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August 8, 2024
Guide to East Flores and Alor: Rich Culture Meets Thriving Reefs
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Guide to East Flores and Alor: Rich Culture Meets Thriving Reefs
Diving Flores and Alor With Uncharted Cruises
Source: Tropical Snorkeling
Flores Island on its own is quite remote already so getting there can be an adventure in itself especially for those who are traveling independently without any liveaboard like ours.
Being in such a faraway location means that being onboard with us will allow you to experience something truly immersive which is off the beaten track away from mass tourism crowds.
Is Alor good for diving? Absolutely! This region boasts picturesque landscapes with numerous harbors abundant in rich coral reefs teemed by a wide variety of marine life both small and big alike.
These islands rank among Nusa Tenggara’s richest according to PADI thus while diving here you may come across dolphins or even whales also giant sea snakes alongside huge car-sized gorgonian fans plus gigantic anemones surrounded by kaleidoscope-shaped coloured underwater creatures representing every form imaginable.
What Can You Expect While Diving in Alor Island?
Source: Tropical Snorkeling
With the island’s unique topography and underwater landscapes, divers can look forward to enjoying all types of dives here in Alor from reef diving to pelagic encounters and drift diving.
- Untouched Colorful Reefs and Abundant Sea Creatures
The island is also renowned for exceptional muck diving with bizarre and endearing critters thriving among black sand slopes including the frogfish, ghost pipefish, and the elusive wonderpus.
- Remarkable Underwater Topography
It will impress even the most experienced diver. Expect steep drop-offs, mysterious underwater caves, and sloping bottoms with bubbles caused by hot gasses and minerals.
- Forceful Currents Make for a Thrilling Dive
Thanks to the complex shape and orientation of the surrounding islands contributed to by the underwater channels and canyons, tides, wind and weather patterns.
- Excellent Visibility of up to 40 Meters All Year Round
means crystal clear views of otherwise hard-to-see macro creatures and a vivid and colorful experience underwater overall.
Pelagic Encounters In East Flores Island and Alor Island
When you dive in Alor, your dives can be classified into two categories – muck or pelagics.
With Uncharted Cruises as your liveaboard in Alor, it’s possible to do both without any hassle at all; just follow our lead!
For muck dive experience head towards Kalabahi Bay whereas if seeking some thrilling close encounters with big fishes then Pantar Strait should be the destination of choice.
Being located uniquely along migratory trackways followed by certain sea mammals including blue whales, pilot whales, sperm whales and dolphins. This strategic position means these marine creatures often pass nearby, especially during specific times of the year.
As a result, divers have the incredible opportunity to encounter hammerhead sharks, mobula rays, humphead wrasses, sunfish, marlins, angelfish, parrots, and majestic manta rays and thresher sharks.
Expect nothing less than breathtaking dives when in Flores!
Best Dive Sites In East Flores Island & Alor Island
Source: Tropical Snorkeling
Noteworthy places around Alor Island where diving happens have been identified to be more than 30.
- Clown Valley (Anemone City)
This is the place with the most anemones of any in the world. Here, one can dive with reef sharks together with many clownfishes hence justifying its name.
- Andy’s Bus Stop
It is a wall dive site full of thick corals and lots of fish. Notice when there are nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses living on a big gorgonian fan!
- Cathedral
At this spot, predators like sharks, giant trevally, and turtles mix up with colourful reef fishes while what brings all these together are healthy bursting forms of life under water.
- Great Wall of Pantar (Bamar Wall)
In this zone, there is an imposing vertical coral wall that is adorned by sponges and fans that are alive. It is also a region where lionfish, anthias butterfly fish feed among them Trevallys, tunas as well as mackerels rush about.
- Bakalang Jetty
The underwater concrete pillars here have shrimps, ghost pipefish, boxfishes as well as ribbon eels covering them.
Thrilling Activities in East Flores and Alor Island
Source: Uncovering Indonesia
While you are in this part of the world, take an opportunity to see the unspoiled paradise of East Flores and Alor.
Aside from their beautiful beaches, this area is a living museum for various tribal cultures where local villagers are always welcoming to people so that they share their ancient ways of life including beliefs systems as well as food and drinks which have been passed down through generations.
How Do You Get To Flores Island, Indonesia?
Source: Uncovering Indonesia
Flores Island can be reached easily via air or sea with multiple airports serving major districts; therefore, it is important that one verifies the exact destination before making any reservations.
Komodo International Airport located at Labuan Bajo, Frans Sales Lega Airport situated at Maumere and H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport found near Ende are some of the stops for those who would like to board liveaboard ships going towards Flores under Uncharted Cruises.
Flying may give someone speed when touring around Flores but nothing beats adventure, cultural integration points visited and scenic view while sailing on luxurious boats owned by Uncharted Cruises; thus you should consider scuba diving aboard Thalassa during your next vacation there.
Explore Flores Island & Alor Island with Uncharted Cruises
Go on an unforgettable journey through these two islands whose names will forever remain engraved in our hearts – this is what we offer at Uncharted Cruises where travellers can engage themselves into different societies through responsible travelling that takes care about nature’s balance too.
You can book personalized trip on Liveaboard according to your preferences such as spending only 5 days somewhere between cerulean seas or going deep into Indonesian archipelago for more than 20 days.
If interested in learning about our dive schedules, price ranges or what is included/excluded while renting gears etc., please get in touch with us today!
