject to change due to price adjustments, increases, or fluctuations in exchange rates. Flights are always booked in the lowest available fare class.
Want to learn more about this group trip to Alor? Contact us!
Included in this diving trip, from US$ 4.024 p.p.
- 14 nights in a Hillside Bungalow
- Full-board stay
- Coffee, tea, drinking water, and snacks
- Diving Package with 24 Boat Dives
- All transfers listed
- 12% government taxes & 11% service charge
- VZR, Contingency Fund & Administrative Fees
Excluding
- Flight to Alor starting at US$ 1.621 per person
- Marine park fee (approx. US$ 78)
- Visa for Indonesia (US$ 56)
- Diving and travel insurance
- Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Day hotel on the outbound trip
✈︎ 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
- Nitrox (± US$ 9 per tank)
- 13L tank (± US$ 3 per tank)
- Diving equipment, including computer (± US$ 34 per day)
- Night dive (± US$ 69)
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Diving Trip to Alor
Diving in Alor
Alor offers a wonderful mix of pristine, colorful coral reefs teeming with large schools of fish and muck dive sites where unusual and unique marine life is often found. Coral reef dives mainly take place along steep, deep walls or on sloping reefs. The current here can range from mild to strong, and visibility is generally good.
The muck dive sites have a black sandy bottom, little current, and average visibility. These are the spots where divers primarily search for unusual macro marine life and other small, well-camouflaged creatures.
The maximum dive depth is 30 meters, and a dive lasts up to 60 minutes.
You must be at least Open Water certified. The dive school also recommends that you have completed at least 50 dives, so that you have sufficient experience to dive comfortably in the waters around Alor and Pantar. Experience with drift diving is an advantage.
There are dives with quite a bit of current, so it isn’t necessarily the best or easiest destination for underwater photographers. In addition, there are also muck and macro dives. These dives are, of course, suitable for bringing your camera along. The dive center has a special camera room available for photographers and videographers. There’s also plenty of space in the bungalows to store photo and video equipment. Separate sinks are available for rinsing cameras and other photo and video equipment.
Most dive sites are between 20 and 30 minutes away by boat.
The dive school generally offers three dives per day. Due to its remote location, the school chooses not to push the limits of diving and to remain well within safe limits. In exceptional cases, a fourth dive may be offered to a group. This must be discussed prior to booking.
Yes, you can go night diving. You can book these dives “à la carte” or choose a dive package with 3 dives per day. A single night dive costs 72 USD, which is about € 62.
No, there is no house reef.
Yes, PADI diving courses are offered.
The diving school is at the resort.
Diving equipment
Both tanks are available
There are a number of larger tanks. The standard tanks used for diving are 80 cu ft, which is about 11 L. Larger tanks are 100 cu ft, which is about 13 L. Using one of these tanks costs 4 USD, which is about € 3 s per tank).
Yes, the dive school offers Nitrox with a 30% oxygen blend. A 30% blend was deliberately chosen due to the dynamic diving conditions around Alor, including the possibility of downcurrents. The cost is 9 USD per tank, which is approximately € 8.
The dive shop has a limited amount of diving equipment available for rent. It is therefore important to contact them in advance if you need to rent equipment.
Items available for rent include BCDs, regulators, 5-mm wetsuits, dive computers, dive lights, SMBs, reef hooks, masks, snorkels, fins, neoprene shoes, and open-heel fins. For optimal comfort, we recommend bringing your own wetsuit and mask.
The rental cost for a full set (BCD, regulator, 5 mm wetsuit, mask, fins, and shoes) is 25 USD, which is approximately € 22 per day. A dive computer costs 10 USD per day, approximately € 8.
Accommodation / Resort
The accommodation is located on a hillside, and although there is a beach, there is also a rocky area that is less suitable for young children and toddlers. Unfortunately, the strong currents in the Pantar Strait also make Alor less suitable for a trip with children.
The minimum age for children is 10 years.
Yes, there is air conditioning in the rooms.
Cell service and 4G internet are usually available at the resort. Wi-Fi is also available, but the connection isn’t always reliable.
If a good internet connection is important to you, it’s recommended that you purchase a local SIM card with data. The 4G connection is generally fairly reliable in Alor, and reception is good around Alor Tanapi. Keep in mind, however, that the resort is located in a remote part of Indonesia and that internet connection interruptions may occur.
Yes, you can go here for all meals.
Although the daily schedule is kept flexible, the dive school follows a general schedule for meals and dives. Guests are asked to arrive on time for both meals and dives. This ensures that the program runs smoothly and gives everyone the opportunity to fully enjoy the dives and their stay.
Yes, the dive school can accommodate vegan and vegetarian dietary needs, food allergies, and food intolerances. Before arrival, guests will receive a form where they can indicate what they do and do not eat, as well as any preferences or allergies they may have. Based on this information, the menu will be adjusted where possible.
Yes, the prices include all meals. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. There is also a small menu available with additional dishes at an extra charge.
It is not possible to book a stay with breakfast only or on a half-board basis.
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